There was a lonely island in a distant sea,
where fishermen and businessmen settled.
A businessman who lost his wife was living
with his old mother on the seashore.
The export-import businessman used to
travel to foreign countries to sell his goods.
When weather was not suitable for traveling,
he would spend his time with his mother.
The old lady used to tell the stories which she
heard in her childhood from her grandmother.
The youthful spring was everywhere sending its breeze
with the fragrance of mango blossoms.
The devotees walking through the dawn and
few of them were singing their chants to God.
When the weather was comfortable,
the businessman started his journey to seek
his fortunes and anchored his boat in a
harbour, where he met a young tourist who
wanted a conch Shell. The businessman who
used to collect the conch from the island
went to give the conch shell to the tourist.
While conversing, a businessman came to know
that the tourist’s mother is his distant relative.
The businessman who has marriageable
daughter talked about his daughter’s marriage.
The young tourist, who lost his wife a few years
ago, accepted this proposal and the next day he went
to meet businessman’s mother who seemed
to be his distant relative.
It was a fantastic meeting with businessman’s
mother, who could recognise the young tourist.
There was fruitful conversation about marriage
of tourist and businessman’s daughter.
The settlement was finalised without dowry as
both the families were known to each other.
Few days later, both the families assembled in
the marriage hall, which was decorated nicely.
At the auspicious moment, bride and bridegroom
exchanged their garland with sound of conch.
Eventually the marriage was celebrated and
the tourist felt relieved of a burdensome duty.
~Bhupesh Chandra Karmakar
New Delhi, India