SAMRADITYA SAGA Part 4 - DISORDER OF ENMITY

A helping hand

On an auspicious day, Dhan departed from Susharm with Dhanshri, Nandak and the entire caravan. Vaishraman, Sridevi, Purnabhadra, Gomti and all other family members went till the outskirts of the city to bid them farewell. After seeing them off, they returned home with a heavy heart.

Sridevi and Vaishraman returned to their mansion. The mansion seemed lonely. There was sadness on Vaishraman’s face. Sridevi’s eyes were moist.

“Swami, despite having a son, we have become childless now.”

“Devi, don’t say or believe so. Our son is with us only. Let’s pray that there are no obstacles in his trip. Perhaps, this is how the world runs. Attachment towards people results in sorrow. Alright, I will get busy with my business work. Thus, this separation won’t disturb me too much. You too get occupied with religious activities and good deeds. These are all games of the mind. By keeping our mind occupied in other activities, it will feel light and happy.”

“You are right. Now, I will pray to God and spend most of my day in spirituality. Anyway, you come home in the evening. I will have your company then.”

“If you want, I’ll stay at home in the daytime too. As you know, our office and business is handled by the employees only.”  

***

Dhan’s caravan kept moving ahead. He didn’t face any obstacle or hardships on the way. Nobody had any sort of trouble! Dhanshri also behaved well with Dhan. Nandak had cautioned her beforehand. ‘Keep distance from me. If people of the caravan find out about us knowingly or unknowingly, then we will face a lot of criticism. Keep some control on yourself.’

Dhanshri also understood.

After two months of travel, the caravan reached Tamralipti. Dhan and Nandak went to the king’s court with gifts. He bowed down to King Prasenjeet, introduced himself and explained his purpose of visiting Tamralipti. He gifted expensive gems to the king.

The king said, “You can do business nicely in my kingdom. You can buy and sell whatever you like.”

Dhan bought a beautiful house in Tamralipti. He even bought an office in the market. The people who had accompanied him also settled as per their capacity. Dhan’s duty was only upto taking them to Tamralipti, not to bring them back to Susharm.

Dhan started selling the commodities which he had loaded on five hundred bullock carts in Susharm. Within two months, everything was sold off. But he didn’t make as much profit as he should’ve made. However, according to Nandak, they had earned a good profit.

Dhanshri also said, “So much profit could not have been earned in Susharm.”

But Dhan had seen crores of rupees in his house. Therefore, how would he find one or two crores enough? He wanted ten to twenty crores. He was the son of the wealthy merchant Vaishraman after all! He had high ambitions and expectations. Because it was his wish to donate generously to the needy and uplift their state of living. He wanted to donate even more than Vaishraman.

Dhan said to Nandak, “My friend, I still wish to earn a lot more. This is a port city. Everyday, I go to the port and see many ships from all over the world. They come and go from here. What if we go to the other side of the sea and do business? We will be able to earn beyond our imagination. Tell me, what is your wish?”

“I have no independent wish! I am ready to do whatever you like. Though I do miss and think of my parents sometimes! If possible, let us return home at the earliest so that even they get happy!”

“Hey! It has only been four months since we left home. Our parents know that once we go abroad, it will at least be a year or two before we return home.”