Every year King Yayati’s birthday was celebrated in his kingdom very enthusiastically. His country people prayed for him, and the royal court was filled with gifts. On his birthday, he would visit the temple and then offer food and other items to the needy ones. When he reached the royal palace after his temple visit, Queen Padmini took him to the treasure hall to check the gifts he has received. King Yayati was not interested in seeing them. But on Queen Padmini’s insistence, he went there. Queen Padmini started looking at gifts. The entire treasure hall was filled with precious items like rare cloth pieces, ornaments, jewels, accessories, etc.
‘These gifts are of more use to you than to me,’ complaining said King Yayati.
‘I know, and I love it. It’s your birthday, but I have a feeling its mine,’ teasingly said Queen Padmini, inspecting each of the items. She was happy to see gifts that are of more use to her than to King Yayati. Every year this happened to King Yayati.
One thing that caught Queen Padmini’s attention was a huge mirror with a beautiful wood carving border. It was kept at the corner of the room. King Yayati, too liked it and thought of keeping it in his room.
‘I want to keep it in my chamber,’ said Queen Padmini.
King Yayati said that on his birthday, he received just one gift that he actually liked and that too Queen Padmini wants for herself.
Both fought for a while and then decided to keep the mirror there itself- in the treasure hall.
Next morning when Queen Padmini went to the treasure hall to get her favorite bangle. She was shocked to see the treasure hall empty.
She ran to King Yayati’s chamber, and together they came to the treasure hall. King Yayati saw the entire treasure hall was empty, only the mirror is still there.
The mirror started shining, blinding Queen Padmini and King Yayati for a while. Inside the mirror, they saw a wizard.
Wizard said that he has all the ornaments, money, gold, diamond, and other precious stones. King Yayati asked him what he wants. Wizard asked King Yayati to free him by chanting a mantra in front of the mirror. King Yayati refused and left. Wizard tried to coax King Yayati by telling him that he will stay nice and not trouble people in his kingdom. But King Yayati left the treasure hall.
The entire kingdom started suffering as they had no money.
King Yayati didn’t want to free the wizard as he would create more nuisance once he is out. Queen Padmini couldn’t see the condition of the Kingdom and went to the treasure hall. She chanted the mantra in front of the magic mirror. Wizard was happy to be free. He proposed to Queen Padmini to marry her. Queen Padmini sensed an opportunity in the proposal.
She agreed to marry him. Wizard was very happy. She asked the wizard to return the treasure. He returned it. Now the treasure hall was as same as it was before, filled with jewels, gold coins, and artifacts, etc.
Wizard asked Queen Padmini to come with him. She agreed. Before leaving with him, Queen Padmini wanted her favorite bangles and started looking for her it.
Wizard also started looking for bangles to impress Queen Padmini. Queen Padmini started crying. She accused Wizard of leaving the bangles inside the magic mirror. Wizard went back to get the bangles, and Queen Padmini put the huge cloth and covered the magic mirror. Once again, Wizard was trapped inside the magic mirror. Thus, Queen Padmini saved her kingdom and King Yayati.
Moral of the Short Story: Wit and presence of mind are your biggest assets.
Happy Reading!
About the writer:
Nisha B Thakur is the author of a Murder Mystery | The Unexpected Trail read at https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BB88QHM5
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