Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Shivi. Shivi was a very pretty and beautiful-looking girl. She was very proud of her beauty. When she attained her youth, her parents decided to get her married. Several kings, merchants, and renowned artists across the country sent their proposals. This
filled Shivi with immense pride, and her parents decided to get her married to
King Veer.
King Veer was younger than Shivi. Shivi was not ready to
marry him, but after seeing the King’s riches, she changed her decision. King Veer
was indeed in love with her. However, Shivi was happy with him because of his
wealth. Their marriage was held with a grand extravaganza. Everyone who attended
the wedding said they were mesmerized by Shivi's beauty.
But Shivi offended King Veer many times for his age.
King Veer, witty, replied, “You too will grow old one day, my love.” Shivi laughed, hearing those words as if age would never harm her.
After many years of marriage, one fine day, Shivi realized
she, too, was growing old. People were no longer talking about her beauty, which made her very unhappy and upset. But King Veer’s love was unaffected by her
beauty. Shivi could not see King Veer’s sincerity. She doubted him and sought a solution to keep her youth intact forever.
Shivi met witch Hella and ordered her, “Get me
youth potion it or else I will make King Veer kill you.”
King Veer was courageous, and witch Hella knew he could kill her.
So, she tricked Shivi and said, “Only a queen can enter the
cave to get the potion.”
Desperate, Shivi could not smell the trick and followed Hella to
a perilous cave. Hella knew if Shivi entered the cave, she would never
return. But Shivi, desperate to get the potion, entered without thinking. She got
trapped inside the cave.
King Veer was waiting for her in the palace. He started
looking for her, but he couldn't find her anywhere. Then, one day, a woodcutter
told King Veer about the cave where he saw Shivi. King Veer reached the cave
and bravely rescued Shivi.
Shivi realized her mistake.
She asked King Veer to forgive her, “To save my life, you
entered a perilous cave. Please forgive me for mistreating you for not
being young.”
King Veer said, “I love you for who you are and not for your
beauty.”
From that day, Shivi never thought about retaining her youth.
They lived happily ever after.
Moral- Sincerity is the most excellent form of beauty.
Happy Reading!
Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.