The Stubborn Woman

A king was childless. He would dissolve a ggery in water every day and drink it. After three days of doing this, a snake appeared before him and asked, Why do you serve me so devotedly

The king replied, I have no children.

The snake said, Alright, ask for whatever you wish.

The king hesitated, but the snake gave him a magical pearl and said, Give this to your queen.

When the king gave the pearl to the queen, she refused to accept it and said, What should I do with it Give it to the royal attendants.

The attendants locked the pearl in a small chest. Later, when one of them tried to lift the chest, it was so heavy that she couldnt move it. When they opened it, they found a baby boy inside, sucking his thumb.

The attendants informed the king, who was overjoyed. The entire kingdom celebrated.

The boy grew up and started going to school. His teacher was a strict woman who often punished him. One day, when he came home, the queen noticed he looked weak and asked, Son, why do you seem more tired every day We provide you with everything you need.

The boy replied, My teacher beats me a lot.

The queen advised him, Next time she hits you, tell her, Stop You are betrothed to me.

The next day, when the teacher raised her hand, the boy said, Stop You are my betrothed

Shocked, the teacher went home and told her parents. Her mother confirmed, Yes, you were indeed promised to him at birth.

The next day, the girl told the boy, Come to my fathers garden tomorrow with two horses and two guns.

The boy did as instructed, and when the girl and her friends went for a walk in the garden, she sent her friends away, saying, Go back before anyone sees you. I dont want my fathers garden to be cursed by an evil eye.

She then mounted one horse, and the boy took the other, and they rode away.

On their journey, they stopped at a witchs house. The witch wasnt home, but her daughter was. Upon seeing them, she first laughed, then cried.

The boy asked, Why did you laugh and then cry

She replied, I laughed because you both are so beautiful. I cried because my mother will eat you when she returns.

They quickly asked for water and drank it, but before they could escape, the old witch arrived. She greeted them warmly, but her daughter secretly helped them leave.

When the witch realized they had escaped, she screamed, My own family has betrayed me by letting such fine prey go

Her four sons rushed after the couple, but the boy shot and killed them all.

Then the witchs husband arrived, asking to be spared. The boy agreed and let him take care of their horses.

One day, while the boy was sleeping and the girl was outside, the old man killed him.

When the girl returned, she asked, Wake him up We must leave.

The old man coldly replied, I have already killed him.

The girl said, Good. He had taken me far from home anyway.

She and the old man continued on their journey. As they traveled, the girl spoke of her lost lover, saying, He could shoot a flying bird with ease.

The old man boasted, I can do that too

As he looked up, aiming his gun, the girl shot him dead. She then returned to where the boy lay, mourning over his body.

At that moment, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati passed by.

Parvati insisted on stopping to see the grieving girl. Shiva, reluctant, finally agreed. Seeing the girls devotion, he sprinkled holy water on the boy, bringing him back to life.

The boy woke up saying, I had a long sleep

The girl responded, You werent sleeping. You had been killed, and I avenged you.

They resumed their journey and reached a community of nomads, where they decided to stay for the night. The nomad woman warned the girl, Do you even know his caste

The girl admitted she didnt. The woman advised her to eat with him at night to find out.

At dinner, the boy hid each bite in his sleeve instead of eating it.

The next morning, the nomad woman asked, Did you find out his caste

The girl replied, No.

The woman said, Then dont leave until you do.

When the girl asked, the boy evaded the question. Finally, he stood near a well and said:

The water reaches my ankles,

Go back, my queen

As he stepped deeper into the well, he repeated:

The water reaches my knees,

Go back, my queen

When the water reached his neck, he shouted, My caste is.before vanishing into the water.

The girl, heartbroken, wept endlessly.