Prabodh Kumar Govil ki Laghukathayen

1. "Embers and Stars"

When the world was well-formed, all activities started systematically. Bread began to be made in every household.

Even where there were no houses, bread was made. Under trees, on the roadside, two bricks or stones were put together, embers were kindled between them, and bread was made.

Whether stoves were made of clay, iron, or stone, bread was made.

Whether there was smoke, flames, or just heat, bread was made.

Wood, coal, gas, oil, or anything that burned, and bread was made on it.

Women made bread. Girls made bread. Old women made bread.

Hungry children or impatient old men sat in front with plates, and bread was made.

Whether it was a hut, house, mansion, bungalow, or palace, bread was made.

In a small house, bread was made for family members; in a big house, it was made for family members, servants, dogs, cats, and beggars.

In ordinary homes, women made bread while blowing on the stove, reddening their eyes; in wealthy homes, their lips reddened as they made bread.

Daughters, sisters, sisters-in-law, daughters-in-law, mothers, aunts, and grandmothers made bread.

Women made bread in their own homes and then went to others' homes to make bread.

At first, a little girl made misshapen bread; when she could make round bread, she became a woman.

Then she made bread first for her father, then for her brother, then for her father-in-law, and then for her husband.

Mothers taught how to make bread, mothers-in-law scolded when it didn't puff up, but bread was made.

If both husband and wife worked, the man would come home, smoke a bidi, or watch a match on TV, and the woman made bread.

The relationship between fire, woman, and bread never broke; bread was made under any circumstances.

If family members were ill, plain bread was made; if they were healthy, bread with ghee was made.

Then a revolution came.

The woman said, "Why only me? Men should also make bread!"

The sky burst open. Stars fell to the ground. Chefs started getting stars—one star, two stars, five stars...!

Biryani, chow mein, burgers, pizzas, etc., started being made. The battle against bread was geared up.

Efforts began to suppress hunger with medicine.

Machines started making bread, robots were sought to make bread.

Machines that could keep bread from spoiling for months were created.

And thus, a war began between embers and stars.

***

2. "Neighbour"

From the beginning, he kept a close watch on his neighbor. When the neighbor got his house plan approved by bribing officials, he felt very bad but remained silent. A few days later, when the neighbor got his child admitted to a prestigious school through a donation, he was infuriated. His own hardworking and intelligent son was studying in a government school.

It is said that later, the neighbor got his son a government job by paying millions of rupees to a racket of officials. Not only that, but he also got him married by taking a hefty dowry.

He felt that he shouldn't leave this world carrying these things in his heart. After all, the world should know the path his neighbor had taken.

An idea struck him, and he wrote a biography of his neighbor. The neighbor, overwhelmed, honored him in the neighborhood. During the ceremony, people were showering him with praise. Everyone said that his book would inspire everyone with the great deeds of his neighbor.

As he returned from the honor ceremony, adorned with garlands, he thought, "Thank God! It's good that no one actually read his book, otherwise there would have been chaos."

***

3. "Food "

A child asked his teacher at school, "Guruji, what is food?"

The teacher replied, "The body continuously diminishes, and to keep it alive, the substances we consume regularly are called food."

The child was satisfied. After some thought, the child asked again, "Guruji, what substances are included in food?"

Before the teacher could respond, there was a commotion. A leopard, lost from the forest, had entered the ashram. It immediately attacked the teacher sitting in front, grabbed him in its mouth, and started dragging him outside.

In terror and shock, all the children watched the scene, unable to react. After the leopard had gone a little distance, the children regained their senses and, in a group, attacked the leopard. Sticks, stones, bricks—whatever they could find became their weapons.

The leopard might have never seen such organized force before. In panic, it left the teacher on the ground and fled towards the jungle.

Fortunately, the teacher wasn't seriously injured. He was more frightened than hurt. It was also fortunate that the ashram was in a village, not a city, so no media persons came, no police were informed, and no forest department officials were called.

Considering the incident as an emergency, the teacher did not dismiss the school. In a short while, everything returned to normal, and studies resumed smoothly.

The teacher said, "Yes, where were we? What were you asking?"

The child replied, "Nothing."

The teacher said, "See, this is a school. Here, even without teaching, your questions are answered. That's why I tell you to come here regularly."

***