A Matter of Coincidence

Tuesday, 3 September 2024

Ayesha Fareed Ahmed, Mirpur Khas

Sheeda was a simple and innocent man. One day, he was going to his wife’s village to bring her back. On the way, he saw some donkeys grazing on grass at a certain place. Eventually, he reached his in-laws’ house. His wife’s brother asked him to sit in the guest room.

Just then, a man came running and said, “Brother! My donkeys are lost. If you have seen them anywhere, please tell me.”

Sheeda immediately replied, “Yes, I saw some donkeys grazing at such-and-such place.”

The man ran off. After a short while, he returned and said, “You are a great man. The donkeys were exactly where you said.” Then he left.

Soon, bread started being prepared. Since Sheeda was sitting in a room close to the kitchen, he could hear the sound of bread being slapped. From the sound, he began counting the breads. When food was served, he ate three breads. When the fourth bread was given to him, he said, “You made seven breads in total. I have already eaten three. If I eat this one too, what will the rest of you eat?”

His brother-in-law looked at him in surprise and said, “You should be in the king’s palace. These days, the queen’s necklace is missing. The king has announced a reward for whoever finds it.”

When Sheeda reached the king’s palace, he thought that if he asked for forty days’ time, he might manage something. He told the king, “I will perform forty days of spiritual retreat. After forty days, I will give you the necklace.”

For forty days, he enjoyed life in the palace. But on the fortieth day, he became extremely worried. He searched everywhere, but the necklace could not be found.

That night, he could not sleep. He kept murmuring, “Nandra, Nandra” (meaning: sleep, come to me). A maid named Nandra was standing near his room. She was the one who had stolen the necklace. She thought, “He knows my name. Tomorrow he will tell the king my name, and I will be caught.” She came to Sheeda, apologized, and gave him the necklace.

Sheeda was very happy. He quietly took the necklace and went to sleep. In the morning, he gave the necklace to the king. The king was shocked and delighted. He rewarded Sheeda generously and sent him home.

Sheeda was known in his village as a harmless and innocent man. He did not consider himself clever, nor did he ever try to be. He lived a simple life and believed that honesty and kindness were enough to get him through the world. One morning, he set out on a journey to his wife’s village to bring her back home.

As he walked along the dusty road, he noticed a group of donkeys grazing peacefully in an open field. He paid little attention and continued on his way. When he reached his in-laws’ house, his brother-in-law welcomed him warmly and asked him to rest in the guest room.

While Sheeda was settling in, a worried man suddenly ran into the courtyard, breathing heavily. “Brother!” the man cried. “My donkeys have gone missing. If anyone has seen them, please tell me.”

Without hesitation, Sheeda replied calmly, “Yes, I saw some donkeys grazing near the road, a short distance from here.”

The man rushed away at once. After some time, he returned with a smile on his face. “You are truly a great man,” he said. “The donkeys were exactly where you told me.” Thanking Sheeda repeatedly, he left.

Later in the day, food preparation began. The kitchen was close to the room where Sheeda was sitting, and he could clearly hear the rhythmic sound of bread being baked. Without realizing it, he started counting the breads by sound alone. When the meal was served, he ate three breads. As the fourth was placed before him, he stopped and said politely, “Seven breads were made in total. I have already eaten three. If I eat this one as well, what will the rest of you eat?”

His brother-in-law stared at him in amazement. “You are wasting your talents here,” he said. “You should be in the king’s palace. The queen’s necklace has been stolen, and the king has announced a great reward for whoever finds it.”