THE CHESS MATCH (URDU)Footnote ¹

It was Nawab Footnote ² Wajid Ali Shah's time.Footnote ³ Lucknow was sunk in a riot of luxury.Footnote ⁴ Everyone, small and great, pursued pleasure. If dance spectaculars Footnote ⁵ were staged in one place,Footnote ⁶ the next man was relishing a haze of opium. In every walk of life revelryFootnote ⁷ prevailed. In government, literature, social style, craftsmanship, commerce, everyone busied themselves with gratification. Pillars of the realm were slaves to wine-bibbing,Footnote ⁸ poets were intoxicated with dalliance,Footnote ⁹ craftsmen with turning out precious thread and fine embroidery,Footnote ¹⁰ soldiers with partridge-fights, tradespeople with buying and selling eye-shadow and mouth-dye, perfume and oil, in a word the whole nation was caught in the shackles of self-indulgence. The daze of the drinking-cup clouded everyone's eyes. No one knew what scholarly and scientific innovations Footnote ¹¹ were in train, where the peoples of the west were advancing by land and sea. Quail fought. Bets were being placed on partridge. Somewhere chausar Footnote ¹² was in play; the cry pau barah Footnote ¹³ went up. Elsewhere battles had broken out at chess. Armies were being up-ended. The Nawab's case was worse still. There was innovation at court in song and dance. New tricks, ever new routines were thought up to delight the spirit. So much so that when holy men obtained charity, instead of buying bread they treated themselves to opium-blend or pure opium.Footnote ¹⁴ Magnates’ sons studied under entertainment stars to gain proficiency in ready wit and repartee. Chess was an accepted nostrum for quickening powers of reason, acquiring presence of mind and sharpening the intellect. Even today one finds everywhere a class of persons who press the case vigorously. So, if Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali spent the better part of their life sharpening their minds, no discerning person had occasion to object. As to ignoramuses, let them think what they wanted. Both gentlemen held hereditary land.Footnote ¹⁵ They were free of concern about earning a living. What else were they to do? At daybreak the two gentlemen breakfasted and sat down at their chess-mat. They laid out the pieces and set about sharpening their minds. They were then beyond knowing when it was midday, mid-afternoon or evening. Time and again someone would come from inside the house to say food was ready. The answer was, “Right, we’re coming. Lay out the spread.” But the delights of qorma and pulao Footnote ¹⁶ paled beside chess. Eventually, the cook was reduced to serving the food in the room and the two friends juggled the two activities in tandem, demonstrating Footnote ¹⁷ their consummate dexterity. Sometimes the food was left untouched. It had been forgotten. Mirza Sajjad Ali's establishment had no senior resident, so relaxed Footnote ¹⁸ battles took place in his drawing-room. But that did not mean that the rest of Mirza's household were happy with his pursuit. On the contrary. In the quarter, among the servants, women, maids alike a carping critique was kept up: “Very ill-fated game. Leaves a house ruined. Heaven forbid anyone form the habit, he's no use to God, no use to man. It's the washerman's dog all over again: no place at home or work.Footnote ¹⁹ Dreadful disease”. The real bugbear was that the Begam Sahiba too increasingly raised her voice in protest at the pursuit. Her opportunities, though, were hard come by. She was still asleep when the game got underway. At night she had gone to sleep by the time the Mirza re-entered the house. She certainly vented a mindless, abusive anger.Footnote ²⁰ She snapped at the servants: “Master ordered betel, has he? Tell him to come and get it himself. Lost the use of his feet, has he? Footnote ²¹ Says he has no time now for food? Go and tip the food over his head, for him or the dogs. Who here is going to wait for him?” But the pièce de résistance was that she complained not so much about her husband as Mir Sahib. She awarded Mir Sahib names like Loafer, Calamity or Scrounger. Possibly, in his protestations of innocence the Mirza had heaped all blame on Mir Sahib's head.

One day the Begam Sahiba had a headache, so she told the maid, “Go and call the Mirza. He needs to fetch medicine from the doctor’s.Footnote ²² Run, be quick. My head's splitting”. The maid went, the Mirza said: “Right, I’m just coming”. The Begam Sahiba was livid that she should have a headache and her husband be busy playing chess. Her face flushed and she told the maid to go and tell him to come at once, or she would go to the doctor's herself. There was something untoward Footnote ²³ about her eyes. The Mirza was playing a gripping game. Two moves more and Mir Sahib would be checkmate. He said: “Is it that dying gasp?Footnote ²⁴ Can't she show a little forbearance? Is the doctor going to dispense a magic spell to cure her headache?”

Mir Sahib ruled: “Go on, go and listen to her for a bit. Women are delicate creatures.” Footnote ²⁵

Mirza: “Sure, why not go? You’re mate in two moves.”

Mir: “Don't you count on it, my dear Sir. The move I’ve come up with will set your pieces reeling, and mate you, but go and listen. Why, pray, upset her unnecessarily over such a trifle?”

Mirza: “That's just it. I mean to mate you.”Footnote ²⁶

Mir: “I shan't play. You go and listen first.”

Mirza: “Come on, old man. It’ll mean going to the doctor’s. There's no headache at all. It's a dodge to harass me.”

Mir: “Even so, you’ll have to humour her.”

Mirza: “Alright, one move and I’ll go.”

Mir: “Absolutely not, until you go and listen I shan't touch the pieces.”

Mirza Sahib was forced to go inside, where a groaning Begam Sahiba said: “You’re so in love with your poxy chess that you wouldn't bestir yourself if one was dying. Chess has become the other woman. Save us from initiates Footnote ²⁷ like you.”

Mirza: “What could I do, Mir Sahib wouldn't let me go. I’ve only just torn myself away with great difficulties.”

