REGIONAL FOLKTALES OF PAKISTAN SINDHI KASHMIRI PUNJABI PASHTU

1. REGIONAL
FOLKTALES OF
PAKISTAN
LAIBA NOOR
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2. FOLK
TALES
SINDHI
PUNJABI
KASHMIRI
PASHTU

3. FOLKLORE
Punjabis have a rich mythology and folklore
that includes folktales, songs, ballads, epics,
and romances. Much of the folk tradition is
oral, passed on through the generations by
traditional peasant singers, mystics, and
wandering gypsies. Many folk tales are sung
to the accompaniment of music. There are
songs for birth and marriage, love songs,
songs of war, and songs glorifying legendary
heroes of the past. The Mahiya is a romantic
song of the Punjab. Sehra Bandi is a marriage
song, and Mehndi songs are sung when henna
(a red dye) is being applied to the bride and
groom in preparation for marriage. Heera
Ranjha and Mirza Sahiban are folk romances
known in every Punjab household. Wandering
Sufi (Islamic mysticism) clergymen are well
known in the Punjab for their poetry and
music. They contributed a verse form that
became special in Punjabi literature. The
mixture of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim themes in
Punjabi folklore mirrors the presence of these
religious traditions in the region.
TALES
• Mirza Sahiba by Peelu
• Heer Ranjha by Waris Shah
• Sohni Mahiwal by Fazal
shah
• Syyed Sassi Punnun by
Hasham Shah
• Sucha Singh Soorma
• Jeona Morh by Bhagwan
Singh
• Shirin Farhad Pooran
Bhagat by Kadaryaar Kehar
• Singh Ram Kaur Sham
Kaur, Sham Singh,
• Sham Lal Dhol Sammi
• Yusuf and Zulaikha by
Hafiz Barkhurdar
• Laila Majnu
• Kaulan Dulla Bhatti
• Manu Guggu
• Ustaad Harman
• Jatt Parmz
PUNJABI
FOLKLORE

4. MIRZA SAHIBA

5. A long time ago, in the village of Khewa, a town in the Sial Territory of Punjab, there was a woman who gave birth to a baby
boy. Unfortunately, she died after giving birth so she was not able to give milk to her son. However, there was another woman
nearby who had recently given birth to a girl. This woman took it upon herself to help the little boy. She fed this boy as she did
her own daughter.
Thus, as is the custom for such occasions, these two children became “milk siblings” because they were given the same milk to
drink. Later as the children became adults, the girl, named Fateh Bibi, got married and moved a day’s journey on horseback
away to the village of Danababad near present-day Faisalabad. Fateh Bibi married a man named Wanjal and they had a
strong son named Mirza.
Meanwhile, Fateh Bibi’s milk brother, no longer a boy but a man named Khewa Khan, stayed in his village. He also married
and had a daughter named Sahiba.
When it was time to enroll the young children in school, Mirza’s parents had decided to send him to his “milk uncle’s” house so
he could get educated there. Sahiba’s father enrolled her and her “cousin” into classes to learn the Quran together since they
were of the same age.
Mirza did not know that his “cousin” Sahiba was such a beauty one can only dream of beholding. He did not notice her at first
when he came to Khewa to study because they were just children. But as the two children grew into adolescence, feelings of
love began to blossom between the two.
One day, while walking back from school, the adventurous, young Mirza took a different path home. On that street there was a
bazaar. Here he saw Sahiba buying some vegetables for her family. He watched as she asked for various squashes and
leaves to cook. When the merchant began to weigh her purchases, he weighed out extra because he was lost in her
beauty. Mirza, too, was transfixed by her gracefulness and raced all the way home fueled by love.
As he grew older, Mirza learned to be a skilled horseman and archer. He rode on a powerful steed named Bakki who swiftly
maneuvered through the land. Mirza was so skillful that every arrow he shot would willfully go exactly where he
wanted. Sahiba only grew more and more beautiful with time.

