The Way to Luck

Introduction

A landlord had four daughters. The first three daughters were married to three young men who agreed to come and settle down in the landlord’s palace. However, when the youngest daughter came of age, her father sought a suitable bridegroom. To his shock, she made a stunning announcement: she would marry none other than Ramu, the young servant of the household.

Parental Opposition

Her parents tried desperately to change her mind, but their efforts were in vain. The girl married Ramu, but the landlord warned him, “If you stay in my house like my other sons-in-law, they might take it as an insult to them. How can anyone forget that you were once a mere servant? However, you can return and live with your wife here when you have earned some money.”

Ramu’s Departure

Ramu left his master’s house, hoping to find a way to earn a livelihood. He could hardly imagine making enough money to return and live as an equal alongside the landlord’s other sons-in-law. Ramu wandered on, and at the hot noon, he entered a meadow on the outskirts of a small town. He noticed several cows grazing there, and a solitary old man was sitting under a tree, preparing to eat his lunch.

A Kind Deed

Just then, one of the cows let out a sharp low, and the old man hurried over, as she was about to give birth to her calf. As soon as the old man moved away, some stray dogs and a handful of crows rushed towards the food he had left under the tree. Ramu quickly guarded the food and prevented the animals from approaching.

An Unexpected Friendship

The old man returned after an hour and said, “My son! You have done me a great service. If not for you, I would have starved. Now tell me, who are you? Where were you going?”

“I am an illiterate poor boy, searching for a means of livelihood,” replied Ramu. The old man, appreciating Ramu’s honesty, shared his food with him and recounted his own story: he had a large herd of cows but was alone in the world. Previously, he had a couple of servants to help but was betrayed when they stole his cows. Now, he was looking after the cows himself.

A New Opportunity

“I would be happy to serve you and your cows. You may pay me whatever you deem fit,” proposed Ramu. The old man agreed, and Ramu took charge of the cows, milking them and selling the milk in the town, all done with honesty and sincerity.

Gaining Affection

A month passed, and the old man grew increasingly fond of Ramu. One day he remarked, “My son! I am thinking of finding a bride for you.” Ramu replied, “Please do not trouble yourself, my master! I am already married. Once I manage to earn some money, I will return to my wife.” He then shared the story of his marriage, prompting the old man to suggest, “In that case, you should find a better-paying job!”

Contentment in Service

Ramu smiled and responded, “Sir! I do not consider myself fit for any other work. If it is in my luck, I will make money somehow. Otherwise, I should be satisfied with my current situation. You are the one who fed me after I left the landlord’s house. I deem it my duty to serve you.” The old man remained silent, feeling a deep respect for Ramu.

A Fortunate Discovery

Days went by, and one evening the old man told Ramu, “We need to build a new shade for the cows. Tonight, dig holes where I have marked. Tomorrow, we will plant poles and put up a thatch.” After the old man went to bed, Ramu began to dig and soon unearthed two jars filled with gold coins. Carefully, he carried them into the old man’s room the next morning.

A Life-Changing Decision

“Ramu! You mentioned that if it were in your luck, you would find money somehow. Now that you have it, would you like to return to your wife?” asked the old man with a smile, having secretly buried the jars.

“But this is your money, not mine,” said Ramu. The old man replied, “My son! You are now the heir to all that I possess. You can return to the landlord’s family with this money and enjoy the same status as his other sons-in-law.”

Returning with Pride

“Father! If this is my house, why should I go live with the landlord’s family? I would rather bring my wife here!” suggested Ramu.

“Excellent!” cheered the old man. Ramu bought a new set of clothes for himself and a pair of sarees for his wife before heading to the landlord’s house. With confidence and joy, he led his wife to their new life together, forever changed by kindness and fortune.