Begam: “Just because he's a loafer, does he think others are? He has a family himself, or has he disposed of them all?”

Mirza: “He's a thoroughly bad lot. When he comes, he rides roughshod over me,⁽ Footnote ^{28 )} so I’m forced to play him.”

Begam: “Why don't you chase him off, like a dog?”

Mirza: “Good God. He's my equal in age, a notch or two ahead of me in rank. I have to show him consideration.”

Begam: “Then I’ll chase him off. If he takes offence, so be it. Who's keeping me in bread? Queen takes amiss, forget about bliss.Footnote ²⁹ (To the maid) Abbasi, go and fetch the chess-board. Tell Mir Sahib the master won't be playing, he should kindly leave and not show his face again.”

Mirza: “Just the outrage we need! Why disgrace me? Stop, Abbasi. Where are you running Footnote ³⁰ to, wretch?”

Begam: “Why won't you let her go? Stop her, drink my blood! You’ve stopped her, stop me, shall we see?” So saying, the Begam started with a shriek Footnote ³¹ for the drawing-room. The Mirza's face paled. It became a picture.Footnote ³² He began imploring his wife: “For God's sake, as you revere the Martyr of Karbala!Footnote ³³ See my corpse, if you set foot inside!”Footnote ³⁴ But the Begam Sahiba heeded not a word. She approached the drawing-room door, yet all of a sudden, at the prospect of facing a strange manFootnote ³⁵ with no niqab , her feet failed her. She peered inside. Happily the room was empty. Mir Sahib, counsel of necessity, had rearranged a few pieces and to establish his innocence was out on the terrace at the time taking forty paces.Footnote ³⁶ At that, the Begam Sahiba obtained her sought-after wish. Entering, she up-ended the game, sent some pieces flying under the sofa, others outside, then pulling the door shut threw the bolt. Mir Sahib was at the door, saw the pieces come flying out, then hearing the clink of bangles realised that the Begam Sahiba had run riot.Footnote ³⁷ He quietly went off home.

Mirza said to the Begam Sahiba: “You’ve committed an outrage.”

Begam: “If that dumbo Footnote ³⁸ comes here again, I’ll throw him out on the spot. It hardly bears saying this is not a bawdy house.Footnote ³⁹ If you showed as much devotion to God, you’d be a saint.Footnote ⁴⁰ While you people are playing chess, I’m bothering my head minding hearth and household grind. Do you take me for a servant? Are you off to the doctor's or still making up your mind?”

The Mirza left the house, going not to the doctor's but to Mir Sahib's house where in apologetic tones, heart brimming with anguish, he recounted the whole story. Mir Sahib laughed and said: “I realised as much when the maid brought news of a headache, that today's signs were not good. She seems very intemperate. I mean to say, what high-handedness! You’ve over-indulged her, it's not right. What business is it of hers what you do elsewhere? Her job is managing the home. What right has she to interfere in men's affairs? Take my house, no one ever objects.”

Mirza: “Fair enough. But tell me, where are we going to meet?”

Mir: “What's the problem now? There's an ample houseFootnote ⁴¹ to hand. Settled, our venue's here.”

Mirza: “But how am I to win the Begam Sahiba round? She was angry enough when I was at home. If I’m away, she might not leave me alive.”

Mir: “My dear Sir, let her rail. She’ll come round of her own accord in a few days. And do be a little firmer yourself.

(2)

Mir Sahib's Begam Sahiba for some reason approved of Mir Sahib's invisibility Footnote ⁴² about the house. She made no complaint, therefore, at all over his leisure pursuit. Rather, if he was sometimes late setting off or a little dozy, she would prove to him that “When the master meditates, a reminder is in order”.Footnote ⁴³ For these reasons Mir Sahib was under the impression that his Begam Sahiba was extremely civil, patient by temperament and faithful. But when the chess-mat was laid out in their drawing-room and the Begam Sahiba's freedom from Mir Sahib's continuing presence was first curtailed, great anguish took hold of her. Daily she longed to peer out of the door. She began deliberating how to rid herself of the affliction!

Then the mutterings started among the servants. Until now they had spent all day in idleness snoring. Comings and goings at the house were none of their business or concern. At most they had to make a few visits to the bazaar. Now it was oppression round the clock. Sometimes the order was for betel, sometimes water, sometimes ice, sometimes replenishing tobacco. The hookah glowed perpetually like some loverFootnote ⁴⁴ with a burning heart. They all approached the Begam Sahiba: “Ma’am, the master's chess has become the bane of our lives.Footnote ⁴⁵ We‘re getting blisters on our feet from running about all day. This is a game that goes on from morning to night. A game takes half-an-hour or an hour. Over and done with, and then you know, ma’am, what an ill-fated game it is. Anyone who forms the habit never recovers. Some disaster or other is bound to fall on the house. Whole quarters are known to have been destroyed by it, one after the other. The neighbours constantly turn on us. We’re ashamed to go out of the house.” The Begam Sahiba said: “I don't approve of the game myself at all. But what can I do? What influence do I have?”

The neighbourhood's few old timers began spreading all sorts of suspicions: “Now there can be no prosperity.Footnote ⁴⁶ If this is the plight of our notables, then God preserve the realm.Footnote ⁴⁷ Chess will be the ruin of this kingdom. The omens are dire.”

