A Midnight Meeting
A whimsical encounter under the moonlit sky: The washerman Nilmani faces the king, disguised as a hermit, revealing the folly of appearances and perspectives in a captivating South Indian landscape.
Niinani was the king’s washerman, often responsible for the royal garments. At night, he had a habit of donning these royal clothes and taking leisurely strolls through the deserted city streets. Occasionally, someone would mistake him for a royal figure and offer a salute, which delighted Nilmani immensely.
One day, as Nilmani was walking, a stranger resembling a hermit passed by. The man cast a stern look at him but showed no respect. This disrespect infuriated Nilmani. He challenged the stranger, saying, “You must be a burglar in the guise of a holy man. Tell me, who are you?”
“Who are you?” the holy man responded. “Can’t you see? I’m the king!” Nilmani retorted. “I see!” the stranger replied, casting another stern look before continuing on his way. Suddenly, it dawned on Nilmani that this stranger was none other than the king himself in disguise. Trembling with fear, he realized he needed to act quickly to save himself from the king’s wrath.
Nilmani fell at the king’s feet and exclaimed, “O holy man, you are endowed with divine vision!” “What made you think so?” the king asked. “I pretended to be the king. Anyone else would have looked awe-struck, but you did not care. That means you could see that I am only the king’s washerman, enjoying a bit of fun alone at night!” Nilmani confessed.
The king smiled at this revelation and walked away, leaving Nilmani to ponder the unexpected encounter.