Shalibhadra Diwakar Chitrakatha 047

Author(s): Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 34

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AN INTERESTING TALE
MERCHANT AND ACCOUNTANT
In a city lived a merchant. He was the leading trader of cotton (Rui). His son's fatherin-law was also a big cotton merchant in a nearby city. The two had business dealings also.
Once the merchant had to suddenly go to Ajmer on some urgent work. While leaving he asked his accountant, "Write a letter to the in-laws of my son that I have gone to Ajmer. We have purchased cotton (rui) you also purchase cotton and send the main account book." (In Hindi: Sethji Ajmer gaye hain. Hamne rui le li hai. Tum bhi rui le lena aur badi bahi bhej dena.)
After giving the instruction the merchant left. The accountant was also in a hurry to go home. He quickly wrote the message in illegible handwriting. It read: Sethji aaj mar gaye hain. Hamne roi lia hai. Tum bhi roi lena aur badi bahu ko bhej dena. (In English: Sethji has expired today. We have wept. You also weep and send my elder daughter-in-law here.)
In haste he wrote aaj mar (died today) instead of Ajmer, roi (weep) instead of rui, and badi bahu (elder daughter-in-law) instead of badi bahi (main account book).
When the addressee got the letter, grief descended on the family - "Oh God! Till yesterday he was hale and hearty. What happened so suddenly."
The elder daughter of this family, who was married to the elder son of the merchant, at once left for her in-laws with her brother.
When she saw her father-in-law sitting normally she was astonished-Oh God! Is it the ghost of my father-in-law.
With great difficulty she could be convinced that the merchant was alive.
The daughter-in-law-But my father got a letter from our accountant that father-inlaw had expired.
When the merchant inquired it was revealed on him that the accountant had written the letter in haste. That was the reason wrong message had gone. The accountant was reprimanded. Everyone laughed and celebrated the rebirth of the merchant.
Message: Children! Illegible writing sometimes conveys wrong and damaging message. Therefore always try to write carefully and legibly.