Self-Protection

Pradeep, a young man, met the king’s minister to ask for a job. The minister had previously helped someone named Shyam secure employment and had gained the king’s confidence in the process. “I can secure a job for you if you promise to help me in ousting him,” said the minister.

Pradeep accepted the job offer, but little did he know he was stepping into a web of political intrigue. The king arranged for Pradeep’s marriage, turning the event into a grand affair. As he was being led to the marriage platform, the joyful minister inquired, “My son, you could have asked the king for anything. Why did you choose to ask for my daughter’s hand?”

Pradeep candidly replied, “To be frank, I feared you would try to oust me now that I had gained much favor with the king. I proposed this marriage to prevent that possibility!” His quick thinking revealed a blend of courage and strategy, ensuring his safety in the uncertain realm of court politics.