The Panchatantra - Story 78

STORY NO. 78. THE ARTFUL WIFE

There was an old merchant called Samudradatta in Vikramapura. He married a pretty young woman called Ratnaprabha. Disgusted with her old husband, she used to amuse herself with the young and handsome cook. One day, Samudradatta actually saw her kissing the cook. The wife saw him notice the act, and, before he could say anything, said to him in an angry voice, 'My lord, this cook is eating the scented betel kept exclusively for you. I have smelt its odour from his mouth just now". The cook then said indignantly to his master, "How can any servant serve in this house when his mouth is being smelt every now and then to see what he eats? I am leaving". Samudradatta was taken in by all this, and begged of the cook to overlook the inconvenience and remain. The cook did!