NAVRATH JEE (3)

It was summer time and schools were closed for long days’ vacation. Gurujee had gone home, Dhamiyaanpattee, his village to enjoy the holidays. Dhamiyaapattee is about 3 KM west to Jaynagar, in Madhubani district. The total shortest distance from Karmauli to dhamiyaanpattee for pedestrians will be about 20 KM. One day in a very fine morning, Gurujee was sitting on his dalan (an outside sitting and resting place, especially for outsiders) studying some books. He saw Navrath jee coming. That was the time when we treated guests as gods. “Atithi devo bhav- guests are like gods.” Now a day, we hide behind the door seeing a guest and inform him about our absence. The guests return from our door. Those days many unknown guests used to stay on our doors. Who does not know Haribodhjee. He was famous to welcome guests. It was well known that anybody could stay there have meal. Whenever I crossed the way before his house, found some guests staying there.
Gurujee stood and welcomed Navrathjee. Navrathjee was served water to wash hands and feet. Gurujee offered breakfast, tea and betel. He took him to the nearby pond to take bath. Soap and oil were offered. Delicious lunch of so many vegetables, pickles, sweets, curd and sugar were offered. Navrathjee took betel and requested to return back. At the time of departure, Gurujee humbly enquired about the visit. Navrathjee Bowed his head and whispered, ‘Gurujee, I had come to get the dues money of 2 paise on you’. Gurujee went inside and gave the money to Navrathjee. He returned back to karmauli.
People take interest in telling this story. But, I think this a joke. It may be possible that he might be coming from some nearby village and might have wanted to meet gurujee and at the time of returning he might have told about the dues. To travel the up and down journey of 40 KM on foot for mere 2 paisa is not a wise step. The matured person like Navrathjee could not take such type of foolish decision.------------ contd.