2-Relative Villany of Men and Women-2

Story of Ratnaavatee - Told by Madanmanjaree
The bird continued - "O Queen, I have often told you that before coming to you, I was with Ratnaavatee, the daughter of a rich trader. There lived a wealthy merchant in the city of Ilaapur. He was without any child so he used to continue keeping fasts, going on pilgrimages and giving alms to Braahman. By the grace of his deity, a son was born to him and he celebrated the occasion greatly. At the age of five years, he sent him to Guru. When he had grown, he was a fine young man - his face like monkey's, leg's like stork's, and back like a camel's. You know the proverb, "Expect 32 villainies from the limping, and 80 from the one-eyed man, but when the hunchback comes, say "Lord, defend us"."

Instead of studying, he went for gambling. He made love to every woman, and in spite of his ugliness, he was not unsuccessful. Then hunchback became a Taantrik so as to complete his villainies. He took Deekshaa from a Braahman. In the company of 8 men and 8 women - one Braahman, one dancing girl, one weaver's daughter, one woman of ill fame, one daughter of a land owner; choosing the darkest time of night; in the most secret part of the house; he drank with them, and went through many strange ceremonies such as sitting nude upon a dead body etc etc. His Guru told that now he could enjoy whatever he could.

In the meantime his father died leaving immense wealth. In a short time his wealth also disappeared, then he turned towards others and got narrowly escaped from being caught while robbing. He fled his own country and arrived in Chandrapur where lived his father's friend named Hemgupt. He went to his house where he introduced himself. Hemgupt got very surprised to see his friend's son in this condition. He asked him the reason to come there.

He said - "I went for a trade, that a storm came and I had to escape on a plank. I am sorry that I am in such a state. My parents have died so other people also have abandoned me." Hemgupt gave him all kinds of hospitality and made him partner in his business. The hunchback played his cards so well that Hemgupt said to himself, "My daughter Ratnaavatee has grown up now. Let me marry her to him." Thus thinking he went to his wife and talked to her in this regard. His wife readily agreed for this. So they called their daughter and informed her about their mind. She was very beautiful - a perfect girl. She agreed with their proposal, although she later told her mother that she could not even look at his ugliness. She vowed to perform all wifely duties before marriage. Surprisingly, she started loving her husband.

They lived happily for some time in Hemgupt's house. Then the hunchback started feeling restlessness in his heart. He said to my mistress - "I have been in your country for some time. Now I wish to go to my own city. If you wish you can also come with me." Ratnaavatee talked to her mother. Her parents got ready to bid him farewell. Ratnaavatee also got ready to go with him. Her parents gave them lots of wealth and a maid and bade them farewell.

For a few days they continued their journey. As he could not take her to his own city where he was already defamed. Besides he wanted her money only, not her. He thought about many projects then worked on the following one. He halted in a dense forest, dismissed the palanquin bearers, said to his wife - "Give me your jewels, there is a danger of thieves here, I will give you when you reach the city." She gave her ornaments to him. He killed the maid and left her body for wild animals. Then he threw my mistress into a dry well and went to his city.

At the same time a traveler was passing by, he heard the sound of her crying. He looked around but couldn't see anyone. Soon he followed the sound and came to the well. He took Chandraavatee out of the well and asked her who she was. She said - "I am the daughter of the wealthy trader Hemgupt of Chandrapur. I was journeying with my husband that we met some robbers. They killed my maid, threw me in this well, and took my husband away."

The traveler believed her, he dropped her at her house where she told the same story to her parents as she told the traveler. Her father consoled her - "Your husband is alive and he will come here in a few days time."

The hunchback lost all his wealth in a very short time and again fled the city. Then he thought to go to his father-in-law's house again to take more money from him in the name that a grandson is born to him. As he reached the house, he was astonished to see his wife standing at the door. She said to him - "Don't be afraid, I have told them that thieves had killed the girl, robbed me, and threw me in the well. They tied you and took you away. By God's grace all is well, you have returned safely, this is your house and I am your slave." She took him inside. He wept bitterly in front of his in-laws saying that he was just saved. Hemgupt said - "Don't worry at all, you live here and be happy."

He lived there for a couple of months, then, one day when his wife came to sleep after taking off her jewelry, he killed her, his people killed Hemgupt and his wife, he took away her jewelry and ran away. As he passed my cage, he thought to wring my neck, but barking of a dog saved my life. O Queen, I have seen all this with my own eyes. This incident has developed hatred towards the other sex in my heart, so I have decided to remain unmarried. Let your majesty tell what crime my mistress committed? Sir Parrot, I have said whatever I had to say."

The parrot said - "When a female says that "She has nothing more to say." it means that it is only very little she has said what she was about to say." The king said to his parrot - "Now what you have to tell about the opposite sex?" The parrot said - "I will tell you an incident which has compelled me to remain bachelor throughout my life."