Amuma's tales: Hiranakshi

It was a lazy saturday afternoon. The schools had closed for the week and Monday seemed so far away. Time stretched out like an endless dessert. So I pestered Amuma, to tell us another tale, for she is a well of tales. She smiled slyly, the way children do when mischief is about. And she told us this tale,

"Once there was a rich widow, who was very humble and prayerful at heart. All her life she had taken care of the wealth left behind by her husband. With time she had doubles it. Her joy was her only son, whom she brought up to be God- fearing and hard- working. The boy had a natural mind for art, and spent much of his time painting all he saw. His mother was proud of him. Finally when his mother's sight was growing dim and her knees were beginning to hurt, she decided she wanted to spend the last part of her life touring holy places. She had heard that those who took the trouble of foregoing their own comfortable bed and walked barefoot to the 13 temples of various God's would gain liberation from the cycle of life. She decided she wanted that liberation. She was worried, however, for her son, who was now an able man. How would he take care of himself in her absence? He might fall pray to the company of useless men and forget all she had taught him. He might take to drinking, or gambling or women and that would be the end of him and with him the end of all her family. So she decided he must be married. She set about finding him a suitable bride.

She decided she wanted to find him a bride who would make his home a haven of comfort and love. She wanted her to be very beautiful so her son would lack nothing in his already blessed life. He was a worthy man and he deserved a lovely wife. She looked through all the neighbouring villages but was not satisfied with what she saw. Finally from a village miles and miles away she found a very young girl who was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. She had eyes like that of a deer and so her parents had lovingly named her Hiranakshi. Everyone loved her, for one could not see that angelic face and yet remain untouched. The rich widow was satisfied and brought the girl home to be her son's bride and the mistress of the entire house-hold.

The widow's son was wonder- struck on seeing his bride. He always knew his mother could do no wrong and she had proved him right yet again. So Hiran, the young bride left behind her home, her friends, all those were familiar to her and set about finding a new life...
(to be continued)