Chap3

Paramu and Pushpa were newlyweds. Pushpa came from a wealthy family and was used to being spoiled. She loved to eat different delicacies. However, when they moved to Paramu's house, he wanted to be frugal and told Pushpa to only take two measures of rice for both of them. Pushpa, feeling unsatisfied, secretly cooked and ate more food every night. One night, she encountered a thief in the kitchen who threatened her. Paramu woke up and asked what was happening. Pushpa was in a dilemma. Paramu and Pushpa were newlyweds. The bride came of a wealthy family. She was an only child of her parents and naturally they showered all their affection on her. Oh, she lived like a princess, they used to tell her friends. She was fond of eating. They saw it too that she was given whatever she liked to eat. She liked different delicacies and whenever she felt like eating them, they were promptly prepared. But this became a problem in Paramu's house. Before marriage, Paramu stayed all alone and had to cook his own food. He always tried to economize and was therefore frugal. After taking his bride home, he showed her where he had stored the items needed for cooking. This was his rice. He will find the measure in it. Take two measures and that will be sufficient for both of us. When I was alone, I used to take just one measure for myself. Pushpa cooked rice, taking only two measures. In the first week itself, she thought she was not getting enough to eat and she was not hungry. And one night, finding Paramu fast asleep, she tied up the clothes to the kitchen and quietly cooked some sweet rice and ate it. Paramu was quite oblivious of what was happening and thus engrossed Pushpa to make it a daily practice. After Paramu went to bed and endured sound sleep, she would sneak into the kitchen and make whatever she liked to and ate it all up. One night, she kept the plate made of all delicacies she made up and went out to the courtyard to wash her hands. When she returned, she was shocked to find a stranger staying in the kitchen. I am a thief. If you behave properly, I shall also be good to you. But if you make a noise or create a nuisance for me, I shall kill you, he warned her. Paramu woke up on hearing some noise. He did not get up, but she was called out from his bed. What's the noise, Pushpa? She was in dilemma. What was...