1001 Nights: Millennial Edition
Part 3: The Doc’s revenge
Days passed by in the city of Fars with King Yunan unable to figure out what went wrong with him. Doctors from faraway lands tried to diagnose him, but in vain. Online consultation didn’t help either, the King was shocked to see the results that turned up and one way or the other, they guaranteed his death. Miraculously, a wise old doctor named Rayan arrived.
He diagnosed him in the most efficient yet mysterious way. He designed a treatment that would work for the king. After days of rest and treatment, the king was healed and his happiness knew no bounds.
He rewarded the doctor with riches unknown and made the doctor a member of the court. All was well, until one evil Wazir couldn’t take this anymore. He plotted to get rid of this doctor for he was unable to watch the doctor get the rewards.
He approached the king. “My king, I’m grateful to this doctor who has saved you. If it hadn’t been for him, this kingdom may not have served to see another day. But I’m afraid it may be the case as now.”
“I don’t understand. How could the kingdom be in danger now?”
“I suspect the doctor is someone sent to assassinate you, and this may have been an act of gaining trust.”
“Your jealousy and your opinions are highly disappointing. Look at the other Wazirs. They have better opinions about people than you.”
“Exactly, your majesty, look at the other Wazirs. No one even knew about this doctor until about a month ago, and yet everyone has blind faith in him. Doesn’t it seem a bit weird?”
“You are just being delusional. He solved an issue that was nowhere to be found on Google itself! He saved my life. How dare you let your stupidity cloud your rationality!”
“Your majesty, dismiss me if you will. But please do understand that I have nothing but concern for you. This so-called doctor is trying to take your life. He has tricked your subjects into believing that his intentions are pure. If medical help is what you seek, I recommend using the WebMD app. Please do not put your life, and your subjects at stake.”
Saying this, the evil Wazir hands his phone with the app launched. The king spends some time with it, and realizes that the app gave a similar diagnosis as the one provided by the doctor.
“I see some sense in your words. My kingdom is infinitely more valuable than some doctor. I shall have him executed immediately. I cannot risk my kingdom for this!”
The Wazir was happy, for another of his plots had worked. All he needed to do was to sit back and watch as the king summoned the doctor.
The doctor arrived. The king’s words were the last he had expected from a man of his stature. “Rayan, I’ve found out what your plot is. You saved me, only to kill me and get the kingdom in your own sinister manner. You will be given the Spartan punishment, and thrown down an abyss.”
“If so, King Yunan, allow me to present you with a gift before I part from this Earth for the treatment you’ve given me.”
“So be it.”
Doctor Rayan needed to do something. Something that lived up to the expectations of the king and something more than just vengeance for being misunderstood horribly.
He went home to unpack the flamethrower he had received. He believed that this flamethrower cannot be restricted for boring purposes.
The doctor was back at the court to see that the king was busy with ordering about his execution. He went to the king.
“Dear King, this artifact has been restored from ages past and gives you the aura of the elixir of life. Use it upon your esteemed self, for there is no one noble enough to be having it.”
The king accepted the gift gracefully, and used it, only to burn to death. Self immolation could never have been more satisfactory.
The king who texted King Yunan about the Genie would never receive a reply. Evil, much like a streak on Snapchat, cannot be maintained. The good always triumphs in the end.
THE END
This article was written in collaboration with Kiran Krishnan.
