The gardener laughed. “That is a likely story,” said he. “Why should the Rajah come to my poor hut? No, no; you are some one who wishes to play a trick on me, but you shall not succeed. I will not let you in.”
“But it is indeed Chundun Rajah,” called the Wuzeer. “Open the door that he may speak with you.”
When the gardener heard the Wuzeer’s voice he came and opened the door a crack, but still he only half believed what was told him. What was his amazement to see that it was indeed the Rajah who stood there in all his magnificence with his Wuzeer beside him. The poor man was terrified, fearing Chundun would be angry, but the Rajah spoke to him graciously.
“Do not be afraid,” said he. “Call thy daughter that I may speak with her, for it is she whom I wish to see.”
The girl was hiding (for she was afraid) and would not come until her father took her hand and drew her forward.
When the Rajah saw her now, this second time, she seemed to him even more beautiful than at first. He was filled with joy and wonder.
“Now I will tell you why I have come here,” he said. “I wish to take Guzra Bai for my wife.”
At first the gardener would not believe him, but when he found the Rajah did indeed mean what he said he turned to his daughter. “If the girl is willing you shall have her,” said he, “but I will not force her to marry even a Rajah.”
The girl was still afraid, yet she could not but love the Rajah, so handsome was he, and so kind and gracious was his manner. She gave her consent, and the gardener was overjoyed at the honor that had come to him and his daughter.
Chundun and the beautiful Guzra Bai were married soon after in the gardener’s house, and then the Rajah and his new Ranee rode away together.