Short Story - The day of honor!
Today was something special. Dynasty has got the descendent. People were waiting for this moment and so as the king Gautama. People are celebrating to welcome the new born baby, their new prince. Kingdom, where in the people are not acquainted with the sufferings, the laments, the wailing. People were happy and enjoying in the country. They always felt protected in King Gautama’s kingdom. People had a strong belief that he had been sent to take care of them by God and they often used to worship him as good human being.
Without any deliberation, Sage of royal family declared the name ‘Ananda’ with one look at the new born child, a prince of kingdom. At the day end, Sage requested King Gautama that he wants to meet with him privately.
Sage said
“Hey king Gautama, Do not consider me the messenger of evil and do not curse me while I am giving you the message of angels. Your son Ananda will be a great man and a great king. He will surpass all the benchmarks created by you of humanity and noble ruling. Now behold your breath, while I am telling this to you, ‘Your death is written on the day your son takes over the kingdom from you!’
King Gautama felt as if the earth is moving with the whole universe. The first thing he thought about his people. This was a shock to him; he could not believe what he just heard from the royal sage.
King Gautama said to royal sage: “Please tell me! Is this the result of my sins of previous birth? What did I do wrong? Will I be dethroned?
Royal Sage – “Every man is responsible for his own death. At that point in your life, age would have nothing left in it for you”
King Gautama – “I request you to tell me more, will my son commit the worse sin of killing his own father? Is he going to be lesser evolved soul? I shall willingly give it to him if he proves to be competent and capable.”
Royal Sage gave a longanimous glance and said
“Hey king, you are wise and knowledgeable man, don’t get shaken by the truth, don’t you know life is all about making choices! I cannot comment more and not supposed to give you any further explanation, but I must tell you, you will be the happiest father on the earth when you will die! God’s blessings are with you!”
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Today prince Ananda was returning from the long fought battle with the neighborhood king. He displayed his skills as a great worrier and the leader. Prince Ananda had fought the battle leading his army and without any help from his father this time. Several times he had thrown himself into dangerous situations. Prince Ananda’s image has got glorified. Now, after the king Gautama, Prince Ananda was their new hero. There were celebrations of victory all across the kingdom and people were dancing and cheering for prince Ananda.
King Gautama could not have asked anything better from his life. He should be happy to have a son who is capable, victorious and loved by all the people in the kingdom. He was prepared to welcome Ananda and offer whatever he wants. He had a feeling that it is today the evil ‘message from angels’ going to execute. He was thinking what would Ananda ask for? What if I myself offer him the kingdom? What if I decide to walk away without letting anyone know of my existence?
He was prepared for the day. He decided to put an end to his life. His death was going to solve all the problems. If he dies, people will make prince Ananda their new king, Ananda will be saved from committing the sin of killing the father, under any control of evil, for the kingdom. Is this what royal sage was referring the ‘choice’ of life’?
King Gautama was prepared to surrender himself to Lord Yama. He was sure it will be all over by midnight and nobody in the palace would know till the dawn and start of early morning rituals in the palace.
He thought of having a last look at Ananda, whom he would have loved to see as a king. Millions of thoughts were running into his mind. At the mid night he reached Ananda’s room to have last glance of his beloved son. He did not find Anand on his bed, he searched silently through the passage, balconies and door-way but he couldn’t see Ananda anywhere. He noticed a piece of paper kept on the table adjacent to his Bed. His heart starts pounding; he hurriedly picked up the paper and found it’s a message for him from Ananda.
Ananda wrote:
“All my life I wanted to connect with you. I know the unfortunate ‘message from angels’ and I always thought why I would instigate me to take such extreme steps? How could I become so cruel to dethrone you, my lovely father? I know I am not ready to live with this uncertainly. I cannot live to wait for the moment when these ‘evil thoughts’ will take over control of my mind. My metal mirrors are oscillating with such restlessness that I may not be able register good or evil if and when evil might take control of my conscious and act against my own will.
I am feeling like a traveler lost in a wilderness. I am leaving you though that may be the last thing in the world I want. I am going on a new journey in life, in search of god, in search of angels. Father, we live with choices and I have made my choice. Neither I want to be king nor desire this kingdom.”
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Today was again something special. Royal sage was at the centre stage and he seems to have taken control of the palace. He was fully occupied in performing some ritual. King Gautama’s was dressed in the immaculate white and saffron color cloths. His corpse was looking beautiful in the dress enveloped with flowers. People were having the last look at their king.
Prince Ananda was getting prepared for the coronation ceremony under the royal sage’s guidance. The last message from his father was resounding and resonating within his thoughts –
King Gautama -
“Anand, What better could I have asked from you? Something which did not occur to me since last several years you showed me in few seconds. I always thought if god has to exists, evil has to manifests itself in some or the other form. Good and evil are cosmic dualities. I brooded over the message feeling like a goat waiting for the sacrifice. I remained in a half stupor of confusion, questioning whether or not I had been the victim of my own past.
Feeling that the man is puppet of his past, feeling that the message from angles is a message of evil had overpowered my thoughts. I always thought that some seeds of destructive tendencies you brought from the past birth which will get sprouted as you grow.
More often than not I thought of going far away from you, however remorse seized me, that I had been trying to thwart nature’s will.
God has created us individually with due care and we are essential to the universal frame, our liberation is destined if we have willpower. Our royal sage had been divinely commanded to give me this message, how rare to get such divine message on the earth in person?
You showed me the light, a light I was searching for years. I must appreciate the sings, the message from angels and honor it.
I want you to honor this message. I know you will be back tomorrow. You are destined to become great king and take care of our people, our kingdom.
I am leaving to wholeheartedly pursue my spiritual duty. You shall take oath under guidance of our royal sage. My body will be present during your ceremony. My soul will always be around you to protect, to guide and to bless you, whenever you need”
- Devendra
