The Legend

by Guzal Ruzieva (Uzbekistan)

I didn't expect to find Uzbekistan

‘That's the Mosque of Bibikhanym! Anora, it was built by Amir Temur's wife, Princess Bibikhanym!’ I sighed. Though we are coming to Samarkand for the third or fourth time, he always tells this legend when we come here, while touring the historical part of the city. 'Bibikhanym called for the best architect in the country to build a magnificent mosque. However, the architect falls in love with a beautiful princess and starts to delay the construction of the mosque. The princess wanted to show the building when her husband returns from a military trip. But the master tells her that if he kisses her, then the building will be done promptly…' My husband's words irritated me, which as if it were true and he witnessed it, and especially when the princess finally agreed to the master's terms, it seemed that he believes somehow all women betray for their husbands and I began to look at the patterns of the huge bookrest of the courtyard. I wonder how they got it here. ‘Finally, the architect got what he wanted to - he kissed her from the veil on her cheek. However, the princess's face is stained with a kiss and she couldn't erase it. Amir Temur, who came back from the trip...’ The phone ring spoiled the story of my husband that I hate every time he starts to tell me. Despite the call interrupt the interesting part of his legend, he answered, though with a frown. A friend had come to the hotel. He was in a hurry, telling me to come back very quickly and requested me to go there if he couldn't return. Feeling relieved, I began to see the mosque cells. Although it was still late in the afternoon, I wanted to have some rest in one of a cell’s seat. However, when we arrived in Samarkand today, I was tired and fell asleep for not having a rest. Suddenly, I woke up as if someone had lifted my shoulders. There was drowning in the night, and there was no sound of the travelers in the complex, and there was no movement of a person. The magnificent courtyard of the mosque was empty, with a quiet summer night, and it seemed as if the stars were scattering in the clear sky. I left the courtyard where the moonlight lit up and ran to the main door. What a huge lock on the old door of the mosque! I knocked on the door to hear someone would hear my voice. But no one heard me, except the birds in the yard, frightened by my scream and flew away. When I got tired of screaming, I went back to the yard. The white marble stone in the middle of the courtyard shone in the moonlight. I laid my head on the surface of the marble where the sun's heat was stored. Suddenly it seemed to me that someone had come to me and then I trembled. A woman in royal clothing, with a veil over her face, stood in front of me. As he lifted the curtain, I saw a fascinating face and light shining on her. She silently took me by the hand and led me. Surprisingly, I could not hear footsteps as she walked as if riding a silent roller skate. I was stunned and followed. Soon we were outside. I couldn't figure out how it happened, but I could see the lock on the carving door from outside. ‘Anora, what are you doing here? Why is your phone turned off?’ The car stopped beyond me and my husband out of it and asked questions one by one. ‘I'm trapped in the mosque ...’ ‘Dreamer!’ My husband was angry, but he was happy to found me.'How did you get out of there?' ‘That woman pulled me out.’ ‘What? Who?!’ ‘I think she was a princess. She was Bibikhanym.’ Then we got in the car, and my husband was watching me surprisingly. ‘Yes, she was Bibikhanym and she was so beautiful ...' '...' ‘There was no stain on the right side of her face...there ! Was no stain on both sides of her face. Oppositely, a light was shining on her face…’