Roshni's Feast

　　Once upon a time there lived a ling. One day he called his Minister and asked， “What is the state of my people？ Are they sad or happy？” Hearing this the minister said， “Your Majesty， I can tell you fearlessly only if you promise not to harm me.” “Well，” said the king， “you may say whatever you want without fear.”

　　“Majesty， in earlier years Kings would hunt during the day and at night they would tour the kingdom in disguise to see the state of their people. Alas！ It is not so today.”

　　“Very well，” said the king， “from tomorrow I shall do the same.”

　　So the next morning， the king went hunting where he killed many wild boars and other animals. He returned to his palace in the evening feeling very satisfied. As night descended， the king put on the guise of a beggar， and headed for his mission.

　　He passed from street to street till he came upon a little house where three sisters sat talking. He wanted to hear what they were discussing.

　　“Oh， if only I could marry the king's charioteer，” sighed the eldest sister， “then I would ride every day.”

　　“I should like to marry the king's cook，” said the second sister decidedly， “what lovely goodies I would get to eat every day.”

　　The youngest sister was silent. Her sisters started teasing her. Finally she said， “If only I could marry the king then I would be the Queen.”

　　Next morning， the king summoned the three sisters to the palace. Trembling with fear they fell at his feet. “Fear not，” said the king，“ I heard what you were discussing last night. I have decided to grant your desires.”

　　So the eldest sister was married to the king's charioteer， the second sister to the king's cook and the youngest sister married the king and became the queen.

　　A year passed in great happiness and the Queen was about to give birth. She requested the king to allow her sisters to be with her during this time.

　　So the two sisters to stay at the royal palace. Their eyes popped with surprise when they saw the luxury in which their little sister lived. Her wardrobes were full of beautiful clothes and coffers were bursting with jewels. They sighed again and again and turned green with envy.

　　Soon one day the Queen gave birth to a little boy. The sisters put him in a basket and floated him down a stream. Then they put a puppy beside the Queen. The king was amazed and the whole kingdom shocked to know that the Queen had given birth to a puppy.

　　A year later the Queen was about to give birth once again. The sisters came to the palace feigning great concern for her. This time the Queen gave birth to another little boy. The sisters floated him away in the stream and put a kitten by the Queen. The king was totally surprised to see the kitten instead of the royal baby.

　　A year later， the Queen gave birth for the third time. This time to a lovely little baby girl. After floated her down the stream， the sisters placed a wooden doll next to the Queen. The king was so enraged that the banished the Queen from his kingdom branding her a witch. The poor woman began to work as a maid in another kingdom.

　　What happened to the two infant Princes and the little Princess？ A woodcutter was resting beside a stream when he suddenly heard a baby carrying. He jumped up and saw a baby floating by in a basket. He picked up the child and took it home. Next year he found another boy and the year after， a girl in the same manner. He took them all home to his childless wife who was overjoyed.

　　They named the children Suraj， Chand， and Roshni.

　　In good time， the woodcutter and his wife grew old and died. The children had grown up and the brothers had become woodcutters like their foster father.

　　One day， they went deep into the forest to cut sandalwood as that fetched maximum value. They searched all day but could find no sandalwood. Night fell and the brothers lay down below a tree to rest.

　　On that tree lived two birds who could speak in human voices. They were talking to each other at night. “What will happen to the pots of gold buried under this tree if we go away？” asked one. “If only someone would take the gold and relieve us of this responsibility，” sighed the other.

　　The two brothers heard all this. Next morning， they dug under the tree. They worked all through the day and in the late afternoon they uncovered a chamber full of pots of gold coins.

　　Now they were rich beyond imagination. They built a marvelous palace with marble and fountains and beautiful rooms. In that underground chamber， they had also found a bag of magic seeds， which they sowed all around the palace. These grew into trees with leaves of silver， flowers of gold and fruits studded with emeralds and rubies. On their branched sat little jade birds who hummed all day long. The two birds with the human voices came to stay there also.

　　The king in his palace had grown old and weary. One day he was out for a ride when he came across the boy's palace. The birds immediately called to the boys and asked them to invite the king for lunch.

　　Roshni was preparing a grand feast when the birds came to the kitchen. They advised her to prepare the food in a certain manner.

　　When the king was sat down to eat， what did he find？ Rice of silver， vegetables of precious stones and dal of molten gold， “How can I eat this？” he asked.

　　“Why not？” asked the birds.

　　“Can a human being eat silver rice？” asked the king.

　　“Can a human being give birth to puppies， kittens and wooden dolls？” asked the birds.

　　The king was wonder-struck. The birds then told him the whole story. He was delighted to have found his children finally. A great search was made for the Queen till she was found. The two evil sisters were immediately banished and the king lived happily ever after with his wife and children.

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