In a tribal village in India
there lived a newly married couple.
The wife’s name was Suma and the husband’s
name was Vasu.
Both Suma and Vasu had built
their hut together. They had decided that like other families in the village,
the husband would go to work on the farm and earn money while the wife would
stay at home and do household work. Suma and Vasu had agreed that whatever
money Vasu earned would be shared equally by them both. They kept their leather
money pouch tucked behind a loose brick in the wall.
A kitten named Mani also lived
with them. Mani was a special cat because she knew human languages. When Vasu
went to work, she would talk to Suma.
One day, Suma noticed that two of
the mud pots that she used for cooking had cracked.
That evening when Vasu came home, she said,
“Vasu, we need to buy two new mud
pots.”
“How many pots do we have?” asked
Vasu.
“We had six but two are cracked”
answered Suma.
“Well, then, my dear, I am sure
you can cook in the remaining four pots. The money we save can be kept for our
future children” said Vasu.
Suma agreed with him and somehow
managed to cook in four pots.
The next week, Vasu decided that
he wanted to put up a wooden fence around their house.
“Suma, I want to put up a fence
around the house to protect it so we will have to buy some strong wood.”
Suma brought out their money
pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed,
“When he wants money
he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”
Suma hushed her and said it was
for a good reason.
One night Suma couldn’t sleep
because the bed made creaking sounds. In the morning, she saw that one of its
legs was broken.
“Vasu, let’s get a new bed. This
one is broken and I cannot sleep at night” she said to her husband.
Vasu examined the broken leg of
the bed and said,
“Listen, my dear, I can easily
fix this leg with some nails. The money we save can be kept for our future
children.”
Vasu fixed the bed with nails but it still creaked.
The next week, Vasu saw that some
of his gardening tools had rusted. He told Suma that he wanted some new tools.
Suma brought out their money pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed,
“When he wants money he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”
Suma hushed her and said it was
for a good reason.
The next month, while fetching
water from the stream, Suma’s saree brushed against a thorny bush and tore.
“Vasu, I need a new saree. See
this one is torn” she said.
“My dear, you are an excellent
seamstress. I know you can easily patch it up and it will be good as new. The
money we save can be kept for our future children.” said Vasu.
Then one day, Vasu saw that the
shirts of the other workers on the farm were better than his. In order to make
a good impression on his employers and the other workers, he needed a new
shirt.
“Suma, all the other workers have
nice crisp shirts. Mine is old and faded. If I buy a new one, it will make me
look smarter and I may even get a promotion” said Vasu.
Suma brought out their money
pouch and gave him the money. When he left, Mani meowed,
“When he wants money
he takes it, when you wanted it, you couldn’t.”
Suma hushed her and said it was
for a good reason.
The next year, Suma’s parents
sent a message that they were going to visit her because they had not seen her
for a long time.
Suma said to Vasu,
“My parents
are visiting soon. We will have to buy two new pots, a new bed, and a new saree
for me.”
Vasu replied,
“My darling, you
have been managing very well cooking in the four good pots that we have. And
what is the need for another bed when your parents will be staying only for a
few days? We can spread a cosy mattress for them on the floor. You look beautiful
as ever in that old saree. Just think – the money we save can be kept for our
future children.”
Suma was unhappy but she kept
quiet. She told her parents that she would pay them a visit instead.
The next month, it was Vasu’s
parents who sent a message that they would be visiting on their way to a pilgrimage.
“Suma, my dear” said Vasu
excitedly, “We need to make proper arrangements for my parents. Do we have
enough pots and plates? I think it’s time to get some new furniture and nice
clothes for both of us. Please get our money pouch and let us see how much
money we have.”
Suma did not get the money pouch.
She looked at Mani and Mani looked back at her meaningfully.
Suma stood with her hands on her
hips.
“Vasu” she said in a strong voice
“Every time you wanted money, I gave it to you. But every time, I wanted money,
you said that if we save the money we can keep it for our future children. So
now onwards, let us keep all our money for our future children and let’s not
buy anything.”
“But my parents are visiting”
said Vasu.
“Yes, I know” smiled Suma “I will
cook for them in the four pots, spread a cosy mattress for them on the floor,
wear my patched saree and look as beautiful as ever.”
It was then that Vasu realised his
mistake. He and Suma went shopping together to buy the things they needed.
Mani cozily curled up in the bed
with the broken leg.
(Picture courtesy: Google images)
