Friend's! This story is a classic Indian folk tale, the kind people used to share while huddled around a bonfire on chilly winter nights for entertainment.
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The Tale Begins:
Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a farmer couple. Though they were childless, they shared a bond of profound love. The husband was simple-hearted and naive, while the wife was exceptionally sharp and intelligent. Their days were filled with harmony and joy.
One day, while chatting with friends in the village, the husband heard a new word: 'Triyacharitra' (the enigmatic nature or 'character' of a woman). Intrigued, he asked for its meaning, but his friends only mocked his innocence. Feeling dejected and slightly embarrassed, he returned home.
As usual, his wife served his favorite meal with love, but he sat down to eat with a heavy heart. His sharp-witted wife immediately sensed something was wrong. She asked, "What happened? Is the food not to your liking, or is something else troubling you? Why the long face?"
He asked, "Do you know what 'Triyacharitra' means?"
"Yes, I do," she replied calmly.
Delighted, he said, "Then explain it to me!"
With a playful glint in her eyes, she teased, "Shall I tell you about it, or would you like me to show you?"
The innocent farmer replied, "If you just tell me, I might not fully grasp it. If you can show me, then please do, so I can understand it well."
"Fine," she said. "I will show you someday. Now rest, while I finish my chores."
But the husband insisted, "Why wait? Show me now!"
Laughing, she replied, "Patience! This isn't a dance performance I can just start on a whim. It’s 'Triyacharitra.' I promise, I will show you soon."
Trusting his wife’s word, he let the matter drop. A couple of days passed, and he grew busy with his fields and bullocks. One day, the wife went to the local market and secretly bought a fine fish, hiding it from her husband. That night, through casual conversation, she found out which field he planned to plow the next morning. Once he was fast asleep, she crept out to that very field and buried the fish deep in the soil.
The next morning began like any other. The farmer headed to his fields with his plow and bullocks, while his wife tended to the household chores. As he was plowing, the blade struck the spot where the fish was buried, and it popped right out of the soil. The farmer was stunned. "What on earth is this?" But as soon as he picked it up, he danced with joy, for he absolutely loved eating fish.
The farmer replied, "You can cook later! Look, I found a fish in the field. Cook this today, and we’ll enjoy it together when I return."
Pretending to be pleased, the wife said, "Alright, I'll cook it. But go back to the field first! You've left the bullocks unattended; if they run off, you'll be searching for them all day. Just because of a little fish, you can't even keep your feet on the ground!"
"Why shouldn't I be happy?" the farmer retorted. "It’s been so long since I've had fish. You went to the market yesterday but didn't even think of bringing one for me. Now I’m going back to the bullocks, make sure you cook it perfectly!"
With that, he left, and his wife headed to the kitchen.
After cooking the fish, she hid it away completely and scrubbed the kitchen so clean that not even a faint scent remained. However, she tucked two small pieces into her clothing. At noon, the farmer returned, dreaming of the delicious meal awaiting him. He bathed and sat down to eat, but his wife served the usual simple fare—the fish was nowhere to be seen.
The farmer asked, "What's this? You didn't serve the fish! You silly woman, did you forget?"
His wife widened her eyes in confusion. "Fish? What fish?"
The farmer said, "Stop teasing, I’m starving! Serve the fish quickly."
Annoyed, she snapped, "Why do you keep going on about fish? Where would I get a fish to cook for you?"
The farmer shouted, "Where did it come from? I brought it from the field myself this morning!"
The farmer’s temper flared. "Watch it, or I'll strike you! You must want to eat it all yourself. You’ve never behaved like this before, what’s gotten into you today?"
His wife sighed, "There you go again! Since when do fish grow in fields? The sun must have gotten to your head and scrambled your brain!"
The farmer finally lost all control and lunged at his wife. She dashed out of the house, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Help! Someone help! My husband has lost his mind! He’s talking nonsense and trying to kill me! I am ruined!"
Hearing the commotion, the villagers gathered. When the furious farmer tried to strike her, the neighbors stepped in and restrained him.
"I brought a fish from the field!" the farmer pleaded desperately.
But his wife retorted, "Since when did fish start growing in plowed fields?"
The villagers agreed with her logic, and the poor farmer began to look genuinely insane in their eyes. To prevent any harm, they tied him to a wooden pillar. The wife sat nearby, sobbing quietly.
As the villagers began to head back to their homes, she discreetly pulled out the hidden pieces of fish from her saree and started eating them right in front of her husband.
"Look! Look! She’s eating the fish right in front of me!" the farmer yelled. The villagers turned back instantly, but by then, the wife’s hands were empty.
She broke into fresh tears, crying, "He sees fish everywhere! Oh, what will become of me?"
Annoyed by his repeated outbursts, the villagers left for good.
The wife repeated the trick. Exhausted and defeated, the farmer's eyes welled up. "Why are you doing this to me? I always thought you were so kind,"
he whispered.
Seeing her husband in tears, the wife's heart finally melted. She quickly untied the ropes and wiped her own tears. "Wasn't it you who wanted to see 'Triyacharitra'?" she asked softly.
The farmer was stunned. "What? So this was it?"
She laughed, "Yes, my dear innocent husband! To prove that something 'is' when it 'isn't,' and to prove that something 'isn't' when it clearly 'is'—that is the essence of Triyacharitra. Do you understand now?"
The farmer held his head in his hands and sighed, "Yes, I understand completely! Now, please swear that you will never show me 'Triyacharitra' ever again!"
They both burst into laughter and lived happily ever after.
🌾🌻🌾🌻🌾🌻🌾🌻🌾🌻🌾Note to Readers:
Friends, how did you like this folk tale? Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments! Thank you.
[If you would like to read this story in 'हिन्दी' click here.]
✍️ From the pen of ‘Nishabd’
🖌️ Images created with the assistance of Gemini
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