The Tale of Ajay and Malti

**Once upon a time, a young man named Ajay visited his in-laws’ house, where he insisted on leaving with his wife, Malti, on a Wednesday. His in-laws cautioned him that Wednesday was considered an unlucky day for women to travel, but Ajay paid no heed and set off with Malti.**

As they journeyed, Malti grew thirsty and asked Ajay to bring her water. In a strange twist, Lord Mercury appeared, disguised as Ajay, and approached Malti with a vessel of water. Malti, mistaking this duplicate for her real husband, agreed to continue her journey with him. When the real Ajay returned, he was shocked to find Malti gone, and soon spotted her walking with a man who looked exactly like him. Confused and angered, Ajay confronted the imposter, leading to a quarrel between the two identical figures.

The noise drew the attention of a soldier passing by, who decided to bring them before the king. The king, intrigued by the situation, ordered that both men be imprisoned until the mystery could be solved. During the night, the real Ajay was restless, filled with regret and sorrow for not heeding the advice of Malti’s family. He prayed deeply for forgiveness.

Lord Mercury, witnessing Ajay’s remorse and sincerity, revealed his true identity to the guards. He instructed them to inform the king that Ajay’s sleeplessness and genuine repentance marked him as the real husband.

The king, realizing the truth, released Ajay and reunited him with Malti, while Lord Mercury disappeared, leaving them with a lesson they would never forget.

**Moral of the Story:** Pride and stubbornness can lead us into trouble, but true remorse and humility pave the way for forgiveness and redemption.