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The Sweet-Mad Hero

By Hema Rao; Illustration by Sudheer Nath

A North Indian folktale retold

Shyam was a worried man. He had to go to Rampur on work. It happened tobe his in-laws village. Shyam intended to stay with them. But being newlymarried he hardly knew his in-laws. His wife, too, was not accompanying him. Shy Shyam was really worried!

He thought hard for a while. Then he smiled. He would force his friend, Karan, to accompany him!

"Of course I'll come with you!" promised Karan. "But you must make two promises." Shyam agreed.

"First, you mustn't talk too much!" warned Karan. "Second, don't gobble your food. A talkative glutton for a son-in-law is the last person any family desires to have!"

Shyam happily agreed to talk less and eat less! The two friends set off for Rampur.

Shyam's in-laws were delighted to see him. A lavish meal was prepared for them. After all jamai babu was visiting them for the first time! Karan laughed and talked happily. But Shyam hardly spoke a word.

"He's shy!" declared Karan, with a laugh as Shyam's mother-in-law wondered if they had offended Shyam in any way. "But he does talk to bhabhiji !" added Karan helpfully.

Shyam felt like boxing Karan on the nose! Soon food was served. Hot poories, steaming pulao with cashew nuts and ghee, spicy potatoes and curd filled with thin slices of cucumber, carrots and onions! A meal fit for a king!

"Wah!" exclaimed Karan. Kya bhadiya khana hai!" (What delicious food!)

Shyam, however, pecked at his food. He was very, very hungry! But he did not want his in-laws to think he ate too much! When kheer was served for dessert, Shyam promptly put out his hand to cover his plate. His mother-in-law put just a drop of kheer (milk-based rice pudding) in his plate and went to serve Karan.

"Wah! Kya kheer hai!" (What delicious kheer ) declared Karan. "Now I know why bhabhiji is such a good cook!"

His friend's delighted mother-in-law gave him some more kheer . Poor Shyam! He tasted the bit of kheer in his plate. Yummmmmm! It was really delicious.

But he could not pick up courage to ask for more. He watched glumly as Karan ate happily. He certainly had no inhibitions. It wasn't his in-laws' house!

That night Shyam couldn't sleep. His empty stomach rumbled with hunger! The memory of the kheer haunted him. The sweet, milky taste still lingered on his palate, making him yearn for more kheer !

He tossed and turned on his bed. Sleep eluded him. The more he thought of the kheer he had foregone, the hungrier he felt!

Karan snored blissfully! Shyam angrily shook him awake.

"I'm hungry!" muttered Shyam.

"Raid the kitchen!" advised Karan.

"You too come with me!" whispered Shyam." You can warn me in case someone comes along."

The two friends made their way to the kitchen. Shyam never could see clearly in the dark!

"See that earthen pot hanging from the beam?" hissed Karan. "The kheer must be there."

Shyam fumbled with the pot. It broke and the kheer rained down his head and onto his face! He licked the kheer eagerly. Yummmmmmm! It was really delicious!

"Someone's coming!" muttered Karan. "RUN!"