Return of the Glitter
Dreams Deferred
Dharamdas had been living in an old rented house for thirty years. When he first arrived in the town, he had many dreams of future happiness, including the hope of building a house of his own. However, those dreams remained unfulfilled. As his family grew and the cost of living increased, his income stayed mostly unchanged.
Over time, he struggled to save any money. With two grown daughters, Dharamdas worried deeply about their marriages and could only pray for God’s help while striving to remain quiet amidst his worries.
A Call for Help
One day, a man from his native village informed Dharamdas that his elderly parents were seriously ill and needed immediate medical attention. Concerned, Dharamdas and his wife discussed the situation behind their lodge.
“I’m so unlucky that I cannot give any support to my parents in their old age!” Dharamdas lamented. His wife replied, “What can we do? Are we neglecting them deliberately? The fact is, we have no means to help them!”
Unbeknownst to them, a gundharva—a beneficent supernatural being—and a nymph overheard their conversation while resting in a tree.
A Magical Gift
“We ought to help this couple. They are good people, and there is harmony in their family,” said the nymph. “If you wish!” replied the gundharva. They filled a bag with gold and, under the cover of night, left it at the well in Dharamdas’s compound.
The following dawn, Dharamdas’s wife went to the well, discovered the bag, and stood stunned at its contents. She rushed to her husband, excitement bubbling over. Dharamdas’s joy was immense; they believed the gold to be a divine gift and wished to keep it a secret, but soon found themselves sharing the news with their children.
Divided Opinions
Their two sons erupted in joy. “We must start a business without delay. That will ensure greater gains!” declared the elder son. “There’s no guarantee we won’t lose! We should go to Varanasi and study instead. Wealth may not last forever, but education will remain with us!” urged the younger son.
“What do you kids know about safeguarding wealth? Women in wealthy families protect their wealth by wearing it as ornaments,” observed Dharamdas’s wife. Interrupting, Dharamdas said, “You’re speaking like fools. How do you forget that we don’t even own a house? We must first build a house and buy some land; other things can wait.”
This temporarily silenced the discussion, but soon everyone began to voice their opinions, creating a bitter atmosphere. “Let me see how much gold is there,” said Dharamdas, as he emptied the bag onto a cloth. To his shock, the contents had transformed from gold to pebbles. Silence enveloped the family.
For several minutes, they stood speechless; then Dharamdas wiped his eyes and his wife held back a sob while the sons concealed their faces. Suddenly, the pebbles began to glitter again as the invisible gundharva and the nymph smiled, relieved to see the family had reconciled and recognized their folly. In time, the family’s understanding restored their happiness, and the pebbles turned back into gold once more!