In the kingdom weeping and wailing broke out. Farmers were robbed in broad daylight. But there was no one to hear their claims for redress. All the wealth of the villages was drained away to Lucknow and spent there on procuring trappings of extravagance.Footnote ⁴⁸ Jesters, mimes, kathak Footnote ⁴⁹ dancers and entertainment stars did brisk business. Gold coins Footnote ⁵⁰ rained down in serving-wenches’ Footnote ⁵¹ parlours. Grandees’ sons would toss a gold coin with each puff of the hookah. At this rate of expenditure indebtedness to the English Company grew by the day. No one was concerned to repay it, to the point where not even the annual service charge could be paid. Time and again the Resident wrote pressing letters, issued threats. But the headiness of indulgence had the local population in harness.Footnote ⁵² No one lent an ear.

Well, several months went by playing chess in Mir Sahib's drawing-room. Ever new tricksFootnote ⁵³ were solved, ever new defences thrown up and laid low. Sometimes as they played a private fight Footnote ⁵⁴ would develop. Recourse would be had to name-calling.Footnote ⁵⁵ But these sweet griefs Footnote ⁵⁶ were very soon healed. Sometimes even, an offendedFootnote ⁵⁷ Mirza would depart home. Mir Sahib would take up the chess-mat, go and sit inside his house and swear oaths Footnote ⁵⁸ never to touch chess again. But come morning, the two friends were back together at their places. Sleep had banished all ill-feeling.

One day, as the two friends sat negotiating the quagmire of chess, a royal cavalryman called, complete with uniform and arms, asking for Mir Sahib by name. Mir Sahib froze, his self-possession deserted him. Heaven knew what woe had befallen him. He had the house doors secured and told the servants: “Say I’m not at home.”

The cavalryman asked: “If he's not at home, where is he? He must be hiding somewhere!”

Servant:Footnote ⁵⁹ “I don't know. That's your answer from the house. What's your business?”

Cavalryman: “Why should I tell you my business? He's been summoned to His Majesty. Maybe some soldiers are wanted for the army. He's a landholder, what a lark!”Footnote ⁶⁰

Servant: “Right, kindly go. He’ll be told.”

Cavalryman: “This isn't pass-the-parcel. I’ll be back early tomorrow and, after I’ve searched him out, I’ll take him with me. My orders are to present him.”

The cavalryman departed. Mir Sahib's spirit expired.Footnote ⁶¹ Quailing, he said to the Mirza: “What happens now?”

Mirza: “It's a great misfortune. I trust there's no summons for me.”

Mir: “The wretch has said he’ll be back tomorrow.”

Mirza: “It's quite simply the judgement of Heaven. When soldiers are called up, one might as well be dead.Footnote ⁶² In my case, the mere sound of the word war brings on a fever.”

Mir: “In my case, reckon food and water off-limits Footnote ⁶³ as from today.”

Mirza: “Right, here's a plan for avoiding him. Both of us will disappear.Footnote ⁶⁴ He can scour the whole city. Starting tomorrow we’ll cross the Gomti and the game can play outFootnote ⁶⁵ in some ruin. There, who's to know? The great manFootnote ⁶⁶ will turn up and go back with his tail between his legs.”

Mir: “Right you are! Brilliant idea! By God, we’ll cross the Gomti tomorrow and install ourselves there.”

Elsewhere, the Begam Sahiba was telling the cavalryman: “You took the part magnificently!” He answered: “I make fools like that dance with a click of the fingers. Chess has consumed all his brains and bravado. Watch him hang about the house now. He’ll be off in the morning and not back till dark.”

(3)

From that day on the two friends were out of the house before dawn and, a little rug underarm, a box stuffed with betel, crossed the Gomti and settled in an old ruined mosque, perhaps a relic of Mughal times. On the way they obtained bowl, tobacco and pipe and proceeded to the mosque. They spread the rug, filled the hookah and sat at the chess-mat. They were then lost to this world and the next. “Check”, “King en prise ”.Footnote ⁶⁷ With the exception of these terms, not a word escaped their lips. Even a fasting asceticFootnote ⁶⁸ would not be seated in such a state of immersion. At midday when hunger gnawed the two great men, keeping to the lanes, would eat at a baker’sFootnote ⁶⁹ stall and, after smoking a hookah-bowl, once again, obliterated in chess, savour defeat.Footnote ⁷⁰ Sometimes, the thought of food never occurred to them.

The country's political tangles were now becoming daily more tangled. The Company's forces were massing on Lucknow. Commotion broke out in the town. People, each taking their children, were fleeing off to the villages. But our two chess-playing friends were untouched by cares of office or loss of property.Footnote ⁷¹ Leaving home they kept to the lanes, so that no eye might fall on them. Even the neighbours caught no glimpse of them. Finally, the English troops reached the outskirts of Lucknow.

One day the two friends were sitting playing. Mir Sahib's game was faltering. Mirza Sahib had him continually in check, when suddenly the Company's army appeared advancing up the road ahead. The Company had decreed the occupation of Lucknow. On pretext of debt, it wanted to devour the kingdom. This was a moneylender’s Footnote ⁷² move which today has all weak nations hobbled by the foot.

Mir Sahib: “The English troops are coming.”

Mirza: “Let them. Get out of check. Check!”

Mir: “I want to watch a moment. Let's look from the ridge. What towering young men. My chest trembles at the sight.”

Mirza: “You have all the time in the world.Footnote ⁷³ What's the hurry? Check again!”

Mir: “There's artillery too. There must be five thousand of them. Red faces like monkeys.”

Mirza: “My dear sir, don't beat about the bush. That's check!”

Mir: “You’re pretty amazing yourself. Do figure out, now the town's surrounded, how we’re going to get home.”

Mirza: “When the moment comes, we’ll see. That's check and mate.”

The army had passed. The friends laid out another game. The Mirza said: “What do we do about food today?”

Mir: “I’m fasting today. Do you fancy a bite?”

Mirza: “Not me. I’m not sure what's happening in the city.”

