The Secret Treasure

Introduction

Long ago, in the city of Kancheepuram, there lived a merchant named Ambar. He had three sons, the eldest of whom was the brightest. One day, the merchant died suddenly, and the burden of providing for the family fell on the frail shoulders of Meena, the boys’ mother. She managed to eke out a living somehow. When Ganesh, the eldest son, reached manhood, she entrusted the care of the family to him and arranged a marriage for him with a comely girl from the same city.

A Mother’s Warning

At the time Meena became a grandmother to Ganesh’s baby daughter, Uma, she fell severely ill and realized that her end was near. Summoning Ganesh to her bedside, the other sons thought their mother was going to reveal a great secret to him. They stood just outside the room, trying to overhear the conversation.

In a feeble voice, Meena said to Ganesh, “Son, underneath the stone platform in the Lord’s room lie buried a few jars full of gold coins. But don’t touch that treasure on any account. Many in our family have tried to claim it, but they all died. You must warn your children never to touch that treasure. There is a curse on it.”

The Truth Behind the Curse

Intrigued, Ganesh asked, “Mother, what is the reason for this curse?” Meena replied, “Long ago, a woman in our family discovered this treasure. Unfortunately, before she could enjoy it, she fell ill and was near death. She vowed that she would be reborn to enjoy the treasure, and if anyone touched it before that, doom would strike them.”

Ganesh pondered over his mother’s words long after she passed away, resolving never to touch the treasure for fear of the curse. However, his brothers, dim-witted as they were, longed to possess the treasure unbeknownst to Ganesh. One day, Bhupathi, the second son, sneaked into the puja room and began digging into the cement platform with a pickaxe. The noise awakened Ganesh, who rushed in just in time to see Bhupathi digging up the floor where the jars of gold lay hidden.

The Tragic Consequences

As Ganesh opened his mouth to shout a warning, it was too late. Bhupathi, crazed with greed, plunged his hand into the hole he had made, only to recoil with a loud cry of pain as a black snake glided out of the hole and slithered away. Before Ganesh’s horrified eyes, Bhupathi writhed in agony and died.

After this tragic incident, Ganesh sealed the hole and warned his other brother, Raghupathi, never to open it. However, Raghupathi, tormented by greed, couldn’t resist and secretly dug into the platform one night while Ganesh was away. His actions caused a few loose bricks to fall, killing him instantly.

A Daughter’s Determination

When Ganesh returned home and discovered the horrible fate of his brothers, he was horrified. From that day forward, he resolved never to go near the treasure and even built a high wall around it. Years later, Uma grew into a beautiful maiden, and Ganesh sought a suitable bridegroom for her.

One day, while fetching water from a nearby stream, Uma encountered a handsome young man named Chandrakanth, son of a wealthy merchant. Their friendship blossomed into love, but Ganesh learned that Chandrakanth’s father demanded a dowry of a thousand gold pieces.

The Curse Lifted

Unable to gather such wealth, Ganesh returned home crestfallen. Uma was heartbroken, spending sleepless nights lamenting her fate. One night, she dreamt of digging out the gold beneath the cement platform. When she told Ganesh, he forbade her to pursue it due to the curse that had already claimed two lives in their family.

Desperate to marry Chandrakanth, Uma decided to dig for the gold, revealing her determination to her father. Despite his attempts to reason with her, she refused to listen and armed herself with a pickaxe. To her astonishment, when she unearthed the gold, she remained unharmed. Ganesh, fearful of witnessing tragedy again, closed his eyes, but upon opening them, he found Uma standing with the gold in her hands, realizing that the curse had been lifted.

A Joyous Union

Finally understanding that the rightful owner had returned to claim the treasure, Ganesh celebrated the marriage of Uma and Chandrakanth on an auspicious day. The young couple lived happily ever after, with love ultimately triumphing over greed and despair.