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Book Name: The Earthen LampsPrevious     Next
 

That silent music caught us both. He was no longer unfamiliar to me. Even in him I was there. Then his stone-like inactivity came to an end, and his tears gave the news that he was melting. He was weeping and his entire body was trembling. The currents of what was weeping in his heart were touching the threads of his body. He kept on weeping, weeping, weeping; and then said: "I want to die. I am extremely poor and disappointed. I have absolutely nothing with me".

I remained silent for sometime more and then slowly told him a story. I said "Friend, I am reminded of a story, A young man told a beggar: 'God has taken away everything from me. I have no other course except death'."

Are you not the same young man?

That beggar told the young man: "I see a big hidden treasure with you. Will you sell it? If you sell it. you will gain everything and God will also be saved from bad name".

Are you or are you not the same young man, I do not know. But I am the same beggar and it appears as if the story is repeating itself.

The young man was surprised and may be you are also getting surprised. He said: "Treasure? I have not even a penny with me."

After this the beggar started laughing and said: "Come along. Let us go to the king. The king is very clever. He always keeps a deep eye on the hidden treasures. He will definitely purchase your treasure. Even in the past I have taken many a seller of the hidden treasures to him."

That young man was not able to understand. For him the entire talk of the beggar was a puzzle. Even then he started with me towards the palace of the king. On the way, the beggar told him: "There are a few things which should be settled in advance so that there should be no quarrel before the king. That king is the one who will not leave a thing, whatever its cost, if he likes it. Therefore, it is also necessary to know whether you are ready or not to sell that thing?"

That young man said: "What treasure? What things?"

The beggar said: "For instance, your eyes? What will you charge for them? I can get you upto Rs.50,000/- for them from the king? Is that amount sufficient? Or, like your heart and

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