The Abandoned Child

Unexpected Discovery

A poor man and his wife were traveling from one village to another when they stumbled upon an infant girl beside a road that passed through a forest. She had been left alone with a note that read: “Whoever takes this unlucky girl will grow lucky!”

The couple, who had no children of their own, felt compelled to help. The wife took the infant into her arms, and her husband did not object.

Nurturing the Child

Once their work was completed for the day, they returned home and nurtured the child to the best of their abilities. They bestowed all their love upon her and never let her out of their sight. However, it soon became apparent why the girl had been labeled as “unlucky.” This discovery was a great disappointment to the couple, but they tried to reconcile with the situation as best they could.

The Growing Family

In due course, the couple had children of their own, which made the pangs of poverty feel even more acute. The blind girl, once a source of joy, became a constant burden. They realized she would not be able to help them and felt obliged to care for her forever. Their love for the blind girl began to weaken, and she came to seem more like a curse than a blessing.

Contemplating Abandonment

Desperate to relieve themselves of the burden, they tried to find another childless couple who would adopt her. Unfortunately, no one was willing to take in a blind girl. One day, in a fit of frustration, the man decided to take the girl out of his house. “I shall leave her in a public place where others may see her. Surely someone will take pity on her and bring her home,” he thought.

The River Ghat

He led the girl to a river ghat. That night, he shared some food with her before they both fell asleep. At dawn, he woke up to see the girl still sleeping peacefully. After taking one last look at her, he wiped his eyes and began to walk back home.

A Moment of Remorse

When the girl eventually woke up, she called out for her foster father. When there was no response, she assumed he had gone to fetch food for her and began playing with the pebbles nearby. Many people crossed the river ghat, yet none took any notice of her.

As the man walked homeward, his heart filled with remorse. The innocent face of the girl haunted him. “What must she be doing now? Is she crying? Does she think I have abandoned her?” he wondered.

Fortune Revealed

Suddenly, he turned and ran back to the ghat. To his relief, he found the girl playing happily with pebbles. When she heard his voice, she smiled and showed him what was in her hands. The man, filled with shock and delight, discovered that the “unlucky” girl was holding five pieces of diamonds!

Indeed, she had brought luck to him!