Somu and Sumati, a couple, were rich but had no issues. He had hundreds of
acres of land and trillions of wealth and so they were unrivalled in the region in
having land and riches. Irony was that they were childless. They felt extremely sorry
about their issueless plight.
The people were commenting on them, “Somu and Sumati have all, except
children…What is that they are enjoying in their life…? Are they happy with their
riches and treasures? We don’t think that they are happy.”
Time fled without blessing them well with children. Their cherished dream of
having a child of their own was not fulfilled. They had the darshan of gods and
goddesses at various places. They performed ‘Yaga’ with all devotion. They waited
for the blessings of the divines. One fine day, they started smiling heartily in
happiness that knew no bounds.
Somu was seen smiling as never. The people, dear and near, in the region
were surprised at the smile on the face of Somu. They were eager to know the
reason for his smile. A man who was very close to him was curious to know the
secret. He thought that it would be great surprise, a surprise of surprises.
“I hope you have found a gold mine in your agricultural field while plowing,”
said his friend to Somu.
Somu smiled and smiled to surprise him highly. The reason was that it was a
million-dollar answer Somu was to give.
“We have never seen smile in your face. Now, your face is glittering like stars
in multitude in the sky. What happened? Let me know the reason for your charming
happiness,” said his friend curiously.
The old man Somu was very happy, but he did not reveal the secret of his
happiness soon. He wanted to surprise his friend and all.
“You are not revealing the secret of your joy…. I hope you have won a lottery
ticket,” said his friend.
“I am happy…very happy…very happy…I am indeed delighted to reveal the
secret of my joy…. My wife became pregnant… She is big with young… the most
joyous moment in my life,” said Somu.
“Wonderful news…the most wonderful news… Hearty congratulations to you
on the happy occasion…,” said all happily.
Time traversed in joy for Somu and Sumati… After nine months Sumati
delivered a female child to fulfil their long-cherished desire. It was the first happy
moment in their life as the couple and their faces glowed like the joys of newly
bloomed flowers.
The news became everybody’s talk in the region. It was the surprise of all
surprises and the wonder of all wonders as Sumati and Somu were blessed with a
daughter when they did not expect any issue at the age, they were. Somu was
happy like King Janaka who found a box with a baby in it while plowing the field.
On the day of child’s naming ceremony, all in the region were present sharing
the pleasures of the couple. They named the baby Divija happily and they felt that
she as a goddess had descended from heaven.
“You enjoy bringing up the child with love and affection… When you perform
your child Divija’s marriage, don’t send her to the house of her in-laws as a daughter-
in-law in her marriage. Instead, you can have your son-in-law, her husband, in your
house. It is the best choice of yours,” said all women in one voice.
All clapped and cheered on the happy occasion of the naming ceremony of
their child. They expressed their happy views in diverse ways,
“Sumati and Somu are lucky to be blessed with a daughter in the age.”
“God as Creator knows how to bless you as parents.”
“A boy to marry Divija is growing somewhere to become the son-in-law of
Somu and Sumati.”
Somu and Sumati were happy because of the advice given by all guests.
They hoped to have Divija looking after them in their old age even after her marriage
if they keep their son-in-law in their house.
Divija was growing happily and healthily. As parents, Somu and Sumati were
very happy in bringing her up with lovely care.
… … … … …
Time passed in the incessant flow for children to grow into youths. They were
to enjoy the spring of their youth.
A group of youths were in the mood to conduct a group discussion sitting
under a neem tree. They were free to discuss any matter they liked. Suddenly a
youth named Sankalp expressed his happiness in reaching his goal by means of his
sheer hard work. He said to others,
“Without efforts nothing can be gained…Fruits wait for those who make
sincere efforts. My achievement is quintessential for that.”
Some of them supported Sankalp’s view, clapping and congratulating him on
his success by means of his hard work. Others were silent by not congratulating him
as they were indifferent to his opinion.
“I can achieve anything in a fraction of time if I want. It is my will power… It is
my specialty and specificity,” said Dheeraj sportively. His friends clapped supporting
his view.
“How come?” said Sankalp.
“Yes, what I say is right…Not only I but also many are coming up overnight
without shedding sweat and toiling hard, “said Dheeraj stressing his view.
“What you say is not correct…The achievement that they get is not real
achievement,” said Sankalp.
“No… No… You do not know the fact that no efforts are needed to have
success…I was irregular to classes. I was not a hardworking student. I did not study
well to pass the examination…Just I resorted to malpractice and passed the
examination…I know businessmen and political leaders who became rich magnets in
a short time without working hard. It is not possible to you as you talk of efforts and
hard work to reap success… It is sheer nonsense, you have talked,” said Dheeraj
confidently.
His friends supported him as they all got through the examination just by
copying. They said they had knacks and tactics of copying in the examination. They
said openly feeling credit for their success,
“Luck favors those who know knacks and tactics, gimmicks and tricks.”
Finally, there were two groups, one, Sankalp, supporting one group saying
hard work is essential, the other, Dheeraj supporting those who preferred knacks and
tactics to have success in false ways.
Sankalp and his supporters tried his best to convince Dheeraj in many ways,
but he was never convinced.
Dheeraj kept on referring to his ways, supporting himself. “First, if luck favors,
we are surely bestowed success on us. Secondly, we can achieve success by
means of tricks and knacks, gimmicks and tactics…No ‘thirdly’… only two ways,”
said Dheeraj.
Sankalp hoped that Dheeraj would refer to efforts and hard work to have
success in life one fine day.
