Tale of a Fortunate Cook

Tale of a Fortunate Cook

By Shyam Sen, Nagpur

Thakur Haranath once told  Sidhu Dadu – “Brother I am told that the cook wants 15 days’ leave…who will take care of the kitchen in his absence?”

(Sidhu Dadu i.e. Siddheswar Mitra, was an ardent devotee who served both Thakur Haranath and Thakuma thru’ his life. In fact he was the scribe for Thakuma whenever She wrote to devotees.)

Sidhu Dadu talked to their Cook immediately and reported – “Baba he will send a substitute.”  Thakur was satisfied and the matter was over.  Afterwards on expiry of leave the Cook returned and it was time for the substitute to go back.  Thakur then called Sidhu Dadu and said –

“Sidhu..many people are visiting us . Is it possible to keep the substitute Cook also? Will he be willing to continue?”

Sidhu Dadu went to the sustitute cook, told him about the additional requirement and sought his willingness.The cook said: NO.

Dadu came back and said “He is not willing Baba!”.

“Why?” Thakur asked.

Dadu replied,  Baba,  he says – “Throughout the period I served as substitute in the kitchen, I could not work at all, I was only laughing and laughing as Thakur told all kinds of jokes  to the devotees and vice versa. I did not get enough time in the kictchen and hence it is very difficult here to perform my duties”

Every one laughed. The cook continued of course…..

N.B. (Writer got this from V. Subba Rao of Nagpur who heard it from Tulsidas Banerjee, Grandson of Kusum Haranath.)

Jai Kusum Haranath