تاجُ العاجِ

The Ivory Crown

الفصلُ الأَوَّلُ: اللِّقاءُ المُسْتَحِيلُ

Chapter One: The Impossible Meeting

جاءَ الأَمِيرُ خَلَفٌ إِلى زَنْجِبارَ مُمَثِّلاً لِلسُّلْطانِ. فِي حَفْلٍ مَلَكِيٍّ، رَأَى الأَمِيرَةَ أُمَيْمَةَ، ابْنَةَ مَلِكِ القَبائِلِ الأَفْرِيقِيَّةِ.

Prince Khalaf came to Zanzibar as the Sultan's representative. At a royal celebration, he saw Princess Umaima, daughter of the African tribal king.

كانَتْ جَمِيلَةً كَالقَمَرِ، ذَكِيَّةً كَالنُّجُومِ. وَقَعَ فِي حُبِّها فَوْرًا.

She was beautiful as the moon, intelligent as the stars. He fell in love instantly.

لَكِنَّ الزَّواجَ بَيْنَهُما كانَ مُسْتَحِيلاً: هُوَ عَرَبِيٌّ وَهِيَ أَفْرِيقِيَّةٌ، وَالتَّقالِيدُ تَمْنَعُ!

But marriage between them was impossible: he Arab and she African, and traditions forbade it!

الفصلُ الثَّانِي: الحُبُّ المُتَحَدِّي

Chapter Two: Defiant Love

تَقابَلا سِرًّا لِأَشْهُرٍ. عَلَّمَها العَرَبِيَّةَ وَعَلَّمَتْهُ لُغَتَها. قَرَأَ لَها الشِّعْرَ وَغَنَّتْ لَهُ الأَغانِيَ الأَفْرِيقِيَّةَ.

They met secretly for months. He taught her Arabic and she taught him her language. He read poetry to her and she sang African songs to him.

قالَ خَلَفٌ: «سَأَتَزَوَّجُكِ مَهْما كانَتِ العَواقِبُ!»

Khalaf said: "I shall marry you whatever the consequences!"

قالَتْ أُمَيْمَةُ: «وَأَنا مُسْتَعِدَّةٌ لِتَرْكِ قَصْرِ أَبِي مِنْ أَجْلِكَ!»

Umaima said: "And I am ready to leave my father's palace for you!"

الفصلُ الثَّالِثُ: الوَحْدَةُ الجَدِيدَةُ

Chapter Three: The New Unity

عَلِمَ المَلِكانِ بِالأَمْرِ. غَضِبا فِي البِدايَةِ، لَكِنَّ خَلَفًا وَقَفَ أَمامَهُما وَقالَ: «الحُبُّ لا يَعْرِفُ لَوْنًا وَلا جِنْسًا. إِنْ رَفَضْتُمْ، سَنَذْهَبُ مَعًا إِلى مَكانٍ يَقْبَلُنا!»

The two kings learned of the matter. They were angry at first, but Khalaf stood before them and said: "Love knows no color or race. If you refuse, we shall go together to a place that accepts us!"

رَأَى المَلِكانِ صِدْقَ الحُبِّ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ. وافَقا عَلى الزَّواجِ. صَنَعا لِأُمَيْمَةَ تاجًا مِنَ العاجِ وَالذَّهَبِ، رَمْزًا لِلوَحْدَةِ بَيْنَ الشَّعْبَيْنِ.

The two kings saw the truth of love in his eyes. They agreed to the marriage. They made for Umaima a crown of ivory and gold, a symbol of unity between the two peoples.

تَمَّتِ القِصَّةُ | The End