ONCE THERE LIVED A KING CALLED RUDRANARAYAN. HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER OF WHOSE NAME WAS MANISHA.
IT WAS MANISHA’S FIFTH BIRTHDAY. RUDRANARAYAN ASKED HER
“I WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT. WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
“THE MOON.” MANISHA ANSWERED AFTER THINKING FOR A WHILE.
“HOW CAN I GIVE YOU THE MOON?”
“I DON’T KNOW. I JUST WANT THE MOON.”
“MANISHA, I CAN GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT EXCEPT MOON.”
“I JUST WANT THE MOON. I WOULD NOT EAT UNTILL YOU GIVE ME THE MOON.”
RUDRANARAYAN WENT BACK TO THE COURT BUT COULD NOT CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHIG. THE COURT JESTER ASKED HIM
“WHAT HAPPENED SIR?”
“MANISHA WANTS THE MOON OR ELSE STOP EATING.”
THE COURT ASTROLOGER SAID “MOON IS VERY FAR FROM EARTH. WE CANNOT EVEN REACH THERE.”
THE COURT POET SAID “EVEN IF WE REACH MOON THEN ALSO WE CANNOT BRING IT. IT IS TOO HEAVY.”
THE COURT JESTER SAID “I CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.”
HE WENT AND ASKED THE PRINCESS
“HOW BIG TO YOU THINK THE MOON IS?”
“OF THE SIZE OF MY FIST.”
“WHAT IS IT MADE OF?”
“GOLD.”
“HOW FAR IS IT?”
“IT IS ON THE BRANCH OF THE TREE OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.”
“OKAY PRINCESS I WILL GET THE MOON TOMORROW BUT FIRST YOU MUST HAVE YOUR DINNER.”
THE COURT JESTER WENT TO A GOLDSMITH AND MADE A ROUND LOCKET OF THE SIZE OF MANISHA’S FIST. HE GAVE IT TO MANISHA. BUT ANOTHER PROBLEM ARRIVED.
“WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF PRINCESS SEES THE MOON TODAY?” THE KING ASKED
“WE WILL NOT LET HER SEE IT. WE WILL COVER ALL THE WINDOWS WITH BLANKETS OF BLACK COLOUR.” COURT ASTROLOGER SAID
“ IF WE DO THAT MANISHA WILL NOT GET FRESH AIR TO BREATHE.” KING SAID
“WE WILL BURN FIRE CRACKERS EVERY DAY AND PRINCESS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE MOON.” COURT POET SAID
“IF WE DO THAT MANISHA WILL NOT BE SLEEP PEACEFULLY.” “WHAT DO YOU THINK COURT JESTER.”
“ONLY PRINCESS CAN TELL THIS.”
HE ASKED THE PRINCESS.
“PRINCESS TODAY WILL THE MOON RISE?”
“YES.”
“HOW?”
“WHEN THE GARDENER PLUCKS A FLOWER ANOTHER FLOWER GROWS. LIKE THAT TODAY A NEW MOON WILL GROW.”
RUDRANARAYAN WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE MANISHA HAPPY AGAIN.
