The Sandalwood Doll

The cremation ground presented an eerie spectacleon that dark night. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, and it was drizzling intermittently. The pitch darkness was relieved only by occasional flashes o flightning that lit up the sombre scene, causingan eerie dance of jerky shadows in the cremation ground. Occasionally, ajackal's spine-chilling howl or the blood curdling laughter of some invisible evilspirit cut into the silence that hung like as hroud over the area. Altogether, it was ascene that would strike terror into the bravest heart. But nothing could daunt the intrepid King Vikram. Once again, he made his way to the gnarled tree from which the ancient corpse was hanging. Bones crunched under his feet,and a screeching ghost rose from the dust inshuddering frenzy as he marched determinedly a head.Oblivious to everything but the mission at hand, he brought the hanging corpse down by cutting the rope withhis sword.

Slinging it astride his shoulder, he had just begun his return journey when the vampire that possessed the corpse said, "O king! To succeed in one's mission, one needs not only perseverance and the will to workhard (both of which you seem to possess in abundance),but also luck on one's side. However, it is occasionally seen that some people, despite having all the three, soon after achieving their mission foolishly throw away that very thing which they had slogged to attain! I hope you do not do the same. As an example, let me tell you the story of Dileep of Saketpuri."

The tale the vampire narrated went as follows.

Dileep was the son of a farmer of Saketpuri -a village that was part of the estates of the zamindar of Shringvar. Dileep was not interested in agriculture. But he was atalented craftsman, with a flair for making handicrafts ofall kinds. In his skilful hands, a lump of clay would turn into a beautiful doll, and a stick of bamboo into a flute, ina matter of minutes. His artistic creations were model ledon nature. He was an entirely self-taught craftsman.

The zamindar's only daughter, Malavika, would turneigh teen that year, and her father decided to celebrate her birthday in a grand manner. He issued a proclamation inviting all his tenants with their families to the function.

The people of Saketpuri wanted to present something unique and memorable to their zamindar's daughter onthe occasion. They called on Dileep and requested him to use his skills to craft a very special item.

After some deliberation, Dileep decided that a sandalwood throne would be the best gift. The sandalwood was procured the very next day, and he started work. Exquisitely carved swans formed the armrests of the throne, while its legs were shaped like dancing girls. The throne was adorned with delicate filigree work and studded with colourful semi-precious stones. There was no doubt that it was a work of art.

  After completing the throne, Dileep found that he had some sandalwood left over. He began carving idlyon it and fashioned it into a doll in the form of a beautiful girl. The doll took on the features of the girl of his dreams. He draped it in silken garments and adorned it with pretty ornaments.

The people of Saketpuri were wonderstruck on seeing the magnificent throne crafted by Dileep, and showe redfulsome praise on him. The throne was taken to Shringvar and duly presented to Malavika at the function. She was thrilled by the unique present, and wanted to meet the person who had made it. The zamindar sent for Dileep.

When Dileep arrived in response to the summons,he had the sandalwood doll with him. Malavika took one look at the doll and fell in love with it.

"Father, I want that lovely doll for myself!" she declared.

"Forgive me, sir," said Dileep firmly, "but I've made it for my personal satisfaction. I want to keep it for my self."

The zamindar said, "I shall give you a good pricefor it. Just tell me how much you want. Money is not aproblem here." But Dileep stuck to his guns. "My lord, this doll is my very life. There's no question of parting with it at any price!"

"How can this lifeless doll be your ‘life'? I'll make you a handsome offer. If you like, you can take this Malavika in exchange for it!" spoke up Malavika, who had been smitten by the charms of the young artisan.

But Dileep declined the offer, saying, "This doll has been made in the image of the girl of my dreams. I'm looking for a bride like this. So, kindly forgive me. I can't fulfil your wish."

The refusal hurt Malavika's pride. She was furious, but said nothing. Understanding what was going on in his daughter's mind, the zamindar said to Dileep, "No doubt you're a craftsman of unparalleled calibre; I congratulate you. Now, I give you six months' time to look for your dream girl. If you find her during this time,  well and good. Otherwise, you will have to give the doll to my daughterand do as she says. If you don't, you shall be banished from my estate."

"As you say, sir!" said Dileep quietly and he walkedout of the zamindar's bungalow with his doll. He immediately started the search for his dream girl. He wandered from place to place for many weeks, but could not find anyone resembling the doll.
 At last, tired and dejected, he reached a forest. Ashe was making his way through it, he suddenly fainted in sheer exhaustion.
When he came to, he found himself lying on a string cot in a hut. An ordinary-looking girl was by his side. Handing him a glass of water, she said, "I found you lyingunconscious in the forest. By the grace of the for estgoddess,you have returned to your senses. Please drink this water, to which lime juice and honey have been added-it will help you recover your strength. I shall call my father." And she went out.
Moments later, she returned with an old man who checked his pulse and said, "Babuji, I'm the physician of our tribe. It's lucky that Mangala here -my daughter-found you when she did. I've been treating you with herbal medicines. You're still quite weak. Rest here forfour more days. Mangala will take care of you." Dileep agreed.

