Ah, my young friends, the three months had almost passed.
Aladdin's mother was shopping for a dress at the bazaar.
Her son's wedding to the princess would be very soon.
Zeba wanted to look her best.
But something very strange was happening.
People were singing and dancing in the street.
"What's going on?" Zeba wondered.
She hurried to a vegetable stand as a merchant packed up his onions.
"Why are you closing?" she asked.
"The whole kingdom is celebrating!" he said.
"Tomorrow, Princess Badra will marry Kasim, the son of the grand vizier!"
"Oh, my poor Aladdin!" cried Zeba, and she hurried home.
Bursting through the front door of their house, she called out,
"The sultan has broken his promise!"
"What are you talking about, Mother?" asked Aladdin.
"Princess Badra is to be married tomorrow," cried Zeba.
"To the vizier's son!"
"But she was promised to me," said Aladdin.
"I must stop the wedding."
"How?" asked Zeba.
"Don't worry," said Aladdin.
"Princess Badra will not marry anyone but me!"
Aladdin went to his room and locked the door.
He took the lamp from its hiding place under some cushions.
He rubbed the lamp until smoke swirled around the room.
"The genie of the wonderful lamp is back!" said the cheerful genie.
"Your wish is my command!"
"Oh, genie of the lamp, go to the palace!" ordered Aladdin.
"When Princess Badra is alone, bring her to me."
"I hear and obey!"
said the genie and disappeared in a blink.
An hour later, the genie returned with Princess Badra in his arms.
"Put me down!" yelled the princess.
"I hear and obey," laughed the genie and dropped her on the floor.
"Ow!" cried the princess, rubbing her backside.
She stood up, shaking with anger. "Who are you?"
"I am the genie of the wonderful—"
"Silence!" she cried, stamping her foot.
Then she noticed Aladdin.
"Who are you?" she asked in a softer voice.
"I am Aladdin," he said.
"I am going to be your husband."
"You?" laughed the princess.
"That's strange. I thought I was marrying Kasim tomorrow."
You see, my young friends, Princess Badra did not want to marry Kasim.
They had been children together in the palace.
Kasim had always been lazy and mean to everyone.
But Princess Badra saw that Aladdin was handsome and seemed kind.
"Your father promised you to me," said Aladdin.
"Well, my father listens too much to that awful vizier," she replied.
"That is why I must marry his silly son."
"Do not marry him, Princess," said Aladdin.
"No one could ever love you as I do."
Suddenly the princess felt the air become hot, and the room began to spin.
After hearing his words of love, her heart started beating faster.
All at once, she knew she was in love too—with Aladdin!
"The genie will take you home.
In the morning, tell your father that you will not marry Kasim," said Aladdin.
"And don't tell anyone about me."
The next morning, the palace was buzzing with wedding preparations.
The princess's attendants tiptoed into her room early.
But they quickly came out again with shocking news.
"The wedding is off!" they shouted.
Servants ran up and down the halls.
"The wedding is off!"
The palace guards carried messages back and forth.
"The wedding is off!"
The grand vizier entered the sultan's chamber and came back out screaming,
"THE WEDDING IS OFF!"