The one-eyed Kalandar bowed and said:
"O noble lady, this is how I lost my eye and why my beard was shaved."
The Two Princes
My father was a king.My uncle was also a king of another city.My cousin (his son) and I were born on the same day, and we grew up like brothers.
I often visited my uncle's palace and stayed there for months.My cousin treated me with great love — he gave me the best food, the finest wine, and we talked for hours like best friends.
One night, after much wine, he suddenly said:
"Cousin, I must ask you something very serious.Promise you will not refuse."
I swore to help him.
The Veiled Woman
After a while he returned, bringing a richly dressed woman, covered with a veil and wearing expensive jewelry.
He said to me:
"Take this woman to a certain tomb in the graveyard.Sit with her inside and wait until I come."
Because of my oath, I said nothing.
I led the woman to the cemetery and into a tomb.
Soon after, my cousin arrived carrying:
a bowl of water
a bag of lime
a digging tool
He broke open the tomb floor and dug until he uncovered a hidden iron door.Under it was a long underground staircase.
He turned to the woman and said:
"This is your last choice."
She walked down the stairs and disappeared.
Then he said to me:
"When I go down, close everything exactly as it was.Cover the door, seal the grave, and make it look untouched."
Then he went down too — and vanished forever.
A Terrible Regret
Drunk and confused, I obeyed him.I sealed the tomb and returned to the palace.
The next morning, horror struck me.
I ran to the graveyard…But I could not find the tomb.
For seven days I searched, crying and losing my mind.
Finally, in despair, I decided to return home to my father.
My Father Is Dead
But when I reached my city…
Soldiers grabbed me and chained me.
I learned the truth:
The Wazir had betrayed my father and killed him.The Wazir was now king.
He hated me because years ago I had accidentally shot out his eye.
Now he took revenge.
He ordered:
"Blind him… then kill him."
He gouged out my left eye with his fingers.
Then he ordered me to be taken to the desert and executed.
A Life Spared
The executioner was once loyal to my father.He let me go.
I escaped with only one eye and my life.
I went to my uncle's city and told him everything.
He wept — because his son was missing.
Then I told him the truth about the tomb.
The Horrible Discovery
We found the hidden grave.
Inside we found my cousin and the woman —burned black, dead by divine punishment.
The truth was revealed:
They were brother and sister.They had committed a forbidden sin.
Heaven had destroyed them.
More Tragedy
Before we could even mourn, the evil Wazir attacked again.He conquered my uncle's city and killed him.
I shaved my beard and eyebrows and disguised myself as a Kalandar.
That is how I became a wandering beggar.
After my uncle was killed and his city was taken by the cruel Wazir, I knew one thing:
If anyone recognized me, I would be killed at once.
So I shaved my beard, mustache, and eyebrows, and dressed myself like a poor wandering Kalandar.That was the only way to survive.
My heart was burning with grief.
My father was murdered.
My uncle was slain.
My cousin had died in a horrible way.
My eye was gone.
I had lost everything.
So I said to myself:
"There is only one place left for me — Baghdad.The Caliph is the ruler of justice.If I can reach him, maybe he will hear my story."
I began walking toward Baghdad, begging and wandering like a fakir.
That very night, as I was lost in thought and sorrow, I met another Kalandar — the second one.We spoke and realized we were both strangers.
Then a third Kalandar joined us and said the same.
We three, all wounded by fate, walked together until night fell…
And destiny led us to the house of the three mysterious sisters.
That is how I came here.
The lady of the house and all the guests were silent, stunned by his tale.
Even the Caliph whispered to Ja'afar:
"By god… I have never heard such a story."
The lady then said:
"Rub your head and go free."
But the Kalandar replied:
"I will not leave until the stories of the other two are also heard."
And so…the Second Kalandar stepped forward to speak.
The second Kalandar stepped forward and bowed.
"O noble lady… I was not born one-eyed.My story is so strange that if it were written on the corners of the eyes, it would warn every soul who reads it."
A Prince of Knowledge
"I was the son of a king.I was raised as a prince — trained in religion, science, poetry, astrology, philosophy, and calligraphy.My handwriting became famous across kingdoms.
So famous that even the King of Hind heard of me and sent gifts to invite me to his court.
My father sent me with six ships full of treasures.
But on the journey, desert raiders attacked us.They killed my servants, stole everything, and left me wounded and alone in the wilderness.
I fled into the mountains and hid in a cave.
Days later, weak and starving, I reached a beautiful city.
The Kind Tailor
I met a tailor who showed me kindness.
When I told him my story, he warned me:
"The king of this city is your father's enemy.If they find out who you are, they will kill you."
Since my knowledge meant nothing here, he told me to become a woodcutter to survive.
So I cut wood every day, sold it, and lived like a poor man for one full year.
The Hidden Staircase
One day while chopping wood, I struck something hard beneath the roots of a tree.
It was a trapdoor.
I opened it… and went down a hidden staircase.
At the bottom was a magnificent underground palace…
And there I saw a girl of breathtaking beauty.
She was lonely and had lived there for 25 years.
She told me the truth:
She had been stolen on her wedding night by an Ifrit (demon) named Jirjis, who came to her once every ten days.
But he was gone for six days.
She asked:
"Will you stay with me until he returns?"
I agreed.
Love and Madness
We bathed, ate, talked, and fell in love.
I was happy for the first time in my life.
But I drank too much wine…
And foolishly said:
"I will summon the Ifrit and kill him!"
She begged me not to.
But I kicked the magic altar.
Thunder roared.The air darkened.The Ifrit arrived.
She told me to flee.
I ran — leaving my axe and sandals behind.
The Demon's Revenge
The Ifrit tortured her to force her to confess.
He then used my belongings to find me.
He dragged me back into the underground palace.
He demanded that she kill me.
She refused.
Then he demanded that I kill her.
I refused.
In rage, the Ifrit murdered her before my eyes.
Then he said:
"Ask a wish. I will not kill you — but I will curse you."
He gave me a terrible choice.
He turned me into an APE.
The Cursed Prince
I wandered the world as a monkey.
A ship rescued me.
I amazed everyone by writing poetry and playing chess.
The King of that land brought me to court.
His daughter, a magic-skilled princess, realized I was a man under a spell.
She fought the Ifrit in a terrible magical battle.
She killed him…
But was fatally burned in the fight.
Before dying, she turned me back into a man — but my eye was destroyed by the demon's fire.
Banished
The King lost his daughter and blamed me.
He said:
"Leave my kingdom forever.If I ever see you again, I will kill you."
So I left…
Shaved my beard.
Dressed as a Kalandar.
And came wandering to Baghdad…
Where fate led me here.
The lady of the house said:
"Your tale is truly wondrous. Rub your head and go."
But he answered:
"I will not leave until I hear the story of the third Kalandar."