The Prisoner in the Rock Castle
Subir’s Mission
Subir was an officer on a large merchant ship. One day, as the ship was returning to its native harbor, the captain called Subir and said, “Do you see the island over there? I want you to sail there in a boat because our ship cannot anchor on its shore. Look at the row of rocks. Below the tallest one, a man will be waiting for you. He will give you a letter for me.”
As an obedient lieutenant, Subir sailed to the island alone at night, retrieved the letter, and returned to the ship.
A Sudden Tragedy
The captain was very pleased with Subir, but soon fell gravely ill. He passed away even before the ship reached the harbor. However, shortly before his death, he handed two letters to Subir—one meant for the ship’s owner and the other for a young man Subir did not know.
Subir’s colleague, Jai, whispered, “Let us read the letters!”
“No. That would be treacherous,” Subir replied. The two argued for a long while, and Jai threatened, saying, “One night, you secretly visited an island where rebels conspire against our king. If you don’t show me the letters, I’ll report you as an accomplice.”
“Do whatever you like,” Subir retorted. “I cannot betray my late captain. It was his strict instruction not to read those letters.”
New Responsibilities
As soon as the ship reached harbor, Subir met the ship’s owner, informed him of the captain’s death, and delivered the captain’s letter. The captain’s final message advised appointing Subir as the new captain of the ship. The owner agreed, much to Jai’s dismay, who felt he deserved the position. Nonetheless, the owner stood firm in his decision. Overjoyed, Subir returned home.
“My son, it is time for you to get married. Meet Sushila’s father and finalize the date for the ceremony,” his father urged.
Unexpected Challenges
Subir was eager to marry Sushila, the daughter of a landlord. He promptly visited her home, and the wedding date was set. However, as he left Sushila’s house, a young man named Chaman approached him, saying, “To be frank, I wish to marry Sushila. If you back out, I’ll give you a thousand gold mohurs.”
“I would consider backing out only if I knew Sushila desires to marry you,” Subir replied.
“What is the value of Sushila’s wish? Her father will choose a husband for her,” Chaman argued, revealing he was the son of a wealthy merchant.
“I’m afraid I cannot comply,” Subir said firmly.
The Arrest
A day before the wedding, Subir was arrested by the king’s police and brought before the minister. “I hear you have been charged with colluding with rebels!” the minister exclaimed.
“All I did was bring a letter from an island at my captain’s order,” Subir explained.
“Where is the letter?” inquired the minister.
Subir remained silent. Meanwhile, his house was searched, and the bag he had used on the ship was presented as evidence.
He opened a letter and began to read it, appearing pale and troubled. “Have you read this letter? Do you know who it is addressed to?” he asked.
“No. I was instructed to deliver it to a young man waiting for me at a specific location on a certain date,” Subir clarified.
Life in Captivity
The minister immediately burned the letter and ordered Subir taken away.
Subir was taken to a deserted castle on a rock two furlongs from the mainland. He was imprisoned in a dark cell with only one door, and the guards brought him food and drink once a day.
Weeks passed, and Subir realized he was destined to die in that dungeon. Desperate, he examined the walls closely. One stone slab appeared loose. After shaking it for several days, he finally succeeded in removing it.
Finding an Ally
Though disappointing, the opening led to another cabin rather than the sea. Gathering his courage, Subir crawled into the other room and found an old prisoner lying sick on the floor.
They became friends, and the old man would tell Subir stories every day. “I wonder who could have falsely accused me,” Subir mused one day.
“There may be three villains involved,” replied the old man.
“How so?” Subir asked.
“Jai and Chaman are the first two. The third might be the minister himself. Why did he burn the letter instead of setting a trap for the young man supposed to receive it? I suspect the letter was addressed to someone dear to the minister. Thinking you might have read it, he decided to remove you from the scene,” the old man explained.
A Daring Plan
Days later, the old man fell gravely ill. “My son, I’m going to die. You’ve been my only joy in these last days. Listen carefully. After my death, you will find a golden opportunity to escape. After your escape, go to the rock island to the north. Dig at the center of the third cave from the south; you will find treasure.”
With weakened voice, the old man spoke, but Subir could not comprehend all he said. An hour later, the old man passed away.
Subir waited, reflecting on the old man’s words regarding his escape. When the guards discovered the old man’s death, they rolled his body in a mat and left to prepare a boat.
Escaping the Castle
An idea struck Subir. He switched the dead body into his own cell and wrapped himself in the mat.
The guards carried him away in the boat. After some time, they tossed the wrapped body into the sea. Once night fell, Subir wriggled free and swam in the darkness. He realized he had been left close to the rock island.
Reaching the island, he found the third cave and began to search for buried treasure. After some time, he was successful. He fed on fruits and roots, waiting all day. As evening approached, he swam to the mainland, carrying only a piece of gold. He went to his childhood friend, a barber, for a haircut and new clothes before proceeding to meet Sushila.
The Truth Revealed
Thanks to his discretion, Sushila had refused to marry Chaman or anyone else. Subir sought an audience with the king through Sushila’s father. Upon meeting, he recounted the tribulations he had faced.
The king advised him to stay in disguise for a few days. An investigation revealed that the letter Subir had delivered was actually meant for the minister’s son, who had joined the conspiracy to assassinate the king, with hopes of becoming king himself.
The plot was foiled, the conspirators were punished, and Subir was appointed as the new minister—after he had a chance to marry Sushila and retrieve the treasure from the cave on the rock island.