He pulled and tugged with all his might. It would not budge!
Every day for the past week he had been successful! Bit by bit he had carried away precious gems, unknown to any living soul.
His heart was stuck on this bit today. But it defied his skills. He was on the verge of getting impatient and probably give it all up, but he cocked his head to one side, setting his dark eyes on the object of his desire.
What went on in his devious mind was hard to tell.
Just like the dark clouds of the Monsoon with their swollen bellies holding the promise of life… and secret possibilities.The dark diabolical eyes gleamed with possibilities!
Sounds outside the room warned him… one last attempt then he would have to fly off, he didn’t want to be caught.
The door opened,
It didn’t budge…
Silently he moved away, out of the window like a silent shadow melting into the giant tamarind tree, outside the balcony.
“Ah! What’s this?
My jewelry box is open and my grandma’s heirloom necklace out in the open?”
“ Darling, how many times I have told you to be careful! Then you complain things are lost!”
“Oh stop it… you are ready to believe anyone but me! Ahhhh!
I can’t find my emerald ring… and my pearls and ruby jhumkas!”
“But…”
“ Boo hoo! My diamond studs are missing too! I told you the new maid is untrustworthy…
She has that look in her eyes… greed dripping, riches coveting, scrawny scoundrel!
But you have compassion for all and sundry but me!
It hasn’t been a week since she joined,and half my jewelry has been wiped out!”
“Now, calm down – before making any allegations. Give her a chance to explain.”
“Oh my poor fate that I have a kind hearted husband who is anything but kind to his wife!”
Rolling her eyes the woman threatened to create a storm in their nest, with her eyes expertly generating a profusion of tears flowing incessantly like a stream in spate when kissed by the rain Gods!
The lamentation was… simply horrible!
The maid was summoned.
A pleasant faced, dark skinned woman of indeterminate age who had been ravaged by time and poverty stood in front of the incongruous duo. She had no idea of what was coming.
Berated and humiliated, she was shown the door.
The tears flowed silently from her large kohl rimmed brown eyes! Sniffing into her faded pallu, wiping her eyes, she walked out of the house, head bowed in despair and disbelief!
The torrential tears prevented her from seeing where she stepped! Calling Vithal, she begged to be relieved of her misery.
“Do you enjoy your devotees’ humiliation? From time immemorial you wait till they beseech you to redeem them. Why?
What did I do wrong?”
Her tired back found solace, in the knobbly hard trunk of the Tamarind. The soft gentle shade of the thickly canopied branches seemed to hug her comfortingly!
It even dropped a few sweetly sour fruits at her feet to appease the desolate being.
But the eyes would not stop overflowing!
As she looked up seeking her Vitthal and a reply, she caught a gleam!
Rubbing her eyes dry she tried to get a clear view.
That was strange!
She had often heard ghosts resided in tamarind trees!
But did they glitter in broad daylight? She was not sure.
Curiosity got the better of her as she swiftly climbed up the branches.
There was no tree in her village that she hadn’t conquered, which offered its luscious fruits as prize.
And there wedged into a hole she saw a twinkle of green, a glimmer of rubies and even some sparkling pearly whites!
“Oh Vitthal! What do you want me to do? Why are you showing me this?”
Gently a golden ring fell out…
As she reached in… there was a veritable treasure trove!
Could it be what she had been accused of stealing?
Well Vitthal had given it to her… hadn’t he?
She unfolded her pallu as she said a big thanks to Vitthal!
