Rose Fragrance (story)

 People of Mithila are expert in cooking. On Teej-festivals, different types of dishes are prepared in almost every house. Even the food on normal days is delicious. The people of Mithila region have a special attachment to colours. Art lovers have been using only natural colors in their paintings since ancient times. Mithila residents are also fragrance lovers. Almost every house will have flowering plants like Bela, Jasmine, Kachnar, Juhi, Kanak, Kateli Champa, Ratrani etc. in the courtyard of every house.

One day the King of Mithila was strolling in his flower garden. His ministers were with him. For some reason, when Gonu Jha came to meet Maharaj, Maharaj also called him to the flower garden.

Maharaj kept talking to his minister and giving some instructions. Gonu Jha kept walking with both of them. The minister was feeling happy in his heart that Maharaj was not giving importance to Gonu Jha. After giving instructions to the minister, Maharaj suddenly started saying to the minister – “Minister ji, whenever I come to this flower garden, I get enchanted. Whichever plant you go near, a special fragrance fills your mind. But among all these flowers I like roses more. It is beautiful to look at and the fragrance is such that it makes even the dullest heart happy. Is there any way to ensure that every plant I go to smells of roses?"

When the minister heard the words of the Maharaja, he was left speechless. He did not understand what answer he should give to the Maharaja. How can the fragrance of roses come from Kachnar? Any flower will give its own fragrance. What did the Maharaja think of? Suddenly the minister thought of a way to avert the trouble. He immediately said to Maharaj - "Maharaj! It does not seem right that I should answer this question while Gonu Jha is alive!"

Maharaj understood that the minister was not in a position to tell him any solution, hence he was postponing the matter. He smiled in his heart and then looked towards Gonu Jha.

Without wasting even a moment, Gonu Jha said - "Maharaj! Evening is approaching. You may feel cold. I will immediately bring you Dushala," and without Maharaj's approval he turned and went towards the palace.

The Maharaja continued strolling in the flower garden with the minister, as he had been strolling before.

Within a short while, Gonu Jha came there smiling softly. Stopped near Maharaj and respectfully placed the dushala on his shoulders. Maharaj wrapped one end of the towel around his chest and placed the other end on his shoulder. At that time Maharaj was among the roses. Drenched in the fragrance of roses!

Maharaj kept walking there for a while and then moving towards other flowers, he asked Gonu Jha - "Pandit ji! Is there any way so that the flowers I go near should smell of roses only?"

Gonu Jha smiled and said - "You will get the answer, Maharaj!"

Within a short time, they reached the end of the flower garden where a wonderful variety of white flowers like Bela, Juhi and Jasmine were scattered, but Maharaj could smell the fragrance of roses there too. Sweet fragrance! The king asked the minister - "What kind of fragrance is coming from these flowers?"

The minister said – “The mixed fragrance of Bela and Juhi!”

Maharaj repeated the same question to Gonu Jha also.

Gonu understood the meaning of Jha Maharaj's question. He said - "Maharaj, flowers have the same fragrance which is naturally present in them, but wherever you go, you will get the sweet fragrance of roses. You had ordered that I should tell you some such solution that wherever you go in this flower garden, You should also go, you may smell the roses. I have found that solution."

Till now the minister was expecting to see Gonu Jha hanging his face on this issue but after hearing Gonu Jha's words, his face paled.

The king asked - "Have you really done something like this? I am still experiencing the fragrance of roses."

Gonu Jha said smilingly – “I have not done anything. Just put a little rose perfume on your scarf."