Once there was a poor farmer. He had three sons. After giving birth to the third son, his wife passed away. The farmer brought them up with great difficulty. Because of the affection he gave them, the boys were very much attached to him. When they grew up, they helped him in their fields. As years went by, the farmer found suitable brides for his sons and they all lived a peaceful life. It was agreed that every day one daughter-in-law would stay back at home to look after the house, attend to all chores, prepare food for everybody and then wait for their return from the fields in the evening.
One Saturday, it was the turn of the youngest daughter-in-law to stay back at home. After the men and the two daughters-in-law had left for the fields, she swept the house, washed the courtyard and decorated it with rangoli. She then went inside, cleaned the vessels and started cooking. Just then she heard a voice from outside. She went to the porch and saw that it was a beggar in tattered clothes. She took pity on him. .I.m scratching all over my body. Will you please give me some oil so that I can take an oil bath?. he pleaded.
The woman went inside and fetched a bottle of oil and poured some oil into his hands. He applied the oil all over his body and looked around. "Over there is a pond," she told him. "After your bath, don't go away. I shall give you some food."
The beggar smiled at her and went for his bath. On his way back, he plucked some large leaves and made a platter out of them. The woman served him and he ate the food with relish. .I haven.t had such good food for several days,. he said as he turned to go. He did not throw away the platter, but tucked it between the thatches of the roof. The girl saw this, but soon forgot everything about it. When the family sat together in the evening, to eat their food, they found the dishes extra delicious and were full of praise for the youngest daughter-inlaw .s cooking. There was no chance for her to tell them about the beggar.
