The Lure of Halwa
The Reluctant Father
It won’t be easy for you to find another miser like Gangoo from our village. He was reluctant to arrange the marriage of his only child, Susheela, because that would mean spending money. Even if the marriage were to be performed in the most austere way, such as through an exchange of garlands, the garlands would still cost money, and the priest would demand a fee!
The Eligible Bridegroom
If you happen to know Bharat, Gangoo’s neighbor, you would agree with us that he was a fine young man and the most eligible bridegroom for Susheela. The poor fellow was eager to marry her and was the last person to demand any dowry. However, Gangoo showed no interest in the proposal. Secretly, he looked for a bridegroom who would pay him some money for marrying Susheela!
A Greedy Craving
One day, while passing through the bazaar, Gangoo saw a shop selling halwa. He stood in front of it, observing people buying and enjoying the sweet treat. He grew a strong desire to eat some himself but was unwilling to spend any money on it.
“I will prepare halwa myself and eat to my heart’s content. That would be much cheaper,” he thought. Yet, he was not prepared to share the delicacy with his wife and daughter. He bought the necessary ingredients and one fine morning told his wife, “I am going to the town; I shall not be back before nightfall.”
A Day in the Forest
He went into the forest to cook halwa, planning to spend the entire day there, indulging in the treat in three installments. While preparing the halwa, he revelled in the delicious smell of ghee. When the dish was finally ready, he found himself quite hungry.
An Unwanted Encounter
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. Four strong men appeared as if from nowhere. They lifted Gangoo and threw him aside, sitting down to finish the halwa. Only then did Gangoo remember that the forest was a known haunt of dacoits.
“No use giving you a little for tasting. That will only make you desire more. But we assure you that you have cooked well,” said the dacoits as they departed, thanking him for the meal.
The Shocking Return
By noon, Gangoo was awfully hungry and returned home, only to find his wife and daughter missing. With kind smiles, the neighbors informed him that Susheela was getting married to Bharat in the temple. Gangoo’s first impulse was to feel secure that the money he had saved was safe. However, he soon discovered that it was not; his wife had dug out the entire amount.
A Bitter Realization
He rushed to the temple, but the marriage had already taken place. His wife had bought new clothes for both the bride and the groom and had spent the surplus money on feeding the poor. Susheela and Bharat bowed to Gangoo, and he blessed them, muttering unconsciously, “O my halwa!”