The Rogue Students

Who wants Game of Thrones when real life history has such excellent legends in itself? Great dialogues that changed the world in olden times by warriors, kings and wise men alike. Tales devoted to the mighty men of the past, all dead now. Battles fought centuries ago, acts of valor performed by great fighters, all forgotten now.

The story of Rustam and Sohrab is one of those tales portraying the Persian culture and ancient warfare.

It is said that the great Persian warrior Rustam entered the kingdom of a man named Turan at the time of the Persian Empire when Islam was newly expanding and when the sun was about to set on the Roman Empire. He was searching for his steed. He remained a welcome guest of the King until he fell in love with his daughter Tahmina that is and married her. King Turan exiled him in his wrath. Rustam bestowed a necklace to his beloved wife before departing so that she could remember him, vowing to come back but never knowing his unborn son.

Rustam returned years later at the head of a large host to fight Turan’s forces and to take his wife with him. Rustam’s son now was the best fighter of Turan’s army. His name was Sohrab and as young men are, was blessed with all the ignorance of youth. As it happens Sohrab was obsessed with finding his father and had come to know who he was by now. Turan lost no time in twisting the situation to his advantage. He sent Sohrab to challenge the Persian lords to single combat. Sohrab readily agreed and donning his armor went forth to meet his foes. Everyone was afraid to meet Rustam in a fight and so Sohrab was the only one who took up the task. From the Persian host Rustam rode forth to meet him. The two men, father and son, met on the battlefield. The fight went on for a long long time and then Rustam growing tired and fearing for his reputation stabbed Sohrab through the heart. It was then that he noticed around his neck the necklace he had given to his wife Tahmina before leaving, who had in turn given it to Sohrab, her son, for safekeeping during the war. Tahmina had heard that Rustam and Sohrab were about to meet in combat and had come running to the battlefield to stop them but she arrived only to find Sohrab dead in the arms of his mourning father.

And that his how because of the conspiracy of an evil king, father and son met with swords in their hands, neither knowing the name of the other, and fought until one slew the other.

Written by: Asfandyar Malik