________________
88
THE WAY OF LIFE
about. I will be grateful to this robber if he allows me to get away from here, alive, but he will not allow me to go away alive!”
He thought thus; and looked around. That room had only one window. He looked out through the window. The forest stretched around the house. There was a road running through the forest. A plan occurred to him. If his plan did not succeed, his life would be in danger. But without courage nothing could be achieved. He decided to carry out his plan with courage. The ornaments worth one lakh rupees were still with him..
THE BROKER SEES A WAY OUT
He came down under the pretext of drinking water. The dacoit was taking his meal downstairs. He asked the broker, “Why have you come down?” The broker replied, “I am very thirsty. I want water". A servant gave him water. He drank the water; and began ascending the steps. The dacoit was absorbed in his meal. The broker having gone up bolted the door of the first storey from within. He did it without making the least noise. He bolted the door slowly and noiselessly. He went up to the second storey and bolted the door from within. He ascended to the third storey and bolted the door from within. Now, if anyone wanted to climb to the third storey he had to come breaking three doors.
The broker got ready to jump down to the ground from the third storey, through the unbarred window. He packed the ornaments; and put the packet in his coat-pocket safely. Then, meditating on the Almighty, he jumped down.
See the good fortune of the honest broker! Just when he jumped down, there came a truck loaded with food-grain. It belonged to a Parsi baba. The broker staight fell on the truck. "Dub” there was a sound. The driver of the truck was frightened. Hearing someone jumping on to the truck suddenly, the Parsi Baba said to the driver, "Don't stop the vehicle. Speed up. Go straight to Bombay. Don't stop it till we reach Bombay".
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