6. Soon, their love began to blossom. Mirza could not live without his Sahiba. They were lost in their own world. Once, when Sahiba had
pronounced her lessons incorrectly, her maulvi beat her with a chimmak. This thin branch gives a person a burning sting when swatted with
it. As Sahiba received her punishment with the chimmak, she spoke to the maulvi.
“Why are you burning me with this punishment when I’m already burning with love?”
Sadly, their days of blissful love did not last. Sahiba’s parents found out about the love affair and sent Mirza back home to his parents. Not too
long after that, they arranged Sahiba’s marriage to a man named Tahir Khan. He was from the same town. With Mirza back home, Sahiba’s
parents were able to prepare for the wedding without any interruptions.
Sahiba, via her friend, a Brahmin named Kammu, sent word of her unfortunate marriage to her darling Mirza. As soon as he heard of this, he
made plans to leave. His family tried to stop him but he would not succumb to their pleas. He had to go. Before Mirza left, his father, seeing that
there was no other way, went to Mirza and told him that if he went, then he must be sure to return with Sahiba or else it would bring great
dishonor. With those words, Wanjal gave his son his blessings to pursuit his love.
“Chal, my Bakki,” Mirza, equipped with his bow and arrows, commanded his horse to ride on to the village of Khewa.
Mirza reached Sahiba on the day of the wedding right before the ceremony was about to proceed. He opened to door to the room Sahiba was
waiting in and entered secretly. He admired her; she was dressed in bright red wedding clothes, her delicate hands darkly painted
with mehndi. Without waiting another moment, he held her hand and took her away with him on horseback and rode until he thought that they
had reached a safe distance. Tired, he decided to rest by under the shade of a tree while his sweet Sahiba watched over him.
Meanwhile, back at the wedding party, Sahiba brothers called for her to come down to proceed with the ceremonies. When she did not come, her
brothers realized that something was wrong. Sahiba’s brothers, the jilted bridegroom, and other male cousins rode on horseback in search for
Mirza and Sahiba.
Sahiba, while keeping watch over her slumbering beloved, feared that her brother would soon catch up. She did not know what to do. If her
brothers came and Mirza woke up then her brothers would be sure to die at the hands of Mirza’s quick arrows.
With the hope of her brother taking pity on her, Sahiba reached Mirza’s quiver and broke each sharp arrow it contained in half. She believed that
no blood would be spilled this way. Suddenly, Sahiba’s brother and relatives found the couple under the tree. With one quick shot from Sahiba’s
brother’s bow, Mirza awoke to an arrow piercing his throat. Mirza reached for his arrow and saw all the broken pieces. He looked up at Sahiba,
searching for an answer in her face but was struck with yet another arrow, this time in the chest. Sahiba threw herself over him and together,
they died.

7. kashmiri
FOLKLORE
TALES
Kashmiri folklore (Kashmiri: ‫ﮐﺸﻤﯿﺮ‬
‫ی‬
‫ﻟﻮ‬
‫ک‬
) are folk traditions which have
developed in Azad Jammu and
Kashmir over a number of
centuries. Kashmiri is rich in
Persian words and has a vast
number of proverbs, riddles and
idiomatic sayings that are
frequently employed in everyday
conversation. Folk heroes and
folktales reflect the social and
political history of the Kashmiri
people and their quest for a society
based on the principles of justice
and equality.
Layak Tchoor –
The Legend of Himal and Nagrai
(Himal Nagraya)
Shireen Farhad
Aka Nandun
Gul Noor

8. THE LEGEND OF HIMAL AND
NAGRAI

9. THE LEGEND OF HIMAL AND NAGRAI
Long long ago there lived a poor Brahman in Kashmir named Soda Ram. Fortune had yoked him to a wife who
was ambitious and discontented. She always grumbled for lack of the many requirements of material prosperity
and called her husband a foolish drone. She had a terrible tongue which was used to a devastating effect
against her husband and became sharper and progressively vitriolic in that exercise. Soda Ram was sick of her
and would very much have liked to get rid of her but found no way out. One day when his wife asked him to go
to a not distant place to receive alms from a king, he jumped at the proposal, as that would give him a welcome
respite for a few days. He left his home carrying a little food in a small wallet. Travelling some distance in the
hot sun he felt tired. Luckily he came to a shady grove of trees near a spring. He put down his small bundle,
took his rough meal and lay down for a little rest. Before Soda Ram resumed his journey he saw a serpent
come out of the spring and enter the little wallet he carried. An idea flashed across his mind he would carry the
serpent home to sting his wife and thus get rid of her. With trembling hands he closed the mouth of the wallet
with a string and returned home with a light heart. "I have got a precious gift for you," Soda Ram shouted to his
wife when he reached home. At first she would not believe it as her husband was the last man to do things that
pleased her heart.
However, having persuaded her that his bag held the gift, he gave it to her, stepped out of the room and closed
the door from outside. When the Brahman lady opened the bag the serpent popped its head out. She shrieked
and ran to the door. But it did not open and Soda Ram said, "Let it sting you for aught I care!" The serpent
apparently spared the woman and a miracle room and the serpent changed into a little male baby. Even Soda
Ram was wonderstruck against his better knowledge. It was a piece of good fortune beyond the wildest dreams
of his wife.

