The last chapter is never complete

By Sridhar Balan

The timeless art of storytelling is best illustrated by Arabian Nights, where Scheherazade saves her own life and that of all other girls in the kingdom by telling the Sultan Shahryar a story for a thousand and one nights. The framing story that Scheherazade told the Sultan was that of Alf Layla, a foreigner who lived in the time of the Caliph Haroun-al-Rashid. Alf Layla was befriended by a scribe who loved books. The scribe told him wonderful stories. He also taught him Arabic so that he could entertain the merchants of Baghdad with stories.

One night, Alf Layla met a djinn who gave him a flying carpet made of the finest paper. “It’s better than the normal flying carpet, because it’s very light,” said the djinn. “Just be careful not to tear it.”

Alf Layla stepped on to the carpet and flew to Damascus and Cairo telling stories. He flew to England where an Englishman taught him English and to France where he learnt French. He was now feted across Europe winning admirers everywhere. Not subject to age, he lived for centuries.

But he had now become so famous that people began to ask questions: where are you from, what are your origins, who are your parents? Scholars came to examine and probe Alf Layla, often tearing pieces of the carpet. Some declared he had Arabic origins, some said Persian. Others swore he had Indian blood. Exasperated, Alf Layla had had enough. “Don’t you understand, I am an orphan? Those who go looking for my parents will only find themselves. I am the offspring of your own dreams, desires and stories. Accept me as a part of yourselves.” Alf Layla then sorrowfully gathered his tattered paper carpet around him and flew away.

The recently published book The Last Chapter tells us of the last story of the saga of the Arabian Nights. The Sultan and Scheherazade are now married with three children, Amin, the elder prince; Fairuz, the princess; and Kader, the younger prince.

The palace is engulfed in sorrow for Scheherazade is gravely ill and almost on her deathbed. She asks the sorrowful Sultan to summon her grieving children and tells them that there is a way her life may be prolonged a little longer and she can end her stories the way she wants. But to do this, the children have to brave hardships and get three things that are hidden in the world. These are the sap of a tree in the Garden of Tears, feathers of a special bird and an empty book from the Book Tower. The children are puzzled by this strange request but dutifully agree to go on the quest.

They return after 40 days and innumerable adventures, which test their skills, patience and endurance, and give all three objects to their mother. Now Scheherazade takes the feather, pen; the sap, ink; and the book and says, “These are nothing but things that allow knowledge and stories to be written and told.” The children realise that their mother may not be there with them always, but Scheherazade will continue to live in these stories as long as the art of storytelling continues.