Two Predictions

The Village by the Sea

On the sea was a village inhabited by fishermen. One of the fishermen had a daughter named Chandra. “She is the only girl we know with the right name!” remarked the villagers, for Chandra was exceptionally beautiful.

Young Love

Suraj was a young man in the village who had a deep affection for Chandra. As far as anyone knew, Chandra felt the same way about Suraj. Everyone believed that the two would marry when the time was right.

A Prophetic Visit

However, as luck would have it, one day a palmist visited the village. He examined Suraj’s palm and proclaimed, “You will marry the girl you love!” Suraj was filled with joy and that evening, he approached Chandra’s father to propose.

Heartbreak

”Suraj, I’m sorry, but there is no question of Chandra marrying you. A palmist has said this morning that Chandra is destined to become a queen,” Chandra’s father replied. Suraj left the village heartbroken and settled on an island, working only enough to sustain himself.

A Surprising Discovery

Months passed, and one day while fishing, he caught a fish and, upon cutting it in half, discovered a large piece of diamond inside. He decided to take the diamond to the king to sell it. Upon arriving at the court, he was shocked to see Chandra among the crowd.

A Twist of Fate

Suraj pushed his way through the throng and presented the diamond to Chandra. “So, Chandra, you are on your way to becoming a queen! Surely, you are about to marry the prince. Here is my humble gift for this special occasion!” he said.

New Beginnings

However, there was no prince to marry Chandra. The childless royal couple had adopted her as their daughter after offering her parents a substantial sum of money. The whimsical king then declared that whichever young man could present Chandra with the most precious gift would win her hand in marriage.

Love Triumphs

Suraj’s diamond was soon determined to be the most precious of all the gifts Chandra received. Before long, Suraj and Chandra were wed, and in due course, he became the king while she became the queen.

Wisdom of the Ages

“An elephant caught in a muddy pool is far less powerful than a jackal who is free.” – The Kural
“But if you seek safety.” – A Sufi saying
“Do not cultivate friendship with an elephant-owner if you do not own a shed big enough to host the elephant!” – A Sufi saying