Mir: “Nothing will be happening in the city. People will have finished their food and be taking their ease. His Majesty Jan-e Alam will also have declared a rest. Or the wine-cup Footnote ⁷⁴ may be passing round.”

This time when the two friends sat down to play it was three o’ clock. This time the Mirza's game was faltering. Meanwhile, sounds of the returning army were heard. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been deposed and the army was taking him off captive. In the city there was no uproar, no massacre, not even one desperado Footnote ⁷⁵ shed a drop of blood. The Nawab took leave Footnote ⁷⁶ of his home Footnote ⁷⁷ like a weeping, breast-beating Footnote ⁷⁸ girl going off to her father-in-law's house.Footnote ⁷⁹ The Begams cried, the Nawab cried, the matrons and the maids cried and that was that. The kingdom was at an end. Never in all time had the king of any country been deposed so peaceably, so un-forcibly. At least history held no precedent. This was not the non-violence in which the angels rejoice. It was abject. It left a name at which goddesses wept. The ruler of Lucknow had been carried off captive and Lucknow was floating in a dream-world of extravagance. It was the ultimate in political collapse.

Mirza: “The tyrants have taken His Exalted MajestyFootnote ⁸⁰ prisoner.”

Mir: “May be so. You’ll be the judge. Take that, check!”

Mirza: “Do pause a moment, my good Sir.Footnote ⁸¹ Just now my mind is not on the game. His Exalted Majesty will be weeping tears of blood. The light has gone out in Lucknow.”

Mir: “He should weep. Where’s such luxury to be had in European clink.Footnote ⁸² That's check!”Footnote ⁸³

Mirza: “Nobody's luck lasts forever. What grievous misfortune. It's a trial from heaven.”

Mir: “Yes it is. Check again. That's it, next check is mate. You can't escape.”

Mirza: “You’re very hard-hearted, by God. You can witness a life-diminishing catastropheFootnote ⁸⁴ like this and feel no shock. Alas for His Majesty Jan-e Alam! Now there's no one left to appreciate talent.Footnote ⁸⁵ Lucknow too is now a desert.Footnote ⁸⁶

Mir: “First save your own king's life,Footnote ⁸⁷ then flailFootnote ⁸⁸ yourself for His Luminous Footnote ⁸⁹ Majesty. That's check and mate! Your hand on it!”

The army with the captured Nawab passed from view. As they went, the Mirza laid out a new game. The hurt of defeat rankles. Mir Sahib said: “Come, let's chant a marsiya Footnote ⁹⁰ on the Nawab Sahib's pitiful plight. But the Mirza's loyalty and poetic devotion had faded Footnote ⁹¹ with his defeat. He was impatient to avenge the loss.

(4)

It was dusk. In the mosque’s ruins bats started sounding the call. Swallows, each stuck to its nest, began the evening prayers. But the two players were locked in the game like two bloodthirsty champions jousting with death. The Mirza had managed to lose three games running and this fourth game was not looking good. Each time, vowing to win, rallying finely, he gave of his very best but move after move turned out wrong until the whole game miscarried.Footnote ⁹² At this point Mir Sahib recited ghazals, sang thumris,Footnote ⁹³ threw out jibesFootnote ⁹⁴ and innuendoes, predicted doom in double-entendre and puns.Footnote ⁹⁵ He was as pleased as if hidden treasureFootnote ⁹⁶ had come his way. Mirza Sahib listening to these fine flourishes grew irritated and frowning repeatedly said: “Do not change your move, Sir. How can you move and immediately alter it? Think through carefully what you need to do and do it once. Why, Sir, have you been keeping your finger on my Footnote ⁹⁷ piece? Kindly let go of the piece. Until you’ve made your mind up about your move, kindly don't handle a piece. Why, my good Sir,Footnote ⁹⁸ are you taking half-an-hour over each move? It's not allowed. Anyone taking more than five minutes over one move counts as mate. You’ve changed your move again? Put the piece back”.

Mir Sahib's queenFootnote ⁹⁹ was in peril.Footnote ¹⁰⁰ He said: “When did I move?”

Mirza: “Your move? You took it. The best thing Footnote ¹⁰¹ is to put the piece back on that square.”

Mir: “Why should I? When did I take my hand off the piece?”

Mirza: “If you don't let go of a piece till Judgement Day, how can it avoid being a move? You saw your queen was lost¹⁰⁰ and started cheating.”

Mir: “You’re the cheat. Winning or losing is fate. No one wins by cheating.”

Mirza: “You’re mate in this game.”

Mir: “How can I be mate?”

Mirza: “Then put the piece back on that square, where it was before.”

Mir: “Why should I put it back? I’m not going to.”

Mirza: “You'll have to.”

Mir: “Definitely not.”

Mirza: “Then your angels will. It's your moment of truth.” Footnote ¹⁰²

Matters escalated. Both held to their tune. Neither would yield. In dispute, inappropriate,Footnote ¹⁰³ unrelated matters were introduced, the burden of which was to insult and belittle. “The” Mirza declared: “If any of your ancestry had played chess, you would be conversant with the rules. They always cut grass. How, pray, were you to pick up chess? StatusFootnote ¹⁰⁴ is different. It doesn't come with the grant of an estate.”Footnote ¹⁰⁵

Mir: “It must have been your forebears who cut grass. In my family we’ve passed generation after generation playing chess.”

Mirza: “Come off it, Sir. You passed your time working for Nawab Ghazi ud-Din HaidarFootnote ¹⁰⁶ as a cook. That's how you got your estate. Now you toy Footnote ¹⁰⁷ with concocting a gentleman. The making of a gentleman is no laughing-matter.”

Mir: “Why are you blackening your ancestors? They must have been the cooks. Our ancestors sat at the Nawab's table. We were his boon-companions.”Footnote ¹⁰⁸

Mirza: “The impudent know no shame.”

