By the time the king reached the peepal tree, he found the corpse hanging back in its place. He again pulled the corpse onto his shoulder and walked towards his destination.
However, he had hardly gone a little distance when Betal in the corpse spoke up, “Why are you walking in such monotony?”
“I don’t want to hear anything from you,” rebuked the king.
“But I can’t travel such a long distance quietly,” said the ghost slyly. “If you want to take me to the wicked sage, you must listen to my stories and answer me at the end, if you know the answer.”
The king had no option but to hear his tale. Betal started his story, and the king listened keenly. After all, he had to answer the ghost’s query in the end!

Once upon a time, in a city named Pratishthana, there lived a Brahmin named Shivam Dubey. The Brahmin had a young, handsome son named Prafull Kant, who acquired higher education in the ancient knowledge of the Vedas and Shastras. The proud father was looking forward to his marriage to a suitable girl, but a sudden illness did not allow his dream to come true. Shivam Dubey could not be saved despite all efforts. Prafull Kant proved himself a dutiful son and took good care of the family after his father’s death.
Time passed. One day, Prafull Kant visited his friend’s marriage reception, where he met a very beautiful girl from his community named Premlata. Premlata’s beauty and delicacy captivated Prafull Kant. He proposed marriage to her, which she accepted with a rosy blush, as she too had liked the handsome young man. Soon, the two families met, and their marriage was solemnized.

Premlata lived up to her name and filled Prafull Kant’s life with love. Never before had he relished such happiness. The satisfaction of finding the company of a nice, caring, and beautiful life partner can’t be compared to anything. So, Prafull Kant was very happy and grateful to God.
However, destiny had a cruel plan for him. One day, while the couple was bathing in a river, Premlata’s feet slipped into a sudden, dangerous ditch. Before Prafull Kant could react, she slipped into the death trap and drowned.

Prafull Kant was devastated. He could not believe that his dear wife was gone. Unable to accept and bear the tragedy, he slowly began losing his senses. He was constantly indulged in the fond memory of his wife. Unable to emerge from this situation, his condition gradually worsened. He neglected his work, food, and clothes. Prafull Kant’s mental state was close to madness. In his illusion, he would keep remembering Premlata and talking to her. Family members and friends considered him mad. All day, he would roam from one place to another.

One day, while wandering, Prafull Kant reached the home of his father’s friend, Soumitra. Soumitra took pity on his condition and persuaded him to stay with them for a few days.
One day, Soumitra’s wife prepared a sweet dish made of milk and rice. Very fondly, she served it to Prafull Kant and then became busy with some work. Prafull Kant took the dessert bowl in his hand and went out into the garden. He sat under a tree and began eating from the bowl, but his condition was not sound. He was still thinking about his dear wife. He placed the bowl on the grassy ground and began chatting and complaining to his deceased wife in his illusion.

Meanwhile, a cobra that lived in the anthill under the tree came out and tasted the sweet dish, inadvertently mixing its venom into it. Prafull Kant, who was absorbed in his own world, did not notice the snake. Later, the snake returned to its hole.

After some time, when Prafull Kant came out of his illusion, he began eating the sweet dish. Hardly had he eaten a small amount when he began feeling the effects of the poison on his body. He rushed towards the house, shouting and accusing the lady of the house of poisoning the sweet dish. Prafull Kant mistakenly believed that she had intentionally mixed poison in the sweet dish to kill him. Hearing the accusations and shouting, Soumitra came out, but before he could do anything, Prafullkant died.
Shocked and baffled, Soumitra thought that his wife had indeed poisoned the sweet dish. Without thinking much, he blamed his wife, saying, “You’re a killer. What enmity did you have with this hapless man? Why did you kill him?”

The wife tried to plead her innocence, but the furious Soumitra did not listen to her at all. Saddened and dejected by her husband’s blame and mistrust, the innocent wife, in sheer disappointment, jumped into the well and took her own life.
Betal ended his tale here and then asked, “Vikram, tell me who was responsible for the death of Soumitra’s wife ? Was it Prafull Kant, Soumitra, or the Snake?”
Dear readers, who do you consider guilty for the death of Soumitra’s wife? Make your choice and see how Vikramaditya responds.

Vikramaditya replied, “Betal, no one was actually responsible for the misfortune. Prafull Kant blamed Soumitra’s wife in his incoherence. Since Soumitra did not know the truth, he considered his wife guilty and thus blamed her. Soumitra’s wife was dejected by the baseless allegation, and so she ended her life. Thus, no one should actually be considered the culprit for the misfortune. It was destined to happen like this, and so it happened.”
Betal was convinced by the king’s judgment. However, as soon as the king answered his question, Betal flew into the sky, leaving the king annoyed and running after him.

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