10. In course of time the baby grew into a boy, the beloved of his foster parents to whom he brought great prosperity.
He came to be known as Nagrai, the king of serpents. One day he asked his father to take him to a spring of pure
water where he wanted to take a bath. His father told him that there was only one such spring but that belonged to
the princess and was surrounded by lofty walls. It was so heavily guarded, he told him, that not even a bird was
permitted to take flight over it. But Nagrai's curiosity was fanned and he persuaded his father to take him to the
outer wall. Reaching there the boy turned into a serpent, crept in through a crevice into the wall, satisfied his
craving for a bath in the limpid spring and returned quietly unobserved. The next day the illustrious Himal, the
daughter of the king, observed that some one had taken a bath in the spring as she had heard the splashing of
water. But neither the maids nor the guards had seen any one. Nagrai repeated his visit the next day undetected;
but on the day after, Himal caught a glimpse of the intruder and was enthralled by his looks. Her father did not mind
her marrying the young man of her own choice but it was ridiculous and humiliating for him to have a poor Brahman
for his son-in-law. "How can I show my face to the fellow princes of my caste, or to the courtiers and wazirs?" he
reprimanded her. But she was dead set on it. She refused to touch her food or make her toilet till the king granted
her her boon. In a few days, realizing the futility of his resistance her father sent for Soda Ram. The latter was
already appalled when he stepped into the palace but was utterly perplexed when the king mentioned the subject of
the alliance. "I am a poor Brahman, Sire," he said, "and how can I be worthy of such a peerless daughter-in-law."
But even he found himself helpless as Nagrai compelled him to give his consent to the alliance which he did
reluctantly. As the wedding day approached Soda Ram was enveloped in gloom. "What a sorry figure shall we cut,"
he told everyone "when we lead the wedding party into the palace!" But Nagrai told him not to have any anxiety on
this score. On the wedding day he gave him a piece of birchbark inscribed with a message and asked him to drop it
in a spring. When Soda Ram returned home he felt dazed as he saw a gorgeous palace where he expected his
poor hut. He felt convinced that he had lost his way. He also heard the beating of drums and the skirting of pipes
inside, and saw caparisoned horses and elephants, guards with glittering uniforms and retainers. From inside came
Nagrai befittingly dressed as a princely bridegroom and assured him that all was ready. The whole city was agog
with music, feasting and revelry in honour of the wedding of Himal and Nagrai. A new palace was built for them on
the river bank where they lived happily.

11. They were, however, not destined to enjoy their happiness for long. The serpent wives of Nagrai felt forlorn in his
absence in the nether world and made efforts to trace him out. One of them assumed the human form and made
inquiries after her husband and learnt of his marriage with Himal. To remind him of his attachment to his serpent-wives
she had carried with her a few rare golden vessels of his. Approaching the mansion of Himal she began to hawk her
wares. Himal was attracted by her curios and purchased them at a throw-away price. When Nagrai returned she
displayed to him the curios. He at once understood the mischief of his serpent-wives, broke the vessels to splinters and
warned Himal not to succumb to the tempting talk of such women again. She was puzzled but kept quiet. Another
serpent wife tried a different trick when the first failed. Disguising herself as a cobbler-woman she approached Himal
and asked her if she knew of her husband Nagrai the cobbler. "Nagrai is my husband," replied Himal, "but he is a
Brahman, son of Soda Ram." "I don't know about that," said the other, "what I know is that Nagrai is my husband and is
a cobbler by caste." She saw from Himal's face that her words were beginning to have effect. She added, "You may ask
him his caste. But to make sure you may set him the trial. Ask him to plunge into a spring of milk. His body will sink if he
be a Brahman. A cobbler's body will float on the surface." When Nagrai came home Himal asked him to state his caste.
He understood that she had been befouled by the serpent-wives and told her so but she insisted that he should
undergo the trial to convince her of his caste. All his arguments failed to convince her that it was a trap laid down by her
enemies. Ultimately he was induced to face the trial to allay her misgivings. He dipped his feet in a spring full of milk
and was pulled down by his serpent-wives. When his knees were immersed he said, "Himal, are you satisfied?" She
was not. When his thighs were also immersed he repeated the question but she said nothing. He appealed to Himal
again and again when the surface of milk reached his navel, his chest and his chin but her misgivings about his caste
were not cleared yet. She realized the gravity of the situation when he was immersed to his forehead. She sprang and
tried to pull him out by the tuft of hair on his head. But it was too late. Nagrai disappeared under the milk and Himal was
left only with a tuft of hair in her hand. Himal was left forlorn. Her grief was beyond words and nothing could console
her. She was in dismay and sorrow. The worst of it was that her own folly led to her undoing. To expiate her stupidity
she decided to give all her wealth in charity. Everyday she relieved the distress of scores of men and women and gave
away everything she had in silver, gold and jewels till only a golden mortar and pestle was left with her. Once an old
man and his daughter came to her for alms. She served them food and he narrated to her a tale that filled her with
excitement. He told her that one night he and his daughter lay under a tree near a spring.