Mir: “Hold your tongue, or you’ll regret it. We don't brook such talk. Anyone glowers at me, my hand draws. His belly gets slit.”

“Mirza: “You want to see my courage, get ready. We’ll put it to the test, one way or the other.”

Mir: “Right you are! Come at it! Who's afraid of you?”

The two friends drew sabres from their sashes. Everyone, high and low, carriedFootnote ¹⁰⁹ spikes, daggers, knives, guns.Footnote ¹¹⁰ Both were captive to luxury but they had their honour. Public spirit Footnote ¹¹¹ was their rara avis Footnote ¹¹² but personal courage welled within them. Their political feelings were non-existent.Footnote ¹¹³ Why die for King, for country, for their people? Why should they interrupt their sweet sleep? But in matters of individual feeling they were utterly fearless. They were, indeed, in their element. They squared up to one another, lunged and parried. Sabres flashed, there was an audible swish, and both fell wounded. Both, writhing on the ground, gave up their lives. Two men who had shed not a teardrop for their King parted with their necks for a chess queen.

Darkness had fallen. The game was laid out. The two kings were resplendent, each on his throne. Grief overcast them, as if flailing themselves for the death of the two martyrs.Footnote ¹¹⁴

On four sidesFootnote ¹¹⁵ there was a world of ominous silence.Footnote ¹¹⁶ The ruins’ crumbling walls, broken crenellations and minarets, bowing their heads in prayer,Footnote ¹¹⁷ looked on at the corpses and lamented the impermanence of human life, lacking even the substance of stone and brick.Footnote ¹¹⁸

THE CHESS PLAYERS (HINDI)Footnote ¹¹⁹

It was Wajid Ali Shah's time. Lucknow was sunk in a riot of extravagance.Footnote ¹²⁰ Everyone, small and great, poor and rich, was sunk in Footnote ¹²¹ extravagance. If one man was staging a song and dance show, the next was relishing a haze of opium. In every walk of life revelryFootnote ¹²² prevailed. In government, literature, social matters, craftsmanship, business, at table ,Footnote ¹²³ extravagance was all-pervasive. Officers of state were deep Footnote ¹²⁴ in dilettante devilling,Footnote ¹²⁵ poets in depicting love and separation , craftsmen in turning out precious thread and fine embroidery, tradespeople in merchandising eye-shadow, perfume, mouth-dye and skin-cleanser.Footnote ¹²⁶

The daze of extravagance clouded everyone's eyes. No one knew what was happening in the world. Quail fought. Bets were being laid for a partridge- fight . Somewhere a chausar- cloth had been spread; the cry pau-bārah went up. Elsewhere, grim combat Footnote ¹²⁷ had broken out at chess. From king to beggar, they were giddy with the fervour. So much so that holy men in receipt of coins did not buy bread, they chewed opium or smoked opium-blend.Footnote ¹²⁸ Playing chess, cards and ganjifa Footnote ¹²⁹ sharpens the mind, develops reasoning-power and affords exercise in complex problem-solving. These arguments were forcefully adduced. (The world is not yet free of Footnote ¹³⁰ persons of this persuasion.) So, if Mirza Sajjad Ali andFootnote ¹³¹ Mir Roshan Ali spent the better part of their time sharpening their minds, how could any reasonable man object? Both held hereditary land; had no concerns about wherewithal; Footnote ¹³² sat at home enjoying fine fare . What else were they to do?

At daybreak the two friends breakfasted, spread their chess-mat, sat down, laid out the pieces and the war-games began .Footnote ¹³³ They were then beyond knowing when it was midday, mid-afternoon or evening! Time and again the call would come from inside the house that food was ready. The answer was: “Right, we’re coming. Lay out the spread”. Eventually, the cook was reduced to serving the food in the room and the two friends juggled the two activities in tandem.

Mirza Sajjad Ali's house had no senior resident, so the games took place in his drawing room. But that did not mean that the rest of Mirza's household were happy with his pursuit. His own house apart , the quarter and its domestic servants kept up a constant hostile commentary: “Very ill-fated game. Brings ruin on a house. Heaven forbid anyone form the habit, he's no use to God or man, no place at home or on the waterfront.Footnote ¹³⁴ Dreadful disease”. Eventually, Mirza’s Begam Sahiba so took against it that she sought out every opportunity to scold him. But her opportunities were hard come by. She was still asleep when the game was laid out. And at night she had already gone to sleep when the Mirza re-entered the house. She certainly vented her anger at the servants – “Ordered betel, has he? Tell him to come and get it himself. No time for food? Go and tip the food over his head, for him or the dogs as he cares”. But face to face she could not get out a word. She was not as vexed with her husband as Mir Sahib. She reserved Calamity Mir as her name for him . Possibly, to clear himself the Mirza had slapped all blame on Mir Sahib's head.

One day the Begam Sahiba had a headache. She told the maid, “Go and call Mirza Sahib. He needs to fetch medicine from the doctor’s. Run, be quick”. The maid went, the Mirza said: “Right, I’m just coming”.

The Begam Sahiba had a fiery temper. She was livid that she should have a headache and her husband still be playing chess. Her face flushed. She told the maid, “Go and tell him to come at once, or I’ll go to the doctor's myself.”

The Mirza was playing a gripping game, two moves more and Mir Sahib would be checkmate. Peevishly , he said: “Is it that dying gasp?Footnote ¹³⁵ Can't she show a little forbearance?”

Mir: “Go on, go and listen to her. Women are delicateFootnote ¹³⁶ creatures.”

Mirza: “Sure, why not go? You’re mate in two moves.”

