The Tale Of The Wretched Curse And The Plant of Prosperity
Once upon a time, there lived a powerful king by the name of Kamran who never lost any battle. His reputation was widespread not only for his uninterrupted victories in the battlefield but also for being a just ruler and an adept administrator. So needless to say, Dustara—Kamran's kingdom—thrived under his governance and he—being the bountiful sire that he was—made sure that none of his subjects ever suffered poverty.
Used to nothing but abundance and good fortune, one morning—when the cloudless sky was inexplicably grey, way past the hour of sunrise—Kamran and his subjects were appalled to discover that all crops cultivated throughout the length and breadth of Dustara had withered and died mysteriously overnight.
Days passed but the sky remained relentlessly grey; bereft of sunlight there was no hope of cultivation.
And then one day the hunters and fishermen of his kingdom came weeping to Kamran that the once plentiful game and fishes in their forests and lakes were now gone without a trace. Seeing the brave men of his country in such a vulnerable state, the tall, burly, ebullient king was overcome with grief.
He floundered not knowing how to save Dustara and spent all his time, locked in his study, devouring the parchments containing knowledge on all possible branches to get insights into the unusual phenomenon wreaking havoc on his kingdom.
Several days later, when the still clueless king was in a world of pain feeling impotent, his royal advisor—a wise, balding septuagenarian—who knew that some supernatural force was the reason for their plight, suggested that they hasten to a village about a month’s travel away, for he’d just learnt that there lived a young girl who was widely believed to be the personification of good luck.
He floundered not knowing how to save Dustara and spent all his time, locked in his study, devouring the parchments containing knowledge on all possible branches to get insights into the unusual phenomenon wreaking havoc on his kingdom.
Several days later, when the still clueless king was in a world of pain feeling impotent, his royal advisor—a wise, balding septuagenarian—who knew that some supernatural force was the reason for their plight, suggested that they hasten to a village about a month’s travel away, for he’d just learnt that there lived a young girl who was widely believed to be the personification of good luck.
Kamran who was almost at his wit's end agreed immediately and so, off they went, galloping day and night, the two men accompanied by a handful of the king’s most trusted soldiers to bring the girl to their country.
However, upon meeting, the young girl—beautiful as the sunrise—refused to leave her place of birth saying she was destined to lead her entire life in her birth place and that she would not be of any use to them if she were to be moved out of her homeland.
She then looked squarely at the distressed king and warned him that he had unwittingly led a malevolent evil to his kingdom and that it will soon turn everything to ashes.
Kamran was aghast to hear that he was directly responsible for the suffering of his people and asked the young girl to help him understand how he had done so.
“When you were on your way back, the last time you went to battle, you and your soldiers stopped to spend the night in the middle of a forest. You woke up, your throat and mouth parched; everyone else was asleep and there was no water to drink nearby. So you went looking for water and you stepped on an evil curse that had been placed there by a dying old man, in a desperate attempt to take revenge on the woodcutter who had broken his promise to marry the old man’s elder daughter thereby leading her to die of broken heart. The moment you stepped on it, the curse latched onto you,” the young girl narrated as though she had bore witness to the happenings with her own eyes.
On hearing this account, Kamran's soldiers hung their head in guilt for falling asleep as a group and failing in their responsibility to serve and guard their king.
Kamran on the other hand, for a moment forgot about his unfortunate situation and his heart went out to the poor old man and his daughter's souls.
"What happened to that woodcutter then?" He asked the girl.
"He lives without a worry in this world."
Kamran made a silent vow to the Heavens above that he would personally avenge the deaths of the old man and his daughter.
Kamran on the other hand, for a moment forgot about his unfortunate situation and his heart went out to the poor old man and his daughter's souls.
"What happened to that woodcutter then?" He asked the girl.
"He lives without a worry in this world."
Kamran made a silent vow to the Heavens above that he would personally avenge the deaths of the old man and his daughter.
"What can we do to break that curse?" The royal advisor, whose only thoughts were about the future of their kingdom, asked.
“Yes. Please help us. I’m willing to do anything to save my people from this wretched fate.” Kamran’s plea was impassioned enough to melt even rocks.
“Find the plant of prosperity and plant it in your land and you shall be saved from your plight.” The young girl replied.
Neither the king nor his men had ever heard of such a plant before. The girl knew this of course and was absolutely delighted for a chance to sing the praises of the 'Wonder Plant'.
“It’s a plant that is often mistaken for a tree. It symbolises resilience for even if its trunk, is completely cut off, it will sprout right back up in a short while. No matter how many times one may try, it never gives up its zest for life. Plant just one of them and you will soon find a whole grove that grew all by itself from the roots of the one you planted. It is the embodiment of the idea that life finds its own way. And, the plant serves us in as many way as possible. You see, there isn't a part of it that's not useful. It truly is Mother Nature's gift to mankind."
The girl spoke with such animation that her listener's feet literally began to itch with the urgency to start hunting for that plant that very instant.
“When you find one, cut off its stem along with its roots—for its through planting their roots that one can grow that tree—and take the whole thing back to your kingdom. But, be warned. You must go alone on this quest; the others must go back to your kingdom. And you must go as a commoner, not as a king."
This condition made everyone uneasy. While the royal advisor and the soldiers were afraid for their king's safety, Kamran in turn feared for Dustara.
Their fear did not escape the gifted young girl. And she quickly assured Kamran that his kingdom will not come to any harm in his absence. "The evil never leaves your side so when you go alone the evil would accompany you and it won't harm anyone else or your land." Kamran now understood that the clever girl had asked him to go alone to save further loss or harm coming to his people. What he did not know was that there was another very important reason behind that condition too.
