Tit for Tat: Hareshwar Roy
Tit for Tat: Hareshwar Roy
This happened a very long time ago. There was a small princely state named Jitaura. The ruler of this state was Maharaja Jhauwa Singh. Under Maharaja Jhauwa Singh's kingdom, there was a village named Bachari. In this village lived two men, Baikunth, a barber, and Yamuna Pandit, a priest. Deep friendship existed between the two.
Once upon a time, Baikunth had an urgent reason to leave the village and go to the city for a few days. He possessed a glittering silver dagger which he did not want to leave behind in his empty house for fear of theft. Therefore, before his departure, he shared his dilemma with his friend, Yamuna Pandit.
Offering a solution to Baikunth's problem, Yamuna Pandit said, “Oh friend, is this even a problem? Leave your dagger with me, and as soon as you return, you can take it back.”
Trusting Yamuna Pandit's advice without any hesitation, Baikunth handed over his dagger to his friend and left for the city with a mind at peace.
Seeing the barber's gleaming silver dagger, greed took root inside the priest. He developed a deep attachment to the dagger and secretly decided not to return it. He even came up with a pretext to betray his friend.
After a few days, Baikunth returned from the city and went to the priest to ask for his dagger. Upon seeing the barber, the priest put on a very sad face.
Making a tearful face, he said, “What can I tell you, my friend? I am extremely distressed. You will hardly believe my words, but it pains me deeply to say that I will not be able to return your dagger to you.”
“Why? Why won't you be able to return it, friend? Was my dagger stolen?” the barber asked anxiously.
“No friend, no. Your dagger was not stolen. Actually, out of fear of theft, I had buried your dagger underground. One day, when I cleared the soil to check on the dagger, termites had eaten up the iron dagger! Now you tell me, how can I return a termite-eaten dagger to you?” said the priest, uttering a blatant lie.
Hearing the priest's outright lie, the barber was stunned. Losing his dagger pained him immensely. But what could he do now? In his heart, he resolved to teach the dishonest priest a lesson. Heaving a sigh, he said, “Oh friend, what is there to be sad about? You tried your best to keep my dagger safe from your end, but if termites ate it, how are you to blame?”
The barber was very clever. He continued his friendly demeanor toward the priest. Just as before, he would visit the priest's house every day and chat warmly. Gradually, the priest became fully convinced that the barber harbored no suspicion toward him, as the barber never mentioned the dagger even by mistake. But the barber was patiently waiting for the right opportunity.
A few days later, Yamuna Pandit decided to go on a pilgrimage with his wife. They had a small child who was quite attached to the barber. Therefore, to avoid the hardships of travel for the child, the priest handed his child over to Baikunth's care and set off on the pilgrimage. Baikunth's wait was finally over, and he found a great opportunity to teach the deceitful priest a lesson.
After about a week's travel, the priest returned to the village. Getting wind of his arrival, the barber hid the child in a secret location and began awaiting the priest. Shortly after, the priest arrived at the barber's home.
As soon as he saw the priest, the barber began beating his chest and weeping loudly. Seeing this, the priest asked, “Oh friend! Why did you start crying the moment you saw me? What on earth happened?”
“What can I tell you, friend? One day, your son was running and playing on the roof of my house. Just then, a large crow came and flew away with him! Now how can I give your child back to you? I will carry the grief for the rest of my life that I could not protect my dear friend's precious trust.” Saying this, the barber resumed weeping and beating his chest.
Hearing the barber's words, Yamuna Pandit was completely flabbergasted. He understood very well now that Baikunth the barber was settling the old score. Even so, to get his child back, the priest tried every possible way to persuade Baikunth by pleading in the name of their friendship, but all in vain.
Yamuna Pandit lodged a complaint with the minister of the state. The minister immediately summoned the barber for questioning and quickly understood the entire affair. He ordered both of them to present themselves before the Maharaja the next day.
The next day, when Yamuna Pandit and Baikunth the barber appeared in the court of Maharaja Jhauwa Singh, the minister presented this intriguing dispute to the King in verse:
“Jaisan ke taisan milal, sun li raja Jhauwa ji.
Chandi mein lagat ghun, laika ke le udal kauwa ji.”
(“Like has met its equal, please listen King Jhauwa ji!
If termites can eat away silver, a crow can surely carry off a child!”)
Thereafter, the minister narrated the complete story to the King. Hearing the story, the Maharaja burst out laughing. Delivering his verdict, he said, “I am extremely pleased with the barber's cleverness. He has given a fitting reply to the priest's deceit and dishonesty. If termites can consume a silver dagger, then without a doubt, a crow can fly away with a child. Therefore, let the priest first return the barber's dagger, and then the barber shall return his child to him.”
Ultimately, the deceitful and greedy priest had to return the barber's dagger in order to get his child back.
