RING OF DECEIT
Part - I

As the Durbar proceedings in the court of King Narendra were nearing an end, a lanky young man entered in.  He wore a white dhoti and had a pale-yellow robe tucked over his shoulders.   

Bowing before the King, he began, “Maharaj, I am Mukund, a poor hunter.  Every week on this day I come to the city to visit the famous shrine of Goddess Durga. 

After having the darshan of the goddess, I often take a walk around in the kingdom before returning to the jungle of Kandahal where I reside nearby. 

Today, after visiting the temple I happened to walk into a secluded lane that was surrounded by greenery and had a few spatial houses on either side.  Suddenly, a man who had covered his face with a red cloth blocked my way.  He flashed a knife and threatened to kill me if I did not hand over the golden ring I was wearing! 

Not having another option, I did his bidding and he made good his escape.”

Seeing the puzzled look among all those present in the Durbar, Mukund further explained,” Maharaj, I know that all of you may be wondering as to how a poor man like me is in the possession of a golden ring!  It was gifted to my father, Viraaj, by a very rich merchant, Shyamlal who was a bosom friend of your father, Veerbhadra.

Several years ago, one day as my father was out hunting, he found your father armed with his bows and arrows moving about in the jungle alongwith a small army of soldiers and Shyamlal who had accompanied him.  Suddenly, he found a white leopard leaping in in the sky and coming straight at the merchant. 

My father instantly shot a sharp arrow that pierced the stomach of the animal and it fell dead bleeding.  The rich man was so grateful that he gifted the ring to him for saving his life.  My father never wore the ring and always kept it in safe custody. 

After him, I continued with the legacy until today when I felt like wearing it and as fate would have it, lost it!

Maharaj, the ring holds great significance to me for it is a memory of my father which I want to preserve till the last breath of my life!  Please do justice to me!”  the hunter pleaded with folder palms.  Narendra nodded in understanding. 

“When did that incident involving Shyamlal exactly happen?” he asked.

“All that I told you has been narrated to me by my father.  Thus, I am not aware of the precise period, but it must be more than twenty years ago.”  The King gave a nod and then looked at his senior minister, Chandragupta. 

“Chandraguptaji, can you take over this case and provide justice to Mukund?”

Chandragupta promptly rose from his seat and accepted the responsibility.  Narendra knew that his wise minister, Bakul, was best equipped to deal with such situations but he wanted to utilise the services of the latter in some other pressing administrative matters.

Four days passed by.  In the evening when Bakul was resting in his chamber after a tiring day’s work, a guard came and informed him that Chandragupta sought an audience with him. 

Surprised he quickly got up from bed and hurried to welcome the minister.  After they were comfortably seated, Bakul asked him the purpose of his visit.

“It is about the theft involving the poor hunter, Mukund!”  the minister responded.

As Bakul listened intently, Chandragupta continued, “It is almost a week but still I have not been able to lay my hands on the culprit.  It would be a huge embarrassment for me if the King expresses his displeasure in the Durbar over the robber not being caught yet.

I have come here to request you to use your intellect and help me in this matter!”

Bakul could notice the dramatic change in the tone of Chandragupta towards him.  After having not missed an opportunity to degrade him in the eyes of the King all this while, Chandragupta was today conversing with him with such high reverence only to meet his selfish ends! 

Still Bakul was inclined to help him for the better cause of providing justice to the needy.

“If you can apprise me with the efforts you have made in this case so far, it would be of great help to me for assisting you in this task!” he affirmed.   

“I got a detailed description of the ring from Mukund, and I asked my men to make enquiries in jewellery shops to see if anyone had sold it off.  It was discovered that this probability had indeed taken place in the famous Maruti jewellery store. 

In fact, two men had come over to sell it.  From this, I presumed that the thief could be possibly having an accomplice to the crime. 

Although Mukund could not give us a proper description of the thief for, he had covered his face, still I managed to extract some information about his body structure like having straight hairs, bead-like eyes, had a medium complexion with a good height.  This account in a way matched with one of the persons who had sold the ring with the exception that he had curly hairs. 

Here, it could be a possibility that the thief and his partner had come over to the shop incognito.  The other person was short, had a fair complexion, had long ears, big round eyes and was bald.  I asked my men to be in the lookout for two men with such features moving together in the vicinity but met with no success.

 To check the authenticity of Mukund’s statement I asked the King whether his father had ever mentioned to him about the incident which the hunter had referred to.  He answered in the negative but added that this incident probably occurred when he was in Gurukul taking education.  Thus, his father may have missed mentioning it to him.

Further, I managed to locate the jeweller of Shyamlal and showed him the description of the ring.  It was a hollow-shaped radiant ring with a beautifully engraved falcon in the middle and had flower motifs dexterously crafted on its either side. 

The jeweller informed us that it was indeed made by his father for Shyamlal. 

I also happened to discover some local vendors to whom Mukund sold his forest wood and even fruits.  They appeared to have good relations with him and had no reason to be cynical about any negative shade in his character.  

It is unfortunate that neither our King’s father nor Shyamal nor anyone from his family are alive today with whom we can directly verify facts. 

However, that the ring was sold the very next day after the theft took place and the confirmation given by the jeweller that the ring indeed belonged to Shyamlal affirms the authenticity of Mukund’s claims.  I was even having plans of handing over the ring to Mukund after consulting the King but then decided against it.  I do not want to raise this matter with him till the time the culprit is caught.  Finally, I decided to consult you!

That is where things stand today!  What are your thoughts about this?” Chandragupta concluded.

For a few moments, there was silence that prevailed in the chamber as Bakul was thought in deep thought.  Finally, the wise minister smiled at Chandragupta, who was eagerly   awaiting his reply, and spoke up his mind, “First of all I would like to compliment you for the noteworthy efforts you have put in this case, sire!  I do not feel that the King would be disappointed knowing the progress you have made in catching the culprit! 

If I can speak my mind, despite the affirmation you appear to have arrived at in supporting Mukund’s statements, I still believe that this theft has not taken place in the first place!”

Chandragupta’s jaw fell open as he heard Bakul speak thus.