Page:The Fatal Garland - Swarnakumari Devi (2e).pdf/235

Rh husband to whom, as ever, she clung with childlike tenderness.

The young Prince, Jadav Dev, came to his mother. He held a little girl by the hand and she was fretful and restless. The boy said, "Mother when I am big I will marry the Princess Gul Bahar." Then he caressed the little Princess and whispered coaxingly, "Do not weep, you are my queen; I will bring you some ﬂowers."

Nirupama became vexed on hearing what her boy said, and answered, "My son, you must not speak in that way. Don't you know that she is a Mussulmani?

The Sanyasini, who was standing near, replied, "Do not despise the child, but remember that her mother gave her life to save you all."

Ganesh Dev sighed. He took the little one on his knee and kissed her tenderly. But Nirupama looked on the playful scene with misgiving and fear. Jadav Dev had received a garland of ﬂowers from the gardener, and this he put round the little girl's neck, saying, "Princess, you are my queen; I marry you."

The time came when Nirupama's fears were realised. The boy redeemed his childish promise. Shakti's curse was fulﬁlled. Jadav Dev in his youth became a Mussulman and married Gul Bahar, the descendant of Banowari Lal."

He is known in history as Jelal-ud-din, Sultan of Bengal.