Chapter 5: A blessed hand
The servant who was chasing Mustafa adjusted herself before walking into the room, greeting the ladies, then placing an easel down in the middle of the room.
Then another male servant brought two more Easels and placed them down next to the first. Seeing everything ready, Mustafa, who had 3 large leather-bound scrolls slung across his back, seethed with excitement.
He decided to first display his elegant poetry. Mustafa himself did not compose this excellent piece, but just copied the work of the man he is to become Sultan Mustafa II, so it is fair.
Once Mustafa moved his head out of the way of the paper, everyone could now see the beauty of the piece. The room remained quiet for a few minutes, clearly taking their time reading the poem a few times.
The poem itself reads "Munajat.
Allah! Lord who livest for aye! O Sole! O King of Glory's Ray! Monarch who ne'er shalt pass away! Show thou to us thy bounties fair. In early morning shall our cry, our wail, mount to thy Throne on high: "Error and sin our wont," we sigh: show thou to us thy bounties fair. If cometh not from thee thy grace, evil shall all our works deface; O Lord of Being and of Space! show thou to us thy bounties fair. Creator of security! to thy Beloved greetings be! These fair words are in sincerity: show thou to us thy bounties fair , Iqbali sinned hath indeed, yet unto him thy grace concede; Eternal, Answerer in need! show thou to us thy bounties fair. "
Breaking the Silence, Mustafa asked his Grandma how she felt about his poem. She quickly opened her mouth, asking him a question as her reply. She asked if this was really done by his hand without assistance.
Mustafa ever the actor, continued his performance with full gusto, replying to his grandma with a face full of confusion. He replied, "I am the young lion of the sultan, the descendant of Osman. My life pledged to live in Allahs grace, why would your grandson play such games!"
Hearing his words, the Valide sultan wrinkled her brows and sighed. Turning her head slightly to look at Gulnas, the boy's mother, who replied to the look with a shake of her head and a look that said "what can I say".
The Valide Turhan Sultan then said with a slight smile, "it is wonderful, I couldn't have received a better gift. But what are the other two scrolls you have? let us see them." Then waving her hand in a "go on" manner.
Mustafa, hearing this, then gave a head nod then turned to place the next rolled-up painting on the empty easel. This painting was special, it was done by himself, no plagiarism at all.
Once the painting was displayed, the woman in his family was usually stoic and composed. Let their emotions loose ever so slightly, letting out quick prayers followed by heaps of praise toward Allah, then Mustafa!
The painting was no doubt a masterpiece by the standards of the day. The painting wasn't one that would make you think deeply, it was more along the lines of a great photograph capturing the essence of a scene, giving the viewer a strong feeling of grandeur and awe.
The painting was decadent for sure, though it was a self-imagined family portrait. The painting featured the cold and stoic beauty of the Valide Sultan, who flanked the Sultan to his left, crossing her arms and standing silently behind him.
Then just behind his right stood the regal and majestic Gulnas Sultan, wife of the sultan, placing her inner hand on his shoulder and the other on her cheek.
Then in the middle of the two women sat the sultan, slightly glowing due to the perspective given by the painting technique. He sat in all his resplendent glory, dressed intricately in his silken clothes, finely fitting and tailored to size.
The clothing itself reflected clearly in the painting, showing the glare from the many jewels inlaid onto the fabrics. Wearing a large turban, the ottomans are known for, also suited up with many fine pieces stone such as rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
He sat on a large gold-encrusted wooden throne, the throne itself drawing in the eyes of the viewer with its many intricate details. In front of the throne, slightly to his father's right, stood a small Mustafa with a large, for his size, ottoman styled turban.
Wearing similar but less gaudy clothing to his father, the Sultan Mehmed IV. He stood with his innermost arm relaxed at his side, while his other arm held a wooden toy sword up in the air, looking like a boy playing guard for his father's throne.
Mustafa knew his family would appreciate this painting, and the fact that a four-year-old, their child or grandchild, created it himself. This would no doubt place a burdensome title of boy genius on his back, but you give and take that is politics.