12. Himal persuaded the old man to take her to the spring and rewarded him with the remnants of her wealth, the golden mortar and
pestle. At night with her own eyes she saw the series of events narrated by the old man. Her nerves were tense and her heart
was racing. When Nagrai came out of the spring she prostrated herself at his feet. Nagrai was overcome with emotion but he
was afraid that his serpent wives would kill Himal if he took her to his abode. He consoled her and advised her to wait for a
month or so till he could make some arrangement for her stay. Himal would brook no further separation from him and coiled
herself round his legs. She had no experience of these affairs and revealed herself to be a clumsy and uncouth cook. One day,
while pouring boiled milk into basins to cool it for the serpent children, her ladle accidentally struck one of the vessels. The
serpent children mistook it for the usual breakfast gong.. As a result they died of burns.. They stung Himal and she died
immediately. Nagrai was overwhelmed with grief but he was helpless. He washed the body of Himal and under presence of
cremating it carried it through the spring. He was so moved by his affection for Himal that he could not stand the idea of
consigning it to the flames. Instead, he embalmed it and stretched it on a bed which he placed in a tree nearby. Now and then
he would come out of the spring and remorsefully look on the beauty of the dead form Not long after, a holy man happened to
come to the spring and saw the dead body. He was so impressed by the beauty of Himal and the devotion of Nagrai that he
gave the body the gift of life. He then carried Himal to his home where the holy man's son was fascinated with her beauty and
not knowing her story set his heart on marrying her. A couple of days later Nagrai came once again out of the spring to draw
consolation from a sight of Himal's body. He was grieved to find the body missing and sought to solve the mystery before
retiring. He traced her ultimately to the holy man's hut where she was lying asleep and was delighted to find her living once
again. He did not want to disturb her while asleep and, therefore, coiled himself near the bed of Himal till she would wake up. In
the meantime, the holy man's son entered the cottage and was alarmed to see the snake. He at once killed the snake. Himal
woke up in this commotion, realized the significance of the snake and bewailed its unnatural death. "She had the dead snake
cremated and ascending the funeral pyre committed herself to the flames as sati. r. The holy man was especially remorseful
because it was in his hut where Nagrai out of love for Himal had lost his life and this had led to the self-immolation of Himal also.
He felt deeply concerned. One day, while he was brooding over this question he heard two birds talking about the love, devotion
and sacrifice of Himal and Nagrai. The female bird said to her consort, "Can they ever regain their human form?" "Verily so"
replied the latter, "if their ashes are thrown into the spring." The holy man realized that the two birds were none else than Shiva
and Parvati. He at once threw the ashes into the spring. Himal and Nagrai came to life in their human form once again and lived
without further mishap ever after.

