The whole village was talking about the death of Mrs Kaur last night. Vechara was running from the village and saw Doctor Sahib walking home, he quickly paced towards him and thought about getting some clues as to what had happened, he asked `Doctor Sahib, how did Mrs Kaur die?'
Doctor Sahib replied, `I know how saddened you must be, but don't worry she ...'
Before he could finish, Vechara interrupted. He wasn't sad at all and asked , `Doctor Sahib, some people are saying it was suicide. But, even though I never talked to her, I feel like I really knew her from all the gossip I've heard over the years. And I can confidently say suicide was not in her nature, just think about it - she never committed suicide before did she? So why would she suddenly break a habit of a lifetime? I have a better theory Doctor Sahib, I reckon she was a monster mother-in-law. From all the things I've heard about her and family I'd say she was murdered. Just hear me out Doctor Sahib. She had 2 children didn't she?'
-`Yes.'
-`How many were girls?' continued Vechara
-`None' said the Doctor
-`So we can safely say she didn't know how to treat girls, and were there any sons?'
- `Obviously !'
Vechara stumbled on with his logic, `Now Doctor, only the the youngest son, Santa, was married and he's the one who had the most to gain from Mrs Kaur's death. From what my wife's friends have been telling me, Santa's wife was living like a slave under that tyrant of a mother-in-law. I was just talking to Santa this morning about the village feuds last week. I know someone in their family died so I asked him `Was it you or your older brother Banta that was killed' he burst out crying_very suspicious if you ask me ..false tears. He was definitely covering something up so I continued. `I heard Banta's horse and cart were involved in a collison with another one. If that really happened then tell me how far apart were they at the time of impact?' More false tears came pouring out, he wanted me to stop but I had to find out the truth Doctor Sahib, so I asked him `If you really cared about Banta did you stay with his body until the time you left?' I think I must have struck a raw nerve as he leaped forward and grabbed me by the throat. But the truth had to be known so I continued my questioning ` Look Santa, I dont believe Banta was killed in that fictitious accident. I heard you killed him along with your mother last night so you'd inherit the farm and free your wife from a life of slavery.' What happened next is unbelievable Doctor Sahib, he started strangling me with both hands! My face was as red as a beetroot and I couldn't breathe! Doctor you're probably wondering whether he killed me or not, but rest assured I survived! See Doctor Sahib violence is in their nature, and even though Santa says 100 people witnessed the accident, I don't believe him for a second. And Doctor Sahib you shouldn't believe anything he says either. if I was you I'd do a full autopsy on Mrs Kaur.
Doctor Sahib looked at Vechara in disbelief, `Vechara she was 126 years old!'.
Moral of the story ----------------------
God has given us a tongue and mind. We can either use them to sing God's Praise by singing Shabads or we can gossip and slander, lie and deceive. We can talk and talk useless words, babbling on like poor old Vechara Singh and land ourselves in deep trouble, or we can do `waheguru waheguru' naam simran starting at amritvela (before 6am) and land at the feet of God. It's upto us...'what you sow is what you reap'.
Guru Amar Das Jee lovingly tells us in the Song of Bliss Anand Sahib:
This song of praise is the Shabad, the most beautiful Word of God. This beauteous Shabad is the everlasting song of praise, spoken by the True Guru. This is enshrined in the minds of those who are so pre-destined by the Lord. Some wander around, babbling on and on, but none obtain Him by babbling. Says Nanak, the Shabad, this song of praise, has been spoken by the True Guru. || 16 || (translation from Gurbanee CD).
Posted by Harjit Singh Lakhan