Short, Entertaining, Fictional Story from Uzbekistan for the inquisitive reader..
Uzbekistan | Samarkhand | Samarkand | Central Asia | Silk Route Trade | Chengiz Khan | Timur | Registan Square
Sitting atop the only left Minar, I was distracted from a gripping chapter of Samarkand from the book – Central Asia by Planeta Publications, when I heard the galloping become vigorous on the blood soaked deserts of Afrosiab. Timur, the ultimate general, viewed the vastness of plunder by Chengis Khan at the old capital while tugging his horse to stop. His tired yet stern face beaded with deep brown eyes, embalmed with blood and ochre mud, shouldered over a strong lean muscular body, stood, soaking in the victory of becoming an unrivaled ruler of Central Asia and the Golden Silk Route to China!
The market square of Registan was decorated with silk today. The crowd moved energetically to secure the best place as the drumming grew electric, to view their new King against the gravity defying blue walls of the now Ulug Beg mausoleum. As i tip toed around to secure a place for myself, i could only see a sea of colorful turbans over shoulders from which some carried their kids to witness the turning point of the history of Central Asia! The entrance of the square was guarded by Mongol-Turk army holding long spears with heads of personnel’s from the Mongol army. Under the larger than life gateway, stood Timur, dressed in his royal blue, Jardosi work overcoat and deep mehroon tunic laced with gold, with his arms wide open flanked by his advisories and eclectic applauding. Suddenly the chimes and cheering, all went silent at the square, when Timur roared like a lion to address his kingdom!
“I, I am your Amir now! The Amir of the whole of Central Asia! I snatched this privilege from your ruthless ruler – Chengis Khan! I am the undefeated and the immortal!”
His voice flushed through every pore of the cosmos as the hypnotized crowd kept gaping in awe.
“Samarkand, will now be the capital of my Central Asia! I will build this city with Allah’s color, Blue, such that the entire world will remember it forever! Samarkand will be an inspiration for architects and artists, historians and scientists, anthropologists and archeologists from all over this world, forever! I promise! Consider your generations and their generations to come, blessed, as they will proudly read about their ruler’s expeditions, victory and achievements from the starting of Silk route to the impenetrable passes of the Western Himalayas! From Persia to India, Afghanistan & Mesopotamia and everything which lies between them!!”
As the volcanic speech was receding to exchanging wishes and congratulating each other, i chose to quickly meander my way to the relatively peaceful, inner courtyards of the Madrasahs, where young couples and kids found solace in freedom. There pale white faces with deep black eyes and burnt cheeks, were as cheerful as those of the caged birds when allowed free.
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