One day, when Ganim went to his father’s warehouse for some work, he noticed numerous sacks with the word “Baghdad” written on them in large letters. Intrigued by why his father had written the name of Baghdad on each sack, Ganim pondered over the matter. In the evening, when Ganim returned home, he inquired about this from his mother. His mother explained that Ayyub was serious about his work, and he preferred everything to be well-organized. She revealed that whenever Ayyub went on a business trip, he would write the name of the destination on each sack, ensuring a smooth unloading process and avoiding any confusion.

Ganim’s mother, with tears in her eyes, shared that Ayyub had intended to travel to Baghdad for business but fell ill before he could embark on the journey. He succumbed to the illness, and the sacks with Baghdad written on them were a reminder of his unrealized plans. Witnessing his mother’s sorrow, Ganim felt a deep sense of responsibility and expressed his desire to fulfill his father’s incomplete task.

Sometime later, Ganim expressed his wish to his mother to complete his father’s work. He stated that he wanted to go to Baghdad and earn wealth by selling the goods from the sacks. His mother, saddened by his determination, cautioned him about the challenges of the long journey at his young age. She urged him to reconsider, but Ganim remained steadfast in his decision. He believed that by selling the merchandise in Baghdad, he could earn a good profit. Ignoring his mother’s advice, Ganim left home with a few rupees and headed towards the Damascus market.

Over the next few days, Ganim made preparations for his journey to Baghdad. He purchased some goods for trade, hired a couple of servants, and bought around a hundred camels. During the same period, a group of merchants from Damascus was also planning a business trip to Baghdad. Ganim decided to join them on their journey. With his mother’s blessings and loaded camels, Ganim set out on his journey towards Baghdad.

After receiving the emperor’s orders and upon Dunyazad’s request, Shahrazad began her next tale, which was based on the lives of Ganim and Fitna. The story unfolded as follows:

Shahrazad narrated that a long time ago in the city of Damascus, there lived a merchant named Ayyub. Ayyub had a family consisting of his wife and two children, a daughter named Alankit and a son named Ganim. Ayyub’s wife was a simple housewife, and Alankit, his daughter, was beautiful and virtuous. On the other hand, Ganim, his son, was a young man unfamiliar with the ways of the world.

One day, Ayyub fell gravely ill, and despite seeking treatment from various physicians and healers, he could not recover. After a few days, he passed away. Following the merchant’s death, the responsibility of the household fell upon his son Ganim. Taking charge, Ganim started managing the family’s wealth and business affairs.

One day, while Ganim was at his father’s warehouse for some work, he noticed many chests with the word “Baghdad” written on them in large letters. Intrigued, Ganim wondered why his father had labeled the chests in such a way. When he returned home in the evening, Ganim asked his mother about it. She explained that Ayyub, his father, was very meticulous about his work, and he liked everything well-organized. She revealed that whenever Ayyub went for business trips, he would label each chest with the name of the place it was intended to reach. This ensured that during the journey, every chest could be opened without any confusion, preventing any mishaps.

Ganim’s mother, with tears in her eyes, recounted that Ayyub had intended to travel to Baghdad, but before he could embark on the journey, he fell ill, and his life came to an end. She further explained that the chests labeled with Baghdad were meant for Ayyub’s business in that city. The revelation about his father’s intentions weighed heavy on Ganim’s heart.

Several days passed, and one day, Ganim went to his mother expressing his desire to fulfill his father’s incomplete task. He expressed his wish to travel to Baghdad and sell the goods from the chests to earn wealth. His mother, saddened, tried to dissuade him, stating that he was still too young for such a long journey, and she had not yet recovered from the shock of his father’s death. She urged him to abandon the idea and focus on managing the household with the limited resources they had.

However, Ganim remained steadfast in his determination to learn the business and insisted on going to Baghdad. Overcoming his mother’s objections, Ganim decided to embark on the journey. He prepared for the trip by purchasing goods from the warehouse and acquiring camels for transportation. During this time, a group of merchants from Damascus was also planning a business trip to Baghdad, and Ganim joined them.