Mir: “Don't you count on it, my dear Sir.Footnote ¹³⁷ The move I’ve come up with will set your pieces reeling and mate you. But go and listen. Why, pray, upset her unnecessarily?”

Mirza: “That's just it. I’ll mate you and then go.”

Mir: “I shan't play. You go and listen.”

Mirza: “Come on, old man. It’ll mean going to the doctor. There's no headache at all. It's a pretext to distract me.”

Mir: “Even so, you’ll have to humour her.”

Mirza: “Alright, one move and I’ll go.”

Mir: “Absolutely not, until you go and listen I shan't touch a piece.”

Mirza Sahib was forced to go inside, where a black-looking but groaning Begam Sahiba said: “You’re so in love with your poxyFootnote ¹³⁸ chess. You wouldn't bestir yourselfFootnote ¹³⁹ if one was dying! Save us from the likes of you!”

Mirza: “What can I say, Mir Sahib wouldn't let me go. I’ve only just torn myself awayFootnote ¹⁴⁰ with great difficulty.”

Begam: “Just because he's a loafer, does he think everyone is? He has a family himself, or has he disposed of them all?”Footnote ¹⁴¹

Mirza: “He's a thoroughly bad lot. When he comes, I’m forced to play him.”

Begam: “Why don't you chase him off?”

Mirza: “He's my equal in age, a notch or two ahead of meFootnote ¹⁴² in seniority. I have to show him consideration.”

Begam: “Then I’ll chase him off. If he takes offence, so be it. Who's keeping anyone in bread? Queen takes amiss, forget about bliss. Hiriya,Footnote ¹⁴³ go and bring the chess-board in. Tell Mir Sahib the master won't be playing, he should kindly leave.”

Mirza: “Just the outrage we need! Why do you want to disgrace me? Stop, Hiriya, where are you going?”

Begam: “Why won't you let her go? Stop her, drink my blood. You’ve stopped her, stop me, shall we see?”

So saying, the Begam Sahiba started in a fury for the drawing room. Mirza turned a wan colour. He began imploring his wife: “For God's sake, as you revere the Imam Husayn. See my corpse, if you go in.” But the Begam heeded not a word. She approached the drawing room door, yet all of a sudden at the prospect of a strange man her feet failed her. She peered inside, happily the room was empty. Mir Sahib had rearranged a few pieces and to establish his innocence was sauntering outside. At that, the Begam entering up-ended the game, sent some pieces flying under the sofa, others outside; and pulling the door-panel shut threw the bolt. Mir Sahib was at the door, saw the pieces come flying out and caught the clink of bangles. When the door shut, he realised that the Begam Sahiba had run riot. He quietly went off home.

Mirza said: “You’ve committed an outrage.”

Begam: “If Mir Sahib comes here again, I’ll have him thrown out on the spot. If you showed as much devotion to God, you’d be a saint. While you people are playing chess, I’m bothering my head minding hearth and household grind. Are you off to the doctor’sFootnote ¹⁴⁴ or still making up your mind?”

Mirza left the house, going not to the doctor's but to Mir Sahib's house, and told him the whole story. Mir Sahib said: “Once I saw the pieces come flying out, I realised. I immediately withdrew. She seems very intemperate. But you’ve simply indulged her, it's not right. What business is it of hers what you do elsewhere? Her job is managing the home; what concern of hers is anything else?”

Mirza: “Fair enough. But tell me, where are we going to meet?”

Mir: “What’s the problem in that! There's an ample house to hand. Settled, we’ll meet here.”

Mirza: “But how am I to win the Begam Sahiba round? She was enough of a handful Footnote ¹⁴⁵ when I was at home; if I spend my time here, she might not leave me alive.”

Mir: “My dear Sir,Footnote ¹⁴⁶ just let her rail, she’ll be fine unprompted in a few days. And do try to be a little firmer yourself.”

(2)

Mir Sahib's Begam for some unknown reason regarded Mir Sahib's scarceness Footnote ¹⁴⁷ about the house as fit and proper. She made no complaint, therefore, at all over his love of chess. Rather if Mir Sahib was sometimes late setting off, she would remind him.Footnote ¹⁴⁸ For these reasons Mir Sahib was under the impression that his wife was extremely well-behaved and serious-minded.Footnote ¹⁴⁹ But when the chess-mat was laid out in the drawing-room and Mir Sahib started spending all day at home, the Begam Sahiba became greatly anguished.Footnote ¹⁵⁰ Her independence had been curtailed. She longed all day to peer out of the door.

Then the mutterings started among the servants. Until now they had spent all day in idleness swatting flies; comings and goings at the house were no business of theirs.Footnote ¹⁵¹ Now it was oppression round the clock. Sometimes the order was for betel, sometimes sweets. And the hookah burned perpetuallyFootnote ¹⁵² like some lover’s heart. They approached the Begam Sahiba: “Ma’am, the master's chess has become the bane of our lives. We’ve blisters on our feet from running about all day. This is a game that goes on from morning till night. A game for amusement should take half or quarter of an hour.Footnote ¹⁵³ We’re not complaining, you understand; we’re the master's servants. What he orders, we do; but this Footnote ¹⁵⁴ game is ill-fated. Players never recover; some disaster or other is bound to fall on the house. Whole quarters are known to have been destroyed by it, one after another. It's the talk of the entire neighbourhood. We have eaten his salt, it grieves us to hear ill spoken of our master. But what can we do?” To this Footnote ¹⁵⁵ the Begam said: “I don't approve of it myself. But he won't listen to anyone, what can one do?”Footnote ¹⁵⁶

The neighbourhood's few old timers began dreaming up all sorts of disasters together: “Now there can be no prosperity. If this is the plight of our notables, then God preserve the realm. Chess will be the ruin of this kingdom. The omens are dire.”

