Tejimala: A Tale of Courage and Transformation

A Cruel Stepmother and a Dutiful Stepdaughter

Once upon a time, there lived a rich merchant in a village in Assam. He had a beautiful daughter called Tejimala. Tejimala’s mother had died when she was just a baby, and her father had remarried. Her stepmother was a cruel and wicked woman who despised Tejimala. Regardless of her stepmother’s cruelty, Tejimala remained sweet and good. She obeyed and served her, carrying out every task diligently, whether it was sweeping the house, cleaning the pots and vessels or gathering firewood.

Tejimala’s father was a busy businessman who made frequent long journeys to sell his goods. Due to his absences, Tejimala bore the brunt of her vicious stepmother’s torment without any respite.

A Prospective Bridegroom and a Cruel Twist of Fate

As Tejimala blossomed into a beautiful woman, her father embarked on a search for a suitable husband for her. After extensive travels, he found a handsome young man. However, before the marriage, he felt that the young man needed some worldly experience. Therefore, he took him along on one of his long business journeys. They travelled across countries and explored great cities. Meanwhile, Tejimala was left at the mercy of her ruthless stepmother.

The stepmother increased Tejimala’s workload and mistreated her even further when they were alone. Tejimala was forced to wear rags, was given insufficient food, and endured physical abuse. Despite these trials, she faced her sufferings bravely without uttering a word against her stepmother.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Tejimala’s life was cruelly snuffed out by her stepmother during a paddy husking task gone horribly wrong. Feigning grief, the stepmother convinced the neighbours that Tejimala’s death was an accident, and the poor girl was buried in the garden.

Reincarnation and Justice

After a few days, a creeper grew over Tejimala’s grave, bearing many giant pumpkins. Stories quickly spread when a voice emanating from the pumpkin warned a passerby from plucking it, claiming to be Tejimala. Disturbed, the stepmother destroyed the vine, only for a chilli plant to spring up a short time after, again repelling people with the same ghostly voice. In fear, the stepmother discarded the chilli plant into the river, where it transformed into a beautiful lotus.

The lotus, not missing the chance to reveal her truth to her returning father and the young man, confessed her identity and her stepmother’s treachery. On hearing Tejimala’s suffering, the father was shocked and heartbroken. With the power of her father’s love, Tejimala once more transformed, this time back into her human form. Returning home, the father banished the wicked stepmother. Tejimala ultimately married the young man, and they lived happily ever after.