CHATURBHUJ
- Quest For Lost Ring

“Every morning at a particular time, I open this locker and see if the ring is safe.  Today after you left meeting me in the morning, I opened the locker and had a look at the ring.  However, my thoughts were distracted elsewhere.  I was thinking as to why were you always filled with apprehension over the fact that we are not being alert enough to avert any enemy attack and that I am not making friends with anyone.  Where was the need for all this when I had this ring with me?  Thinking in these terms, I kept the ring back in the locker and made a blunder.  I only closed the locker but forgot to lock it!  Thereby, I went out for some work and returned only after all of you ministers had assembled in the main hall for the meeting I had proposed.  After all of you had left, I came to this inner chamber and was shocked to see the handle of this locker turned upwards as if it was not locked!  It was then that I realised my folly and quickly opened the locker.  My worst fears were turned true!  The ring was gone!  Oh Chaturbhuj!  All this happened owing to my over-confidence.  My ancestors kept  the ring in this locker for they felt that it would be safe in the chamber of the King.  I continued with that practice and today I have lost it!”  Sukhdeva bemoaned.   

“Calm down, Maharaj!  Are you sure that you kept the ring back in this locker after seeing it?”  Chaturbhuj queried. 

“Of course!” Sukhdeva replied with reliance.    

Just then, another minister entered in.  “I am sorry, Maharaj!  One of our subjects had come over to address his grievances.  I got delayed there!  Please tell me as to what is the matter!” 

“Oh, Salya!” the King exclaimed and told him all that he had said to Chaturbhuj and also about the locker.   Salya was aghast to learn that Sukhdeva had lost his ring.  As he stood speechless, the King spoke up, “After I lost the ring, I could not think anything properly!  I did not know what to do.  I desperately wanted help from some quarter.  Since both of you are my most trusted and clever ministers, I called you here.” 

After a few moments of silence, Chaturbhuj chipped in, “Maharaj, actually I had come here for the meeting a little earlier.  At that time there was no one around in the main hall.  I even came to this chamber to see if you were inside.  On not finding anyone, I took my seat in the main hall and waited for everyone to arrive.  However, when I went inside I did not look at the locker at all.” 

“Same thing I also did, Chaturbhuj.  Perhaps I must have come before you, which is why I did not see you.  I came here before time and just like you did, I came to this chamber to see if anyone was around.  I did not find anyone and decided to come a little later after returning back to my room.  Even I did not look at the locker at that time.”  Salya informed Chaturbhuj and the King. 

“Maharaj, let’s ask the guards who are standing vigil outside as to who came here after you left in the morning.  That may give us some clue.”  Chaturbhuj opined. 

Both the King and Salya agreed and called over the two guards who stood outside the main hall.  On enquiry, one of them told that after the King had left, the sweeper had come in who was inside for some time, then came Salya who went away after a few moments, then it was Chaturbhuj and then Salya returned with the other ministers followed by the King. 

After the guards had left, Salya turned to the King, “From what the guards have said, you have only three suspects, Maharaj!  Myself, Chaturbhuj and the sweeper, Sukhram!”  

“What nonsense!  I can never suspect the two of you to have done such a thing!  About Sukhram, I know him well.  He is very sincere and honest.  It is unlikely that he could have taken the ring.” the King felt. 

“Although you had not locked the locker, you had closed it’s door.  Still, the thief managed to figure out that it was not locked.  This indicates that he has been observing the handle of the locker very minutely for quite some time.  Of course, there is the possibility of him just trying out his luck since no one was around.”  Chaturbhuj observed thoughtfully and queried, “Maharaj, have you ever shown or described the ring to anyone?” 

“No!” replied the King.

Chaturbhuj did not say anything and looked at the floor thoughtfully.

“Maharaj, let’s call the servant, Sukhram, and ask him if he has found any precious item while cleaning this chamber.  From his reactions and reply, we may get some clue.” Salya proposed.   

Agreeing to his opinion, King Sukhdeva called for Sukhram who came and bowed before the ruler.  “Tell me, Sukhram, did you find any jewel like a ring or a necklace while cleaning this chamber?”  the King asked him. 

“No, Maharaj!” Sukhram answered promptly. 

“Think well, Sukhram!  May be you did find something and kept it somewhere!”  the King insisted. 

“Please believe me, Maharaj!  Had I found anything I would have certainly brought it to your notice.” 

Sukhdeva did not feel like asking Sukhram anything more for he had a firm belief in his heart that he was innocent.  He asked the servant to leave and cautioned him to keep the contents of this meeting with himself.  All this while, both the ministers were keenly observing Sukhram.  They found him to be very confident in his answers.  “Maharaj, although he answered well, I feel that we must search his house.  We have to make a start somewhere.”  Salya felt. 

“No, Salya.  I know him very well.  He can never be a thief.  Besides, there is also something else.  If we search his house, the people around would suspect something and certainly enquire about the matter.  On knowing that we are searching for some precious item, they may even guess that I may have lost the ring, which I do not want to happen.”  the King maintained.  

“O King, if you permit, both of us would like to check this chamber and the main hall thoroughly.  May be the ring has fallen somewhere. I understand that you had kept the ring inside.  Still, there is no harm in checking.”  Chaturbhuj expressed his desire. 

On receiving the King’s nod, both the ministers made a thorough search in the King’s chamber.  Did they meet with any success?