13. sindhi
FOLKLORE
Sindhi folklore : Sindhi folklore Sindhi folklore (Sindhi: ‫ﻟﻮ‬
‫ادب‬ ‫ڪ‬
) are
folk traditions which have developed in Sindh over a number of
centuries. Sindh abounds with folklore, in all forms, and colors from
such obvious manifestations as the traditional Watayo Faqir tales, the
legend of Moriro, epic tale of Dodo Chanesar, to the heroic character
of Marui which distinguishes it among the contemporary folklores of
the region. The love story of Sassui, who pines for her lover Punhu, is
known and sung in every Sindhi settlement. examples of the folklore
of Sindh include the stories of Umar Marui and Suhuni Mehar. Sindhi
folk singers and women play a vital role to transmit the Sindhi folklore.
They sang the folktales of Sindh in songs with passion in every village
of Sindh. Sindhi folklore has been compiled in a series of forty
volumes under Sindhi Adabi Board's project of folklore and literature.
This valuable project was accomplished by noted Sindhi scholar Nabi
Bux Khan Baloch. The material for the project has been collected both
from the oral traditions village folks and the written record. This
folklore series deals with diverse segments Sindhi folklore and
literature, i.e., fables and fairy-tales, pseudo-historical romances, folk-
poetry, folk songs, proverbs, riddles, etc

14. SINDHI TALES
The most famous Sindhi folk tales are known as the Seven
Heroines ( ‫ﺳﻮ‬ ‫ﺳﺖ‬
‫ر‬
‫ﻣﯿﻮ‬
‫ن‬
) of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
• Umar Marui
• Sassui Punhun
• Lilan Chanesar
• Noori Jam Tamachi
• Sorath Rai Diyach
• Momal Rano

15. SASSI PHUNNU

16. SASI PUHNU
Sassi was the daughter of the King of Bhamboor (it is in Sindh whose ruins can be seen today). Upon
Sassi’s birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Queen
ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the river Indus. A washerman of the
Bhambour village found the wooden box and the child in the box. The washerman believed the child
was a blessing from God and took her home. As he had no child of his own, he decided to adopt her.
Punnun Khan, the son of King Mir Hoth Khan (Hoth, a famous Baloch tribe in Makran (Balochistan).
King Hoth was son of Mir Jalal Khan main Baloch leader and elder of Talpur, Rind, Lashari, Hoth,
Khosa and Marri people of today) of Kicham (Kech).
When Sassi became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty
reached Punnu and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince of Makran
therefore travelled to Bhambour. He sent his clothes to Sassi’s father (a washerman) so that he could
catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman’s house, they fell in love at first sight.
Sassi’s father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. Sassi’s
father asked Punnu to prove that he was worthy of Sassi by passing the test as a washerman. Punnu
agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never
washed any clothes. he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold
coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked,
and Sassi’s father agreed to the marriage.

17. Punnu’s father and brothers were against the his marriage to Sassi (Punnu being a prince and she
being a washerman’s daughter), and so, for their father’s sake, Punnu’s brothers traveled to
Bhambhoor. First they threatened Punnu but when he didn’t relent, they tried more devious
methods.Punnu was surprised to see his brothers supporting his marriage and on the first night, they
pretended to enjoy and participate in the marriage celebrations and forced Punnu to drink different
types of wines. When he was intoxicated they carried him on a camel’s back and returned to their
hometown of Kech Makran.
The next morning, when Sassi realized that she was cheated, she became mad with the grief of
separation from her lover and ran barefoot towards the town of Kich Makran. To reach it, she had to
cross miles of desert. Alone, she continued her journey until her feet were blistered and her lips were
parched from crying “Punnu, Punnu!” The journey was full of dangerous hazards, which lead to her
demise. Punnu’s name was on Sassi’s lips throughout the journey. She was thirsty, there she saw a
shepherd coming out of a hut. He gave her some water to drink. Seeing her incredible beauty, dirty
lustful thoughts came into his mind, and he tried to force himself on Sassi. Sassi ran away and
prayed to God to hide her and when God listened to her prayers, land shook and split and Sassi
found herself buried in the valley of mountains. When Punnu woke he was himself in Makran he
could not stop himself from running back to Bhambhoor. On the way he called out “Sassi, Sassi!” to
which the shepherd replied. The shepherd told Punnu the whole story. Then Punnu also lamented the
same prayer, the land shook and split again and he was also buried in the same mountain valley as
Sassi. The legendary grave still exists in this valley. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in
his sufi poetry as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

