The Man Who Controlled the Sun

 “I shall darken the sun then,” the man proclaimed as he stood draped in a murky beige tonga in the middle of the market street.

People who heard this proclamation turned around to look at the man they had seen daily at the very same spot with his slate and chalk, drawing strange symbols and even stranger script.

Although the people paid little attention to him now, they all feared him. For through his counsel, a man among them had not only made fortunes but also rid himself of his foes. No one dared to cross him, for they feared the fate that would befall anyone who did. Even the king kept his distance.

But his way of telling their futures was one they had never seen before. If you sought his counsel, you had to tell him all your troubles and everything about yourself, then pay him half the money, return the next day for the solution, and pay the remaining sum.

Initially, no one trusted that the man would even show up the next day, but when he did, people started believing him.

Now, however, afraid of the man’s power and growing wealth, the king’s men had spread a message:

Anyone who sought the fortune teller in secret or in the light shall be punished by His Lord, the king, by any form of punishment deemed fit for their offence.

Any form of punishment was enough of a hint for the masses to understand that it could be anything from a fine to public flogging, or even death. And so they kept their distance. But this angered the man, and so he threatened:

“Come, or I shall darken the sun.”

Asin waited by the door as the time for her brother’s return approached. She took the unsold vases from him and placed them aside; she could redecorate them and sell them again. As they ate their poor meal, Ahad narrated what had occurred in the market street that day.

“Do you think it will come to pass?” Asin asked as her brother broke a coarse piece of bread.

“I don’t think the urchin can make the great Sun God obey him.”

Ahad had never liked the man nor believed him. He deemed him a sorcerer, a devil’s consort.

Asin didn’t speak any further. Once lunch was finished, she proceeded with her chores, glancing from time to time at the sun through the windows and cracks in her house, just to make sure it was still there.

The next day, when Ahad was leaving for the market, Asin insisted on accompanying him.

“Why?” he asked.

“I want to see what the man does.”

Ahad sighed but consented.

Excited, Asin quickly donned her scarf before heading out the door.

In the market, as Ahad set up their wares for the day, Asin looked around the market that was just beginning to settle. Sellers came from all sides and places, setting up their shops for the day, haggling over spots. There were scarves and carpets, tapestries displaying scenes from the epics, clay utensils, and exotic china. There were toys too, wood-carved, and heaps of fabric, from the coarsest to the finest silk. Asin saw it all; it wasn’t often that she got a chance to come to the market. Further ahead, a group of their own were the food vendors, selling oils, sesame seeds, and dates.

Asin smiled at one of the women setting up the dried fruits as she nodded, then turned to walk back to her brother.

When she got back, her brother had almost finished setting up. She offered him help, and he refused, so she stood there looking about. The shops around them were all different from one another. There was a fruit vendor, a fabric seller, and a person who sold bright, colourful gems…and Asin, absentmindedly, began walking towards the stones.

However, she failed to notice that the fortune teller had just arrived on the scene, and his eyes were on her.

“Maiden,” called the man, causing her to pause in her steps. The market was crowded, but all eyes were now focused on her. To Asin, it felt like thousands.

“Come and seek wisdom for thee before I command the sun to darken this forsaken place!” the man thundered.

The crowd became animated, talking amongst themselves. Asin wished someone would tell her what to do. She kept looking between the fortune teller and the crowd. Someone faintly said, “Go,” and Asin took a step forward, only to be stopped by her brother. He grabbed her hand and turned to the fortune teller, his voice raised. Ahad spoke:

“Only lies leave thy wretched mouth.”

He finished by spitting on the ground and leading Asin away to their shop.

The man looked on at the retreating pair; the crowd stood as they were. Then, just as they were returning to their work, the fortune teller began to mutter something under his breath. With his stick, he began to draw something on the ground. His voice grew louder as did his speed, until finally, abruptly, he stopped and stomped his stick once, then twice, on the ground.

People looked amongst themselves, scared and transfixed, as they stood in their spots until a shadow was cast all around.

“It feels like dusk,” Asin thought. She turned around and caught the eye of the man, who smiled and raised his eyes skyward. Asin followed his gaze.

“The sun!” Asin screamed.

Everyone looked towards the sky to see a shadow creeping over the sun as if someone was drawing a curtain across it. As this curtain covered more and more of the sun, the dusk became more prominent.