Once upon a time there lived a mighty king. He had two wives. From one wife he had seven sons, and from the second - only one - his most beloved son, Khushkiyar.
Although Khushkiyar was the youngest of the brothers, he was not inferior in strength and courage to the elders, and the king smiled joyfully, looking at the cheerful games of his favorite.
Several years have passed - time flies quickly! - and the king died. Before his last breath, he left as his heir not his eldest son, but his youngest, Khushkiyar.
The eldest sons, having gathered in the evening, began to think about how they could get rid of Khushkiyar: even during his father’s life he had been a darling, but now he had become a king. They talked for a long time and went home late at night.
The next morning the brothers gathered again and invited Khushkiyar to go hunting with them. Khushkiyar loved to hunt and therefore happily agreed.
The brothers left the palace in the evening and drove slowly to the mountains. There, among the green trees, they set up a camp, pitched a tent here, and they themselves went even higher into the mountains,
Khushkiyar rides, not suspecting anything, singing funny songs and looking around. They drove not far away, and then the brothers attacked Khushkiyar. At first he was surprised, and then rage boiled within him. Khushkiyar swung, and the unfaithful brothers flew away from him like flies.
Khushkiyar turned his horse and rushed home with all his strength. He arrived at the palace, came to his mother and told her about the treachery of his brothers. “They wanted to kill me and they will probably kill me if I stay here.” I'll leave here...
The mother did not answer anything, because she understood the danger that threatened her beloved son.
Khushkiyar got ready for a long journey and said goodbye to his mother. And then she told him:
- Farewell, my son! I will pray to Allah for you day and night. Remember about me, and I will be waiting for you. And don’t back down in difficult matters, because you are an Afghan!
Khushkiyar kissed his mother, took with him only his father’s saber, jumped on a fast horse, and soon only a small cloud of dust hovered high in the mountains.
Khushkiyar was riding and thinking: “Where should I go? If only I could find a friend, it would be easier on the road!” Khushkiyar rode for a long time, it was already getting dark, and then he decided to look at the brave Adam Khan Mu-takheyl.
And Khushkiyar turned his horse towards Peshawar.
For several days and nights, through the midday heat and the cool of the night, Khushkiyar rode and finally stopped near an endless clover field. The horse stands dejectedly - he is tired and hungry. Khushkiyar got off him and let his faithful horse graze in the clover.
The horse immediately came to life: the miracle clover was very tasty!
Suddenly Khushkiyar sees a man running towards him across the field, running, waving his arms and shouting something. He ran up to Khushkiyar and shouted menacingly:
- Hey you, stranger! Adam Khan is still alive! Why are you letting your despicable horse into his field?!
- Forgive me, but my horse is very hungry and tired after a long journey. What to do? I need to feed him! - Khushkiyar answered cheerfully, rejoicing that he had already reached the possessions of Adam Khan.
But Bilo was not at all peaceful. He attacked Khushkiyar with abuse. Then Khushkiyar smiled again, rose from the soft grass, and took Bilo by the neck. Yes, he hit him so hard on the ground that all his courage immediately disappeared. Bilo jumped up from the ground and, like a hare, ran without looking back. And Khushkiyar laughed so hard after him that Bilo’s hair stood on end with fear.
He ran to Adam Khan, neither alive nor dead, and said:
- O lord! A strange horse is grazing in a clover field. The man who let him in is impudent and dissolute. He said things about you that would make my tongue dry out if I repeated them here.
Adam Khan was surprised and replied:
- The fact that he let his horse into the field is not a problem. Apparently, this traveler is traveling from afar and his horse is tired. But he says insolent things about me - I won’t tolerate this!
Adam Khan got angry, took his saber and went to the field. He sees a beautiful young man sitting among the flowers and smiling. He saw Adam Khan, stood up from the ground and bowed to him politely.
Adam Khan told him:
- O companion, may good luck be with you! I heard that you were saying bad things about me and swearing angrily. Is this true?
