shepherd named Palini used to live with his wife Maduee. They had a small farm also. They
used to look after their herd, cultivate their small piece of land and led a contended life. They
had hired a farm boy named Foghsen.
They had a daughter named Maruee. Even at the time of birth she was as beautiful as a fairy
and as she grew in years she grew in beauty also. Her fame as a very beautiful girl spread far
and wide. As she entered her youth Foghsen was infatuated by her. In spite of being a mere
farm hand he had the audacity to ask for the hand of Maruee. This infuriated Palini and he was
immediately sacked and Maruee was betrothed to Khetsen. Thus spurned and guided by fire of
jealousy and to seek revenge for affront suffered, Foghsen approached Umer Soomro the ruler
of Umerkot which was known after the name of its ruler Umer though in fact this fort was
founded by Amarsingh Rathore. Foghsen incited the rulers’ lust by giving vivid descriptions of
the beauty of Maruee. He said that the place of such a beautiful lady was only in the palace of
the ruler where due to all the comforts and luxuries her beauty would bloom.
The ruler was naturally quite impressed by Foghsen’s narration of Maruee’s beauty. He wanted
to posses her. Umer Soomro the ruler guided by Foghsen went to Maleer in disguise. When
they reached outskirts of Maleer incidentally at that exact time Maruee was going towards the
well to fetch water. At the sight of her beauty Umer was quite intoxicated; while Foghsen hid
behind trees, he approached Maruee as a thirsty traveler. As Maruee came near to give him
water he immediately picked her up on his camel and quickly rode to Umerkot.
At Umerkot she was kept virtual prisoner. She was enticed, cajoled and threatened, but to no
avail. Ruler Umer Soomro praised her beauty, professed deep love, promised to make her
reining Queen, but all the allurements of good –luxurious clothes, food, status and all luxuries
failed to shake her resolve that she belonged to her clan- her own native people and she would
not marry any one else except Khetsen a person to whom she was betrothed to.
In the word of Shah Latif the immortal poet of Sindh, She said:
I will not accept any other husband,
For me that, wearing coarse garments is handsome,
Even if uncouth he occupies the place in my heart.
This infuriated Umer Soomro and she was consigned to prison. She was abducted during
winter season; nearly six months elapsed and rainy season came. She would sadly count the
seasons and would picture the life of her kinsfolk at her village of Maleer and pine for them. She
bore her adversity with stoic fortitude for she knew that her poor kins were not able to rise
against the King. She did not waver in her resolve. She did not change into royal garments, did
not clean herself and her beauty appeared soiled, to this she became utterly oblivious. Instead
she said, (in the words of Shah Latif):
I would not use your oil; my heart is attached to my kin,
Why should I listen to any one, ultimately I belong there.
This is not the way of my kin folks,
To exchange daughter for the sake of Gold,
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