Change of heart – A story of a dacoit

King Mangalsen of Pratapgarh was brave and mighty. His empire spread far and wide. He used to hold a court every evening. In his court, he used to listen to the problems of the people. He always tried to ensure that everyone in his kingdom was happy. He made every possible effort to solve their problems.

All the people liked their generous king very much. The king considered it his duty to serve the destitute. He used to donate food, clothes and money to the needy. No one had any kind of complaint against their king. There was happiness and peace in the entire state.

The king had prepared a good army of elephants and horses for the security of his kingdom. The king himself was very fond of horse riding. He had a favorite horse whose name was Pawan. When he ran, it seemed as if he was flying in the air. His wind speed and tall stature were talked about far and wide. The king loved Pawan like his own son. King Mangalsen often used to go horse riding with his dear friend and minister, Sohanpal.

Some notorious dacoits had camped in the forests of the state and the leader of those dacoits was Gulab Singh. Wherever Gulab Singh went, terror spread. People were afraid of his name. Whenever the king’s soldiers received news of an attack by bandits, they immediately reach there. But by the time the robbers left after looting.

The soldiers made several unsuccessful attempts to find the bandits in the forests. The king wanted the bandits to be caught and put to death so that there would be no unrest in the state.

Once, a guest stayed in the king’s royal guest house. He was well taken care of. While leaving on the third day, the guest expressed his desire to meet the king and the soldiers conveyed the information to the king. The king sent for the guest.

The guest said – “I have heard that you fulfill all the needs and desires of your people, is this true?”

The king said – You tell me, I will definitely fulfill your wish.”

The guest said – “Our house is towards the forests, there we are always short of money and food.”

The king ordered the soldiers to present gold coins before the guest. We do not want anyone to face any kind of trouble in our kingdom.”

Then the guest said – “We also have a great need for horses. There are very few horses for commuting.”

The king said – “You are our guest. You have asked us for something today, we will definitely give you a horse.”

Then the king ordered the soldier to present a good horse of tall stature to serve the guest. But the guest interrupted and said – “Maharaj, I do not want any other horse but only pawan. If you can give me that horse, then I do not want anything else. You distribute this wealth among the people below poverty.”

King Mangalsen was surprised and said – “Do you know what you are asking for? Pawan is not my horse, he is like my son.”

The guest said – “I know very well that Pawan is your favorite horse. I have heard a lot of talk about his height and appearance, that is why I want to get Pawan.”

The king was confused after listening to the guest. He was feeling angry inside at the guest’s words, but he was not able to understand how to refuse the guest for Pawan. Seeing the king silent, the guest said – “Let it be, I will get your horse Pawan one day myself.” Then the guest took off his turban from his head and said – Well… my name is Gulab Singh. Now I neither want your horse nor your wealth.” “I will achieve this on my own strength.”

The king became alert and shouted loudly – “Dacoit Gulab Singh, catch him, don’t let him go.”

But Gulab Singh was already standing ready. He quickly jumped out and galloped away on his already prepared horse. The king’s soldiers ran after Gulab Singh, but within a few moments he disappeared from sight and the soldiers kept watching.

After this the king became very alert. He arranged for many guards to take care of Pawan. These soldiers used to guard around Pawan day and night. Slowly a few months passed, but no incident happened. The king and the soldiers were sure that this was the jackal rage of dacoit Gulab Singh, which could not be fulfilled.

One day King Mangalsen went out for horse riding in the morning with his friend Sohanpal. Both people kept riding the horse for a long time. When both of them started getting tired, both of them decided to return.

As the afternoon was approaching, King Mangalsen’s eyes fell on a man who was groaning in pain and bleeding. The king pointed in that direction to Sohanpal and when both the men got down from their horses and went to the man, the man quickly stood up and had a pistol in his hand. The king noticed carefully that this was the same man who had come to his place as a guest and was calling himself dacoit Gulab Singh.

Before the king could say anything, he jumped and rode on Pawan. A person hiding behind a tree came out and quickly sat on Sohanpal’s horse. Dacoit Gulab Singh said – “I am fulfilling the promise I had made. I am snatching away your horse.”

Even before the king could say anything, Gulab Singh and his companions started to make the horses run, but Pawan knew his master. He refused to move forward. Pawan raised both his front legs and gave a strong blow and Gulab Singh fell down. Meanwhile, Sohanpal’s horse also knocked down Gulab Singh’s companion. Mangalsen was watching this spectacle, but did not say anything. Meanwhile, Gulab Singh and his companion tried several times to run away on the horse, but the horse thrashed them and made both their efforts futile.

Then King Mangalsen came to the dacoit Gulab Singh and said – “You know that I love Pawan like a son, yet you are trying to snatch him away. If ever in future you get separated from your son, you will definitely feel this pain.”

Saying this, Mangalsen patted the horse’s back as if giving him permission to go with Gulab Singh. Pawan understood what his master said and went away with Gulab Singh.

After reaching his hideout, dacoit Gulab Singh kept thinking again and again. In front of him his wife was breastfeeding their six-month old child. Don’t know why today Gulab Singh’s stone heart was melting like wax. He started loving his son again and again and started remembering the king’s words. He felt that if he got separated from his son, he would not be able to bear the pain. His wife will go out of control crying over separation from her son.

Gulab Singh started thinking that till date he has already taken the lives of countless people and looted them. All of them are also someone’s son or father. How would they have tolerated this separation? The dacoit Gulab Singh kept thinking the whole night and could not sleep properly. He started having a change of heart.

In the morning itself he reached the palace with his companions. He surrendered by handing over his weapons to the king. The king’s horse was handed over to Raja’s soldiers. He said to the king – “Maharaja, you have changed my heart by handing over your son-like horse to me. Till today I had not even realized how many fathers and sons I have separated from each other. Today I have to face my  repent for what I did and am ready to face the punishment for it. God has made you a king and sent you to earth so that you can save us all.”

Dacoit Gulab Singh was speaking passionately. Gulab Singh realized his mistake. That’s why king forgiven him. He also appointed him as the commander of my army. I want you to use your power in the right direction. Do it and protect your country.”

All the people were looking at King Mangalsen with surprised eyes. Hearing the king’s justice, a wave of happiness ran on everyone’s lips and they bowed before the king.

Suddenly thunderous applause echoed in the meeting and people started cheering the king.

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