With his mother’s blessings and loaded camels carrying the labeled chests, Ganim set out towards Baghdad. The journey to Baghdad was long, and after several days of travel, the weary group of merchants finally reached the city. Once in Baghdad, Ganim bid farewell to the other merchants, rented a suitable house, and unloaded his merchandise.

After such an extended journey, Ganim and his servants took some days to rest and recover in the new residence. When the fatigue had lifted, Ganim, with a sample of his goods and half of his merchandise, ventured into the city to explore and engage in trade discussions with fellow merchants.

Upon reaching the marketplace, Ganim spoke with other traders, introducing himself and displaying his merchandise. To his surprise, many merchants in Baghdad were familiar with his father, Ayyub, and held him in high regard. Observing Ganim’s goods, the merchants were impressed, and by evening, all his merchandise was sold. Ganim had made a significant profit on the very first day.

Elated by the successful sale of his goods in Baghdad, Ganim sold the remaining goods the next day, keeping only one chest for himself. With the proceeds from his sales, Ganim was overjoyed.

The next day, Ganim explored the market again. To his surprise, he found all the shops in the city closed. Inquiring from the locals, he learned that the wealthiest merchant in the city had passed away, and as a mark of respect, all businesses were shut down. The merchants informed Ganim that after the evening prayers, the deceased merchant’s funeral procession would take place from a grand mosque, and his body would be buried in a cemetery outside the city.

Ganim, curious to witness the event, went to the mosque. After participating in the evening prayers, he joined the funeral procession. Ganim observed the elaborate rituals performed before burying the deceased merchant. The merchants recited passages from the Quran, and the deceased was buried with proper rites.

As the night fell, Ganim noticed that everyone intended to spend the night at the cemetery. Perplexed and feeling uneasy, Ganim thought about the wealth he had earned and the fear of theft that plagued his mind. Unable to bear the thought of spending the night in the cemetery, Ganim quietly left and headed back towards the city.

Finding himself lost in the dark, Ganim struggled to find the main gate of the city. After pleading with the guards to open the gate, he realized that it was closed. In desperation, Ganim wandered around the outskirts of the city. After wandering for a long time, he finally came across a small cemetery.

Exhausted and anxious, Ganim lay down in the cemetery, surrounded by green grass. However, sleep eluded him, haunted by the fear of theft and uncertainties. After trying to sleep for some time without success, Ganim got up and began wandering through the cemetery. The darkness and his fear weighed heavily on him.

As Ganim wandered through the cemetery, he was haunted by the fear of his wealth being stolen or the servants’ intentions turning sinister in the face of newfound riches. Lost in his thoughts, Ganim had strayed far from the city gate. After a considerable time, he reached the main gate only to find all the doors closed.

Desperate and filled with regret, Ganim pleaded with the guards to open the gate, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Realizing the consequences of his decision to leave the cemetery, Ganim felt deep remorse. The realization dawned on him that he should not have returned from the cemetery, and he faced the repercussions of his actions.

With a heavy heart and no way to enter the city, Ganim found himself alone on the outskirts, contemplating the events that led him to this point. The consequences of his actions weighed heavily on Ganim, and he faced the harsh reality of being stranded outside the city gates at night.

While wandering in the graveyard, Ganim saw a light approaching. Fearing ghosts, he climbed a tree to hide. As the light drew closer, Ganim observed three individuals dressed as palace servants carrying a large chest towards the graveyard. Ganim overheard them talking, and one servant mentioned that they were there to bury the chest as per the mistress’s orders. Another servant, frightened, wanted to leave the graveyard immediately, but the third one insisted on following the mistress’s strict orders to bury the chest and return.

The three servants dug a hole, placed the chest inside the grave, covered it with soil, and left. Once they were gone, Ganim descended from the tree and decided to investigate. Suspecting that the mistress might have hidden treasure in the chest, Ganim removed the soil, broke the lock, and opened the chest. To his surprise, he found an unconscious young woman inside, her face covered with a veil, adorned with precious clothes and jewelry.

Ganim, initially planning to leave the woman in the grave, changed his mind upon seeing her beauty. He decided to rescue her and lay her on the grass. Observing her closely, Ganim realized that she wore a veil, and her attire indicated she might be a woman from the Khalifa’s palace.

