heart touching story with moral : budhi kaki story by premchand in english

"budhi kaki"

story of munshi premchand

There was an old lady called 'Kaki'. She crept because her hands and feet were very weak. Her husband had died long ago. She lived with her nephew,

Buddhiram. She had transferred all her property to him. Rupa was Buddhiram's

wife. Buddhiram had two sons and a daughter 'Ladli'.

The boys never behaved properly with 'Kaki'. They used to tease her a lot.

Kaki would cry out but no one listened to her. Ladli was the only one who had sympathy for 'Kaki'.

lt was an evening, Shehnai was being played at Buddhiram's doorstep. It

was his elder son's engagement. Celebrations were going on. "Purees' were being fried in 'Kadhai'. The sweet smell of 'ghee' and 'spices' was in the air.

Kaki was sitting in her room and it was dark inside. She could smell the crispy and sizzling purees. Images of purees floated before her eyes. She began to move slowly and crept close to the "kadhai". When Rupa saw Kaki sitting close to the kadhai, she lost her temper and shook Kaki with both her hands and shouted

abuses. Old Kaki didn't speak a single word. She returned to her room. She felt insulted.

The dinner was ready. All the guests had started eating. Kaki in her room

thought not to go until she was called.

The pleasant smell of food was tempting but no one came to call her for dinner.

Thinking she is not a guest that she should wait for the call, she decided to

go outside. She crept into the courtyard but bad luck! One of the guests saw her

and shouted, "Who is this old woman? Where has she come from? Be careful, she

may touch someone."

Pandit Buddhiram became furious. He caught Kaki with his hands and dragged

her into the room. Seeing this, Ladli felt really bad. She thought "What, if Kaki had

eaten before the guests. Would she have eaten all the purees?"

It was eleven in the night. Everyone was sleeping. Ladli had not eaten her purees yet. She put them in her doll's basket and went to Kaki's room and said,

"Get up Kaki, I have brought purees for you". Kaki asked, "Has your mother sent

these?" Ladli replied, "No, it's my share." Kaki finished all the purees but she was

still hungry. Kaki said to Ladli, "Child, go to your mother and bring some more."

Ladli replied, "If I wake her up she will get angry." Kaki said, "Take me to the place

where the guests ate."

Ladli took her and made her sit among the 'pattals'. Kaki began to eat the food which was left over by the guests.

Just then Rupa woke up. She did not find Ladli beside her. She went out into

the courtyard and saw Ladli standing near the 'pattals'. Kaki was picking the left

over food and eating. Rupa was stunned. She felt sorry for Kaki who remained hungry even on a day of feast, where so many people had food to their content. Kaki behaved like this just for some pieces of

purees. She was in a state of shock. Her eyes were filled with tears.

It was already midnight. Rupa went to Kaki's room with food. With tearful eyes she said,

"Get up Kaki. I committed a blunder today by not serving you food. Please forgive me."

Hearing these words Kaki's heart melted. She forgave her and began eating

Kaki blessed her soulfully.

Adopted from the story 'Budhi Kaki' by Munshi Prem Chand