For the next four days, Dileep had ample opportunity to watch Mangala as she went about her work. One day, a leopard that had been wounded by a hunter strayed close to the hut. Dileep watched in astonishment as Mangala cajoled the creature close, washed the wound, tenderly applied a paste of herbs, and bandaged the injured paw.

"It's a dangerous beast; aren't you afraid that it will turn upon you and kill you?" he asked.

"No," she replied smilingly. "It's dangerous all right; but it kills only when it's hungry. We have nothing to fear from any jungle beast, provided we approach it with love and kindness."

On hearing this, Dileep was filled with new respect for Mangala. He observed that she kept herself busy the whole day, doing household chores and helping her father in his work. Often he heard her sing melodiously as she did so. If anyone needed help of any kind, she would be the first to step forward.

On the fourth day, as Dileep prepared to take leave of Mangala, he offered his prized doll to her, saying, "I can never forget the help you gave me when I was in need. Please accept this as a gift from me."

But Mangala declined politely, saying, "Look after yourself and reach home safe -that's the best gift you can give me. I pray that you find yourself a wife as beautiful as this doll." She then gave him a leather pouch filled with forest honey.

"Mangala! Your heart and mind are sweeter than this honey. I wish to make you mine. Will you marry me?"asked Dileep. Mangala blushed and nodded. Dileep then sought her father's permission. Within a week, Dileep and Mangala were married. They took leave of Mangala's father and left the forest.

Instead of returning to his village with his bride, Dileepled her to the zamindar at Shringvar and said, "Sir, your daughter had asked for this doll. I am now prepared to give it to her. Please accept it."

"What price do you want for it?" asked the zamindar.

"Nothing. Let it be my present for her," answered Dileep respectfully.
At that moment, Malavika came in and heard the exchange. "Is this tribal  woman your dream girl?" she demanded. "She doesn't have the faintest resemblance to your doll! Is she more beautiful than me?"

Without waiting for an answer, she turned to the zamindar and said, "Father, Dileep has failed the challenge. Take the doll from him and punish him severely!"

The zamindar looked keenly at his daughter andthen turned to Dileep. He said, "Forgive me, Dileep! I'm ashamed of my daughter's haughty and rrogantconduct. I'm offering you a thousand gold coins -not asa price for your doll, but as a wedding gift for you. Please accept it!"
Dileep graciously accepted the gift, and left for his village with Mangala.

Concluding the story at this point, the vampiredemanded, "O king! For the sake of a mere doll, Dileepturned down the zamindar's beautiful daughter and all her wealth. He then went on to marry a forest girl whohad neither good looks nor riches! Was it not utterfoolishness on his part? As if that were not enough, instead of taking his bride home to Saketpuri he then went straight to the zamindar! What was the need for that? If thezamindar had followed his daughter's advice and awarded some harsh punishment to him, what would have been poor Mangala's position? From all this, it appears that Dileep was only a gifted artist, with neither intelligencenor common-sense. What do you say? If you know answer, speak out -otherwise, your head shall shatter into a thousand splinters!"

Without hesitation, King Vikram answered, "Dileep was not merely an artist but an intrinsically truthful man. A beautiful appearance alone is not enough; one mustalso have a beautiful mind. Dileep realised this after meeting the zamindar's daughter. His subsequent meeting with Mangala made him realise that internal beauty is far more important than external beauty. Finding this beauty in her, he married her. A good-looking  facepales into insignificance beside a loving heart. A proudand haughty person who is incapable of respecting othersis not fit to be called a human being. Malavika was a classic example of such a person.

"Dileep lost interest in his doll when he realised that it too was a beautiful but lifeless creature like her. So hereadily gave it away to Malavika who coveted it. Hisactions cannot be termed foolish. As for his decision to meet the zamindar immediately after his marriage, it onlyreveals his honesty. The zamindar understood this, andthat is why he apologised to Dileep."

On hearing this, the vampire nodded in approval, before going off into peal after peal of thunderous laughter. The next moment, he, along with the corpse, moved off the king's shoulder with a jerk and flew back to the tree. King Vikram gave a little sigh as he gazed upon the scene. Then, he squared his shoulders and retraced his steps towards the tree.