The Cunning Plot of Mainashri

Vikram was disturbed by tales of betrayal and deceit, and Betal sensed his unease. With a sly smile, Betal began a story about a woman named Mainashri, whose cunning led to a twisted tale of deceit.

Once, there lived a wealthy widower named Sagardatta, who had a daughter named Mainashri. Sagardatta was so absorbed in his business affairs that he often neglected to pay attention to Mainashri’s upbringing. She grew up wanting for nothing, yet her heart was empty of compassion and loyalty.

As Mainashri reached adulthood, she began seeking suitors, not out of love but for her own selfish gain. She entertained many men, making false promises to them, taking advantage of their affection and wealth. Among her suitors was a sincere man named Shridut, who fell deeply in love with her despite her manipulative ways. Hoping to win her heart, he asked for her hand in marriage. Mainashri agreed, seeing him as yet another source of comfort and luxury, but she continued seeing other men secretly.

One night, Mainashri quietly slipped out of her house to visit her lover, a man she was secretly involved with despite her marriage to Shridut. However, that night, a supernatural presence, a ghost that had been observing her deceitful behavior, decided to intervene. It followed Mainashri to her lover’s house. Upon witnessing her betrayal, the ghost took matters into its own hands, killing the lover in a fit of rage. When Mainashri walked in, the ghost, intent on punishing her for her disloyalty, disfigured her by cutting off her nose.

Humiliated and desperate, Mainashri quickly concocted a lie to protect herself. She returned home, gathered her neighbors, and falsely accused Shridut of attacking her in a jealous rage. Shocked and moved by her apparent suffering, the neighbors believed her story and reported Shridut to the authorities.

Shridut was arrested and accused of attacking his wife. Though he protested his innocence, explaining her betrayal and deceit, no one believed him. His story seemed far-fetched, and he was charged with the crime.

When Betal finished the story, he asked Vikram, “If you were the judge, how would you have solved this case and determined Shridut’s innocence?”

Vikram replied thoughtfully, “I would have examined the lover’s corpse closely. If portions of flesh were found in the corpse’s mouth, it would be clear evidence that a supernatural force had intervened, as no ordinary human would bite in such a manner. This would suggest that Shridut was innocent and that the story was more than it appeared.”

Betal, impressed by Vikram’s insight, responded, “Brilliant!” and disappeared into the night once more, leaving Vikram to continue his journey with yet another mystery unraveled.

**Moral:** Lies and deceit may cloud the truth, but a keen eye and logic can unravel even the most twisted webs of deception. Truth and justice often prevail through careful observation and wisdom.