The entire room stood still following their prayers to Allah and the praise for Mustafa. It's a little too stimulating seeing a toddler, usually not even old enough to be left unsupervised, produce such a painting.
Especially a painting that is not even in the traditional Ottoman style, this painting is realistic. It is as if their true essence was captured inside a piece of paper.
The first to speak up was the lady receiving this extraordinary gift. She was smiling, saying softly to the boy Mustafa, "You have made me very proud today. I am not only grateful, but I am even more curious to see what else you have to show me!"
Mustafa, hearing the compliments, smiled and turned to pull the painting out and unroll the paper. But stopping half way he looked toward his grandmother.
Mustafa spoke very respectfully, "I want to make it clear this is not like the other two art pieces. This is not a piece of art that is finished, but a gift of an idea that will please many children. I have hope that my dream may be made into reality if I ask my anababa, so this is my heartfelt request!"
After finishing his very "heartfelt" presentation speech, he finally unrolled the papers. Yes, papers there actually at least 3 rolled up papers stored in the leather holder this time.
The first paper he unrolled and separated was placed on the easel for display. Once the paper was displayed and young Mustafa moved out of the way.
After a few moments of viewing this paper, no one had a look of awe or a face of wonder, but one of confusion. This is their first time viewing a modern-esque playground.
To them, there are not random structures drawn on the paper, except a few easily deciphered structures like the pagoda and tables. Noticing his crowd's reaction, Mustafa showed no surprise, either, showing he expected this reaction.
Without making anyone feel dimwitted or an outlier for misunderstanding, Mustafa capitalized on the silence and began his prepared presentation.
He pulled a stick from his waistband and began by pointing at the pagoda, explaining its many uses in which the crowd agreed and had clearly already understood.
Then he moved along toward the playground grounds. Starting with the main structure, the jungle gym, explaining it is for kids or fun parents/guardians to run, climb, jump, and slide.
He detailed all the benefits to the kids this jungle gym would bring. All the modicum of health, social, and mental benefits brings to developing children.
With the skills of a well-experienced college professor, he easily spotted the sense of understanding brewing in the room and quickly moved on.
Explaining next the various contraptions he detailed on the paper, their various uses, why they would be useful and beneficial to the harem and its many children.
After finishing this explanation, he moved to the sandbox, followed next by the swing, which already existed in different ways pretty much everywhere so it was easily understood and he continued to move along.
Then he moved to the pool, which may be controversial as it is outside, but he designed a wall making it sort of private, allowing it to be similar to a Turkish bathhouse, just without the bathing.
He made it clear that the pool would need to be private and have guards to protect the innocence of the children and the safety of the harem, as it is an open air bath, basically so the harem woman would flock to it as well as the children.
He then opened the next paper, displaying it for his mom and grandma. This painting showed the woman at the pool dressed in his newly designed Islamic swimwear based on the more modern style he had seen once online.
Grandma didn't wait for the third paper to be unveiled. She said, "Mustafa, this looks very excellent and must be exciting to your young mind to create all these wonderful things, but this is no easy job and not one I can fund alone. This will cost the price of multiple fountains. No budget I have ever been given would allow me to cover these costs and still provide for my sultan's harem." Finished her words, she sorrowfully shook her head.
His mother chimed in immediately after stating boldly, "Our sultan does not lack in funds, and we could build whatever you desire! Don't be discouraged, Mustafa, your anababa and I will seek your father's audience and build your uhm… how did you say it "playground"!"
Mustafa's mother's eyes showed her love for him while they made eye contact, then another sort of love as they shifted to his grandmother. Their eyes both showed love, the very well-known love of in-laws.
Not wanting to show any adeptness in social or political matters just yet, Mustafa did not have any suggestions for these two women. He put on his best hopeful childish performance and gave them goodbyes, goodwill, and blessings, and left in a hurry, running off to "play" with his servant in tow.