A Widow with Wit

There once lived a farmer’s daughter called Kali in the village of Singampatti. She became a widow at a young age and had to support her only son, Mari. This peasant woman was shrewd and clever, always having the upper hand in every situation.

A Voyage for a Cow

One day, Kali set off to the neighboring village of Panaimarappatti with her son to buy a milch cow. Meenakshi, a neighbor, requested Kali to fetch her some soapnut powder from her mother’s house in Panaimarappatti. Kali assented to her bidding.

Trick on the Road

The journey proved to be long and exhausting under the relentless sun. On their way, they encountered a banana seller who tried to exploit them by offering bananas at an exorbitant price. Kali, refusing to be swindled, crafted a plan that led the banana seller to abandon his wares out of fright. This enabled Kali and Mari, as well as some nearby farm workers, to enjoy the bananas for free.

A Deal with Deceit

On reaching Panaimarappatti, they met a man named Murugayyan who dealt in selling cows to the farmers. Intrigued by the offer of a cow that promised abundant milk, Kali decided to purchase it. However, Murugayyan noticed the remaining money in Kali’s possession and planned to steal it during the night. Alert and cunning as always, Kali overheard this plan and outwitted him by hiding the money.

A Spirited Tussle and a Successful Return

Next, Kali craftily led Murugayyan’s cows away, prompting him and his wife to chase after them. This diversion allowed her to take back her money from Murugayyan’s chest. The next day, she paid Murugayyan for the cow from the money he had seen in her bag, efficiently hiding the rest in her saree.

A Sweet Surprise

Before heading back to her village, Kali went to Meenakshi’s mother for the soapnut powder for Meenakshi. To her surprise, the tin contained rows of sweets instead. Realizing the ‘soapnut powder’ was a code for sweets, Kali and Mari enjoyed the treats on their way home and replaced the sweets in the tin with actual soapnut powder.

A Resourceful Conclusion

Back in Singampatti, Kali delivered the tin to an unsuspecting Meenakshi, who was left disappointed by the scent of soapnut powder. Thus, Kali maintained her resourcefulness and wit till the end, always staying ahead of the game.