18. pashtu
FOLKLORE
Pashtun folklore (Pashto: ‫ﭘﺘﻮ‬
‫ن‬
‫ﻟﻮ‬
‫ک‬
)
are folk traditions which have
developed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
over a number of centuries, as well
as parts of eastern Afghanistan
TALES
Adam Khan and Durkhanai
Yusuf Khan and Sherbano

19. ADAM KHAN AND DURKHANAI

20. Adam Khan and Durkhanai
Adam Khan was from Kooza (lower) Bazdara and Durkhanai was from Upper Bazdara. Adam Khan the son of
Hasan Khan was a very handsome young man and by all accounts seems to have been a spoiled young man
who had nothing better to do than walk around his village with his friends.
Durkhanai daughter of Taus Khan was an extra ordinarily beautiful young woman who was very intelligent to
boot. Not having a son Taus Khan showed incredible open mindedness for his times when he indulged his
daughter by providing her learned tutors who schooled her in all there was to learn. She did obey local custom
and culture by keeping strict purdah, not only would she be veiled but also took the step of sitting behind a
screen and having an elderly servant sit there to chaperon them at all times.A man named Payu Khan heard of
the beauty of Durkhanai and her love for knowledge, he fell in love with her without ever seeing or meeting her.
His love made him pale and he took to bed pining away for a woman he could only fantasize about. His father
on seeing him waste away worriedly inquired as to what ailed him.
Payu Khan revealed the cause of his pale pallor and fast pulse. His father laughed at his predicament and told
him not to worry and that before the day was over he personally promised that Durkhanai would only and only
be betrothed to Payu Khan.A formal proposal was sent to Taus Khan's house for the hand of Durkhanai. Payu
Khan's family was of good stock and a positive reply was sent back. Thus Durkhanai found herself engaged to
a man who though madly in love with her she had not seen either. A date for the wedding was set in the near
future.Durkhanai had an aunt in Upper Bazdara, whose daughter was getting married. Having spent many
happy days together when they were children running around bare headed in the streets, it was natural that
Durkhanai would want to attend her wedding.Taus Khan refused to let her go on the grounds that she was now
promised to another, and it would not be right. Durkhanai's aunt made enough of a fuss that she took
Durkhanai with her when she left, the aunt promised that no harm would befall his precious daughter.
the wedding everyone was enchanted by the grace and beauty of Durkhanai and all remarked how lucky Payu
was to have such an intelligent wife.

21. That evening the women gathered near the outer wall of the house that was adjoined to the hujra. The grooms
friends had gathered there and were singing couplets and ballads accompanied to the beautiful tunes of the
rabab. The rabab's melody touched Durkhanai's very soul and she found her self mesmerized. She felt her self
drown in the music and uttered, “Oh how the music moves the very strings of my heart.” Her cousin laughed at
her and said “Oh Durkhanai, you have to get a glimpse of this man, his name is Adam Khan and he is as
handsome as he sounds.”
The other women present there were as equally hypnotized and a small conspiracy formed that if they took
turns and helped each other up they would all get a glimpse of the legendary musician. The commotion they
caused did not go unnoticed and as they were taking turns not only Adam Khan, but the whole gathering
chanced to glance up as Durkhanai lifted her head over the wall.All men present let out a collective gasp as
they gazed at her beauty and some swore that the 99% of the worlds beauty alone was in the small beauty
spot that was on Durkhanai's brow. But Durkhanai had only eyes for Adam Khan, so surprised was she by this
unexpected attraction that she fell down. When she was taken to a bed she lay face down trembling with a
feeling she could not explain.
Her cousin got married but Durkhanai could not get out of bed. Her days and nights were consumed by that
one glimpse that she had of Adam Khan.Adam Khan was not unaffected either, he was as love struck and he
swore that there was only one woman for him and that was Durkhanai. Now this was a very shameful thing to
say, because all knew that Durkhanai was betrothed to Payu and that meant she was good as married for the
Pukhtun never go back on their word.Hasan Khan hearing of his sons foolish statement went immediately to
get his son and talk some sense into him.
Durkhani went on to her home and both were restless, especially Adam Khan. He refused food and drink, only
staring into the sky and talking to himself. He sometimes compared his beloved to the sun and sometimes to
the moon and he would sadly shake his head saying that Durkhanai far outshone the moon the stars and the
sun. He would bemoan the fact that it hurt to breathe and that just thinking of Durkhanai was making his heart
beat so fast he could no longer stand it.

