Once there was a king who was very devoted to hissubjects. He paid great attention to their welfare.He used to get reports from his minister as well as spies.Yet he was keen to know for himself whether the people had any problems. So, he would go round the kingdom incogni to, listening to their conversations, besides engaging them in conversation himself.
One day, he was passing by the house of one of hiscourtiers. It was past midnight. As the king approached the house, he found one window open. There was a faint light inside and he could hear voices. He guessed that three young girls were talking to each other, discussingwho they wished to marry.
"You know I.m fond of food. How I wish I couldmarry the royal cook! I can then have ataste of the dishes prepared for the kingand queen!. said one of them."
"If I could marry the minister, I would travel with him all over the kingdom, evento the neighbouring kingdoms. You knowhow I like to see new places," a secondvoice said.
Nothing more was heard for a while.Then the same voices could be heard. Why are you silent? Why don't you tell us whomyou wish to marry?
The king now heard a third voice. .Ifthe king were to marry me, I'll give himlovely children.. Some merry laughter was heard.
The king moved away from the place quickly and returned to the palace. He began contemplating. He already had twowives but neither had given him any children. He guessed that the three voices he heard were that of sisters and he wondered why he should not take the one, who had expressed a desire tomarry him, as his third wife.
Next morning, he sent a palanquin for the sisters tocome to the palace. They were led to the court when the king called the girls. father and told him in their presence what he heard the previous night. "I’ll arrange for your elder daughter to marry the royal cook, and the ministerto marry your second daughter"
The courtier anxiously waited for the king to say something about his youngest daughter, who was now alternatively looking at her father and the king.
The king smiled and told the courtier, "I propose totake your youngest daughter as my third wife and makeher the queen!"
