Looking Back Detail Page

01 Apr

- Ravi Vishvanath – When in Std III

Long, long ago, there lived a king who had a lovely daughter named Reeta. Reeta was very fond of beautiful things. Her father got her everything she wished for. Once she heard about a lucky gold­en bird and she asked her father to get her the same. The King got her so many golden birds but none was lucky. Reeta was feeling very uneasy, so much so that she did not even like to take her food. She grew weaker and weaker day by day. Now the king seeing no other way, called all the brave men of his country and told them that whoever would succeed in getting the lucky golden bird, he would marry his daughter to him.
This lucky golden bird used to live high up in mountains where no men could go. Many people went there but never returned. At last one brave man who had faith, went to pick up the gold­en bird. When he reached the mountains he saw a beggar sitting under a tree and went to him, and said, "Would you kindly guide me as to how to get the golden bird". The old beggar pitied him and told him which way he should go and that he must close his ears tight because on the way many people would abuse him. If he heard them or turned back to look at them, he would be turned into stone like the others who had gone before. The brave man paid him a few coins and went on. He started his mountain journey with his ears air-tight. On the way he was abused and stoned, but he never cared, even to look at the people. He went on, and on, till he reached the top of the mountains, where a holy man met him. He touched his feet and asked for the golden bird. The holy man gave him the golden bird.
But the brave man said, "First I want you to wake up all the men who have been turned into stones". The holy man asked him to fill the magic jug from the pool and throw the water over the stones, and they would wake up. He did so and all the men got up and blessed the brave man. The brave man then took the golden bird and the magic jug and returned. On the way he came to the beggar and thanked him for his advice. When Reeta got the bird, she was so pleased that she was anxious to see the brave man. The king called the brave man and Reeta asked for his name. The brave man smiled and said "My name is Rio". On the next day Rio married Reeta.