The Moghul Part 83

She'll soon have India by the _cojones_, not a doubt on it. And then it's farewell Jadar. And probably farewell Arangbar too. Will I get a signed _firman _for trade before it's too late?

As midnight neared, the music and dance were suddenly interrupted by trumpets and a drum roll and shouts of "the bride comes." The curtains covering a large doorway leading into the palace were drawn open, and a closed palanquin was brought in by four eunuchs. It was accompanied by veiled women singing something Hawksworth did not understand. The palanquin was carried to the center of the room, where a low platform covered with gold brocade had been positioned, and then the eunuchs lowered it to the marble floor. The curtains were drawn aside and a veiled woman emerged, her small body almost smothered in a dress that seemed made of multiple layers of beaten gold. She was helped to the middle of the platform, still wearing a veil that covered her entire face. Chants of "Hail to the bride" arose on all sides.

Then Allaudin was escorted forward, taking his place on the platform beside her. He stole a quick, distasteful glance at the veiled figure beside him, then an official smile illuminated his face and he sat patiently as the _qazi _was summoned in front of them. The official was bearded, stern- faced, and transparently arrogant. He stood before the veiled bride and motioned around him for silence.

"Is it by your own consent that this marriage take place with Prince Allaudin, son of His Royal Majesty?"

From beneath the layers of the veil came a m.u.f.fled, almost hesitant, "It is by my consent."

The _qazi _seemed satisfied and began reading a pa.s.sage from the Quran, informing her that marriage depends on three circ.u.mstances: the a.s.sent of the bride and groom, the evidence of two witnesses, and the marriage settlement. He then turned to Allaudin and asked him to name the sum he brought.

Allaudin mumbled a figure that Hawksworth did not catch, but then the _qazi _repeated it for the guests. Hawksworth caught his breath when he realized the amount named was fifty _lakhs _of rupees. Then Allaudin said something else, which the _qazi _did not repeat.

Later Hawksworth learned that Allaudin had added he was giving only ten lakhs of rupees then, and the balance at some indefinite future time.

The _qazi _blessed the royal pair, praying that they would be blissful in this world and in eternity, and then wrote something quickly in a book he carried. Finally the eunuchs appeared again and a.s.sisted the bride into the palanquin. The marriage ceremony seemed to be over.

A gla.s.s of wine was placed in Hawksworth's hand, and he looked up to see Arangbar beaming with satisfaction.

"Now we drink, Inglish. Come, sit closer and help me toast the bridegroom."

"It was truly a royal wedding, Your Majesty."

"But it's not over, Inglish." Arangbar roared with laughter. "The hardest part is yet to come. Does my son have the strength to complete the work he's offered to undertake? No one can leave until we're sure."

Hawksworth had begun his third gla.s.s of wine when Princess Layla reappeared, wearing a lighter dress, though still resplendent. Behind her eunuchs carried several palanquins piled high with vessels and trays of silver. Following them were servants bearing bundles on their heads.

"Those are the wares she brings to the marriage, Inglish, and her servants. I think she will make him a good wife."

The royal pair moved together, Layla still veiled, and then Queen Janahara stepped down from the dais and took a large mirror handed her by a turbaned eunuch. She walked to the couple and stopped directly in front of them. As they stood facing her, she held the mirror before Allaudin and reached to lift Layla's veil, giving him his first glimpse of his bride.

Hawksworth studied her with curiosity. She was plain. And she looked very frightened.

"It's auspicious, Inglish, if his first sight of his bride is in a mirror. I have not seen her before either." Arangbar examined her for a moment, then turned to Nadir Sharif. "What do you think? Should I buy him another one for his bed?"

"She's a G.o.ddess of beauty, Majesty. Inspiration for a poet."

"Is that what you think?" Arangbar sipped pensively from his cup.

"Well, perhaps it's true. We'll discover soon enough if she inspires her groom."

The guests watched as Allaudin and Layla were helped into a large palanquin. In moments their procession was winding out of the palace, followed by Layla's household silver, to a great fanfare of drums and trumpets and the shouts of servants.

"Peace on the Prophet!"

"There is no n.o.bility but the n.o.bility of Mohammed!"

"Allah be with Him, the n.o.blest, the purest, the highest!"

Hawksworth settled back against his bolster and realized groggily that it was already past two o'clock in the morning.

When the wedding procession had disappeared from view, the jubilant servants immediately turned to preparations for the banquet.

