Betaal Pachisi - Story 14 - Love is Eternal

Vikrama tries again to catch vetala. After several attempts he succeeds and starts taking him to the ascetic. Vetala starts narrating him a story so that they can easily complete the long journey once again but warns him not to speak anything else he will go back to his place again. He begins narrating story about the priest, Keshav living in Yamunanagar. He met a new person Haridutt who was in the town for business. He told priest that he will stay in village till the time he earns some money. At this point, priest’s daughter, Malti comes to the temple and invites him for the food at home. Haridutt is impressed by her beauty and tells priest that he likes his daughter and proposes to marry her.

Malti reaches home and sees some guests with their son Baaman. They propose to marry him with Malti as he loves her a lot. Malti’s mother agrees for the same. At the same time Malti’s brother visits his master. Master tells him that his disciple Madhusudan wants to marry his sister. Father, mother and brother fight amongst each other that who should marry Malti.

One day Malti was in the garden when snake bit her. Her parents tried her treatment but she died. Her family members and the would be grooms cremated her. Madhusudan decided to leave the city and live life of a saint. Baaman also told that he will also roam in forests with her bones. Haridutt decided to have ashes with him throughout his life and live at the same place as mark of his love.

Madhusudan stayed at a place in one town with daughter and father. Sometime later, his son-in-law reaches there who is severely injured. Daughter requests father to save his life. Father agrees and tells that using his knowledge he will bring him back to life. Madhusudan hears this and is surprised. Using his knowledge he brings him back to life. All are happy. At night, Madhusudan steals the knowledge book and runs from there. He reaches the same place where Haridutt was living in his cottage. Baaman also comes at the same place. They keep the bones and ashes over there. Madhusudan begins to recite hymns and soon Malti comes back to life. All are happy to see her alive.

At this point, Vetala asks Vikrama to tell whom should Malti marry now as all of them have contributed in bringing her to life. Vikrama tells that she should marry Haridutt because Madhusudan who brought her to life is like her father now. Baaman saved the bones of Malti so he is like a son, so he too cannot marry her while Haridutt lived at that place just for love. So he should marry her.

Vetala gets happy with Vikrama’s answer but he again flies back to his abode telling that he could not keep quite. Vikrama runs behind him again to catch him.