22. His friends no longer able to stand his misery set out to arrange a meeting for the star struck lovers. They
heavily bribed the chaperone, who left a door open for Adam Khan to enter through that night. This was a a
very hazardous venture since getting caught meant certain death for both of them. We can only guess what
the two lovers must have said to each other but none the less it was dawn too soon and when Adam Khan's
friends gave the pre-agreed signal it fell on deaf ears. The chaperone fearing for her own life finally pushed
Adam Khan out of the house just in time. They did manage to exchange gifts. Adam Khan left the ring on his
pinkie and return received a handkerchief that Durkhanai had embroidered.
Thus the two constantly thought of each other and just the thought that their gift had once graced the other
kept them going. Yet it was not enough and both were desperate to see each other. Durkhanai's wedding day
was approaching and yet there was no way out of it, she could never tell her father or go back on his word and
neither could Hassan Khan do anything for his son.
Durkhanai is married to Payu and yet she will not let him consummate the marriage and he is patient with her
thinking she needs time to adjust to her new home. Out of frustration Payu decides to go on a hunting trip.
Durkhanai at her wits end sends for Adam Khan who hurries to her husbands house and from there he
snatches her up on his horse and gallops off to a neighboring village where he asks for mercy and begs
protection from the elder of the village. As is the custom of the Pukhtuns the elder can not turn away Adam
Khan and Durkhanai and is obliged to give them shelter and protection even from Payu.
Payu on hearing of his wife's shameful abduction cuts short his hunting trip and rushes home. He gathers thye
elders of his village and takes his case to the jirga. It is agreed that Durkhanai is rightfully Payu's wife and thus
has to be returned to him.
A fight broke out between Adam Khan's friends and Payu's men. One of Adam Khan's best friends is killed and
the inevitable happens, Durkhanai is returned to Payu's house but she is but a husk of herself and she sits
without talking or eating. She refuses to have her hair washed or brushed or braided. Like a mad woman she
refuses everything to the extent that birds start building nests in her hair.

23. A fight broke out between Adam Khan's friends and Payu's men. One of Adam Khan's best friends is killed and the
inevitable happens, Durkhanai is returned to Payu's house but she is but a husk of herself and she sits without talking or
eating. She refuses to have her hair washed or brushed or braided. Like a mad woman she refuses everything to the extent
that birds start building nests in her hair.
Adam Khan fares no better, the guilt of his friends death and the loss of Durkhanai make him mad and he takes to
wandering aimlessly in the wilderness. One day having collapsed of exhaustion he is found by a group of holy Hindu' yogi's.
They ponder over the mania of the handsome man and decide the best they can do for him is to nurse him back to health.
Adam Khan shaves his head and dresses in the robes of the yogi's and wanders with them for a while. He finally tells them
his story and they are so moved they decide to help him. Together they all go to Bazdara where no one recognizes Adam
Khan. Once there they show up at Payu's door who welcomes them in to his home for a meal. The Yogi's tell him they can
sense his deep sorrow and that they also sense someone who is possessed. Payu who is at his wits end decides that it is
worth a try, what does he have to loose. Durkhanai is brought in like a shrieking mad woman but she immediately calms
when she sees Adam Khan, she can recognize him in his altered state. Payu is so amazed at the transformation that he
invites the Yogis to stay in his garden.
Both Adam Khan and Durkhanai heal and it is not long before the yogi's want to return to their prayers and meditations.
Gulnaz who is aware of her husband's affliction patiently listens to his woes and to some extent eases his pain. One can not
say what Gulnaz thought of the whole affair but she seems to have dealt with it honorably or at least till she could no longer
take it and moved back to her fathers house.
Durkhanai on the other hand does not do so well without Adam Khan. Payu remarries and lets Durkhanai be. Adam Khan
sets out for Bazdara and at this point he has cried so much for Durkhanai that he is nearly blind. Pleading with to be taken to
the wall of Durkhanai's garden, he dies just before reaching there.
Durkhanai also succumbs to her grief and Payu in a moment of guilt lets her be buried next to Adam Khan. Years later when
the graves had flattened and were dug up by mistake people were shocked to find two bodies in a lovers embrace. They
were separated and the graves once again covered over. A century later they were once again found together. This time it
was decided to leave them together. You can still find the grave, it is the widest one in the grave yard.

24. THE END