Coup On Arts – 11 [Pagati Chukka - Kothwal]

In disguise, Pagati Chukka followed every happening. He decided to face the challenge. That night Kothwal was on duty to capture the thief. Along with soldiers, he was watching roads and guarding the city. Pagati Chukka had hidden there and watching the Kothwal. After midnight, the soldiers were tired and inactive.

The Kothwal was near Gudi Banda. Pagati Chukka approached at Gudi Banda. Pretending like an ignorant, he was trying to keep his legs and hands in the Gudi Banda in improper way and to lock it. But he was not succeeded in that trial. Again and again, he was trying to do so. But most disorder and improper working was there in his trial. The Kothwal was watching this. In beginning he was alert. After noticing that the man who was trying to keep himself in the Gudi Banda was mad or ignorant, he watched the activity as casual, next with curiosity. By watching the repeated improper trial, he got irritation.

He said “You fool! Not like that. You have to use the Gudi Banda like this.” By saying like this, he locked himself in Gudi Banda. Immediately Pagati Chukka had beaten him on his head and made unconscious, to prevent him to call soldiers. He rushed to the Kothwal’s house and informed his wife and family members as “The thief had beaten our Kothwal. He was unconscious there. You please take him to doctor.”

All of they rushed in the direction shown by Pagati Chukka. Leisurely, he theft all the valuables from Kothwal’s house and left a massage there to the king as “Maharaja! My name is Pagati Chukka. I’m a thief. You can’t capture me.”

With this incident the king felt very angry. He ordered the Minister to capture him. By knowing this, pagati Chukka enquired about the Minister and his family. The Minister had a wife and three sons. His sons were in the Gurukulam not in the house. At present, only his wife and servants were in the house. By night, Pagati Chukka dressed himself like Minister and went to his house. Imitating Minister’s voice, he said “Hai! Servants, come all of you. Here is an intimation that the thief, Pagati Chukka was about to come to our house in my get up. Pack all the valuables, and get ready to capture him.” Minister’s wife and servants had packed the money, ornaments and other valuables. He said, “Let’s drop it in the well for the sake of safety. Bring it to the back land”. He dropped a big stone in the well by keeping all of them in hurry. He kept the packet of valuables in the bushes.

At that moment the Minister entered into the house. Pagati Chukka said, “Catch him. Bind him with rope.” Minister was shocked by watching another man in his own get up and voice. The soldiers caught him, beaten him and bound him with a rope, thinking that he was the thief.

After that, Pagati Chukka said with Minister’s wife, “I am hungry. I’ll take bath and come. Arrange dinner to me.” Minister’s wife went into the kitchen.

Pagati Chukka went to the back land, collected the packet of valuables, and escaped from there silently.

By knowing all this, the king felt irritation. He scolded everybody. In disguise, Pagati Chukka was in the court. The princess Akasa said to the king “Father! These are all fools. This time I’ll try to capture him.”

The king said “Yes. You are right. I know you are capable to do so.”

The princess was a beautiful young girl. Pagati Chukka excited by this challenge. He secretly followed her in the king’s palace. The servant-maid of princess asked “Yuva Rani i.e. Princess! The soldiers, Kothwal and Minister were failed to capture the thief. How can you catch hold of him?”

Akasa replied with a naughty smile “Look. This thief Pagati Chukka seems to be very intelligent. Every day he was defeating our efforts and plans to capture him. That means, definitely he might following the proceedings in the king’s court secretly. Today night, I will wait lonely for him in our Royal garden. Certainly, he will come there and I will capture him. Wait and see.”

Pagati Chukka thrilled about this. That night was full moon day. The Royal garden was beautiful and pleasant flowers were spreading sweet fragrant. There was cool breeze. The princess, Akasa was dressed in beautiful manner. She was waiting in the garden lonely. She thought if soldiers were there, Pagati Chukka might not come there. That’s why she ordered the soldiers to be not there. After some time Pagati Chukka came there. Pretending like tourist he said “Hai! Beautiful girl, I am a tourist. Shall I take rest here?”

Akasa recognized him as thief. He knew it. She was amazed at his handsomeness. He admired her beauty. She thought, “If this Pagati Chukka has been not a thief, I would like to marry him”. He thought, “If she marries me, I’ll leave my profession”. They chatted for some time. She thought “Any way, I’ll mesmerize this young man; I prevent him from leaving here. In the morning I’ll call the soldiers to capture him.”

After some time, Pagati Chukka said, “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”

They laid on a marble bench. He pretended sleep. Akasa tied her sari border to his dhoti border, to know his movements in the sleep and slept there. With satisfaction and little bit proud of her achievement, she had gone into sound sleep. Pagati Chukka waited for such situation. Silently he got up from there, without disturbing the princess; he had taken off her sari and left the garden.

In the morning, when the servant-maids approached the princess, she was half-nude. This turned as sensational news. People talked about it and it was spread like a wild fire.

The king was horrified. Akasa told her father that she loved Pagati Chukka and wanted to marry him. The king had no children except her. He could not overlook her request. Moreover, he also admired the wisdom and adventure of Pagati Chukka.

He made a public notice as “Mr. Pagati Chukka! I’m glad with your intelligence and dareness. I want to give my daughter to you. Leave your profession. If you use your wisdom to make good to people, you can become as a good ruler. Come to the palace. I’ll arrange your marriage with my daughter and I’m ready to make you as a king after myself.”

By watching all of these thrilling episodes, people also accepted the king’s decision. Pagati Chukka declared his identity. The king arranged the marriage of Akasa with Pagati Chukka. After some years, he became the king of Anantha Giri and ruled in righteous manner.

That’s the entire story.