Who can change Destiny?
- Purushottam Agarwal
Once upon a time there lived an accomplished saint. No body knew about his age. He might be 300 years old or might be more as per estimate of the old people of the village. He could live without food and sleep for months together. He never accepted any offering from any person. There were eyewitnesses who vouched that he often traveled in his astral body. He could understand the language of many birds and beasts.
He lived in a thatch hut built under a baniyan tree. On this tree there lived a pair of pigeons. These pigeons traveled separately during day and returned to their nest in the evening. They exchanged notes about their visits, especially if they saw some thing unique. The saint enjoyed their talks since he knew their language.
One day the she-pigeon was late in returning. When arrived she looked worried and tired. Her companion asked, “ Why you are late? And you look quite distressed. What is the reason?”
“There is a cause of worry. You know I usually go to Royal Palace as place is quite cozy and there is lot to eat. I hear so many interesting episodes from the servants who always have some thing or the other to narrate. Today I heard about evil designs in the high place. The King was secretly talking with his Minister. I was sitting on the cornice. They never thought that I shall understand their talks.”
“That is alright but what did you hear? You are unnecessarily enhancing my curiosity.”
“Other day I told you that the princess has fallen in love with a florist. The young man brings flowers daily for worship and the princess takes these. This man is quite young, handsome with a personality befitting to a prince. I suspect that he is really prince and some spell of bad luck has put him in the present adversity.”
“You better come to the main point instead beating around the bush. You ladies are too talkative.”
“I am just coming to that. The King was negotiating with the neighboring State about his daughter’s marriage, the Queen out of sheer joy told about it to the princess. The Princess got worried, thought over the matter and told her mother that she will only marry with the florist or shall end her life. The queen has smelt her daughter's fondness for the young man. She did not disapprove it as she also felt that this boy is certainly some prince. The queen told the King about the intentions of the Princess. But the King became furious and decided to eliminate the boy. “
“So what did happen next to worry you?”
“Have patience I am telling every thing.”