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very different. Yesterday, while enjoying the luxuries of the palace, both Dharini and Vasumati were unaware of the calamities that were in-store for them.
Life is so unpredictable. One turn of fate and both royalties had to leave their palace. Today, they were lying on the floor, in the forest, at the mercy of their enemies. The day before, while sleeping in her mother's lap, Vasumati was unaware that the following day, her mother would be lying lifeless in her lap.
The lesson that we learn from this incident is that tomorrow is unpredictable. We can never trust tomorrow. It can be very different from today, either better or worse. Tomorrow might never come for someone. Like Dharini, one can lose one's life and there is no tomorrow... It can mean another birth, another life altogether.
Today is the most important day in a person's life.
One who values today and attempts to make the best of it, sows the seeds for a better future. Thus, step-by-step, a person can create a good life until the end. If one leads a virtuous life throughout, then that virtuousness continues till eternity.
When Dharini saw an uncertain, bleak future, she altered her present. What about the tender thirteen-year old girl Vasumati ? She is desperately trying to awaken her mother. She tries to wake her up, cries for her, “Mother... Mother !” But her mother is silent. She shows no reaction. The mother, who used to be at the back and call of her daughter, who used to shower her with love and affection, was today not even responding to her.
Well, this is the bitter truth of life. One who is with us today, may not be with us tomorrow. One who is ours today, may not remain ours tomorrow.
From the past, once again, Vasumati is jolted back into the present. Sitting in the dark room, she thinks of her mother and says, “Oh mother! Look at my condition after you left me. My hair, which was a matter of pride for you, my beautiful hair that you so gently took
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