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Young World
There is always place for curd and treacle
ANURADHA RAJIVAN
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After the rather large meal, would Andarey be ready for something special?
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Andarey loved to eat. He was invited to a feast at the palace. He ate and ate and ate until his stomach became round and taut. Andarey gently rubbed his stomach. His face looked beatific.Making room
Among the Sinhalese, after a meal, it is customary to eat some curd with treacle poured on it. It is really delicious…the slightly sour and creamy white curd with rich, brown and syrupy treacle dripping over it …mmmmm!! Andarey had already eaten so-o-o-o-o-o much that no one thought he could manage to swallow even a small bit of curd and treacle.
The king had watched Andarey eat and decided that it was time to tease him a little.
“Andarey, how about some curd and treacle?”
Andarey knew what the king was up to. Though he could hardly eat any more, he replied, “Why not? Bring it! I’m ready!”
The king had some curd-and-treacle served. Andarey began to eat it. The surprised guests and the king watched.
“How are you managing to eat some more?” asked the king.
“Well, your majesty, let me demonstrate,” replied Andarey.
He got all the guests present herded into a room in the palace. Soon the room became tightly packed.
It looked like there was no place even for a small child to enter any more. Then Andarey invited the king in.
“Your majesty, may I request you to pass through this room now?”
The king carefully stepped close to the door on one end of the room. Looking about him he saw the place was jam-packed with the guests and wondered how he would reach the door at the other end.
But as soon as the king stepped in, the others pressed themselves against each other and made way automatically for the king to pass! How could they ever crush the king? Andarey followed.
“Now do you see, sir! The commoners always make place for a great king! There is always place for curd-and-treacle!”
A Lankan tale, retold
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