Sankalp and Dheeraj had confidence in respective ways and so they were not
convinced with those of each other. Their topic became debatable and with two
groups, their group discussion transformed into a debate.
“Dear friend, I will show I shall come up in life in my own ways well before you
come up in life. You become old when you find yourself struggling and working hard
to come up. I show many people working hard but they have not witnessed
progress… Even then I wish you all success, my friend,” said Dheeraj confidently.
Sankalp felt discouraged but he never deviated from his path. He continued to
work hard to reach his goal. He believed in toiling like ants and working hard like
bees. He adopted the ideal profession of teaching, keeping rishis of olden golden
days in his view.
Dheeraj was seen now and then spending his time idly. He did not mind
getting a job like Sankalp. He did some trifles and spent his time. All thought that he
would never come up in life.
… … … …
Somu and Sumati were happy to perform marriage of their daughter Divija.
They were searching for a suitable match for their lovely daughter. They recalled
what the women had said when the naming ceremony of their child was celebrated
grandly. They searched for a boy who was ready to come to their house as a son-in-
law to live with them lifelong.
In their search, they found only the youth Dheeraj ready to live in their house
as son-in-law lifelong. They thought that he was the most suitable youth as he was
ready to live with them as son-in-law as per wish.
When Somu and Sumati contacted Dheeraj, he came to visit their house
happily. When they expressed their view to him, he readily welcomed their view.
The parents of Dheeraj were also happy keeping in view the treasures: land
and trillions of Somu and Sumati.
It was the beautifully decorated venue for the marriage of Divija and Dheeraj.
Divija entered the venue amidst the tunes of musical instruments. The priest was
chanting matrimonial mantras. Dheeraj joined Divija on the stage with all smiles.
All the guests started to comment on the bride and bridegroom while
witnessing their marriage:
“Dheeraj achieved his goal of marrying a girl from a rich family. Now he is the
owner of hundreds of acres of land and a lot of riches…Wonderful... If luck favors,
one can achieve one’s goal. Dheeraj is happy as he achieved his goal successfully
in his own way.”
“Every youth should get a bride with all treasures… There is no youth as lucky
as Dheeraj to have all…One shot and two birds…Divija and the riches of her
parents.”
“Let him have all but he has to live in the house of in-laws.”
“In-laws are very old…Management of the family will be in the hands of
Dheeraj…
How lucky he is…! Really, he is lucky.”
Dheeraj met his friends, Sankalp and others at the venue in the hall. They all
congratulated him heartily.
Guests had bountiful banquet…They relished the dishes of multiple variety.
They often talked of Dheeraj for his unrivalled luck in finding Divija as his better half.
It was the talk of the wedding, echoing in every corner of the function hall.
… … … …
Divija and Dheeraj were on their honeymoon enjoying the sights and sounds
in nature and the carving and chiseling of sculptures in famous temples.
Divija and Dheeraj were watching the beauty of nature for their gaiety. The
sight they were enjoying first was enchanting with exuberant verdant plants in
multitude. The freshly bloomed flowers filled the park with fragrance. Butterflies were
hovering round flowers. Birds were singing. In the inspiring beautiful sights with
melodies of songbirds, they opened their conversation:
“I congratulate myself on marrying you, a beautiful woman… I hope you
congratulate me in the same spirit,” said Dheeraj happily.
“I too congratulate you on the happy occasion…I am happy that you promised
to live with us and help my parents in their old age,” said Divija.
“Surely, I help your parents as they made me reach my goal of becoming rich
without hard work…It is my long-cherished wish…It came true when I became the
owner of acres of land and treasures of wealth… On the happiest moment I
congratulate myself… We congratulate each other on my success ... I opened my
heart, welcoming you to dwell in it. Like me, you can welcome your heart,” said
Dheeraj, smiling heartily.
“Now I am happy to express my views like you…,” said Divija.
“Most welcome, I am ready to listen to your views,” said Dheeraj.
“You may find my views indifferent to your liking… You are the owner of my
treasures and wealth for the name’s sake only… Mind it… To all intents and
purposes, I am the owner of my land and treasures,” said Divija looking into the sky.
Dheeraj fell into deep thoughts for a while…Finally, he thought that however,
he had reached the goal of becoming rich overnight without any hard work and
struggle. Meanwhile Divija called Dheeraj touching his shoulders.
“You are to know my feelings… You need to remember one main thing that
you should not reveal it to others especially to my friends that you are the owner of
your land and riches. Let it be a secret…the secret of secrets…,” said Dheeraj
looking at doves on the tree nearby.
There were two doves sitting on a branch and courting in love. It was a sight
clearly visible to them as newly married couple. They sang their first duet, dancing in
grace. They went further to visit the beauty of carving and chiseling of sculptures in
happy moods. After their honeymoon, they came back home.
One day Dhreeraj met Sankalp and other friends. All congratulated him once
again on his success in reaching his goal of becoming rich sans working hard.
All were happy and hilarious at their meeting. One of his supporters was
laughing at him, expressing his views,
“Dheeraj, you lose your freedom in all respects in the house of in-laws though
you are the owner of Somu’s properties. You are the owner for the name’s sake… It
happens so when a son-in-law lives at the house of his in-laws. It is just the gist of
your life in detail in the house of in-laws.”
All laughed wholeheartedly but Dheeraj didn’t. He looked into the sky.
Published:
Literary Vibes - Edition CLXVI (296-Jun-2026) - SHORT STORIES
https://positivevibes.today/article/newsview/639#IF%20LUCK%20FAVORS
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