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Khojisteh seemed to be the perfect match for Miemun. She was beautiful in her own right, the moon to his sun. Shortly after the prince introduced Khojisteh to his son, they became inseparable. They shared a deep love for their families, storytelling, and learning more about the world around them. They were married in only weeks.
Khojisteh was deeply infatuated with her husband. She could not fathom that he had been born of the Creator Himself, and that such a kind and beautiful man was her's to love. The longer their relationship lasted, the harder Khojisteh fell for Miemun, and the more she began to doubt herself. Khojisteh genuinely believed that she was not worthy of such a wonderful husband. Thus, she became clingy and desperate, striving to earn the love of her husband.
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Miemun was ecstatic when his father suggested Khojisteh for his wife. He had noticed the woman long ago, and had loved and lusted after her since. From the day they met, Miemun knew that they would marry, and hated waiting the prerequisite weeks to court Khojisteh. However, the waiting period was worth it, as he learned of Khojisteh's passions and fears.
Despite Miemun's deep feelings for his wife, he was nevertheless frustrated by her at times. She had no confidence in his love, and overcompensated with neediness and self-pity. Miemun suspected that Khojisteh had a tendency to self-destructed, and worried what that may mean for the success of their marriage. He began to devise a plan.
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Miemun would go away for an extended business trip, hoping to put a healthy amount of distance between himself and his wife, praying that his absence from her would make his heart grow fonder. Before leaving, he purchased a parrot to keep her company as he was away. Little did he know, the parrot would keep his wife from the company of others...
Author's Note: "Miemun and Khojisteh" is inspired by Tales of a Parrot, an ancient Mideastern legend in which a parrot prevents his mistress from committing adultery by distracting her with stories. As I read the legends, I found it odd that Khojisteh would cheat despite her alleged love for Miemun, and thought that more context was needed to make that jump.
Jessie,
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this retelling! I was very confused by the ending of the story but after reading your author's note it made more sense. I think if you put in your author's note that this story was a preface to the original where the parrot keeps his wife from having affairs it would make it even more clear. Great job!
Hi Jessie! The author's note was really helpful in explaining the story's ending. Your version offers a really humanistic view of the characters, telling of their weaknesses and fears, that isn't usually offered in the originals. I like that I was able to connect with Khojisteh in an emotional and empathetic way. It definitely made me what the read the original! Good work.
ReplyDeleteHey Jessie, I loved this story! I think it's cool that Miemum was made by the Creator; was that a part of the original story or did you incorporate that part? I hadn't read the original story, so I was a little confused at the very last line of the story. But your author's note was great in telling us what the original was about and what the significance behind the parrot was.
ReplyDeleteHey Jessie!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of the parrot stories too and thought the parrots ability to distract Khojisteh was captivating. I like how you provide more context to this story. It really gives a little background to the characters and their thoughts and feelings. It's also interesting to see the evolution from the lust to the longing the characters have for each other. Great job!
Hello there Jessie. I really enjoyed getting a chance to read your story. You did a really good job with the author's note as well. As far as the story goes, I really liked the amount of detail you included. It was enough to invoke an immersive experience while I was reading it, but I also never felt like it was so wordy that I had gotten bored.
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