Ganim comforted the frightened woman, assuring her that she was safe and alive. He explained that he had come to the city for business, ended up spending the night in the graveyard, and considered himself fortunate that God sent him to save her life. As the woman’s fear subsided, she began questioning her surroundings, puzzled by the numerous graves and the darkness around.

Initially, Ganim listened quietly as the woman expressed her confusion and fear. However, once the woman’s fear diminished, Ganim explained his presence in the graveyard and reassured her that they were both alive and safe. Ganim considered himself fortunate to have rescued the woman, realizing that her fate had taken an unexpected turn.

Ganim narrated the entire incident to the woman. Impressed by Ganim’s story, the woman expressed her gratitude for saving her life. She then made a request, saying, “You have saved my life, and now, please accept a plea from me.” The woman explained, “I won’t be able to walk with you to the city openly, as people will recognize me from my jewelry and clothes, realizing that I am from the palace. This could lead to more trouble for me. Therefore, before sunrise, place me back in the chest and close it. Then, go to the city alone and bring a carriage. After that, load the chest onto the carriage and take it to your house. Once you reach home, open the chest, and I will explain everything.”

Following the woman’s instructions, Ganim set out before sunrise to bring a carriage. In the city, Ganim met a man and requested him to bring the chest from the graveyard. The man, intrigued by Ganim’s story, started asking questions. Ganim fabricated a false story, claiming that another chest-bearer had taken away his chest from the graveyard because someone else offered a higher price. The man believed Ganim’s tale, and both of them headed towards the graveyard with great effort. Together, they loaded the chest onto a horse and transported it to Ganim’s rented house within the city.

Upon reaching home, Ganim asked a servant to close the door, and then he opened the chest, letting the woman out. Ganim inquired about her well-being, and she assured him that she was fine, thanking him for bringing her to the house without any trouble. After leaving the woman at home, Ganim took a servant with him to buy some food items and other necessities. Upon returning, Ganim arranged all the food items on plates before the woman and urged her to eat. The woman, wanting to share the meal with Ganim, asked him to sit and eat together.

As the woman unveiled her face while preparing to eat, Ganim noticed something written on the inner side of her veil: “I am Fittna, the beloved of Khalifa Haroon Rashid, and he is mine.” Surprised, Ganim was taken aback by the revelation. Curious, he asked the woman about her identity and the reason she was left in a chest to die in the graveyard. Responding to Ganim’s question, Fittna explained, “I was brought to the palace as a servant in my childhood. Besides education, I learned various arts and excelled in all. Observing my qualities, the Khalifa began to favor me, providing me with a grand house, adorning me with precious jewels, and treating me like a princess.”

Fittna continued, “In the palace, I have ten attendants catering to my every need at all times. However, Khalifa’s wife, Queen Jubaida, dislikes me due to our friendship, and she is envious of me. She wanted to eliminate me, and that’s why she wanted me dead.” Fittna went on to reveal that Khalifa’s wife had attempted to poison her, and fearing for her life, she sought refuge in Ganim’s plan to escape.

Fittna explained to Ganim, “The Khalifa is currently outside the palace for a war, taking advantage of his absence; Queen Jubaida, using one of my own maids, administered a potion that induced unconsciousness. After that, they attempted to kill me by placing me in a chest.” Ganim, alarmed by Fittna’s revelations, asked, “Does this mean my life is also in danger from Queen Jubaida?” Fittna replied, “If the Queen discovers that you saved my life, she might pose a threat to both of us. However, if Khalifa returns from the war and finds no evidence of my death in the royal cemetery, he will search every house. In such a situation, if Khalifa learns that you have hidden me in your house, he may impose severe consequences.”

Disturbed by Fittna’s words, Ganim expressed his concern, saying, “It seems my death is inevitable. If not the Queen, then the Khalifa will be the one to decide my fate.” Fittna reassured Ganim, stating that both Queen Jubaida and Khalifa would only reach them if someone from their own household revealed their secret. Hearing this, Ganim decided that none of his servants would meet Fittna, and she would remain concealed within the house.

