Safarnama #1 A Time-Traveler's Tale in Shahjahanabad
Eighteenth-century Urdu poet Mir: It’s just your imagining that There’s a feeble body inside my clothes; In fact, there is nothing there But a mere idea of myself. - Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
Disclaimer:
Safarnama is a work of fiction created solely for entertainment purposes. The series aims to tell stories about various places and lost time in a creative manner. While the names of some places and individuals may be used, any resemblance to real places, events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The creators of Safarnama have taken certain liberties in the storytelling process, including the use of creative freedom in naming and describing various elements of the series. Therefore, any resemblance to actual events or places is unintentional.
After returning to my seat, I settled down to write in my Safarnama under the shade of a tree in front of the shop. However, an unsettling feeling of embarrassment and self-doubt crept in. I couldn't shake off the thought that the man I had just spoken to might have judged me for not remembering the Emperor's name. I wondered if he saw me as foolish or, worse yet, a foreigner with no knowledge of this city.
As I pondered these thoughts, a strange idea crossed my mind. What if I were to tell him that I had time-traveled back to the past? The thought seemed absurd, but it was tempting. Perhaps it would make me more interesting, or maybe it would only confirm his suspicions of my strange behavior. Nevertheless, I dismissed the idea and continued to document my experiences in my Safarnama.
Suddenly, the toll of a bell interrupted my writing, and I looked up to see a massive elephant with a bell around its neck, followed by a group of men marching towards me. As they drew nearer, I noticed someone sitting on the elephant – it was the Emperor himself!
I stood up anxiously, wondering if the man had complained about me not knowing the Emperor's name. But then I realized that it was unlikely that the Emperor would come with his entire army for one stranger's mistake.
The Emperor's entourage stopped a few steps away from me, and I watched in awe as the Emperor dismounted the elephant and walked towards me. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I froze.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" the Emperor asked sternly.
Gathering my wits, I replied, "I am just a traveler passing through, Huzoor (Your Highness)."
The Emperor looked at me skeptically and asked, "What is that book you are writing in?"
"It's my Safarnama, Huzoor. It's a record of my travels and experiences," I replied, trying to remain calm.
The Emperor took the book from my hand and began to read through it. My heart pounded as he flipped through the pages, and I wondered if he would read the opening memory, where I had written about my time-traveling adventure.
After a few moments, the Emperor looked up at me and said, "You seem to have a genuine love for this city and its people."
I was shocked that he hadn't read the opening memory, and I wondered how he was able to read what I had written. Nevertheless, I felt relieved that he didn't seem to be angry with me.
The Emperor then signaled for his entourage to continue on their way, and I watched as they disappeared down the street.
As I sat back down under the shade of the tree, I felt a sense of exhilaration at having come face to face with the Emperor himself. I continued to write in my Safarnama, recording every detail of my encounter, knowing that this would be a story I would tell for years to come.