"Sometimes life can be sweet, Inglish." Arangbar leaned back against a bolster and pinched Janahara's hand. "I think he should have more wives. You know there's a saying in India: 'A man should have four wives: A Persian to have someone to talk to; a Khurasani to keep his house; a big-breasted Hindu from the South to nurse his children; and a Bengali to whip, as a warning to the other three.' So far he has only the Persian."

Hawksworth noticed that Janahara did not join in the general laughter.

Then Arangbar took another drink and turned to Hawksworth.

"But you know I don't entirely agree with that wisdom, Inglish. The Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, wisely realized a man needs more than one wife. He also demanded of us that we give each of them equal attention, never to turn away from any one of them. What man can do that, even with Allah's help? It is never possible. So we all do the best we can. It is the will of Allah." Arangbar paused to swallow a ball of affion as he watched the trays of lamb being placed before them. "Tell me, Inglish, have you found a wife for yourself yet?"

"Not as yet, Your Majesty." He paused. "There are so many to choose."

"Then take more than one, Inglish." Arangbar washed down the opium.

"It's not allowed for a Christian, Majesty."

"Then become a Muslim." Arangbar smiled and took another sip from his gla.s.s. "Are you circ.u.mcised, Inglish?"

"Majesty?"

"Never mind." Arangbar laughed out loud. "Neither am I. How are the mullahs to know? My father, Akman, actually wanted to start his own religion, combining the wisdom of India, Persia, and the West. He thought circ.u.mcision was an absurd practice. You know, there was once a _feringhi _here, I believe he was Portuguese, who decided to become a Muslim, a True Believer. Apparently he had found a Muslim woman he wanted to marry, and her father declared she could never marry a Christian. So he had himself circ.u.mcised." Arangbar paused dramatically. "And immediately bled to death. But doubtless he was healed by the time he reached Paradise. Perhaps he made up there for what he missed here." Arangbar chuckled and took a sip of wine.

Hawksworth noticed that Queen Janahara was trying with great difficulty to retain her pleased expression. "Do you believe there is a Paradise after death, Inglish?"

"What man can say. Majesty? No one has returned from death to tell what he found. I think life is best lived in the present."

"I've always believed the same, Inglish. And I've lived as few men on Allah's earth have lived." Arangbar settled himself against his bolster and reached for another gla.s.s. He was starting to grow visibly tipsy.

"I now enjoy all Allah could possibly grant to a living man. There is nothing on earth I cannot have. And yet, do you know, I still have many griefs. Show me the man whose heart is free of grief." He took a piece of lamb from a dish and washed it down. "So I find my greatest happiness with wine. Like a low-caste camel driver. Why must I still endure sorrow, Inglish?"

"We all are mortal. Majesty."

"That we are. Inglish. But I will soon see this Paradise, if it exists.

I will find out the truth soon enough. And when I'm finally wise, who will then come after me? Now my sons practically war among themselves.

Someday, Inglish, I fear they may decide to war against me as well. And what of those I see around me? Do they think I am blind to their deceit?" Arangbar leaned farther back on the bolster. Nadir Sharif sat listening, rolling a ball of lamb between his fingers. "Sometimes I think you may be the only honest man left in India, Inglish. You are the only one who has ever dared refuse to _teslim_. It is only with the greatest forbearance that I do not order you hanged."

"I thank Your Majesty." Hawksworth took a decanter and poured more wine into Arangbar's gla.s.s before replenishing his own.

"No, Inglish, instead you should thank your Christian G.o.d. If He listens to you. But sometimes I wonder. I've heard you called a heretic more than once."

"And I have names for the Jesuits, Your Majesty. Would you care to hear them?"

"No, Inglish. Frankly, I have names for them too. But tell me, what am I to do to find peace?" Arangbar lowered his voice, but only slightly.

"I see around me an army of sycophants, _nautch _women dressed as men.

Whom dare I trust? You know, my own people were once warriors, Mongols of the steppes. They knew that the only ties that last are blood. And that's why this wedding cheers me. It is blood to blood." Arangbar turned and again touched Janahara's hand. Her face was expressionless as she accepted the gesture. "The only person in India I dare trust completely is my own queen. She is the only one who cannot, will not deceive me. Never. I feel it is true, as I feel nothing else in life.

Nothing else."

Janahara's face remained a mask as Arangbar drank again. Nadir Sharif was watching wordlessly, his face beginning to turn noticeably grim.

Hawksworth realized he had not been mentioned.

"I have loved her since I was a youth, Inglish," Arangbar continued, his voice growing maudlin. "And she has never betrayed my trust. That's the reason I would do anything she asked me. Anything, anytime. I always know it is right."