- I am an Afghan, oh stranger! Can an Afghan be the first to scold someone?
The worthy answer pleased Adam Khan. He extended his hands to Khushkiyar and said:
- Don’t be angry with me, O traveler! Let's go to my palace. You are my brother by blood!
They came to the palace. Adam Khan ordered to settle Khushkiyar in the best chambers, feed and give the handsome young man the richest clothes.
Khushkiyar had a good rest. That's when Adam Khan asked him:
- Well, now tell me who you are, where you come from and where you are going.
- O lord, I am from the family of Kandahar Khushaks. And my name is Khushkiyar. And I’m going to the beautiful and courageous Adam Khan, whose fame resounds everywhere.
Adam Khan smiled and answered Khushkiyar like this:
- So you came to me, my friend. I have forty friends - brave warriors. Well, now I will have another friend - Khushkiyar.
Soon the fame of Khushkiyar spread among all the Mutaheils. And Adam Khan and Khushkiyar fell in love with each other so much that they were together everywhere, like brothers.
Once Khushkiyar saw in a dream the beautiful Shatirin, the daughter of the leader of a noble and rich family. He dreamed of Shatirin because he had heard a lot about her extraordinary beauty. And also because long ago, when Khushkiyar’s father was still alive, Shatirin’s father asked his father to marry their children. And although it was a long time ago, Khushkiyar remembered everything well.
And now, in a dream, Shatirin came to him and said:
– I live near a huge mountain in a beautiful palace! She wanted to say something else, but Khushkiyar woke up and opened his eyes.
Since then, Khushkiyar lost peace, became sad, and melancholy lurked in his beautiful eyes.
Adam Khan immediately saw that his Khushkiyar was sad, and understood his sadness in a brotherly way: after all, he was completely alone, and none of his relatives were around... And the noble Adam Khan said this:
- O Khushkiyar, my beloved brother! You know that I have a beautiful sister, right?
Khushkiyar nodded his head absentmindedly.
“So, I’m giving her to you as a wife.” Khushkiyar smiled sadly and replied:
- O almighty Adam Khan! You are my beloved brother. Your sister is my sister. How can I take her as my wife?
And, after a pause, he said sadly:
– I yearn for the beautiful Shatirin... I dreamed about her, and since then I have had no peace.
- So do you want me to bring her to you? – asked Adam Khan.
- No, my brother. For what? What if she doesn't love me? I’d rather go to her alone... If only you would give me your magic horse Majloun!
Adam Khan shook his head:
- I’ll give you a horse. But look, she is the daughter of a powerful khan. How can you cope with everyone there alone?
- Nothing! – Khushkiyar exclaimed joyfully and began to get ready for the journey.
Khushkiyar rode for a long time and finally saw the towers of a huge palace in the distance. He stopped his horse near a small house and entered it. He sees an old woman sitting by the fireplace. Khushkiyar approached her and, without saying a word, threw her a bag of gold coins. The old woman was delighted, mumbled her toothless mouth and turned to Khushkiyar with a question:
“What do you need, O young man, whose eyes are as beautiful as two stars?”
- Tell me, how can I see the beautiful Shatirin?
- Eh, it’s a simple matter, young man. Every morning I pick flowers and take them to the garden where Shatirin walks. “But then the old woman looked at Khushkiyar and added with caution: “Do you know that she is betrothed to Karam Khan?” There's going to be a wedding soon, and everyone in the area is looking forward to it.
Khushkiyar was saddened. He asked the old woman:
– Does Shatirin love Karam Khan?
- How do I know, young man? Only two people know such things...
“Your news is tantamount to death for me.” Won't you help me? – Khushkiyar asked and gave the old woman a few more coins. She quickly hid the money and agreed.
“I’ll pick flowers for my beloved myself, and you take them to her tomorrow morning.”
