The Vacillating Prince
The Night’s Descent
The night was dark, interrupted only by intermittent flashes of lightning. There was no sound except for the roar of thunder and the moaning howl of jackals, accompanied by the eerie laughter of spirits.
The Vampire’s Tale
King Vikram climbed a tree and brought down the corpse. As he continued his trek through the deserted cremation ground, the vampire possessing the corpse remarked, “O King, you are undoubtedly a brave man. However, bravery does not always align with decisiveness. Take the case of Amar, the vacillating prince of Avanti. Let me narrate an episode from his life. Listen attentively; a story should offer you some relief.”
The Wilds of Avanti
Long ago, the land of Avanti was encircled by deep forests. In a part of the forest at the frontier of the land lived a tribe of jungle-dwellers. They had no connection with the world outside and lived freely among the wild animals, adhering to their own laws and customs.
The tribe obeyed their chief as the people of Avanti obeyed their king.
Amar the Adventurous
The prince of Avanti, Amar, was passionate about hunting and adventure. He relished the thrill of venturing alone into the challenging depths of the forest. Strong and courageous, he could battle a tiger or wild boar single-handedly if necessary, and he had even tamed several tigers and lions.
A Meeting with the Princess
One day, while pursuing his prey, he entered an unfamiliar area of the forest, full of fruits and flowers with sweet brooks and rivulets flowing through it. Eager to explore, Prince Amar ventured deeper into the forest. By evening, he stumbled upon a tribal hamlet and was astonished to see a young girl playing with several tiger cubs. What intrigued him most was not just her bravery but her beauty, unadorned and dressed simply.
As she looked up, her eyes met Amar’s; she had never seen a man from outside her tribe, let alone a prince. Excited, she rushed to inform her people about the stranger, while Amar followed in curiosity. The girl was the daughter of the tribal chief, a princess in her own right. Soon, the hamlet was abuzz with people surrounding Amar and the tribal princess. The chief, amazed, came out to greet him.
The Proposal
“I am Prince Amar, the son of the King of Avanti,” he introduced himself, and the chief welcomed him warmly.
After a while, Amar expressed his desire to marry the tribal princess.
“You can marry her only if you fulfill a certain condition,” the chief replied.
“I am most willing to try,” said Amar confidently.
The Wrestling Challenge
The following morning, Amar was led to an open ground at the center of the hamlet where a crowd had gathered. A strong and fierce-looking man emerged from the crowd.
“O Prince! You must defeat this man in a wrestle to win my daughter’s hand,” the chief declared.
“But why? Is brute force the only virtue to be considered in a suitor?” Amar challenged.
“We cannot disregard our age-old custom. If you do not wish to test your strength against this man, you are free to leave,” replied the chief.
After pondering for a moment, Amar accepted the challenge. The wrestling match commenced.
The Outcome
Unfortunately, the ferocious man initially threw Amar down, earning applause from the crowd. The tribal princess clapped her hands as well.
Dazed for a moment, Amar realized that while his rival was strong, he lacked skill. When his opponent leaned closer, Amar seized the opportunity, sprang up, and tripped him, delivering a powerful blow to his chest that left him immobile, as though he were a broken pillar. Moments later, he was declared dead.
The crowd cheered Amar’s victory, and the princess clapped enthusiastically.
“Well done, Prince Amar! You are the victor. We must arrange for the marriage without delay,” the chief announced.
“Thank you, but I have changed my mind. I do not wish to marry your daughter,” Amar replied, to everyone’s shock.
The Unexpected Turn
Stunned, the crowd watched as Amar walked away, soon leaving the tribal hamlet behind. Before he could question their intentions, he was surrounded by armed tribal soldiers. Realizing the folly in fighting against so many, he paused.
At that moment, the tribal chief appeared, saying, “Before you leave, Prince Amar, I must tell you that the youth you wrestled and defeated was the one destined to marry my daughter. According to our custom, he had defeated all other suitors before you. That is why the wrestle was arranged.”
“You may go,” the chief concluded. The soldiers parted, giving way for Amar, who then turned back to the chief and said, “I am prepared to marry your daughter.”
The Conclusion
The chief’s face lit up with joy. The marriage was celebrated, and the prince left for Avanti, accompanied by his bride.
The vampire paused and challenged, “Tell me, O King Vikram, why did Amar initially refuse to marry the tribal princess despite proposing the marriage himself? Was it because she clapped when he was thrown down? Why did he change his mind and decide to marry her? Was he afraid of the tribal chief and his soldiers?”
King Vikram replied, “The prince lost interest when he realized that brute force was the sole quality needed to win the princess. He fought to avoid being seen as a coward, and the princess’s clapping had nothing to do with his choices—she clapped for both suitors. Amar’s change of heart occurred when he understood that the princess would remain unmarried otherwise. Since he had defeated the only suitor deemed worthy of marrying her, it became his duty to take her as his wife.”
No sooner had the king answered than the vampire, along with the corpse, vanished from sight!