story DOLLAR Amrik Singh Kanda
Who am I? Everybody knows this. It is not necessary to
know also in which jungle was I born. But I will not
die so soon. It is a very thick jungle. People say that
ferocious and dangerous animals abound this jungle. It extends up to
the sea shore. It is the ocean which surrounds the entire world.
There are small forests on its coasts. The trees there are full of fruits,
cashew, almond, raisins and many other fruits. You must have seen
some wooden huts. My father had once said that they would cut
the entire jungle. Not a single tree would be left. My father had died
before my birth. My mother died giving me birth. I am tired and
hungry; fed up with this life.
It is a small stream in the west from which I catch fish by hand.
There are panthers, wolves, bears and pythons in the jungle in
abundance, but I am not afraid of any one. My gun never fails me. I
have never counted my years. But I have lived a long life. My eyes
are weak now. I never go to the town for fear of losing my way. I
am not an ordinary person and I am not spending my life in toiling.
I am the king of the jungle. No one can be like me. I wish to rule the
entire garden and other jungles. I have raised a stone wall around my
jungle so that no wild animal, rain or ice water can enter. I have
come to know that another king is opposed to me. He is the king of
a dense jungle.
Next day I was in the secret cave made by him in that jungle. He
had heard my foot-steps. He felt that some one was standing at the
gate of his jungle. I aimed my gun at him. A very tall and robust
man stood before me. He was very well built and his face exuded
confidence. He was clad in a beautiful uniform. He did not feel afraid
of me at all. I tried to scare him, threatened him. But he was not
scared. At last he said,
'No one can harm me in any way.'
Overreach 231
I felt pained so much. I said to him,
'Perhaps you do not know me nor have you recognized me. I
am the king of that jungle. Every one trembles thinking of me. No
one dares speak before me.'
'What can I do….?' said he.
My gun fell off my hand. Perhaps I had got scared. The words
matched his age. My father also belonged to this jungle. Today I do
not want to repeat the name of this jungle. I had no way. He invited
me to take meals. I thought that I should eat with him. We did not
utter a word while eating. Then it began to rain. He spread two
animal hides to make room for sleeping. It was a cold night. We went
to sleep.
Next morning we got up very late. A fresh layer of snow had
been formed on the earth. The man came out of the jungle. I too went
with him for a walk. His stick fell down. He ordered me arrogantly
to pick it up.
'Why should I submit before you?' said I to him.
'Because I am the king.' Said he.
I took him for a mad man. I laughed and picked up the stick for
him. He began to tell me in an authoritative manner,
'I am the king of that country. I have been victorious in many
battles. But now I have lost my kingdom. My name is Euro.
I live in a democracy but I am not an admirer of democracy. I
do have faith in Christ but I am myself no less than him. My jungles
do not like me. But I am the king and I'll remain a king, because I
have Euros. Have you ever seen …?'
I felt very much annoyed. He was ridiculing me like anything.
What would be the fate of my dollar…?'
He opened his fist. It was empty. It then occurred to me as to
why had he kept his fist clenched?:"
'Can you touch this?' said he.
Fearfully I placed my finger on his palm and felt that there was
something very cold on it. It was shining. He clenched his fist. I
said nothing. He added,
'It is a coin one side of which is blank and on the other side it
is inscribed 'This is the only coin in the entire world which is the
symbol of my monarchy.'
I felt like snatching this coin from him. I was feeling very much
annoyed with him. But what could I do except hating him?
'Give this coin to me…..'
'No I will not give you this coin at any cost.'
He began to move away slowly. He had turned his back to me.
Just one bullet was sufficient. He fell down on the ground. I put the
jungle on fire. While collapsing he opened his fist and I saw
something shining in the air. I set fire to his jungle. I began to look
for the coin where he had been moving about. But I could not find
it; I have been searching for many years.
1764, Guru Ram Dass Nagar Near Nestle Moga (Punjab ).
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