King Vikramaditya, as usual, walked with Baital on his shoulder when Baital started telling a story as follows:
Once upon a time, there lived a rich merchant named Hemdeva in the city of Surya Nagar. He had a lovely daughter named Vidyawati. She was of marriageable age.
One day, a young man named Haldhar came to meet Hemdeva. He was the son of Hemdeva’s friend. Hemdeva’s friend had passed away a while back. Haldhar said that after his father’s death he had set out for an island with all the wealth for business but in the middle of the sea a cyclone came and his ship turned upside down. That was why he lost everything. Saying so, Haldhar began to cry bitterly. Hemdeva believed him and consoled him. But the reality was poles apart.
After his parents had left for their heavenly abode, Haldhar started gambling with his bad friends. He went on losing everything–his father’s money, mother’s jewellery, property and the house too. Suddenly, he remembered that one of his father’s friends named Hemdeva was very rich. This was how he came to meet him.
Meanwhile, hearing Haldhar’s sad story, Hemdeva was stirred. He consoled Haldhar saying, “Do not be disheartened. You are like a son to me. It was all destined. Now it is time to start afresh.”
Just then Hemdeva’s daughter Lajwanti came there. She was wearing lots of jewellery. Hemdeva introduced her to Haldhar. Hemdeva got his daughter married to him. After their marriage when Haldhar and Lajwanti left for their house, Haldhar was worried since he didn’t know where to take Lajwanti as he did not have a house. Also, he did not want his wife but only her jewellery, so he thought of a plan.
While they were passing by the forest, he asked her to remove all her jewellery and give it to him on the pretext of the fear of the robbers. Lajwanti didn’t doubt her husband’s intentions. So, removing all her ornaments, she handed them to her husband. Haldhar said, “Now, let us rest a while before we continue with our journey. And I will get some water to drink in the meantime.”
So, Haldhar went away. A lot of time passed but he did not return. Lajwanti started getting worried. The sun was setting. It was dangerous for her to stay in the forest. So, she went back to her father’s house. Hemdeva was surprised to see his daughter standing at his doorstep. He got worried and asked her, “Why are you all alone? Where is Haldhar?” Lajwanti did not speak the truth. She said, “The robbers robbed us and forcibly took away Haldhar with them.” Hemdeva consoled his daughter.
On the other hand, Haldhar, with all the ornaments and money, went to a gambling house. There, he lost all the money and ornaments. Now, he had no money again. Haldhar got frustrated and came back to his father-in-law’s house thinking of telling another false story.
But he was in for a surprise. Hemdeva said, “Thank God; you have come back safe. Now everything will be all right. I will give you more money.” Haldhar put two and two together and realized that Lajwanti had not spoken the truth to her father. He was very happy. This gave him another opportunity to play a trick upon his father-in-law.
So, one day, Haldhar said to Hemdeva, “Father, as I have nothing to do here, let me go to my parental home. I will start a new business there. Lajwanti will also accompany me.” Hemdeva was happy to hear this. He thought it was good of Haldhar to stand on his feet. He gave a bag of gold coins to Haldhar. He also gave a new jewellery set to his daughter.
Soon, both set out for their journey. Haldhar kept the bag of gold coins with him. But shockingly, when they reached the forest, Haldhar killed Lajwanti. Then, he took all the ornaments and ran away. He never looked back.
Baital, having finished the story, asked King Vikramaditya, “Who was accountable for Lajwanti’s murder? If you do not answer me, I will split your head into pieces.” King Vikramaditya replied, “Lajwanti herself was responsible for her death.” “How?” asked Baital. King Vikramaditya replied, “Lajwanti hid the truth. If she had told her parents everything as to what had happened to her in the forest, they would have never let Haldhar come into her life again. They would have never trusted him.”
Baital exclaimed, “You are right again. As I am pleased with you, I free you of all the conditions of keeping silent.” King Vikramaditya did not say anything and kept walking towards his capital where the hermit was waiting for him.
