The emperor had been pondering over this matter when the vizier entered and saluted him. The emperor trusted the vizier completely. But he was so ashamed of his petty action that he could not reveal his secret to him. For a stunned moment he just stared at him.
The vizier started the conversation. ‘The diamond was not found in the treasury today. Nadir was very upset. He told me, “You have cheated me. I’ll raid the city again and slaughter everyone; I’ll turn Delhi into black ashes.” I said, “Sir, you have the right. You may do what you will. But we have given all the keys of the treasury to your commander-in-chief.” He didn’t say anything clearly. He only insinuated. And he’s prowling around restlessly like a hungry jackal, wondering who to sink his teeth into.’
Mohammed Shah said, ‘I’m afraid of sitting in front of him. It’s as if I’m beside a tiger. The tyrant’s eyes are so sharp and terrifying! Is he a man or a devil? And I’m confused about where to hide the diamond. I don’t have any sorrow about the end of the sultanate, but I won’t give up this diamond until someone has me by the neck and seizes it.’
‘God forbid. May Your Majesty’s enemies suffer this insult. May I suggest a strategy? My lord, hide it in your turban. Nadir Shah will never think of looking for it there.’
Mohammed Shah jumped up and said, ‘By God, you’re right. Really, what a good idea! The bully will search here and there and then he’ll take his disappointed face away. Who will search my turban? This is why I named you Luqman. Wise man! It is decided. If you had come a little earlier I wouldn’t have had to bear such a headache.’4
The next day there was a truce between the two kings. The vizier fell at the feet of Nadir Shah and said respectfully, ‘Now only you can bring this sinking ship to the shore. Otherwise only God can save it. The Hindus have begun to rise up in revolt. The Mahrattas, Rajputs, Sikhs are all gathering their forces. The day we face them in battle will be the day our ship falls into the whirlpool, and having spun around a few times it will sink in the water forever.’ It had been a long time since Nadir Shah had left Iran. Every day there was news about some uprising or rebellion there. Nadir Shah wanted to return as soon as possible. He didn’t have time to establish his regime in Delhi. He agreed to the truce. The kings signed a treaty.
Both kings said their prayers together, ate at the same table, smoked from the same hookah, and, having embraced each other, went to their own places.
Mohammed Shah was happy, not so much about the kingdom, but because the diamond was still in his hands. But Nadir Shah didn’t seem unhappy about not having got the diamond. He spoke to everyone amiably, as if he were the model of mercy and humility.5
It is morning. Drums of joy are being played in Delhi. Celebrations of happiness are being arranged. Three days ago, rivers of blood were flowing here. Today the tide of happiness is rising. Today Nadir Shah is departing from Delhi.
Lines of camels laden with gold guineas are ready to go, precious goods are being loaded into the carts. The armies of both sides are embracing each other. Yesterday they were thirsty for each other’s blood, today they have become brothers.
Nadir Shah is seated on the throne. Mohammed Shah is also seated on the throne next to him. Here, too, is a scene of mutual love. Nadir Shah smiled and said, ‘May God grant that this truce forever remain intact and permanent. And may God erase the memories of those bloody days from the hearts of the people.’
Mohammed Shah: ‘Nothing will happen to endanger this truce from my side. I will pray to God constantly to preserve our friendship.’
Nadir Shah: ‘All the conditions of the treaty have been met. Only one thing is left. It is a custom among us that upon making a truce, we exchange turbans. Without this ritual, we consider the work of the treaty incomplete. Come, let us exchange our turbans. Here, I offer you mine.’
Nadir Shah took off his turban and offered it to Mohammed Shah. The emperor was shocked. He realized that he had been tricked. The commanders-in-chief of both sides were standing in front of him. He was at a loss for words. There was no way to get out of this situation, nor was there even a moment to think of a scheme. No solution came to his mind. There was no room to refuse. He couldn’t do anything except control his heart. Silently removing his turban, he offered it to Nadir Shah. His hands were shaking, his eyes full of tears of sorrow and anger. A faint smile appeared on his face, denoting more sorrow and pain than his tears. Perhaps it would have cost him less pain to offer his life.
Nadir Shah, having crossed mountains and rivers, was going to Iran. His heart was leaping with happiness seeing seventy camels and lines of almost as many bull-carts. He was thanking God again and again, whose unlimited grace had made his fame shine. Now he wasn’t only the king of Iran, but also the master of a huge country like India. But the thing he was most happy about was the Mughal-e-Azam, looking at which again and again his eyes’ pleasure was not sated. He was thinking about how he would enter the court wearing this diamond—and how the eyes of everybody at the assembly would dazzle seeing it.
His army was having difficulty finding food and water. Rebel troops were constantly harassing him, and ten or twenty people were being killed daily. But Nadir Shah didn’t have time to stop. He kept going without a pause.
The condition of Iran was very precarious. The prince