Ganim instructed his servants to stay away from Fittna’s room, emphasizing the importance of maintaining secrecy. Afterward, Ganim went to the market and bought good-quality clothes and necessary items for Fittna. Fittna expressed her gratitude, saying, “I will never be able to repay this favor in my lifetime. First, you saved my life, and now, by providing shelter in your home and taking such good care of me, you have made me your debtor. You are more than just a master to me.”

As they continued to live together in the same house, Ganim and Fittna developed affection for each other. However, respecting their boundaries, they never openly declared their love. They spent their days together, sharing meals and retiring to their respective rooms at night. Laughter and joy filled their shared moments.

Meanwhile, Queen Jubaida was consumed with worry day and night, wondering if Fittna was alive and what explanation she would give upon Khalifa’s return. Jubaida sought the counsel of her most trusted and elderly servant, who had raised her since childhood, to find a solution to her predicament.

The wise servant, cunning in her ways, after hearing Jubaida’s concerns, suggested, “Queen Jubaida, I have a plan that will completely eliminate any suspicion in the Khalifa’s mind. We should have a life-sized doll crafted to resemble the girl. Dress the doll in fine clothes, place it in a coffin, and bury it in the royal cemetery. Then, have a painting of Fittna hung above the tomb, and regularly light candles there. When the Khalifa returns, we can inform him of Fittna’s death.” Jubaida found this plan intriguing and instructed the servant to proceed with the arrangement.

After hearing the words of the servant, Queen Jubaida said that if the emperor mentioned the burial of Fatinah himself, the secret would be revealed. Upon hearing the queen’s words, the servant said, ‘When a person dies and is buried, his grave cannot be opened again. It is considered taboo, and I am sure the emperor will not do such a thing.’ Concluding her statement, the servant said that she knew a skilled artisan who could do this work.

The servant suggested, ‘To accomplish this task, you need to summon Fatinah’s servant, the one who gave her the potion and spread the news among the palace servants and employees that Fatinah died in her room. Then, declare a royal mourning for Fatinah’s death, and bury the effigy in a coffin with proper rituals.’

After hearing the plan from the old servant, Queen Jubaida found some relief, rewarded her appropriately, and bid her farewell. Following the plan, Queen Jubaida had a lifelike effigy made of Fatinah and spread the news of Fatinah’s death throughout the palace and the city. With great cunning, the queen executed the plan and personally joined her maids in mourning for Fatinah.

The news of Fatinah’s death spread like wildfire in the city, reaching Ganim as well. Ganim returned home and informed Fatinah about everything. Hearing about Fatinah’s apparent death, Ganim was taken aback, but upon realizing that his life was no longer in danger because of her, he felt relieved.

After fighting battles against enemies for a long time, when the emperor returned to Baghdad, Queen Jubaida informed him about Fatinah’s death. The emperor was deeply saddened by the news of Fatinah’s death and expressed a desire to visit her grave. When Khalifa reached the tomb, he saw that a magnificent grave had been constructed, with lit lamps all around. Upon closely examining the image on Fatinah’s grave, the emperor realized that the portrait was made by a skilled artist.

The emperor knew that Queen Jubaida did not like Fatinah, so he suspected that she might have orchestrated Fatinah’s death or fabricated the news of her death. Seeking advice from spiritual leaders to resolve his doubts, the emperor was informed that exhuming the grave would be against religious principles. Unable to find a solution to his suspicions, the emperor, too, accepted Fatinah’s death and began mourning for her.

After about 40 days of mourning, when the emperor returned to the palace, one afternoon, he was resting in his chamber. Suddenly, when the emperor was about to fall asleep, one of the two maids offering him a fan said, ‘I have never seen Khalifa so disturbed, while Fatinah is alive.’ Startled by the words of the first maid, the second maid exclaimed, “Is she alive?” Overhearing the servant’s scream, the emperor, in anger, scolded both maids. Seeing the emperor’s anger, the two maids were frightened. The second maid, gathering courage, said, “We did not want to disturb your sleep, but she (the first maid) said something that made me scream. She just told me that Fatinah is alive.” Hearing about Fatinah’s survival, the emperor was astonished and asked the maids to explain the whole story.

