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By Qissa Verse Studio · 287 caption lines · Watch on YouTube
Assalamu Alaikum, dear friends. Presenting the tale of the secret of the ruddy shelduck. In times long past, a king ruled over a vast empire. His name was Buland Bakht. His bravery and wisdom were famous far and wide. There was peace and harmony in the kingdom. The lands were fertile and the subjects were prosperous. Neighboring countries respected him as well. Buland Bakht had everything one could ask for. Except for an heir. The king was constantly worried about who would inherit such a large and prosperous kingdom after him.
His ministers secretly hoped that after Buland Bakht, the throne would fall to one of them—the cunning and deceitful among them. The king prayed fervently. He hosted feasts for holy men and ascetics. The queen made many offerings and vows. Finally, their prayers were answered, and the queen gave birth to a daughter. The queen was overjoyed. But the king became even more despondent. The little princess was named Buland Akhtar. As the princess grew up, she was peerless in her intelligence, skill , and beauty. The difficult problems that even senior ministers could not solve, Princess Buland Akhtar would resolve with ease. However, King Buland Bakht had grown old, irritable, and bitter in temperament. For reasons unknown, he had begun to despise his own daughter. He could not bear that Buland Akhtar's wisdom was becoming famous and that the subjects might view the king as a fool. A daughter was destined to leave for another home one day. Consequently, the king wanted to marry her off as soon as possible.
Proposals came from princes of neighboring kingdoms, but the king feared that after his death, his great empire would fall under the control of another nation. The king remained deeply anxious. One morning, King Buland Bakht was strolling in his garden, lost in deep thought. A pair of ruddy shelducks, separated from their flock, happened to fly by. Seeing the garden lake, they landed, but upon seeing the king, they made some strange sounds and flew away. The king found this insolence of the birds highly offensive. He had heard the calls of the ruddy shelducks before. But this pair flew off as if mocking him. The king immediately summoned a wise minister and ordered him to discover within 24 hours the secret of how the pair of shelducks dared to mock him and what they had said in their own language. Otherwise, if the deadline passed and the secret remained unknown, the minister would be beheaded. In that era, being a minister to an absolute monarch was a life-threatening job.
There was honor and wealth, indeed, but a sword constantly hung over their heads. The Wazir was very worried after hearing the order. He went straight home and said to his wife, "Look, Begum , what has happened is what has often happened to Wazirs.""If I cannot find out the secret of the Brahminy ducks, my head will be chopped off tomorrow morning at this very time.""Make arrangements for my burial." But his wife encouraged her husband and said, " Do not worry.""Princess Buland Akhtar knows me.""I am going to serve her right now.""You are already aware of her intelligence.""She will definitely solve this problem." After a short while, the Wazir's wife returned. She was very happy. As soon as she arrived, she said, "I told you that the Princess is very wise.""When I told her the whole story, she said, 'Wazir Begum, God forbid that your husband's head be separated from his body.'""I have heard the talk of the Brahminy ducks with my own ears.""I too was viewing the garden from the palace roof early in the
morning.""This is a very simple matter. ""The female duck was telling the male duck that a good woman makes her pauper husband a king.""And a bad wife makes her king husband a pauper.""At this, the male duck laughed out loud.""Who says that the pair of ducks dared to mock His Majesty?""Birds are very innocent.""They do not mock anyone." Hearing this, the Wazir put on his robe . He placed his turban on his head and set off for the court. The King was presiding over the royal court. Seeing the Wazir approaching, he asked, "Why, Wazir?""Have you discovered the secret of the Brahminy duck so soon?" The Wazir replied, "Yes, Your Majesty.""The Brahminy ducks did not mock Your Majesty at all.""Birds are very innocent.""The female duck was actually saying that if a wife is good, she turns a pauper into a king, and if a wife is bad, she turns a king into a pauper.""The male duck laughed out loud at this because we men do not like our ego to be bruised." The King got angry upon hearing this and said, "You are
talking absolute nonsense.""Do you have any proof for these things?""Give me proof.""Otherwise, I will order the executioner to chop off this hasty Wazir's head." The poor Wazir was in a state of shock. What other option was there besides telling the truth? He said, "Your Majesty, the Princess is a witness.""She was also viewing the garden from the palace roof at that very time.""She heard this with her own ears." A pair of ruddy shelducks flew past the large lake and disappeared behind the hills into the territory of the neighboring kingdom. King Buland Bakht's face turned red with anger and he roared, "Oh, so that’s how it is!
