SATYAN 2
-9. A Sick Child

“Now that you have confessed, let me tell you my part of the story.  I suppose you know Hari who draws pictures.  He is one of my bosom friends.” 

On hearing this, Manohar closed his eyes tightly as if to express regret.  “You seem to have already grasped what I am going to tell you.  Still, I shall state the facts to you.  Today, Hari came to see me with lots of information.  As you know, Manoharji, he had drawn a picture of your temple as it appeared from the outside and presented it to you in your house.  You liked it so much that you bought it and rewarded him with money.  Thereafter, you told him to come inside the temple and make a picture of the deities.  But then, your seven-year-old son, Udhyog, demanded that Hari should foremost make a portrait of his and then take some other assignment!  Am I right, sire?”  As Manohar nodded with embitterment, he continued, “You agreed and then for the next couple of days, Hari came to your house and drew the picture of your son by making him sit in front of him.  Today, when he was giving final touches to this painting, he heard some talks going on between you and your wife in the other chamber, although he could not make out as to what both of you were talking about.  Then, suddenly he heard you raise your voice and utter these words, “So what if this money belongs to the tem….”  After this, there was silence and thereafter he could not hear anything.  He was puzzled at what you said but could not make out much of it.  He concentrated on his work and finally finished it with flying colours.  Yet again, you gifted him with money and asked him to draw the pictures of the deities in his temple.  Hari agreed and then came to my place to apprise me of all his latest achievements.  In our conversation, he made a reference about you shouting at your wife that left me thinking.  What could ‘tem’ indicate?  After a little thought I realized that it could well mean ‘temple’ in a complete word for you were the owner of a famous edifice.  Thus, what you intended to say could be this, “So what if this money belongs to the temple?”  Since you used the terms “this money”, it sounded as if you were referring to money that was present before you at that time.  In other words, this could be interpreted as if you had brought money which belonged to the temple to your home.  Since your tone was harsh, it could be gauged that your wife did not like what you had done and hence the squabble.  If your wife was upset with you, then she was right.  After all, why should you bring the temple funds to your house?  It may be that you did this for some exterior reasons which your wife did not approve of.   As I analysed further, I doubted whether this move of yours can be linked to the less revenue your temple had generated this year.  Wasn’t it possible that you understated the temple income so that you could siphon off the remaining amount for some personal use?  As I thought from this perspective, I was convinced that this, indeed, was the case.   I felt certain that you were accumulating money owned by the temple in your house for some ulterior motive that had incensed your wife.  I asked my guards to call you here and you are well aware of the events that unfolded thereupon.”  Vasudev paused and pointed out, “This is why anger is so bad, Manoharji.  In that argument which ensued between you and your wife, you lost your temper and in that moment you forgot that if you shout, it could be so easily heard by the person who was sitting only in the adjacent room.  By the time you realized it, you had divulged a vital piece of information about your wrongdoing.” 

Manohar could do little but agree!  He later told Vasudev that right from the day his wife learnt about what he was doing with the temple money, she had started to distance herself from him.  Finally, on this day Manohar decided to talk to her about this matter and in the process engaged in a heated argument with her.

“ Oh Satyanji!  I am sorry for what I have done!  Please do not allow this matter to spread for that would malign my name.  I am ready to offer you anything to keep this between you and me.”  Manohar pleaded. 

“You mean that you will offer me money to keep my mouth shut?”  Vasudev emphasized. 

“Anything you ask for, Satyanji!  You just name it!”  Manohar blurted.   

“Although I will discuss this with the council, I will ensure that you stay behind bars for being guilty of embezzlement and your attempt to bribe me.”  Vasudev gave his verdict. 

Manohar knelt on his knees and beseeched, “Please, Satyanji!  Pardon me!” 

However, Vasudev’s decision was irrevocable. 

“My son, Udhyog, is not feeling well.  If you apprehend me now, he will get very disturbed which could further hamper his health.  Please allow me to stay with him atleast till the time he recovers.”  Manohar pleaded.

“What has happened to him?”  Vasudev enquired. 

“Right from morning, he is unwell.  The physician examined him and identified the ailment to some stomach infection.  He is having fever and not feeling like eating anything.”  Manohar replied.  

Vasudev decided to visit Manohar’s house and verify the facts.  He asked Manohar to accompany him in a chariot which then raced off to the latter’s place of residence.   

The door was opened by a short but beautiful woman who was Manohar’s wife, Dayavantari.  She appeared quite tensed but still managed to force upon a smile on seeing Vasudev, whom she held in high regard.   Manohar led Vasudev to his inner chambers where Udhyog lay on bed fast asleep, down with fever and looking very frail and weak.  Vasudev was pained to see the child’s condition and sat beside him.  He prayed to the Lord for his quick recovery and then went to the main hall with the couple.  There, he addressed Manohar, “I shall discuss this matter with the council.  In all probability, you will be allowed to be with your son till he recovers, Manoharji.  For now, I am leaving my guards outside your house who shall monitor each of your movements once you step out of the house.  You must surrender the nibbled temple money at the earliest.” 

Manohar agreed and thanked Vasudev for permitting him to stay back even as Dayavantari watched these proceedings confounded.   “I am sorry, deviji.  Your husband will explain everything.”  So saying, Vasudev instructed his guards to be on vigil outside the house and came back to his chamber.    

(To Continue)