Short story - Interpretation

 Short stories - Interpretation

This is a story from India. I was told this story about 40 years ago, for some reason it stuck in my mind. I'm trying to relay it as best I can. The story was told to me by a lawyer who had heard it from a judge who told this tale in the context of interpreting the law. The title 'Interpretation' has been given by myself. 

This is a story from the olden times. A time before the internet, telephones and email. Time passed slowly in such times and people led very different lives to how things are today.

In a village in India there was a farmer who lived with his wife. They were recently married and very happy together. The farmer one day got word that his brother who lived in a neighbouring village a few miles away was taken ill. The farmer was concerned and said to his wife "I must visit my brother in his time of need, I will set out today - the journey should take 2 days and I should be back in about a week or 10 days at most". His wife was most understanding. She packed him some food for the way. He set out that morning as planned. The wife remained busy while the husband was away, she had plenty to do when it came to tending the fields and their cows. In the evening she would visit some of the women in the neighbourhood and have dinner with them. 

Anyway, a week passed quickly and so did ten days. The wife now was getting slightly anxious as there was no word about the husband and he did say he would be back in "ten days at most". She was worried he had been attacked by animals in the forest or had someone tried to steal from him while he was enroute to the brothers house. No, that cant be possible, he took the busy road and travelled mostly by day. That was just not possible. 

Another week passed. The wife was now getting quite upset. She spoke to her neighbour and told her about her predicament. The neighbor was also concerned and said - "Dont worry Lata, go to Harivansh, he has great knowledge of astrology. Tell him your story, he will no doubt be able to consult the stars and find out what is going on".

Lata took her neighbours advice. After all what harm could come from consulting the astrologer? Anyway her husband is obviously got delayed for a good reason. All the visit to the astrologer would do is to help set her mind at rest. 

Lata went back to her house to take some money to pay the astrologer. Before setting out she felt thirsty but there was no water in the house. She went to the well and started to draw some water. While she was pulling the rope to draw water - an unusual thing happened. The rope that was attached to the vessel, snapped and sent the vessel crashing down to the well. Lata broke down and sobbed, this had never happened to her before. The snapping of the rope had led to something triggering in her mind that this was a bad omen. Still thirsty, she decided to hurry to the astrologer, Harivansh.

Harivansh was not very old, he was middle aged but had a large greying beard which made him look somewhat avuncular and distinguished. Lata knocked at his door and his wife opened it. On seeing Lata's state, she could tell something was wrong and she fetched her husband in a hurry. She brought Lata some tea and tried to console her. Lata told Harivansh the story from the beginning, the husbands trip to his brothers house. How it had now been over 3 weeks now that Dhanpat had left. The snapping of the rope in the well. And how the crow had been cawing louder than usual when she woke this morning. 

Harivansh pondered over this for some time and then with a solemn look said "I'm afraid I dont have good news for you. The rope in this case signifies the ties between the husband and wife. The rope breaking is not a good sign at all. I'm afraid something terrible has befallen your husband. I'm afraid he may either be dead... In any case he will not be coming back again."

Lata was in a state of shock and had to be accompanied back home by Harivansh and his wife. She barely ate that night or the next morning. Harivansh told her neighbour to check up on her as he was concerned about her. 

Lata's neighbour seemed not to care too much about all that had happened. She asked Lata to have her breakfast and said "What does Harivansh know anyway. That old fool knows nothing. It was my mistake, I should have never sent you to over to him. Dont you worry, everything will be fine. I have an idea, go to the priest Dayaram - he is a far superior astrologer and I cant for the life of me understand why I didn't send you to him in the first instance. This is a problem that only Dayaram can solve. Not only will he tell you where your husband is, when he is coming back and whatever puja you need to do in order to get him back".

After a lot of coaxing, Lata did manage to eat something. She was hungry and feeling a little better now after the chat with her neighbour that morning. She ate quickly and said she will head to the temple immediately.

Dayaram had come from a long line of priests. He lived in a hut next to the temple. It was early morning and the temple gates were still not open. Dayaram had just woken up and was tending to his cows when Lata, rather anxious and hurried came and knocked at his door. Dayaram was unfazed by the intrusion. Villagers often came to him at odd hours seeking his advice. He asked Lata to sit down and tell him the problem. Lata told him that her husband was missing for 3 weeks, the rope snapping when drawing water from the well. Dayaram did not take much time to reply - he said the rope snapping is indeed an omen but nothing to worry about. The water in the bucket signifies your husband. The water had parted from the well but got reunited with the water in the well soon after as soon as the rope snapped. This can only mean your husband is not only alive and well but is on his way back right at this moment. Go back home and wait for him. He should be back soon.

Lata went back home, very happy after consulting Dayaram. She thought of making some kheer (rice pudding) as that was her husbands favourite sweet. 

Lata's husband came back home the next day. He had fallen ill while at his brothers house hence got delayed. Lata quickly forgot about all the astrologers and their advice and husband and wife went back to their lives as farmers.