The first maid explained that when she went to the market for some work in the morning, an unknown person ran away after thrusting a letter into her hands. Upon opening and reading the letter, she found out that it was from Fatinah, detailing her entire situation. The servant said, “I was going to tell you about the letter, but you were tired and trying to sleep, so I kept quiet. I was just going to tell you about the letter when you woke up.”

After hearing the story, the emperor took the letter and read it. In the letter, Fatinah explained everything, from her burial to Ganim saving her and providing her shelter in his home. The emperor first felt angry at Queen Jubaida for her cunning plan, then relief that Fatinah was alive, and finally, he became furious that she had been staying with a stranger for so many days while he mourned for her. The emperor began to suspect that Fatinah did not feel any attachment to him.

Now, let’s find out how the story continues…

After hearing about the letter, the Emperor did not say anything to anyone and summoned his minister Jafar the next day. The Emperor ordered Jafar to take 4,000 soldiers and go to the city, apprehend a wealthy merchant named Damishq living there, and bring him captive. The Emperor also instructed that they should not make Fittna, who was residing with him, a captive, but instead handle her with care. However, both of them should not be allowed to escape, and severe punishment was desired for them, along with the destruction of their house. The Emperor’s anger did not subside even after the capture of Ganymede, and he wanted to impose a harsh punishment on them. He also ordered the destruction of their house.

Upon hearing about the large army in the city, everyone was astonished. As the soldiers of the Emperor searched for Ganymede, this news reached Fittna. Fittna was well acquainted with the Emperor’s methods, and she knew that if Ganymede fell into the Emperor’s captivity, he would face a cruel death. Fittna suggested to Ganymede that he should immediately put on the clothes of a servant and cover his body with dust and soot so that the soldiers would not recognize him.

Although hesitant, Ganymede eventually agreed, and with Fittna’s plan, he successfully escaped in the guise of a servant while the soldiers were searching for him. When Minister Jafar and the soldiers arrived at Ganymede’s house, they found valuable goods, jewelry, and money-filled in a room. Seeing Fittna trembling and crying in a corner of the room, Jafar, along with the soldiers, took her to the Emperor’s presence. Fittna, in a state of fear, begged for forgiveness and pleaded to be taken before the Emperor.

Seeing Fittna, the Emperor was alarmed, and in his anger, he ordered her to be thrown into prison immediately. Not catching Ganymede intensified the Emperor’s anger. He sent a letter to Hakeem Jubaini of Damishq, claiming that Ayyub’s son Ganymede had abducted a servant girl from the royal palace, and since then, he had been on the run. The Emperor requested Jubaini to sentence Ganymede to imprisonment, break into his house, and, if Ganymede was not found, punish his family members for three days. Afterward, send him to the Emperor for justice.

Upon receiving the Emperor’s letter, Hakeem Jubaini accepted the order and, along with soldiers, reached Ganymede’s house. Upon arrival, he witnessed Ganymede’s mother and sister mourning his death and having a grave constructed for him. Jubaini learned that Ganymede had not sent any letters or made any contact with his family since leaving for Bagdad, and, not finding him, his family members were mourning his death. After observing the situation, Jubaini still doubted whether Ganymede was not hidden in the house. Therefore, he ordered the soldiers to search the house thoroughly. Despite the search, Ganymede was not found in the entire house.

Hakeem Jubaini informed Ganymede’s mother and sister about the Emperor’s order, stating that if Ganymede was not found, both of them would suffer the Emperor’s punishment. Following the Emperor’s orders, Jubaini instructed Ganymede’s mother and sister to leave the house and had the house demolished. The two women were paraded through the entire city, enduring beatings with sticks as part of their punishment. Although Jubaini felt a sense of compassion upon seeing their condition, he couldn’t defy the Emperor’s orders. After completing the punishment, both women had become unconscious from pain and exhaustion, prompting Jubaini to take them to his palace.

