Something beyond money

Difficulties, especially monetary ones are a part and parcel of one’s life. They enter into our personal lives even without an intimation when everything seems to be going on smoothly that one might wonder if anything in this whole world has the capability of disrupting the smoothest flow ever witnessed by the woirld. At such times, the mental capabilities of a person recede into the background and he is dominated by impulses that mostly force him to take the wrong path. Minor mistakes such as concealing the truth pave way to great sins like robbery, thereby putting one’s moral self at question. One who wins over his impulses and maintains his status quo of the man of values is the real successful human. One contrasting life to this successful life which dares not to turn into a reality is the story of Nagraj.

Having inherited a surplous amount of wealth and land that has been accumulated since hundreds of generations, the life of Nagaraj was nothing less when compared with that of a King who with a single call, makes servants gather around him, eager to serve him. Mother Nature has always seemed to care for the well being of Nagraj. Rains arrived at time and the crop matured to the point of harvest when needed. Money was surplous and so was happiness in his small family encompassing himself, his wife and his two year old son. He was highly respected in the village not just because of the wealth behind him but also due to his strong adhering to moral principles and values. He was claimed to be the one who would follow the path of dharma even if the whole village and infact the whole world moved over to the other side of truth and light out of fatigue and greed. And so did God test him to see if it was really so.

The rains were delayed and the crop was a complete failure. Debts made generations ago wewre bought to light and a majority of his land and other property was confiscated to settle the dues. He, who knew not what borrowing meant, had to indulge in the act to feed himself and his family. The future seemed hopeless. He who was once treated as a king lost all due honour and respect thanks to his financial status getting messier every day. He seemed to be in a real ‘economess’. There seemd to be no way to get out of it. Time was spent only to see the next sun rise and life to end gradually.

At this juncture came the testing time for him. Infants of that village, since ages, were narrated by their grandmothers every night stories about the secret treasure hidden in the sands of the village temple. They were thought to be fairy tales by a few and as sacred religious literature of the village by the others. But none did ever get the idea of digging up the earth to find if there weas indeed something in chests and vaults under the concrete basement, except for one Narseen who had entered the village a year ago and had made a good acquaintance with Nagraj. Taking advantage of the situation, he suggested Nagraj to set out to explore the secret so that all his financial problems would come to an end. Being the lawful owner of both the land of the temple and the temple itself, Nagraj had the legal right to even demolish the entire structure. But he preferred to do the immoral act at night when the whole village sleeps so that he would not loose even the final trace of respect he is being given at that moment.

He for no reason made his wife and his little son accompany him to the temple. The work was started with the help of Narseen and it did yield fruits in an hour or so. It was not just one or two but ten huge chests filled with dimaonds and other percious stones. Narseen asked for a share in the uneaearthed wealth citing that he was the one who has given the majestic idea. But Nagarj refused to the proposal. Being rejected, Narseen wanted to take revenge. He went to the village, knocked at every single door and informed all of them that the family of Nagarj is in the process of bringing under their control the evil forces luring them with diamonds, sapphires and rubies which would then be used to bring the entire village under his control. The villagers, most of who were illiterate believed in his words and set out for the temple. The scene at the temple did only strengthen the voice of Narseen. Oil lamps hung from the branches of the banyan tree set out images of moving ghosts on the walls of the temple. Vermillion and Turmeric powered which had accidentally fallen on Nagraj made the villagers even more suspicious. The lamps in front of the Deity were flickering vigorously. The three of them were put to death by hurling stones in the most brutal and unmerciful way……….