As for the others' worry, she went inside her home and returned back with a red string made of thin wool thread. She asked Kamran to tie it around his right wrist and cautioned him that the string shouldn't be removed or lost until his mission is complete.
Once their king had the string securely tied to his wrist, the royal advisor and his soldiers felt reassured.
Without further delay, everybody thanked the young girl and began their respective journey.
Regardless of the various obstacles in his way, Kamran travelled far and wide in his pursuit and finally found the plant. The mere sight of the plants—which actually did look like trees—brought such a soaring lightheartedness to his chest that he had to firmly remind himself that he had finished only one half of the task. Although, he was in a hurry to break the curse, he decided to spend two more days in that country to collect as much information as he could about the 'Wonder Plant'.
He learnt that what looked like the trunk wasn't actually a stem but was in fact tightly wound leaf sheaths. He also observed and quickly learnt how people used the various parts of the plant. He couldn't help but marvel at every bit of information.
At the end of two days, brimming with hope and new found inner strength, he cut a plant, took what was required and began his journey back home.
That night, while he was asleep under a huge Neem tree, a man who had his face covered with a huge white cloth tried to snatch the red string off of Kamran's wrist. Kamran awoke in an instant and a brief fight ensued. The king managed to subdue his assailant without breaking a sweat and handed him over to the village authorities the next morning before continuing his return journey.
Little did he know that the thief who had attacked him was none other than the woodcutter whom the old man had wanted to take revenge upon! That night, the little enchantment that the little girl had secretly placed upon the red string before offering it to Kamran had made the thread look like a bracelet made of sparkling rubies to the eyes of the woodcutter who had come there to sleep in his usual spot, tempting him to steal the string. During the following fight they had both suffered minor cuts and Kamran's blood had trickled into the woodcutter's open wound thereby transferring the curse from his body to the latter's.
Now, if Kamran hadn't been alone, none of his guards would not have slept a wink and the woodcutter would have never dared approach him.
All Kamran knew was that he had followed the girl's instructions and just like she'd assured, the ill fate gripping him and Dustara was now gone and all was well again.
The End
Author's Note:
This is my first attempt at writing a folklore style tale; it's the genre that I began my reading journey with and I always have a penchant for it. The plant that I'm referring to in this tale is (well, I'm sure you guessed it already)Banana plant. I hope you enjoyed reading this tale and if you have something to say, please comment away!
The girl spoke with such animation that her listener's feet literally began to itch with the urgency to start hunting for that plant that very instant.
“When you find one, cut off its stem along with its roots—for its through planting their roots that one can grow that tree—and take the whole thing back to your kingdom. But, be warned. You must go alone on this quest; the others must go back to your kingdom. And you must go as a commoner, not as a king."
This condition made everyone uneasy. While the royal advisor and the soldiers were afraid for their king's safety, Kamran in turn feared for Dustara.
Their fear did not escape the gifted young girl. And she quickly assured Kamran that his kingdom will not come to any harm in his absence. "The evil never leaves your side so when you go alone the evil would accompany you and it won't harm anyone else or your land." Kamran now understood that the clever girl had asked him to go alone to save further loss or harm coming to his people. What he did not know was that there was another very important reason behind that condition too.
As for the others' worry, she went inside her home and returned back with a red string made of thin wool thread. She asked Kamran to tie it around his right wrist and cautioned him that the string shouldn't be removed or lost until his mission is complete.
Once their king had the string securely tied to his wrist, the royal advisor and his soldiers felt reassured.
Without further delay, everybody thanked the young girl and began their respective journey.
Regardless of the various obstacles in his way, Kamran travelled far and wide in his pursuit and finally found the plant. The mere sight of the plants—which actually did look like trees—brought such a soaring lightheartedness to his chest that he had to firmly remind himself that he had finished only one half of the task. Although, he was in a hurry to break the curse, he decided to spend two more days in that country to collect as much information as he could about the 'Wonder Plant'.
He learnt that what looked like the trunk wasn't actually a stem but was in fact tightly wound leaf sheaths. He also observed and quickly learnt how people used the various parts of the plant. He couldn't help but marvel at every bit of information.
At the end of two days, brimming with hope and new found inner strength, he cut a plant, took what was required and began his journey back home.
That night, while he was asleep under a huge Neem tree, a man who had his face covered with a huge white cloth tried to snatch the red string off of Kamran's wrist. Kamran awoke in an instant and a brief fight ensued. The king managed to subdue his assailant without breaking a sweat and handed him over to the village authorities the next morning before continuing his return journey.
Little did he know that the thief who had attacked him was none other than the woodcutter whom the old man had wanted to take revenge upon! That night, the little enchantment that the little girl had secretly placed upon the red string before offering it to Kamran had made the thread look like a bracelet made of sparkling rubies to the eyes of the woodcutter who had come there to sleep in his usual spot, tempting him to steal the string. During the following fight they had both suffered minor cuts and Kamran's blood had trickled into the woodcutter's open wound thereby transferring the curse from his body to the latter's.
Now, if Kamran hadn't been alone, none of his guards would not have slept a wink and the woodcutter would have never dared approach him.
All Kamran knew was that he had followed the girl's instructions and just like she'd assured, the ill fate gripping him and Dustara was now gone and all was well again.
The End
Author's Note:
This is my first attempt at writing a folklore style tale; it's the genre that I began my reading journey with and I always have a penchant for it. The plant that I'm referring to in this tale is (well, I'm sure you guessed it already)Banana plant. I hope you enjoyed reading this tale and if you have something to say, please comment away!
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