In a sternly worded letter, the Emperor had conveyed that anyone aiding Ganymede’s family would also face punishment. However, witnessing the pitiable state of Ganymede’s mother and sister, Jubaini’s wife felt sympathy for them. Quietly, she sent two maids to attend to Ganymede’s mother and sister with bandages and care. With the maids tending to them, both women regained consciousness. Upon learning that Jubaini’s wife had sent the maids for their service, they expressed gratitude and offered numerous blessings.

Once conscious, Ganymede’s mother asked the maids about the alleged crime committed by Ganymede for which he faced such severe punishment. One of the maids informed them that Ganymede was accused of kidnapping the beloved servant girl of the caliph. This accusation led to the Emperor’s harsh punishment. Ganymede’s mother, upon hearing this, insisted that Ganymede’s character and conduct were not such that he would commit such a crime. Despite their pleas, both Ganymede’s mother and sister were subjected to the prescribed punishment for two more days, but the soldiers showed restraint upon Jubaini’s request.

After the completion of the punishment, due to the Emperor’s orders, no one in the city offered support to Ganymede’s mother and sister. They were scorned and driven away wherever they went. Failing to find refuge in the city, Ganymede’s mother and sister decided to move to another city, but the Emperor issued another order to prevent them from finding shelter in nearby villages.

Jubaini informed both women about the Emperor’s orders and, discreetly, provided them with some coins to survive for a few days. After this, Ganymede’s mother and sister wandered in a destitute state from one city to another. Despite their struggles, when no one offered them a place to hide, Jubaini secretly arranged for them to be caught and handed over to the Emperor’s soldiers, who took them to the outskirts of the city.

With nowhere to go in the city, Ganymede’s mother and sister decided to embark on a journey to Baghdad. Meanwhile, Fittna, imprisoned in the Emperor’s dungeon, continued to weep day and night. Her cell was located near the Emperor’s residence, and her cries reached the Emperor’s ears as he passed by. One day, the Emperor learned about Ganymede’s innocence from Fittna’s wailing and complaints to Caliph Harun Rashid. The Emperor regretted his decision and realized the severity of the injustice done due to Ganymede’s punishment.

The Emperor wrote a letter to Caliph Harun Rashid, expressing his regret and explaining the circumstances that led to the unjust punishment of Ganymede’s family. Caliph Harun Rashid, known for his sense of justice, was moved by the letter and ordered the release of Ganymede’s mother and sister. Fittna was also set free from captivity, and they were allowed to seek refuge wherever they desired. The news reached Ganymede’s mother and sister, who were wandering from one city to another, and they finally found solace and protection.

The emperor summoned the chief officer of the royal palace, Masroor, to his chamber and ordered him to bring Fittna before him. Following the emperor’s command, Masroor retrieved Fittna from the prison and presented her before the emperor. The emperor inquired if Fittna had truly inflicted punishment on an innocent person and instructed her to explain the whole situation.

Fittna realized that the emperor must have heard her lamentations. With bowed head, she recounted how Ganymede had saved her life and showed respect upon learning about her being the beloved of the caliph. The emperor, upon hearing Fittna’s story, questioned why she had not revealed the truth earlier. Fittna explained that a month had passed since Ganymede left, leaving all his wealth in her care, and she had no information about the emperor’s return until she learned about it from a servant girl.

The emperor began to doubt his actions and regretted his hasty judgment. He expressed remorse, acknowledging the injustice he had committed. He asked Fittna what he could do to seek forgiveness from Ganymede and his family. Fittna suggested that the emperor should first issue an order pardoning Ganymede and his mother and sister so that they might return upon hearing the news. The caliph promptly announced the pardon for Ganymede and his family.

Despite the emperor’s proclamation, when several days passed without any information about Ganymede’s whereabouts, Fittna requested permission from the emperor to search for him herself, which he granted. Still unable to find Ganymede even days after the emperor’s announcement, Fittna returned to the emperor and implored him to allow her to search once more. The emperor, feeling regretful, agreed.

The next day, Fittna set out with a bag filled with coins, distributed alms to saints and beggars, and sought their blessings. During this time, she encountered a servant who had a history of serving the poor and needy. Fittna, recognizing the servant’s virtue, entrusted her with alms and requested her assistance in finding Ganymede.

