Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 65

the lunch without uttering a single word. His parents had never seen him so serious and wondered about his absent-mindedness. His father asked him about the reason for his seriousness, but he kept mum. After the father left, the mother lovingly asked him to speak out whatever was in his mind. Ilächikumar said that it was no use telling her about that. As she repeatedly asked him, he replied that his mind was attracted towards the girl of the acrobats and he wanted to marry her.
His mother was taken aback to hear that. She said that she could get for him very beautiful and lovable girls of the well to do families and asked him to forget that wretched acrobat girl. He replied that no other girl would attract his mind and he wanted to marry that girl only. Realizing the firmness of his mind, the mother told her husband about the intention of the son. Dhandatta was shocked to listen that. He tried to dissuade the son from his intention but llächikumar remained firm. Dhandatta was a sensible man. He could see that llächikumar would not stay peaceful without that girl. He did not want to lose his son for the sake of prestige. He therefore called the chief of acrobats and requested him to give his daughter in marriage to llächikumar.
The acrobat however said that he could not do that because he was bound by the convention of his tribe. Dhandatta thought that he might be looking for getting money for the girl. He therefore offered to give as much wealth as the acrobat liked for agreeing to marry his daughter to his son. The acrobat however declined his offer and replied that he could not break the convention. Dhandatta then asked him about his tribal convention. The acrobat said that he could give his daughter only to the person who could win award from a royal court by pleasing the king with his acrobatic skill and would give dinner to his community out of the prize money. Dhandatta was disappointed to hear that because it was apparently impossible for his son to fulfill that condition. He explained to his wife what had happened. She called her son and said that the girl would marry only to an expert acrobat and asked him to forget her.
llächikumar did not give any reply. He however could not change his mind. He felt that he could not survive without that girl and was willing to make any sacrifice for her. He was even prepared to learn the acrobatic skill for that purpose. His parents were baffled by his silence but thought that he would come to senses in due course. They felt confident that llächikumar could never become an expert acrobat. As llächikumar continued to remain absent minded, they tried to divert his mind. All their efforts however failed and Ilächikumar stayed bent upon getting that girl anyhow. When the acrobat party therefore decided to leave llavardhan, lächikumar secretly slipped from his home and left the town along with them.
He discarded his fancy clothes and donning the course clothes of the acrobats, he started learning their skill. He was smart by nature and used all his diligence to learn the acrobatics. The girl too got enamored of him and helped him in all possible ways to learn the skill. With her help, he could easily master the skill and soon became an expert acrobat. In due course, when the party reached the city of Benatat, he requested the father of the girl to organize a show at the royal court there. Thereupon, the chief went to the king and requested him to watch the performance of the young acrobat and to award a suitable prize, if it was thought fit.
The king agreed and accordingly the acrobats fixed the poles in the compound of the royal palace, where the officers of the state and elite of the city were invited to watch the performance. At the right time, the king occupied his seat in the balcony of the palace. Bowing to him, llächikumar went over the pole and then jumping over the rope he started displaying his acrobatic skill. He was tightly walking over the high rope intercepted with risky jumps and summersaults. It was a superb performance. No one had ever watched such acrobatic feats. Every one was highly fascinated by his skill. llachikumar was feeling gratified by the appreciation of the people. He thought that it should have been enough for pleasing the king too. He therefore came down and bowing to him once again, he requested for an appropriate award.