And Khushkiyar made a wonderful bouquet of the most beautiful flowers. And among the flowers, so that the old woman would not notice, he hid a small note in which he wrote this:
“O beloved! I am the same Khushkiyar who, as a child, was named your groom. My heart yearns in separation from you.”
The next morning the old woman came to the garden and handed the bouquet to Shatirin, who sat sadly by the fountain, listening to the murmur of the water.
The girl was delighted when she saw the wonderful bouquet, pressed it to her chest and lowered her beautiful head into the flowers.
Great was her surprise when she saw a tiny note there.
Shatirin ran into the bushes, hid there and unfolded the note. Her heart beat rapidly, and a blush of embarrassment and joy appeared on her tender cheeks.
The girl returned to the old woman and asked her who made this bouquet.
“One wonderful wanderer,” whispered the old woman, looking around.
- Bring him to me! – the girl asked just as quietly.
- What are you talking about, my beauty! If your father finds out about this, O Shatirin, I won’t blow my head off then! - the old woman wailed.
But the girl kept saying: “Bring him to me!” – and didn’t want to hear about anything else.
The old woman came home all in tears and told Khush-kiyar what Shatirin ordered her to do:
- Oh young man! Don't do what Shatirin asks! After all, if they find out about this, Karam Khan will kill me! Who will protect me then?
Khushkiyar answered her:
- Don't cry, my mother. I will protect you. And no one will know anything...
And the next morning a young fakir came to the palace and, holding out his knapsack, asked for alms.
Shatirin came out of her chambers, saw a handsome young man and threw him a gold coin.
Looking around, Khushkiyar (and it was he) whispered:
- O beloved, the knapsack is for cunning, and I am for you. Why do I need gold? I need you.
“Go into the garden, there’s no one there,” Shatirin whispered and ran into the rooms.
Khushkiyar came to the garden and began to wait for his beloved to come out to him.
And then the beautiful Shatirin came out to him and asked:
- What do you want, oh beautiful young man?
“I want you to kiss me, my beloved Shatirin!”
Shatirin became embarrassed and became like a scarlet rose. She whispered quietly:
- I have a wedding tomorrow.
- Oh, Allah will help! – Khushkiyar laughed. - Just tell me, do you love me?
“I love you,” Shatirin said barely audibly and lowered her head even lower.
Khushkiyar rejoiced, his heart beat with happiness, and he said this:
“Tomorrow I will come to the wedding and take you away from Karam Khan.”
- What are you talking about, beloved! After all, you are alone, and there are many of them!
- But you love me, that means I will emerge victorious!
“I’m ready to give my life for you and go to death with you,” the girl answered quietly. And Khushkiyar loved her even more for these words, so much that joy burst from his chest.
“Then let’s run away now!” - he suggested.
- No. I can't leave the palace, they're watching me. Let's do this better: tomorrow morning come to the tomb of my grandfather and grandmother. I’ll try to ask my father for time off, and you and I will run away.
That's what they decided.
All night long Khushkiyar waited impatiently for the morning. As soon as the stars went out in the sky, Khushkiyar washed himself, put on his best outfit and, saying goodbye to the old woman, went to the appointed place.
So the sun has risen, but Shatirin is still not there. Khushkiyar's heart sank, and he decided to go to the palace himself.
Meanwhile, Shatirin put on a wedding dress, pinned sparkling emeralds to her chest, put a pearl necklace on her neck, and priceless bracelets and rings on her hands.
Karam Khan’s relatives also arrived. There is merriment in the palace, everyone is waiting for the solemn moment when the bride will be handed over to Karam Khan.
Shatirin looks at all this, and smiles in her heart. She approached her father and told him this:
- Oh my dear father! Today I will become the wife of a mighty warrior. But I have not yet been to the grave of my dear grandfather and grandmother. Let me go to their tomb and say goodbye to them!
And Shatirin said so sadly that her father was touched and wiped away a tear.
