The Forbidden Door
Behind the magnificent building was a big tree. Under the tree sat a young man. He was in soiled and tattered robes and he looked quite famished. But his face bore the stamp of nobility and that did not escape the notice of an old man of the nearby building. The old man called the beggarly youth, whose name was Ahmad, into his house. Upon inquiry, it was seen that Ahmad indeed came from a noble family. But as ill-luck would have it, he lost his parents and property almost overnight and now did not know what to do "My boy, as you can see, I am pretty old. In this wide world, there is none whom I can claim my own. Yet, God has given me enough wealth and a fine mansion. If you so wish, you can live with me and forget your worries. All you have to do is to look after me," said the old man. "Your words, O Master, sound to me like blessings coming from heaven. I will consider myself extremely lucky to serve you," replied the young man. "Good. But let me caution you on one point. You will never see me jolly. In fact, you will see me weeping at times. Never let curiosity get the better of you. Never ask me why I weep," warned the old man. Although the condition seemed rather queer, Ahmad agreed to comply with it.
And, no doubt, he served the old man with great care and deep love, so much so that the old man came to look upon him as his son. Days passed and the old man grew older. He was kind to all, but he never smiled. And a day did not pass when he did not weep for a while. Such conduct of the old man saddened Ahmad, but he asked no question about it, true to the condition to which he had agreed. A year later the old man took to bed. After a few days, he called Ahmad to his bedside and said, "My boy, my hours on the earth are numbered. I bequeath all my property to you. Live happily, but I warn you against doing one thing: There is a flight of stairs under my bed leading into an underground room. That room has four doors one of which is painted black. Never should you open that door. If you do, you will lose all your happiness," The old man's voice grew faint. Soon he breathed his last. Ahmad duly performed the last rites of his departed master and gave his attention to bringing the household to order according to his own taste. The day he stood in the underground chamber and looked at the black door, he felt a surge of desire within him to open it. But he checked himself and opened one of the other three doors which led into another room filled with valuable things. The next day he opened yet another door. After three days all that remained to be opened was the black door. By and by his curiosity grew irresistible. "If I am cautious, no harm can befall me," he assured himself and after bolting all the doors of his house, he entered the underground chamber and opened the door. Beyond the door was open land, shrouded in mist. Ahmad walked into it. He could hear the roar of the sea.
But before he had seen anything else, a huge bird swooped down upon him and bore him away holding him tight in its claws. Up and up rose the bird. Below it was the sea. It flew for an hour and descended on an island. Leaving Ahmad on the ground, it flew away and disappeared behind a hill. Ahmad did not know what to do. Before him flowed a river. Soon he saw a beautiful boat sailing towards him. It stopped touching the shore and out came a number of charming young ladies. "Be pleased to board the boat. Our princess is waiting for you," they informed Ahmad, courtesying him again and again. Ahmad followed them, almost enchanted. The boat sailed smoothly into a lake. At the center of the lake stood a wonderful castle. A hundred damsels bowed to Ahmad as he was led through the marble corridors, studded with many a precious stone. He was soon ushered into the presence of the princess. Ahmad looked at her spellbound, for, so much beauty he had never beholden. The princess came forward and led him by her hand to the throne.
"My lord, I have waited for you for a long time. I am the ruler of this island. Now, be kind to marry me. Then you will be the king, and I, your queen," she said. If Ahmad delayed a little in giving his consent, it was because he could not believe his ears. They were wedded the same night. Ahmad was sure that there was no second man upon the earth as happy as himself. For him days passed as fast as hours and years as fast as months. There was not a moment when his wife was a little cool towards him; not a day passed without some novel entertainment being presented to him. So far as ruling the island was concerned, it was carried on by his ministers. One day, while strolling on the roof of the castle in the company of his wife, Ahmad happened to see a black door against a wall at one end of the roof. "What is there beyond that door?" he asked. The queen looked pale. "Never wish or try to know that," she whispered. Ahmad kept quiet for the moment. But, at night, he felt restless. He remembered how his dying master had forbidden him to open a black door.
But had he any reason to repent having disobeyed the old man? Far from that! He would have been a fool if he would have continued to obey him. Who knows if there are greater wonders behind the present black door too? Such thoughts inspired him to leave the bed at midnight and climb the roof stealthily. He pushed open the door and stepped out into a terrace. All of a sudden the huge bird swooped down upon him and carried him away. In a moment the island disappeared from his sight. The bird flew over the sea and after an hour left him on a spot near a door. Ahmad opened the door and found himself stepping into the underground chamber of his own house. He was most eager to return to his wife and the wonderful island. Several times he opened the black door, hoping that the bird would carry him off again. But he saw nothing behind the door but a wall. Never did he smile again. Like his departed master, he too wept haunted by the memory of his lost happiness.
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