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JANUARY, 1897.]
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA ; No. 43.
21
In the course of three months the capital of India was reached, and the note and the present duly delivered. Nårzana was astounded to receive such a costly throne, which even the emperor of the whole of India had never owned, as "a small gift" from the Subhadar of the Cot. She had a strong desire to visit so rich a man in person before making up her mind to retuin amply and suitably the honour done to her.
So she thanked for the occasion the Subhâdir of the Cot, and wrote in return that her mind would never rest at ease till she had paid her humble respects in person to him, which she would be able to do in the course of a year or two. She rewarded the four peons, and sent them away with the note. They had now nothing to take care of on the way except the note and the presents they themselves had received, which no doubt were very large. They returned as quickly as possible and delivered the note. Of course, our hero was extremely pleased, and was, to a certain extent, easy in his mind, for as he had had no return presents from Nûrzana, he need be at no pains to devise means for their disposal. But there was still something to vex him. Nûrzana had promised to visit him in the course of a year or two! What should he do? But why trouble oneself for an affair which was to happen after a year or two, or which, perhaps might never happen? So the Subhadar forgot the anxieties of the future, and went on holding his council. Thus for a year almost this business went on. The pomp and sudden wealth of the four peons became a subject of talk everywhere. The Subhadir of the Cot and his council in the mansion of Navakoţi Narayana Sutti attained the greatest publicity. The millionaire heard of its existence, and on a certain night he visited his back premises and discovered the sham council. He became highly enraged, and ordered his servants to seize the Subhadar. At the appearance of these men, the faithful servants of the Subhadar fled for their lives; he became a prisoner of the millionaire.
Alone with the Sabhadir, the millionaire enquired into the cause of his impertinence, and the Subhadar explained to him that he had had a fancy to do as he had done, and had been successful for almost a year. He was careful not to mention a word about his notes, presents, etc., to Indumukhi and Nûrzana.
Navakti Narayana Setti pitied the poor Brahman, and as he had committed no offence of any kind, laughed at his thirst for so empty a title as Subhâdar of the Cot, and as a punishment for his pride engaged him as his head cook !
Poor Kosava Bhat! Whither had his Subhadari gone? What had became of his faithful servants? Why did not the great Para mêsvara aid him now? The solution to these quesxions was not at all difficult. His star had been in the ascendant and so he had enjoyed all those privileges. But now his karma (fate) had made him head cook of the millionaire's house. From the very next day he rose early in the inorning, bathed, performed his ablutions, attended to the kitchen arrangements of Navakoti Narayana Setti's house, had his food first, according to the prevailing custom as he was a Brahman, and then went home to return to resume his evening duties in the kitchen. He was naturally a clever person, and so soon secared influence with the millionaire and his establishment. His faithful peons, though they were not able to assist him on the night on which he had been taken prisoner by the millionaire, soon discovered him, and remembering that they owed their own fortunes to their service once under him, soon joined him. And our hero, too, though now redaced, soon found his way to employ them in the establishment of Navakoti Narayana Setti.
Thus a month passed, and by this time our hero became all in all to his master. His proficiency as a cook was of the best, and he was not wanting in other respects. The advice that he now and then gave when his master consulted him in any important matter was of the best kind. He was clever, obedient, willing and an honest servant, and the millionaire was pleased with him in every way.
Navakoti Narayana had no children. To the attainment of this object, he was preparing for a pilgrimage to Banaras : advised to do so by our hero. He started soon with an
