Then it was his quick and anxious glance that asked the question: “Which?”

It was as plain to her as if he shouted it from where he stood. There was not an instant to be lost. The question was asked in a flash; it had to be answered in another.

Durkhanai raised her hand, and made a slight, quick movement toward the left.

No one but Asfandyar saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena.

He turned, and with a firm and rapid step walked across the empty space, toward the two doors—toward his fate. Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, every eye was fixed immovably upon that man.

He turned, casting a final glance toward Durkhanai.

There was nothing—no one—in the world but them.

In that moment, she saw the unmasked love in his eyes.

She knew the same love was mirrored in hers.

Then he moved, across the empty space, toward a door.

The door on the right.

Which came out of the opened door—the lady, or the lion?

A Parting Riddle

Once upon a time, in a very olden time, there lived a beautiful girl who fell in love with a beautiful boy. She put her rose-gold heart in a rose-gold box and gave it to him as a gift. But when the boy opened the box, it was empty.

Was it because she hadn’t actually given her heart to him?

Or because she had no heart to begin with?

Glossary

Acha: okay

Adhan: call to prayer

Allah: the name of God in Arabic

Anwar ratol: a type of mango

Assalam u alaikum: Islamic greeting meaning “peace be upon you”

Bachay: child

Badshah: emperor

Bas: enough

Batameez: ill-mannered

Besharam: shameless

Beta: son but usually used to mean child

Chaadar: a large, cloak-like shawl

Chacha: uncle that is a father’s younger brother

Chachay: plural of chacha

Chal jhooti: get out of here, you liar

Chakore: a bread basket for roti

Chalo: come

Chanda: little moon

Charpai: a traditional woven bed

Chiriya: little bird

Chudiyan: bangles

Dhadi: paternal grandmother

Dhol: double-headed drum

Dhoodh haldi: turmeric milk

Dua: supplication

Dupatta: a long scarf

Fajr: the first daily prayer

Fitteh mu tera: Goddamn your face

Gharara: wide-leg pants with pleats at the knees

Guddu: term of endearment for children; doll

Gudiya: doll

Hai Allah: oh God

Halwa: a sweet dish

Isha: the fifth daily prayer

Ishq: passionate love

Jaan: my beloved

Jamaat: congregation

Janaan: my soul

Januman: soul of my heart

Jazakullah khair: meaning “May God reward you”, said as a sign of gratitude

Jhumkay: a type of earrings

Jummah: the Friday prayer in congregation

Junoon: madness

Kasam se: to swear by something

Kala jadoo: sorcery

Kava: green tea

Khairiyat: all good

Khuda: God

Khuda ke liye: for God’s sake

Khudafiz: goodbye

Khussay: flat shoes

Kurta: a long shirt

Kya: what

Lala: endearment for older brother

Lehenga choli: a full length skirt and cropped blouse