“Go to them, daughter, go, dear,” he said, hugged his daughter and pressed her to his chest.
As soon as Shatirin was about to leave the castle, her friends ran up to her and everyone vying with each other began to ask to take a walk with her. No matter how much Shatirin refused, no matter how much she said that she wanted to go alone, the girls did not listen to her. Laughing loudly, they continued to beg Shatirin.
The father, looking at them with a smile, shouted:
- Take them, daughter, let them go with you!
There was nothing left for Shatirin to do.
They all walked out of the gate together and slowly walked towards the tomb. Then Shatirin took off her pearl necklace, hung it on a juniper bush and said to her friends:
- Whichever of you reaches the necklace first, I will give it to him!
The girls rushed to the juniper bush, they all clung to it, the necklace fell apart, and the girls, falling to the ground, began to collect tiny pearls with laughter.
And Shatirin rushed to the tomb. Shatirin runs like a young gazelle, the wind caresses her face, her eyes glow with happiness.
Suddenly she sees the sad Khushkiyar coming towards her, and behind him is the glorious horse Majlyun.
- Oh Khushkiyar! – Shatirin shouted. - Let's run quickly!
Khushkiyar rejoiced, grabbed his Shatirin in his arms, put her on his horse behind him, whipped Madjlyun, and the horse rushed like an arrow along the winding mountain road, carrying off the two lovers.
Meanwhile, the girls collected all the pearls, looked around, but Shatirin was not there! Only a cloud of dust swirls far away in the mountains, and you can still see a huge horse galloping with two riders.
The girls ran to the palace, threw themselves on their knees in front of Father Shatirin and Karam Khan and shouted:
- Oh woe, woe! Hurry, Karam Khan! Your bride has been taken away! Hurry up and go in pursuit!
Father Shatirin became angry, flashed his eyes and shouted menacingly:
- Hey, servants! Catch up with the fugitives immediately! Go in pursuit and don't come back without them!
Then Karam Khan stood up, straightened his mighty shoulders and said:
- There is no need to send servants, O Khan! I will go alone and bring back my bride.
But then his nephew stepped forward:
- Allow me, O Karam Khan, to go alone. I will kill the thief and bring you Shatirin.
Karam Khan thought and agreed.
The nephew jumped on his horse and rushed out of the palace. Soon he saw that Shatirin was walking next to a tall and handsome young man, and a huge horse was following him and nibbling the grass. He caught up with them, stopped his horse and shouted:
- Stop, oh despicable one! Give Shatirin back, and go back where you came from.
Shatirin pressed herself against Khushkiyar's mighty chest. And Khushkiyar smiled and answered like this:
“You are still very young, oh young man.” Don't seek death for yourself. Let's go back and say hello. Otherwise it will be bad for you!
With these words, Khushkiyar grabbed his saber from its sheath and waved it in the air.
The nephew got scared and ran away. He ran to Karam Khan and told him everything.
Karam Khan spat in annoyance, looked with contempt at the coward and rushed after him.
Already far in the mountains he overtook Shatirin and Khushkiyar. He sees that Khushkiyar is strong and beautiful. But there is nothing to do. Karam Khan took his saber out of its sheath and rushed at Khushkiyar.
Two strong warriors fought for a long time. The huge horse Majlyun, killed by Karam Khan, has already fallen without breathing. Then Karam Khan reared his horse, rose in his stirrups and wanted to cut Khushkiyar in half, but that was not the case. The valiant warrior dodged the blow and hit Karam Khan so hard that he fell from his horse and could no longer rise.
And Khushkiyar jumped onto Karam Khan’s horse, lifted the beautiful Shatirin into his saddle, and they rushed to the palace of Adam Khan.
Adam Khan himself met them at the gates of his palace, along with his faithful servants Bilo and Miro. And from then on, Khushkiyar and Shatirin began to live and have a family in the palace of Adam Khan.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru