God's Grace - A Short Story

 God's Grace

     "Lakshman, how will you separate the jute fibre?", ask Motilal. Lakshman replied, "God's grace". Yes, it was the story of Lakshman and Motilal. Lakshman was a pious man who had great faith in God, while Motilal was a practical man who believed in logic. It was not that he did not believe in God, but he was not a blind believer. They both lived in a village, called Serpur. It was a large village and most of the villagers had agricultural land. So, they did not have any food problem. With them lived a few vendors, shop-owners, pundits etc. Government service did not enter the village like government facilities. The villagers lived by their own means. The world affairs were useless things for them. They were engrossed in their own matters, i.e.existence.

     The agricultural land was an asset for the villagers. It was their means of existence. After a great rice harvesting, the time for jute came. Most of the villagers did not saw jute-seeds fearing lower rainfall. But lakshman saw jute-seeds and knew God must send rain. Leaving jute others sawed rice which was costly and low yielding after one harvest. But fear forced the villagers to show it. 

     Lakshman worked in his field very hard, watered his field from a farmer's water-pump on agreement of 10% of the yield. He had to buy fertilizers, insecticides and weedicides to apply in his field. All these made his jute plants healthy and tall. Seeing them others always gossiped about the end result."How would Lakshman separate the jute fibre?" There was no rain and no prediction of coming. It seemed that in spite of Lakshman, the villagers were in trouble with the jute plant while Lakshman seemed relaxed. He knew that God would help.

   One day, while Lakshman was working in his field, Motilal loudly asked, "Lakshman, how will you separate the jute fibre?" Lakshman replied, "God's grace." Motilal wished that it might be. Then the time of cutting came, Lakshman seemed little troubled. But he had cut the jute plants, otherwise the fibre would decrease in quality. It was decided that next day he would cut the jute plants. He was thinking of the water-body to separate the fibre, but could not find the answer. That thought made Lakshman sleepy and he felt asleep in the field. 

    In the afternoon, he was awoken by the rumble of the clouds. and left for home. From afternoon to the morning, there was great rainfall. All the low areas were filled with water. Lakshman said, "God's grace!"

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