Observing Fittna’s royal attire, the servant deduced that she was a woman from the royal palace. The servant informed Fittna that she had recently encountered two women in a pitiable state, who had sought refuge with her. Hearing this, Fittna instructed the servant to lead her to those women.

The servant guided Fittna to her home, where, upon hearing Fittna’s voice, the servant’s wife opened the door. Startled by Fittna’s royal attire, the wife bowed in reverence, but Fittna paid no attention and went directly to the two women, inquiring about their situation. Fittna assured them of her support and suggested that they could work in righteous endeavors by providing them with alms. The servant’s wife, recognizing Fittna’s benevolence, offered to help them in noble deeds.

Fittna, while attending to Ganymede’s mother and sister, noticed a change in their behavior. Sensing something amiss, she inquired if they were hiding any secrets. The two women hesitated but eventually confessed that they were Ganymede’s mother and sister. Fittna, realizing their identity, promised to help them and escorted them back to the emperor’s palace.

Upon their arrival, the servant’s wife informed the emperor of Fittna’s arrival with Ganymede’s family. The emperor, surprised and relieved, rushed to meet them. Ganymede’s mother and sister, grateful for Fittna’s assistance, expressed their heartfelt thanks. The emperor, acknowledging his past mistakes, sought forgiveness from Ganymede and his family. Ganymede’s mother and sister, moved by the emperor’s sincerity and Fittna’s compassion, forgave him.

The emperor, learning from his errors, vowed to uphold justice and fairness in the future. He thanked Fittna for her benevolence and promised her a position of honor in the palace. Fittna, having played a key role in correcting the injustices, continued to serve the emperor with grace and compassion.

Upon hearing Fittna’s words, both women began to cry, and amidst tears, they started narrating their entire story to Fittna. They revealed that they were residents of Damascus, and their son’s name was Ganymede. Both women shared their entire past with Fittna. Hearing the truth, Fittna was astonished. She told them while crying that the woman responsible for their son’s and their suffering was standing right in front of them.

Fittna informed Ganymede’s mother and sister that the emperor had pardoned all of them, and, in gratitude for saving her life, they wanted to reward Ganymede with honors and recognition. Further, Fittna conveyed the emperor’s intention to arrange the marriage between her and Ganymede, and she asked them to consider her as their daughter. Upon hearing this, Ganymede’s mother embraced Fittna with tears of joy.

The three women were in conversation when the servant arrived and informed them that a short while ago, an attendant had found a youth in a very weak condition repeatedly losing consciousness. The servant explained that the youth had been brought to his medical facility by a camel rider. Upon hearing this, Fittna expressed her desire to go to the medical facility. She suspected that the person might be Ganymede.

Upon obtaining permission, the servant took her to the medical facility. When they arrived, Fittna saw a severely emaciated patient lying on a bed, with a yellowish complexion and protruding bones. Upon careful observation, Fittna recognized him as Ganymede. Overwhelmed by the sight, Fittna began to cry, and the servant immediately sent her out to start Ganymede’s treatment.

After leaving the facility, Fittna went straight to Ganymede’s mother and sister, informing them of Ganymede’s condition. The three of them thanked God for his safety and offered prayers for his recovery. Later, the servant informed Fittna that Ganymede had regained consciousness and was now stable. Fittna, in relief, went to Ganymede’s mother and sister to share the good news.

With the servant’s permission, Fittna, along with Ganymede’s mother and sister, went to meet Ganymede. Witnessing his improvement, they were filled with tears of joy. Fittna shared the news of Ganymede’s recovery and his identity with them. Overwhelmed with happiness, Ganymede’s mother and sister embraced him with tears of joy.

After learning about Fittna’s and her mother and sister’s condition, Ganymede explained that he had fled from Baghdad to a village, where he fell ill and spent several days lying in a mosque. Subsequently, a farmer, out of compassion, arranged for his transportation back to Baghdad. Hearing Ganymede’s story, Fittna, his mother, and sister cried tears of gratitude for keeping him alive.

