Reward for Courage

The villagers of Kottur could not believe their ears. Kandaswamy had come back after spending a whole day and night in the jungle at the outskirts of the village. They praised his courage, and the zamindar of the village even thought of rewarding him in public. He sent for Kandaswamy.

When the servant reached Kandaswamy’s house, only his wife was present. The servant told her why the zamindar wished to meet him. “A reward?” she exclaimed, clearly surprised. “It should go to me, really. He lost all his earnings while gambling and came back penniless. I drove him away, asking him not to come here with an empty pocket. That’s how he went and hid in the jungle. I think he has gone in search of work. Maybe he’ll be back at night. Go and tell the zamindar that it is I who deserve the reward, not my husband.”

The servant conveyed to his master what Kandaswamy’s wife had said. He laughed aloud, replying, “She’s right. She had enough courage to send him to the jungle.”