In the kingdom weeping and wailing broke out. Subjects were robbed in broad daylight. There was no one to hear claims for redress. All the wealth of the villages was drained away to Lucknow and disappeared on harlots, jesters and other forms of extravagance. Indebtedness to the English Company grew by the day. Sodden blankets felt heavier by the day. In the absence of public order annual revenue went uncollected.Footnote ¹⁵⁷ Time and again the Resident issued warnings, but the local population was in the grip of the headiness of extravagance; no one lent an ear.

Well, several months went by playing chess in Mir Sahib's drawing room.Footnote ¹⁵⁸ Ever new tricks were solved; ever new defences established ;Footnote ¹⁵⁹ there were constant new dispositions ; sometimes as they played dispute would develop; recourse was had to name-calling; but harmony between the two friends was soon restored. Sometimes even, the game would be abandoned; an offended Mirza would depart home. Mir Sahib would go and sit inside his house. But with a whole night's sleep all animosity was laid to rest .Footnote ¹⁶⁰ Come morning, the two friends were back in the drawing room.

One day while the two friends sat negotiating the quagmire of chess, a mounted royal army officer called, asking for Mir Sahib by name. Mir Sahib froze. What woe had befallen him? Why this summons?Footnote ¹⁶¹ He told the servants: “Say, I’m not at home.”

Cavalryman: “If he's not at home, where is he?”

Servant: “I don't know. What's your business?”

Cavalryman: “Why should I tell you my business? He's been summoned to His Majesty. Maybe some soldiers are wanted for the army. He's a landholder – what a lark! He’ll find out at the front, learn the price of grub .”

Servant: “Right, off you go. He’ll be told.”

Cavalryman: “This isn't pass-the-word.Footnote ¹⁶² I’ll be back in person tomorrow, my orders are to take him with me.”Footnote ¹⁶³

The cavalryman departed. Mir Sahib's spirit began to quail.Footnote ¹⁶⁴ He said to the Mirza:Footnote ¹⁶⁵ “ Tell me, my dear Sir , what happens now?”

Mirza: “It's a great misfortune. I trust there's no summons for me.”

Mir: “The wretch has said he’ll be back tomorrow.”

Mirza: “It's quite simply a disaster.Footnote ¹⁶⁶ Posted to the front, one might as well be dead.Footnote ¹⁶⁷

Mir:Footnote ¹⁶⁸ “Right, here's one plan for avoiding him at home.Footnote ¹⁶⁹ Starting tomorrow we’ll cross the Gomti and the game can play out in some ruin. There, who's to know? The great man will turn up and go back all alone.

Mirza: “By God, a brilliant idea! A plan without equal .”

Elsewhere, Mir Sahib’s Begam was telling the cavalryman: “You’ve seen them off Footnote ¹⁷⁰ magnificently.”

He answered: “I make fools like that dance with a click of the fingers. Chess has consumed all their brains and bravado. Now they won’t hang about the house.”

(3)

From next day on the two friends were out of the house before dawn. A little rug underarm, a box stuffed with betel, they crossed the Gomti and headed for an old mosque built perhaps by Nawab Asaf ud-Dowla.Footnote ¹⁷¹ On the way they obtained tobacco, bowl and pipe and proceeding to the mosque, spread the rug, filled the hookah and sat down to play chess. They were then lost to this world and the next. With the exception of a few terms, “Check”, “King” etc, not a word escaped their lips. Even a meditating ascetic would not attain such concentration.Footnote ¹⁷² At midday, when hunger gnawed, the two friends would go to a baker's stall, eat and, after smoking a hookah-bowl, once again meet their check on the field of conflict.Footnote ¹⁷³ Sometimes the thoughtFootnote ¹⁷⁴ of food never occurred to them.

The country's political situation was now becoming horrendous. The Company's forces were massing on Lucknow. CommotionFootnote ¹⁷⁵ broke out in the town. People, taking their children, were fleeing to the villages. But our two players were not in the least concerned. Leaving home, they kept to the lanes. Their fear was that some royal flunky’s eye might fall on them and that he might press them into service. They wanted the free engorgement of thousands of rupees’ annual land-rent .Footnote ¹⁷⁶

One day the two friends were sitting in the ruins of the mosque playing chess . Mir Sahib’sFootnote ¹⁷⁷ game was faltering. Mirza¹⁷⁷ had him continually in check. Just then the Company's advancing army appeared. These were white troops on their way to occupy Lucknow.Footnote ¹⁷⁸

Mir Sahib said: “The English army’s coming. God save us .”

Mirza: “Let it. Get out of check. Check!”

Mir: “I want to watch a moment. Let's stand here on Footnote ¹⁷⁹ the ridge.”

Mirza: “You have all the time in the world. What's the hurry? Check, again!”

Mir: “There's artillery too! There must be five thousand of them.Footnote ¹⁸⁰ What fine young men. Faces like red monkeys! The show of force makes me tremble.”Footnote ¹⁸¹

Mirza: “My dear Sir, don't beat about the bush. Save the tricks for someone else . That's check!”

Mir: “You’re pretty amazing yourself. Disaster has just engulfed the city and you’re on about check . Maybe you also know , now the town's surrounded, how we’re going to get home?”

Mirza: “When the moment comes, we’ll see. That's check! It's over, this time your king’s mate.”

The army had passed. It was ten o’clock. A game was laid out again.

Mirza said: “What do we do about food today?”

Mir: “ Well, er , I’m fasting today. Do you fancy a bite?”

Mirza: “Not me. I’m not sure what's happening in the city.”