A few days later, with the effect of medicines, Ganymede began to recover gradually. Upon his recovery, the news of the emperor’s pardon and Fittna’s arrival with his mother and sister reached him. Overjoyed, Ganymede expressed his gratitude to Fittna and sought her forgiveness for any pain caused. Fittna, with a compassionate heart, assured him that the past was forgiven, and they should look forward to a brighter future.

Sometime later, with Ganymede’s health improving, the day for meeting the emperor drew near. Although they lacked appropriate attire to present themselves before the emperor, Fittna brought many coins from the palace and arranged for some of them to be given to the servant. With those coins, the servant had clothing made for all three (Ganymede, his mother, and sister).

After obtaining permission from the servant, Fittna, Ganymede, his mother, and sister visited the emperor’s palace. Upon their arrival, the emperor received the news and immediately came to meet them. Fittna conveyed the message to the emperor about Ganymede, his mother, and sister. Overjoyed at the news, the emperor expressed his gratitude to Fittna and promised to arrange the marriage between her and Ganymede. The next day, Fittna went to the servant’s house and informed Ganymede’s mother and sister about the emperor’s intentions.

Learning about the emperor’s decision, Ganymede’s mother and sister cried tears of happiness and embraced Fittna. Fittna then proceeded to Ganymede and shared the news with him. Overwhelmed with joy, Ganymede expressed his happiness and thanked Fittna for her benevolence. Subsequently, Fittna brought Ganymede’s mother and sister to meet the emperor as well.

After receiving permission from the servant, the three women, dressed in the clothing provided, met Ganymede. Ganymede was elated to see his mother and sister after so long. The emperor, upon learning about the reunion, felt a sense of relief. Expressing his gratitude to Fittna, the emperor promised to arrange the wedding between her and Ganymede and expressed his desire to meet them once.

The next day, Fittna went to the servant’s house and, with the emperor’s message, obtained permission to bring Ganymede’s mother and sister to the palace. She then proceeded to the emperor’s palace and delivered the message. The emperor, upon hearing the news, immediately went to meet them. Fittna, Ganymede, his mother, and sister, along with the servant, gathered in the palace. The emperor thanked Fittna for her role in this reunion and promised her a place of honor in the palace.

The emperor, now aware of the impact of his past actions, vowed to uphold justice and fairness. He apologized to Ganymede, his mother, and sister for the injustices they had faced. The emperor thanked Fittna again and expressed his gratitude for correcting the wrongs. Fittna, now a respected figure in the palace, continued to serve with grace and compassion, bringing about positive change in the emperor’s realm.

A few days later, when Ganymede became fit enough to move around, a specific day was chosen to meet the emperor. On that day, a royal procession was sent from the palace to the servant’s house to fetch Ganymede, his mother, and sister. The entire court was adorned for the occasion. Ganymede, along with his mother and sister, accompanied by Fittna, stood before the emperor in the court.

All four of them greeted the emperor, who, pleased to see them, accepted their greetings. Following the emperor’s instructions, Ganymede narrated the entire story of Fittna saving their lives. Upon hearing this, the emperor was delighted and ordered valuable clothing and other gifts to be given to Ganymede. Additionally, the emperor appointed Ganymede to a high position in his court.

On the same evening, the emperor invited Ganymede and Fittna to the palace. In the palace, the emperor instructed Ganymede to bring his mother and sister as well. Upon their arrival at the palace, the caliph expressed his regret for the hardships they had endured because of him. The emperor told Ganymede that he wished to arrange Fittna’s marriage and, at the same time, marry Ganymede’s sister, bestowing upon her the title of queen. The emperor suggested to Ganymede’s mother that, due to her age, she could marry his minister Jafar. With everyone’s consent, the emperor immediately summoned the Qazi and witnesses to the palace and performed all three marriages together.

At the same time, the caliph ordered the scribes to record the entire story in royal scriptures and distribute copies in all major countries. Additionally, Queen Mallika Shahrazad concluded Ganymede and Fittna’s story, which was well-received by the emperor and Dunyazad. Upon hearing the conclusion, the emperor requested Shahrazad to narrate another story the next day. What was Shahrazad’s next tale in this series of Alif-Laila stories? Stay connected with MomJunction to find out.