The Hermit's Daughter

The Hermit's Daughter by S.M. Mitra

In a secluded forest near the town of Ikshumati, a holy man named Mana Kanaka raises his daughter, Kadali-Garbha, after losing his wife. Kadali-Garbha grows up in harmony with nature, befriending wild animals and learning from her father. At sixteen, her life changes when the king, Dridha-Varman, discovers her while hunting. Captivated by her beauty, he proposes marriage, and despite her initial fears, Kadali-Garbha agrees, believing her father will always be there for her. As the couple marries, Kadali-Garbha is filled with joy, but jealousy brews among the court, particularly from a woman who had hoped to be queen. This woman conspires to ruin Kadali-Garbha's reputation, enlisting the help of a barber to spread false rumors about her. The barber, motivated by greed, tells the king that Kadali-Garbha is a witch who gathers herbs for nefarious purposes. Doubt creeps into Dridha-Varman's mind, leading him to question his wife's loyalty. Kadali-Garbha, sensing the king's growing mistrust, becomes despondent and longs for her father's guidance. Disguised as a messenger, she returns to her father, who is furious at the king's treatment of her. However, Kadali-Garbha pleads for her father's help to prove her innocence rather than seek revenge. Together, they return to the palace, where Mana Kanaka confronts the king about the slander against his daughter. In a moment of clarity, Dridha-Varman realizes his mistake upon seeing Kadali-Garbha's unwavering love. The truth is revealed, and the king punishes the conspirators, though Kadali-Garbha's compassion leads her to advocate for leniency. Mana Kanaka declines a high position at court, preferring his simple life in the forest, but he ensures that the king understands the importance of trust in their marriage. The story concludes with the couple visiting Mana Kanaka often, raising their children to appreciate nature and the bonds of love, free from the constraints of jealousy and deceit.

By S.M. Mitra · First published 2021 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 9 chapters · 5,200 words

First lines

Near a town in India called Ikshumati, on a beautiful wide river, with trees belonging to a great forest near its banks, there dwelt a holy man named Mana Kanaka, who spent a great part of his life praying to God. He had lost his wife when his only child, a lovely girl called Kadali-Garbha, was only a few months old. Kadali-Garbha was a very happy girl, with many friends in the woods round her home, not children like herself, but wild creatures, who knew she would not do them any harm. They loved her and she loved them. The birds were so tame that they would eat out of her hand, and the deer used to follow her about in the hope of getting the bread she carried in her pocket for them. Her father taught her all she knew, and that was a great deal; for she could read quite learned books in the ancient language of her native land. Better even than what she found out in those books was what Mana Kanaka told her about the loving God of all gods who rules the world and all that live in it. Kadali-Garbha also learnt a great deal through her friendship with wild animals. She knew where the birds built their nests, where the baby deer were born, where the squirrels hid their nuts, and what food all the dwellers in the forest liked best. She helped her father to work in their garden in which all their own food was grown; and she loved to cook the fruit and vegetables for Mana Kanaka and herself. Her clothes were made of the bark of the trees in the forest, which she herself wove into thin soft material suitable for wearing in a hot climate.

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The Hermit's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a short story by S.M. Mitra, dated 2021 CE.

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Mystery · Thriller · Psychological Fiction · Family Drama · Coming-of-Age · Small Town Life · Isolation · Mother-Daughter Relationship · Secrets and Lies · Guilt and Shame · Trauma and Recovery · Self-Discovery

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