The Tale of Sishir and Basanta - Part 2

Basanta stood alone in the cold, dark jungle, shivering as he waited for his brother to return with fire. Every rustle of leaves made his heart race, thinking his brother had finally arrived. But it was never him. The night dragged on, and when the sun rose, there was still no sign of his brother.

A New Journey Begins

Left with no choice, Basanta set off on his own to search for his brother. His soft, royal hands and feet were torn by thorns as he struggled through the jungle. Eventually, he reached a town and found a shop owned by a greedy merchant.

The merchant, seeing Basanta’s handsome and youthful appearance, saw an opportunity. He asked Basanta to stay, promising to treat him like a son since he had no children. The merchant thought Basanta would help his business grow, and with no other options, Basanta agreed to stay and work.

The Merchant's Fortune

Sure enough, as soon as Basanta began working, the merchant’s business doubled. Day by day, the merchant became wealthier, and to his delight, his wife also gave birth to a child. With his growing wealth and family, the merchant started to see Basanta as unnecessary.

The merchant, blinded by greed, forgot that it was Basanta’s presence that had brought him success. He began to plot against him, thinking that now he had a child, Basanta was of no use.

Basanta Endures in Silence

Despite sensing the merchant’s ill will, Basanta stayed quiet. To escape the growing tension, he often wandered into the woods, where he would sing songs about his life and the brother he had lost. His songs were so beautiful that the animals in the forest would stop and listen in silence.

One day, the king was hunting in the forest and overheard Basanta’s song. Drawn to the voice, he approached and found the young man singing. “Who are you?” the king asked.

“I am just an unfortunate boy,” Basanta replied.

But the king didn’t believe him. He sensed there was more to Basanta’s story and decided to take him to the palace. There, the king raised Basanta like his own son. Years passed, and when Basanta came of age, the king arranged for him to marry a princess.

A Return to the Past

Though Basanta was happy with his new life, he couldn’t shake the thought of the merchant who had taken him in during his time of need. Feeling a sense of duty, he decided to visit the merchant and explain what had happened. The king, generous as always, loaded Basanta with dowry and gifts for the journey.

But as Basanta neared the merchant’s house, he reconsidered. The merchant was already wealthy and didn’t need anything. So, he sent the servants and gifts back to the palace.

The Merchant's Betrayal

When Basanta arrived at the merchant’s home, the merchant greeted him with surprise. “Where have you been all this time? And who is this beautiful girl with you?”

Basanta, wanting to avoid trouble, told the merchant that he had been away on important business and that the girl was merely a servant. The merchant, however, was immediately smitten by her beauty and began plotting again.

This time, the merchant hired six leather workers to craft a sturdy sack. With their help, he trapped Basanta inside and threw him into the river. Believing he could now take Basanta’s wife for himself, the merchant brought her to the king’s palace, hoping to gain favor.

The king, Shishir, was struck by the girl’s beauty but remained loyal to his own wife. Instead, he believed she might be the perfect bride for his long-lost brother, Basanta. Curious about Basanta’s fate, the king sent out word that he was looking for someone who knew the story of “Shishir and Basanta.”

A Twist of Fate

Meanwhile, the river carried Basanta downstream, where a group of fishermen spotted the sack floating in the water. They pulled it to shore and, upon opening it, found Basanta inside. An old fisherman, touched by his plight, took Basanta home and treated him like his own son.

News of the king’s search for someone who knew the tale of Shishir and Basanta reached Basanta. Curious, Basanta sent word to the palace, claiming he knew part of the story. He was summoned immediately but chose not to reveal his identity right away, feeling unworthy after all he had been through.

When he arrived, the king asked eagerly, “Do you know the story of Shishir and Basanta?”

“Not all of it,” Basanta replied, “but I can tell you what happened after they were separated in the jungle.”

The king, intrigued, asked him to continue but promised not to cry until the story was over. Basanta began recounting their childhood, their troubles in the jungle, and his lonely night waiting for his brother to return with fire. The king’s eyes welled up, but Basanta gently reminded him of his promise.

The Reunion

Finally, Basanta told the story of how he had married a princess and returned to the merchant, only to be betrayed and thrown into the river. At this, the king broke down, believing his brother was lost forever.

“Why are you so sorrowful, my lord?” Basanta asked gently. “Basanta is not dead.”

The king’s face lit up with hope. “Are you sure? If that’s true, we’ll meet again someday. Please, tell me more.”

Basanta continued, explaining how the fishermen saved him and how he came to realize that the king was his own brother. Before Basanta could finish, Shishir leapt from his throne and embraced him, tears of joy in his eyes.

“My brother!” Shishir exclaimed. “I’ve kept your bride safe. The merchant brought her here, but I saved her for you.”

A Happy Ending

The king ordered his soldiers to bring Basanta’s wife. As soon as she saw him, she ran to him, crying, “My lord!”

With Basanta and his wife reunited, their happiness was complete. The brothers were together again, and nothing more was needed to make their joy perfect.