Putting Kids to Sleep

by Hiranya Borah

  The wife made flour of that rice and made pitha at night. But before going to bed they have decided that the person who would get up late would eat two pitha more than the other. The husband went to bed early and his wife prepared twenty pithas out of the flour. Before frying those pithas, she kept those on a paper. After frying the pithas, she could not control herself from taking a few of them.

  In the morning no one wanted to get up from the bed as the person who would get up early would get two pitha less. Finally, husband felt extremely hungry and got up from the bed, and then his wife also got up and reminded that he would get two pitha less. The wife counted the pitha and found there were fourteen pithas. So as per the agreement, she ate eight pithas and the husband had to be satisfied with six pithas. But then he saw the paper where marks of uncooked pithas were visible. He counted the number which came out neat twenty. Instead of confronting his wife he commented loudly, ‘Someone cooked twenty pithas, but she told the whole world that she cooked only fourteen.’

  The wife thought her husband became an astrologer and she confided with her friends.

  After few days, while this gentleman went to the jungle to collect firewood, he saw a black cow entangled with some creepers. But due to his laziness he did not free the cow and came back.

  The owner of the cow approached the gentleman on his wife’s advice to know where about of the missing cow. The gentle man (I shall refer him as astrologer now onwards) pretended to do some calculation and told where the cow might be available.

  From that day onwards he became famous as an astrologer of high precision. In the mean time, a necklace of the queen was stolen by an insider. The king invited the astrologer to help in finding the necklace.

  The astrologer thought the king would order him to be hanged once his actual calibre would be exposed. Therefore, while taking snacks he commented to himself, ‘Today enjoy Mithadoi (sweet curd), tomorrow your hanging to death is sure!’

  The necklace was stolen by one of the maid who was fondly named by the queen as ‘Mithadoi’. She was all along observing the movements of the astrologer. When she heard her name, she was sure that she would be caught and hanged for stealing. Therefore, she approached the astrologer and requested not to name her. The astrologer thanked his luck and pretending that he knew everything, advised the maid to keep the necklace at the water pot which is always kept near the bed of the queen.

  So next day, after doing some calculation, the astrologer declared, the necklace was actually not stolen; but it fell in the water pot while pouring water for the king by the queen. The earthen pot was broken and the necklace was recovered in front of everyone!

  Our astrologer was given lot of gifts by the King. While seeing him off a grasshopper disturbed the king. The king caught the grasshopper and asked our astrologer, ‘What is in my hand? For correct answer, I shall double the gifts, for wrong answer, you will lose your head.’

  Our astrologer thought this time he would lose his head and commented, ‘Once by counting, once by seeing and once by commenting, but this time nobody can save you Mr. Pharing (Grasshopper in Assamese is called Pharing and name of our Astrologer is also Pharing which no one present there knew).’

  The king was surprised to see the capacity of our fake astrologer and he was conferred the title of Royal Astrologer by the king!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Chapter IX: Own destiny

  A rich merchant of a village of Assam had three daughters. Among the three daughters, the youngest one was extremely intelligent, polite, obedient, honest, hardworking and above all truthful. For the merchant, she was the heart and soul.

  When the daughters were eligible for marriage, he was able to arrange two suitable boys for the two elder daughters. During the hustling and bustling, the proud merchant asked his three daughters one by one the same question, ‘Whom they love most and who may be credited for their good fortunes in their lives?’

  The first and the second daughter replied without any thinking, ‘I love you most and all credit for my good fortune goes to you.’

  The youngest daughter of the merchant, Sewali, thought for a while and then replied, ‘As on today, I love Mom and you most. But, after my marriage, I shall love my husband most. Once I am blessed with children, I shall love them and my husband most. So far my fortune is concerned, today it may be your efforts, but tomorrow it will depend on my own efforts, intelligence, politeness, obedience, honesty, hard works and above all truthfulness. Those virtues will decide my destiny or my fortune.’

  The merchant by heart agreed what his youngest daughter had said, but his ego was somewhat hurt and asked her daughter, ‘Are you sure what you have said? If you are sure, I shall bring a poor ugly fellow as your groom tomorrow. You can change your mind and give another answer to avoid a disaster in your life.’

  When the youngest daughter did not change her stance, she was married to the ugliest and poorest bachelor of the entire locality, a wood cutter, Dharma. The wood cutter, an orphan, was known for his ugly belly. As he was not taught how to cook properly, he used to boil rice and eat the entire amount what he could earn for the day after selling the wood he gathered from the forest.

  Next morning when the wood cutter was ready to go to the forest, Sewali handed over a list of items to be purchased from the market after selling his wood. Dharma became angry but controlled his anger and left for the forest.

  In the evening he forgot to buy anything except rice which he used to buy for so many years. As he approached his house, he saw light in his house for the first time after death of his mother long time ago. Then he remembered that he was married and he was given a list of articles to be bought. He felt bad for not buying any of the articles.

  Sewali welcomed him and instead of complaining she said with a smile, ‘I was sure, you will forget to purchase the articles. Probably you have forgot that you are a married person as well.’ Then she giggled. Dharma realized life with a wife is not that bad!

