Storia do Mogor 95: AURANGZEB ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SHAHJAHAN DIE OF DISGUST.

95

Although Aurangzeb's illness was at a height for only a few days, it took him a long time to become convalescent and to recover his strength. The medical men recommended a change of air by a visit to the province of Kashmir. Aurangzeb was quite willing to take the change of air, but the existence of Shahjahan was like a thorn piercing his heart, hindering him from resting or taking the recreation demanded by nature. Therefore he now displayed no increase of gentleness to his father ; on the contrary, he decided to aggravate the old man more and more. Of a truth, this was never the inspiration of the angel during his illness nor the teaching of God, but was arrived at from the perversity of his own nature. In order to bring his father's life quickly to an end, he sent orders to make his imprisonment more severe. He ordered the bricking up of a window looking towards the river, where Shahjahan sat for recreation. A company of musketeers was posted below the Agrah Palace with orders by firing to disturb the old man, and to shoot him if he appeared at the window. In addition to this, to increase his despondency, the greater part of the accumulation of gold and silver money was carried away, making as much noise as possible, so that he (Shahjahan) might hear and be dejected in his mind. But Shahjahan, too, played a game of finesse, and made out he saw nothing ; responding to the cries, noise, and musket-shots by music, dancing, and entertainments, and carried on a joyous life with his wives and women. I'tibar Khan, who knew everything that went on in the palace, wrote it all to the court, so that Aurangzeb decided to take Shahjahan's life by poison.