The Laughing fish of Ocean



It was a long time ago. A king ruled in the beautiful valley of Kashmir. The kings palace was on the banks of the Jhelum River. One day the kings queen was looking out of the window of the palace. She saw a fish seller who was going to sell fish in the city with a basket full of them. The queen called the fish seller up. The fish seller kept her basket down. There was a very big fish in the basket right on top. Is this fish male or female If it is female, I will take it, the queen said. As soon as the queen said this, the fish laughed loudly and went down in the basket. Both the queen and the fish seller were scared by the fishs laughter. The fish seller quickly picked up the basket and left from there. The queen started thinking, I have never seen or heard a fish laughing. This must be some special fish. I will not sit in peace until I find out the secret of the fishs laughter.

When the king came to the palace in the evening, the queen told him about the fishs laughter. The fish started laughing after listening to you! This is a very surprising thing, said the king.

I dont know anything. You will have to find out why the fish laughed. The queen insisted.

The next day the kings court was in session. The king told everything and said, Can anyone tell why the fish laughed When no one said anything, the king told his minister to find out the reason for the fish laughing within six months. Otherwise, his head would be cut off from the body. From that day onwards, the minister started trying to find out the reason for the fish laughing. He asked great scholars, magicians, sages and monks, but no one could tell him anything. He traveled far and wide but could not find out anything. Time was passing. Five months passed and the minister could not find out anything. He could see his death in front of him. He called his son Suleiman and said, Son, the king will get me killed after a month. You should leave from here so that the kings anger does not fall on you too. Suleiman loved his father very much, he said, I will not leave you alone. The minister did not listen to him and after convincing him, sent him on the journey.

With a sad heart, Suleiman started walking on the path he found without thinking.

While walking, Suleiman met a farmer on the way. The farmer was going to his village after buying goods etc. from the city. Suleiman thought that two are better than one. He also started walking along with the farmer. After walking for a while, Suleiman said, Look, we both are tired of walking. Lets do this, you take me half the way and I will take you half the way, this way the journey will be completed easily. The farmer was surprised to hear this. He will take me half the way and I will take you half the way... What a stupid thing to say, thought the farmer and kept moving ahead silently. In a while they were on top of a hill. Below, the thin stream of Jhelum river was visible and above, a forest of deodar trees. Both of them sat on a stone and started resting. Suleman took out a knife from his pocket and gave it to the farmer and said, You take this knife and bring two horses from the forest, and yes, keep the knife safely, it is very valuable.

I will take the knife and bring horses from the forest. Horses here on this hill! Either he himself is mad or he is making me mad, grumbled the farmer. In a while, both of them started again.

After some time, both of them reached a field. The ripe crop was standing in the field ready to be harvested.

What a good crop, the farmer said looking at the crop.

Yes, it is there, but I dont know whether the crop has been eaten or is left. Suleman replied.

It has been eaten! What do you mean See, the crop has not been harvested yet and you are saying that it has been eaten The farmer said angrily.

I just said it like that, Suleiman said. And they started on their journey again. Now they reached a valley full of flowers. A small river was flowing on one side of the valley. Across the river was a hill on which a village was visible. The farmer took off his shoes, pulled up his pyjamas and started crossing the river. The river was not very deep but the current was very fast and there were many small and big stones at the foot of the river. After crossing the river, the farmer turned and saw that Suleiman was crossing the river wearing his shoes. He is really crazy, the farmer thought.

After crossing the river, both of them started climbing the hill. On reaching near the village, the farmer said, Come to my house, eat and drink something and rest and then move on with your journey.

I will be very happy to come to your house, but is the roof of your house strong enough that you can take me to your house Suleman replied. Now the farmer could not control his anger and said, I invited him to my house as a matter of decency. If you dont want to come, then dont come, but please dont insult me, saying this the farmer left for his house.

The farmer had a daughter, Gulnar – very intelligent and clever. When she saw her fathers face burning with anger, she said, Abba, whats the matter Who are you so angry at

Hey, there is a boy. He accompanied me on the way. He kept talking nonsense all the way. Now when I invited him to my house as a matter of decency, he asks if the roof of my house is strong. As soon as he comes, the roof will fall on him. The farmer said. Gulnar started laughing after listening to her father. Hey Abba, by the roof being weak he must have meant that your status is such that you will be able to take care of him. He must be from a rich family.

When the farmer thought about it, he found Gulnars words to be true. Well daughter, please tell me the meaning of the things he said throughout the journey, and the farmer told her the entire story of the journey. Gulnar kept thinking for a while