  But when he entered the house, even in the dim light he realized the house was cleaned. Sewali requested him to take a bath before taking his dinner, which he never did. He reluctantly took a bath and sat for dinner. Dharma became little bit upset when he saw rice on his plate was much less compared to earlier days. But he did not say anything.

  Next morning he felt more energetic and fresh compared to other days. He went to the forest as usual and was able to cut more wood in less time. He was able to reach home before dusk and he did not forget to buy some of the articles listed by his wife. He saw his house looked complete different what he used to see earlier.

  Within one month of their marriage, Dharma became leaner and stronger. He was no more the ugliest man of the locality. He used to get right price of his wood and he also started bringing some medicinal plants from the forest for sale.

  Within next one year, they saved enough money to migrate to the nearby town to establish a small shop. The shop started becoming larger and in the meantime they were blessed with a son and a daughter. With the intelligence of Sewali, Dharma was able to diversify their business and within a short time he was able make a business empire for himself.

  Sewali decided to open one fertilizer factory in her locality. Through a messenger she negotiated a large plot of land by giving more than the market price to the farmers and assured job who were providing land. It had never been like that in earlier occasion when large plots were purchased. Sewali and Dharma became demi gods for the people of that locality, oblivious of their original identity.

  When, finally factory was opened, all the people were invited for the opening ceremony. The old merchant, father of Sewali was specially invited to cut the ribbon of the factory. Sewali’s father was elated for giving such an honour by the factory owner; but he was somewhat surprised also.

  On the day when Sewali’s father reached the venue for inauguration, a young boy and a young girl welcomed him. They introduced themselves as the children of the owner of the factory and told that their parents wou
ld join the crowd after cutting the ribbon. After a brief introduction of the management, both the children escorted the old man to cut the ribbon. After formal opening of the factory, the children took the old man to the room for the manager. The old man then introduced with the factory owners. When the old man tried to welcome the couple with his folded hands, the lady clasped his hands and with moist eyes introduced herself, ‘Papa cannot you recognize me, I am Sewali!’

  The old man could not control his emotion and started weeping. He said after few minutes, ‘Forgive me my child! I put you in so much difficulty. I did not give you anything on your marriage; not even the customary gifts that parents are supposed to give!’

  ‘No Papa, that is not true. I am able to overcome all the obstacles because you had taught me business skill; ways and means how to tackle problems when one is in trouble. I am successful because of your teaching, blessing of God and finally due to my own destiny.’

  The old man understood his youngest daughter was not only extremely intelligent, honest, hardworking, skilled but also modest in her success and truthful.

  Chapter X: If you fight someone else will be benefited

  Tiger is a solitary animal so is a leopard. Both are very strong and good hunters. Normally tiger is much larger and stronger than a leopard. Therefore, they normally never face each other in a battle field.

  One day, when a leopard killed a deer, an injured tiger wanted snatch away the kill. In normal situation, the leopard would have run away leaving the kill. But realizing that the tiger was already injured, he fancied driving away the bigger opponent. Though the tiger was injured he was not a push over for the leopard. That ensued to a big fight.

  Both the big cats tried to kill each other by their brute forces and made each other fatally injured. After one hour of fierce fight, the tiger was killed. But the leopard was also grievously injured.

  At this point of time, a group of foxes appeared in the scene and at first took away the dead body of the deer and then cut the dead body of the tiger into pieces. After taking away the pieces of dead the tiger to their den, they attacked the injured leopard.

  The leopard was not in a position to resist the onslaught of the foxes and realized that he made a mistake by fighting with the tiger. He could have left his kill for the tiger and live for another day. The vicious fight did not help the big cats but it helped the clever weak foxes. But the realization of the leopard came very late to correct for his benefit.

  Chapter XI: God helps who believes

  A Sanyasi who used to deliver lectures in believing God, one day he said to a poor old lady that, ‘if a person is completely devoted to God and believes in Him, He will help the person at any point of time.’

  The old lady was from the adjacent village where the Sanyasi used to deliver lectures in the evening for the villagers of all the nearby villages. The residence of the old lady was situated at the river bank across the place where the Sanyasi used to deliver lecture. The lady did not have any problem in attending the congregation in the winter as the river was almost dry during that season. Therefore, she told the Sanyasi at the onset of Monsoon that she might not be able to attend his religious lectures as she did not have a boat to cross the river.

  At this, the Sanyasi told, ‘If you believe the Almighty, you can cross the river even without a boat.’

  As the lady gave a perplexed look, he explained, ‘You take the name of God from your heart and then you will be able to walk on water.’

  After few days the rainy season started and the river swelled to its vast area with strong current. The Sanyasi noticed that even on those days the old lady used to come regularly every day to hear his lecture. So one day he asked her whether she could manage a boat to cross the river. To his utter surprise she told, ‘No sir, I am still not able to arrange any boat. But as you advised, I take the name of God by heart and then walk over the river.’

