' Tales saved me' : Scheherazade.

A Persian King Shahryar badly hurt by the infidelity of her first wife grew so bitter for the whole woman folk that he decided to marry a new virgin daily. He replaced the old one by getting her killed in the morning after relishing her for whole night.

He had got rid of one thousand wives in this manner when he was introduced to Scheherazade, the vizier's daughter.

Against her father's wishes Scheherazade married this crazy king. And at night when the king lay wide awake on his bed to savour her she asked his permission to tell him a story. The king agreed. Scheherazade started a tale. The king got so engrossed in the tale that where the whole night went by he wondered. And Scheherazade did not finish the tale as it was morning so she got one more day to live.

On the second night Scheherazade started a new tale and this time too the king was mesmerised by the tale . This tale also went unfinished due to dawn. In this manner Scheherazde was able to save her life for one thousand and one nights., telling stories day by day.

At last when Scheherazade was left with no more stories to tell she confessed to the king her inability to carry on more. By now the king had fallen in love with her being transformed to a sane and virtuous human being by listening to great tales.

Thus the king fathered three sons from her and made her Queen for ever.