Jailer

Author(s): Abhayshekharsuri, Sujata P Kapadia
Publisher: Harshadray Private Limited

Page 48

In the morning, on reaching the garden, the gardener was astonished beyond words. The garden was so old that rarely did any tree flower. That day, he felt as if Spring had arrived and the garden was in full bloom. Each tree was laden with fruits and flowers. What was this miracle? When he looked around, he saw a smiling-gurgling child at the edge of the well. The child who looked as beauteous as God's child was such that even an enemy would find him adorable. He picked up the child, bestowed him with kisses, took him home to his childless wife and told her, "From today, no one will call you barren." This happening was so unlikely that the child was named Aghat Kumar.
The gardener's wife whose joy knew no bounds, started rearing the child with a lot of care. One day, she went to the King's court to give him a garland, taking the child with her. When Jnanagarbha saw the child, he knew at once who the child was. He knew that the child had been kidnapped but he did not know his whereabouts. He could not take his eyes off the child. On noticing this, the King asked the priest the reason for his heightened interest in the child. The priest, who was forthright, said, "This child is the son of my maid servant who is going to sit on your throne." The King was again drowned in worry. He called the two servants who, on sensing the King's anger, admitted immediately to have left the child at the edge of the well. On further probing, it was found that the gardener had discovered a child there. It was established that it was undoubtedly the same child.
Aghat improbable
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3424