  The Sanyasi could not believe this and told the old lady that he would accompany her to her house on that evening after the lecture.

  After the congregation, the Sanyasi accompanied the old lady to the river. To his disbelief the lady took the name of God and started walking on the swelling river. Then he also tried to follow her, but he drowned in the deep river. The old lady did not see the Sanyasi drowning due to darkness.

  Next day when she could not find the Sanyasi she commented, ‘He is also next to God, he taught me how to believe in God. Otherwise, I would have been a foolish woman all along!’

  Chapter XII: All works are dignified

  An old couple used to live in a remote village of Assam, India. Having no children, they used to fight on trivial issues.

  One day, the husband ridiculed the house chores those the wife had performed from the day he had married her. That infuriated the old lady and she also ridiculed his outdoor works that he was performing for last three to four decades. After a bitter argument on the issue whose works were superior, they had decided to interchange their duties for the next twenty four hours starting from the next sunrise to the sunrise after that.

  The wife on the next day, early in the morning went for ploughing in the field wearing her husband’s dress. She realized from the very first moment of ploughing, it was real tough to plough in the field keeping the plough down. But she refused to surrender.

  The husband started his wife’s duty by preparing breakfast for him and his wife. He also found preparing breakfast for them was a tough proposition. However, he was not ready to give up. Finally, he prepared some half cooked breakfast. After taking his breakfast with much difficulty, he went to the field to provide breakfast to his wife.

  From a long distance when he saw his wife toiling in the field he felt very bad for torturing his wife. After reaching the field he offered his half cooked breakfast to his wife and said, ‘If you are tired, leave the job.’

  The wife liked the offer but her ego prevented her from leaving the job of her husband in the mid way. She retorted, ‘If you think you cannot do my work, I can leave your work.’

  This time his ego prevented him from surrendering.

  The old lady started the repairing the bund with a spade which she found real tough. Similarly preparation of lunch and cleaning of utensils, washing dirty linen etc. almost broke the backbone of the old fellow.

  After sunset both were exhausted and both wanted to close the chapter of interchanging of work forever. But again ego prevented them to surrender before the other.

  But when the old man stood up for preparation of dinner, the old lady could not control her emotion and started crying. At this, the old fellow also cried and tendered his apology for demeaning her works. The old lady also tendered her apology for demeaning his work. Then both started laughing like two teen ager and buried the hatchet forever, at least on that issue!!!!!

  Chapter XIII: Dead Mouse: Good Omen

  In India weekly market is big activity for the people of adjoining villages. In one of those markets, one Sanyasi (a saintly person who denounces all earthly comfort and properties) saw a dead mouse. He observed the mouse minutely and then at the top of his voice announced, ‘Anyone who takes the dead mouse will be a millionaire within five years!’ Then he moved away.

  Though in the bustling market there were hundreds of people, nobody, except a boy of sixteen, cared what the Sanyasi had announced. The boy, an orphan, thought otherwise and decided to take a chance. He took the dead mouse and left the market. He did not have any idea what to do with the dead mouse. Finally, he thought to throw away the mouse to the road side. As soon as he threw the mouse, a kite picked the dead mouse before it hit the ground. To the surprise of the boy, before picking up the mouse, the kite dropped a diamond studded golden necklace just in front of him. The boy thought, probably she picked up the necklace as a food item from some rich family.

  The boy was a very honest and thought whoever might be the owner of the necklace, she must be unhappy to lose the necklace. He went to the police station to hand ove
r the necklace. Surprise was waiting for him there also. As he was telling about the necklace to the policemen, the richest man of the locality entered to lodge a complaint about loss of a necklace. When he saw the necklace he recognized immediately not only the necklace but also the honesty of the boy.

  The rich man enquired about the boy and knowing that he was an orphan he offered a job to the young boy.

  The boy was not highly educated so he was given a duty to see the fencing stretching sixteen km covering a mine of coal. Despite of the fence some villagers used to steal coal causing loss to the owner. But due to hard working attitude combined with courage, the boy was able to control the menace of stealing of coal up to a large extent. After one year, the owner was able to make a handsome profit from the coal mine after a gap of five-six years. The owner was so happy with the boy, he offered 10% share of the coal field.

  The good works were continued by the boy and within a period of five years, as predicted by the Sanyasi, the boy became a millionaire.

  The boy after a frantic search was able to locate the Sanyasi in a cave hill covered with dense snow. He boy with folded hands asked, ‘ Oh, holy man, can I offer something to you, as whatever I am having today is because of your advice exactly five years ago on a weekly market day?’

  The Sanyasi smiled and in a blessing tone told, ‘God bless you my son. Continue your good works in future also. Always be honest to your deeds and society, God will always help you. So far my advice is concerned, it was an open advice for all; but only you took it. After that, when you got the necklace, you could have sold it and try to become rich through unholy means. But for your progress you had followed the road of hard and honest works. That is why God blessed you, not because of my advice. God chooses persons to bless. You are one of the chosen ones by God.’ After saying those words the Sanyasi vanished to the thin air of the dark cave.