Week 14 Story: Forgiveness

Dushmanta was about to pull out a radish from his garden when his ears perked up. Had he really heard it? He stayed quiet and then heard the name again: Sakuntala. It had been four years since he had last seen his wife, the one that he had forgotten due to a curse. He looked up and between the bushes he could see two women and a small boy.

He sprang to his feet and called over his messenger. 

"Please, go to those women and the boy. Ask them about the woman named Sakuntala." The messenger nodded and quickly went to catch up with the trio. When the messenger came back, he confirmed Dushmanta's hopes. The women knew Sakuntala, and were even good friends.

A few days passed. Dushmanta was waiting outside his hut for the women to walk by again. Praying that he would be lucky enough to get the chance to talk with them. He decided to take a break and take a walk around the forest. Hands behind his back, he strolled through the brilliantly colored trees and vines, with frogs and stones near every other foot. Dushmanta heard a low growl, and then a boy's voice. He turned to the right and peered through the low shrubs.

A young boy with curly black hair had a huge smile on his face. He was wrestling with a tiger cub, and the mother tiger was closely watching them.

Dushmanta called out to the boy, "Young one! Come here, come here." The boy turned, still with a smile on his face, and ran to the man with arms out stretched. As soon as he saw the boy's face, Dushmanta knew that this was his son. 

He hugged the boy and asked, "Why are you out here wrestling with these beasts?" 

Before the boy could answer, the two women appeared. "He's just like his mother, never afraid of any animal. However, she was born to sakuntas, thus her name, Sakuntala."

Dushmanta's heart beat with happiness. At last, he had found her, but he dare not tell the women who he was. He asked the boy to come see him more, and he nodded, still with a bright smile on his face.

The next time the boy came to Dushmanta, he noticed the paintings Dushmanta had made four years ago, when Sakuntala first went missing. 

"That's my mom!"
Dushmanta looked at the young boy and softly said, "Oh? Could you take me to her for a visit?" The boy nodded and took Dushmanta's hand, leading him to the little village in the forest.

As soon as Dushmanta walked through the front gate, his eye's met with Sakuntala's. His eyes filled with tears and he rushed over to Sakuntala and placed his head at her feet. 

"Please, dear wife, forgive me! I forgot you then, but I swear to never forget you again. How could I do such a thing? Please. Please forgive me."
Sakuntala lifted his chin softly with her hands until Dushmanta stood.

"Dear husband," she said lovingly, "I gave myself to you forever. I forgive you because I love you, and forever we shall be together." 

She turned to her son and smiled, saying, "Bharat, this is your father. He followed his heart, and he found you."

After some time in the village, Dushmanta asked Sakuntala and Bharat to return to the kingdom with him. She asked him to give her some time to ponder it, and eventually she agreed, as long as he promised they would return to the forest someday.

The little family returned to the kingdom, and Sakuntala became one of the greatest, most devout queen that was ever known. When it was Bharat's turn to take the throne, he was known as the most pure king to have ever ruled.

In old age, Dushmanta and Sakuntala returned to the forest, where they lived in happiness and love until the end of their days.

(The forest, Pixabay)

Author's Note

Dushmanta used to live in the kingdom, where he ruled, but after he was given back his ring and regained his memories of marrying Sakuntala, he knew could not rule without her. The now hermit Dushmanta has lived in the forest for four years, hoping that he'll someday fine Sakuntala. He tends his garden and lives a quiet life. One day, he over hears two women passing by say his love's name. He immediately sends his aide to ask them questions about Sakuntala. There was a young boy with jet black, curly hair, and once Dushmanta heard this he knew it was Sakuntala and her son, but the women and child had already left. A couple of days later, he finds the same young boy wrestling with a tiger cub. He calls the boy to him, and the little boy does. Dushmanta immediately knows that this is his son. The two women who were watching him go over and they talk about his mother, who happens to live in a nearby village with the women. Dushmanta does not tell these friends of hers who he is, but he asks for the boy to visit him more. One day when the little boy is visiting, he notices the paintings of his mother. The little boy takes Dushmanta to Sakuntala, who already knows who the stranger is. Dushmanta falls at her feet asking for forgiveness, but Sakuntala asks him to stand and she kisses his feet saying he is her love and husband forever. After a few heartfelt words are exchanged, Dushmanta asks Sakuntala to come back to the kingdom and rule with him. At first, she does not want to, but eventually she goes with him and becomes one of the greatest queens known. When their son, Bharat, became old enough, Dushmanta placed him on the throne, and Dushmanta and Sakuntala returned to the forest and lived the rest of their life in peace and happiness together.

I think this part of the story was the greatest way it could have ended. Dushmanta asked for forgiveness, which was given, and Sakuntala still loved him despite the hurt she felt because she understood that it wasn't Dushmanta's fault. True love will always return. I loved the ending and that Dushmanta took Sakuntala back to her true home, the forest. I decided to take out the part where Sakuntala kisses Dushmanta's feet and instead included a heartfelt sentence. I also added the part where she tells her son that Dushmanta is his father, because in the original story it didn't really do that.

  Bibliography: Sakuntala, by Sunity Devee from "Nine Ideal Indian Women" pages 77-81.