Cleverer of The Two
Introduction
Damodar always accused his wife, Lakshmi, of being lazy. No doubt, Lakshmi had a habit of falling asleep whenever she got the chance. However, in response to her husband’s accusations, she replied, “If I can complete all the household chores promptly, what harm is there in sleeping away the time I save? Am I wasting time by gossiping with the neighboring women?”
Constant Discontent
Despite her reasoning, Damodar was never satisfied with Lakshmi’s answers. “Even if you were half as active and alert as I am, we could prosper much faster than all the other villagers,” he frequently observed.
The Need for a Buffalo
One day, they decided it was necessary to purchase a buffalo. They had accumulated five hundred rupees in cash. A few miles away from their village was a weekly fair where healthy buffaloes were available for purchase. Damodar proposed they go a day early to ensure they could buy the best buffalo before any other buyers arrived.
Concerns About Security
“Two hundred and fifty rupees should be enough to buy a buffalo. I do not want to carry all our cash with me. My fear is that if I leave half at home, you will lose it to some cheat or thief, foolish and lazy that you are!” said Damodar.
“Then carry the entire cash with you,” Lakshmi suggested.
“I should, but it is not safe to carry a large sum of money while wandering among strangers. I will take only half, but make sure the other half is safe,” warned Damodar.
The Burglary
A burglar had been listening to their conversation. It was almost evening when Damodar left home. Soon after, as night fell, the burglar knocked softly on the door. By then, Lakshmi was already in bed. When there was no response, the burglar assumed she had fallen asleep, given her husband’s description of her laziness.
He then began digging a hole in the wall of the house. When the hole was large enough, he pushed his head through—but bang! A heavy blow struck him on the head, and he swooned away. Lakshmi dragged him inside, locked the door, and secured him in a room. Naturally, she had been awake ever since the burglar knocked on the door. She correctly guessed what was happening when she heard the digging. Sitting atop a false roof used for storage, she held a strong stick at the ready.
A Hero’s Welcome
In the morning, Lakshmi called the villagers and handed the burglar over to them, earning the praise of all. Meanwhile, Damodar spent the night at an inn near the fair, watching every buffalo that arrived for sale.
The Missed Opportunity
Finally, around noon, he found a healthy, young buffalo he was eager to buy. “What price do you expect for this?” he asked the seller. “Three hundred rupees,” came the reply. Damodar offered to buy it for two hundred rupees and then raised his offer to two hundred and fifty, but the seller stated firmly, “I will not sell it for a paisa less than three hundred rupees.”
Disappointed, Damodar wandered the fair, looking at other buffaloes, but none compared to the one he wanted. He blamed himself for not bringing more money. Just then, an old man approached him and said, “I see you are particularly fond of that buffalo. It was mine, but I had to surrender it to that seller due to an unpaid debt. However, I would be glad if you bought it since I know you will care for it.”
“But I can’t,” Damodar grumbled. “The seller refuses to accept less than three hundred rupees, and I can only afford two hundred and fifty.”
The Deceit
The stranger thought for a moment before saying, “All right. Give me whatever you have. I will convince him to accept that amount.” With hope, Damodar handed over his money, but when he waited for the man to return, he soon disappeared into the crowd. An hour passed, and he grew anxious. When he approached the buffalo seller to inquire about the old man, he realized he had been swindled. The seller knew nothing of the old man’s existence!
A Lesson Learned
Damodar searched the fair until the last person left, but he never saw the old man again. When he finally returned home, he heard about Lakshmi’s encounter with the burglar. He mumbled to himself, “Lakshmi may be lazy, but she is clever. I may not be lazy, but I am a fool!” From that day forward, he no longer boasted about his own alertness in front of his wife.