Being the minister, you fell for that foolish girl's words? You shall be punished, but I will also teach that insolent girl a lesson right now. She has started considering herself wiser than me." Saying this, the King summoned the Princess to the open court , called in a young beggar from outside , had them married, and sent her away immediately. A silence fell over the court. The King's awe and influence had such an impact on people's hearts that they began to tremble with fear. That young beggar had a dilapidated hut in the foothills far from the royal capital. He would come to the city in the morning to beg and spend the rest of the day in the hut. As soon as she arrived, the Princess gathered some bamboo and straw and built a new hut.
She asked her husband to catch a couple of fish from the lake. The beggar was very happy to have the Princess. He was ready to obey her every command. He stood up immediately and soon returned with two fish. The two of them grilled the fish over the fire together. They ate the food and began to talk. The Princess told her beggar husband that from today onwards, he should stop begging. I am indeed a Princess, but my father is angry with me. That is why he gave my hand to a beggar. Now we are starting a new life. I know how to weave very beautiful mats and make very beautiful dolls. From tomorrow, you should take the mats and dolls I make to the market, sell them, and bring back the things we need. I want you to become a great merchant as soon as possible. Then you can buy a shop in the city. The young beggar's name was Akhtar. The poor fellow had become an orphan in his childhood. When he went to the city to beg, he would see the market and wish that he too had a shop in the city market. Hearing the
Princess's words, he began to see his old dreams coming true. Then this became a routine. People would eagerly buy the beautiful dolls made by the Princess. They would pay whatever price was asked. There was a similar demand for the mats. Not even six months had passed when Akhtar acquired a good shop in the market and rented a house. If courage accompanies passion, even the most difficult tasks become easy. The Princess’s wisdom added charm to that passion and courage, and in no time, Akhtar was counted among the great merchants of the city. Akhtar used to obey every order of the princess. He also acquired some education. He learned the etiquette of conduct. He learned the proper way to dress. His business flourished even more. Now, he began to be counted among the nobility.
The anniversary of King Buland Bakht’s coronation arrived. Great merchants and nobles appeared with gifts. The princess was well-aware of her father's preferences. She had a beautiful robe made from expensive fur. She had it embroidered with beautiful gold and silver threads. She used topazes instead of buttons. The King was so pleased with this gift that he invited Akhtar and his wife to a royal banquet. The banquet was held in the palace with great royal splendor. As guests entered the banquet hall, the royal herald would announce their names . Two royal attendants would lead each guest into the presence of the King and Queen. The names of Akhtar and Buland Akhtar were announced. Both were escorted to the royal throne. The Queen recognized her daughter at a single glance. The King’s eyesight had become very weak. The Queen whispered something into the King’s ear. After all, the princess was the King and Queen’s only child. Buland Akhtar paid her respects with great reverence.
The King looked closely at the princess and her husband and asked, "Who is this man?" The princess humbly replied, " Father, this is the same beggar into whose hand you placed mine.""Now, he is counted among the elite nobles of the capital." King Buland Bakht was now in dire need of an heir. He had grown very old. Suddenly, he began to see his heir in the person of Akhtar. Before the feast began, poets recited panegyrics.
Ministers presented tributes of praise. All the guests prayed for the King’s long life. The King addressed the gathering. "People, you see that I have now entered the final stage of my life. ""Even kings must face death.""In all your minds, there is the question of who my successor will be.""I am aware of these speculations.""Today, I wish to put an end to these speculations."" You may remember that three years ago, I married Princess Buland Akhtar to a beggar.""The princess's 'crime' was claiming that a good wife can turn a beggar husband into a king.""Princess Buland Akhtar’s husband is that same beggar from a few years ago.""Whom a good wife has made the city's greatest merchant and nobleman.""Now, I am proud to announce that after me, Akhtar and Buland Akhtar will be my successors.""
You are all aware of the princess's wisdom.""Akhtar, that is, her husband, is familiar with the pain of poverty and destitution." When both of them rule together, this nation will be stronger and more prosperous. Remember one thing: a nation is only safe and strong when all people are free and happy with equal protection under the law. Where everyone respects one another. Where relationships of mutual kindness and love replace hatred. This announcement is a gift to you from me.
After that, Akhtar and Buland Akhtar both began to rule with great splendor and happiness. Friends, how did you like this story? Do let us know in the comments. If you liked it, please like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more interesting stories like this, and press the bell icon as well. Thank you.