Mir: “Nothing will be happening in the city. People will have had their food and be sleeping at ease. His Majesty the Nawab will be in his pleasure-house.”Footnote ¹⁸²

When the two dignitaries sat down to play again, it was three o’ clock.Footnote ¹⁸³ This time the Mirza's game was faltering. Four was chiming when sounds of the returning army were heard. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had been captured and the army was taking him off to some unknown destination. In the city there was no commotion, no massacre. Not one drop of blood was spilt. Never before had the king of an independent country been overthrown so peacably,Footnote ¹⁸⁴ with such bloodlessness. This was not the non-violence in which the gods delight. It was cowardice of a sort to make even the greatest cowards Footnote ¹⁸⁵ weep. The Nawab of the mighty land of Avadh had been carried offFootnote ¹⁸⁶ captive and Lucknow was floating in a dreamworld of extravagance. It was the ultimate in political collapse.

Mirza said: “The tyrants have taken His Majesty the Nawab prisoner.”

Mir: “May be so. Take that, check!”

Mirza: “Do pause a moment, my good Sir. Just now I’ve no mind for it. The poor Nawab just now will be weeping tears of blood.”

Mir: “He should weep. Is such luxury to be had over there? That's check!”

Mirza: “Nobody's luck lasts. What a distressing plight.”

Mir: “Yes, indeed it is – take that, check again! That's it, this time check is mate, you can't escape.”

Mirza: “ Good God ,Footnote ¹⁸⁷ you’re very hard-hearted. You can witness such a great catastropheFootnote ¹⁸⁸ and feel no grief. Alas, poor Wajid Ali Shah!

Mir: “First save your own king, then flail yourself for the Nawab Sahib. That's check and that’s mate! Your hand on it!”

The army with the captured King Footnote ¹⁸⁹ passed from view. As they went, Mirza laid the game out again. The hurt of defeat rankles. Mir said: “Come, let's chant a marsiya in mourning Footnote ¹⁹⁰ for the Nawab Sahib.” But Mirza's patriotism had vanished with his defeat. He was impatient to level the score.

(4)

It was dusk. In the ruins bats started squealing. Homing swallows each stuck to its nest. But the two players were locked like two bloodthirsty champions in single combat. The Mirza had managed to lose three games running;Footnote ¹⁹¹ this fourth game was not looking good. Each time vowing to win he rallied, but move after move turned out maladroit until the game came apart.Footnote ¹⁹² With each defeat, the urge for revenge fiercened. At this point Mir Sahib exuberantly sang Footnote ¹⁹³ ghazals, threw out jibes, as if he had found some hidden treasure.Footnote ¹⁹⁴ The Mirza listening grew irritated and, to wipe out the shame of defeat, answered back. But the more his game faltered, the more his composure slipped. Eventually, everything irritated him – “Do not change your move, Sir. How can you make a move and then alter it? Move as you need to and move once; why have you kept your hand on the piece? Leave the piece alone. Until you’ve settled your move, don't touch a piece. You’re taking half-an-hour over each move. It's not allowed.Footnote ¹⁹⁵ Anyone taking more than five minutes over one move counts as mate. You’ve changed your move again! Just quietly put the piece back.”

Mir Sahib's queen was in peril. He said: “When did I move?”

Mirza: “You did move . Put the piece back – on that square.”

Mir: “Why should I? When did I take my hand off the piece?”

Mirza: “If you don't let a piece go till Judgement Day, how can it avoid being a move? You saw your queen was lost and started cheating.”

Mir: “You’re the cheat. Winning or losing is fate. No one wins by cheating.”

Mirza: “Well then, you’re mate in this game.”

Mir: “How can I be mate?”

Mirza: “Then put the piece back on that square, where it was before.”

Mir: “Why should I put it back? I’m not going to.”

Mirza: “ Pray, why not? You’ll have to.”

The dispute escalated. Both stuck to their tune. Neither would yield. Non-pertinent matters were introduced. Mirza said: “Had any of your ancestry played chess, you would know the rules. But they always cut grass, how, pray, were you to play chess?Footnote ¹⁹⁶ Status is different. It doesn't come with the grant of an estate.”

Mir: “ What! It must have been your forebears who cut grass. In my family we descend from generations of chess-players.”Footnote ¹⁹⁷

Mirza: “Come off it, Sir, you passed your time working for Ghazi ud-din Haider as a cook, now you’re concocting a gentleman. The making of a gentleman is no laughing matter.”

Mir: “Why blacken your ancestors? They must have worked as cooks.Footnote ¹⁹⁸ We descend from people who always ate at the King's table.”Footnote ¹⁹⁹

Mirza: “Get along, you poor forager,Footnote ²⁰⁰ don't embellish so much .”

Mir: “Hold your tongue or you’ll regret it. I don't brook such talk. Anyone glowers at me, his eyes get put out. Got the courage?”

Mirza: “You want to see my courage, come at it. We’ll fight it out now ,Footnote ²⁰¹ one way or the other.”

Mir: “So, who here's afraid of you?”

The two friends drew sabres from their sashes. It was the Nawabi era; everyone carried sabres, knives, spikes etc . Both were dilettantes Footnote ²⁰² but not cowards. They were short on political sentiment – why die for king and country; but did not lack personal courage. They squared up to one another, sabres flashed, there were audible swishes. Both fell wounded and both, writhing on the ground, gave up their lives. Two beings who had shed not a teardrop for their king surrendered their being Footnote ²⁰³ in defence of a chess queen.

Darkness had fallen. The game was laid out. The two kings sat, each on their thrones, as if mourning Footnote ²⁰⁴ the death of these two heroes.

On four sides, an ominous silence descended. The ruins’ cracked alcoves, fallen walls and dust-spattered minarets looked on at these corpses and lamented.Footnote ²⁰⁵