Once upon a time there was a farmer who lived with his wife and his two children. Phoolmati was his daughter and Padam his son. They used to live in a village situated on hills. They used to earn their living through farming. Both husband and wife loved their children a lot. One day unfortunately couple while crossing the river for going to another village, drowned in it and died. The kids became orphan and started to live a tough life. They used to work at others house to earn their living.
Phoolmati was a blessed child. As she grew adult every morning she turned into a beautiful plant which bloomed different varieties of flowers. These flowers were unlike others. They had awesome fragrance and were one of a kind. Her brother used to pick them and used to sell them to kings in different regions and in market also. There life turned much better since then.
Once the king of the region asked for flowers for his upcoming yagya ceremony. He send his troops to every part of the kingdom. He ordered them to release the message everywhere that king needed best flowers of the area the person who would present most beautiful flowers would be rewarded with lots of gold. All the people of the kingdom were so happy to hear that. It was a great opportunity for the people to earn some money or reward. People were talking everywhere about that. Padam too was returning from home when he heard the news. He came home and told everything to his sister. She was very happy to hear that. She asked him to take her flowers to the king. They thought if king liked those flowers they could earn little money that could help them.
The day came when king was to perform the yagya ceremony. As per the message lots of people came to the palace with varieties of flowers. The palace was filled with the aroma and fragrance of flowers. Padam also brought the flowers from his sister and entered the palace. The palace was vast and in abundance with antique things. King’s daas and daasis were standing everywhere. He entered the throne room with wide eyes. Other people with flowers were standing on one side. He too stood with them. Then few moments later king entered the room. He was young man with bright eyes, long, wide shoulders and a decent one. He greeted everyone who came there. All the people were asked to put the baskets of flowers on the other side.
King started moving along the side for choosing the best flowers of all. He looked everywhere from start. Suddenly his eyes stopped at one basket in which there were few flowers and were shining. He stood beside that basket and asked out loud that to whom that belonged to. No one replied. Suddenly a hand raised behind the people. King called that person out. He was Padam. He kneeled before king and replied, “Your majesty this basket belongs to me.” King was surprised to see those flowers. He never had seen flowers that shine. He was very happy and announced to reward Padam. King was curious to know where he grew such beautiful flowers. He wanted Padam to work for him in the kingdom and grew flowers there. Padam told him that he did not grew them but that was a secret that he could not disclose in public. King ordered him to meet him after the ceremony. Padam did the same. As the yagya was over he met the king in private. He told king everything that how his sister bloom every morning. King’s eyes opened wide to know how a human can bloom. He was curious to meet his sister. He asked Padam to bring his sister to the kingdom. Padam agreed and seek permission to leave.
He reached home and showed his sister the rewarded money. They both were very happy. He too told her about the whole incident and that king has asked her to meet him. How could she deny? so they both after few days left home to visit king again. When Phoolmati entered the king’s palace everyone was amazed to see her. Although she was wearing old clothes but king was charmed by her simplicity and beauty. He lost his heart and asked her to marry him. She became sad. When king asked the reason for her sadness, she innocently confessed that her brother was a poor man and he could give nothing to the king in marriage and the flowers she gave to him were the only way of earning for him and if she married king how would her brother survive. King was very impressed by her innocence. He asked nothing from her brother. He too promised to offer Padam job in the palace. Phoolmati became happy to hear that and gladly agreed to the king’s proposal.
She got married and started living in the palace. King already had three wives. They were jealous of Phoolmati’s beauty. They rarely talked with her. Phoolmati was a wise girl. She used to guide king in many of his problems and kingdom’s issues. So king started admiring her more and loved her most amongst all of his queens. Since then Phoolmati used to bloom every morning and king put her flower on his turban. That flower never faded, never wilted. Her pure spirit made king popular and renowned king ever. The other queens could not bear that. They kept finding opportunities to put Phoolmati down but failed to do so. King rarely paid visit to the other queens. This was the peak of their patience. So all the three conspired against Phoolmati and waited for a chance.
One day king decided to go for hunting for a while. It could last for week or month. He mentioned his desire to Phoolmati. She became sad as he never had left her alone after marriage for so many days. She sadly mentioned how she is going to bear that pain of separation. King was well aware of the other queen’s behavior against Phoolmati. On the day of departure from his beloved wife he advised her to take care of herself and not to listen to the other queens if they asked her to bloom. She started crying and handed him the flower of that day. He placed it on the turban and asked her how he would get to know if anything happened to her. She told him if the flower of his turban fell and fade away it means she is in danger or something bad had happened to her. He consoled her that he would return soon and left with his troops.
Few days passed away. Phoolmati used to do her regular work. One day the elder queen came to her. Phoolmati was surprised to see her. They talked for a while and she left. Phoolmati felt something strange that time but she ignored it. After that all the three queens used to come to her daily. They used to talk for hours, used to go for walk in the palace gardens. Phoolmati was happy as they had become friends now. Days passed and one day while they were gossiping in the room, one of the queen asked Phoolmati that was that true if she could bloom. Phoolmati nodded her head. Another queen said that was so great. Third queen added that she never had seen any human grow flowers earlier. They all started asking Phoolmati to bloom for them. She kept denying. But she failed before their continuous pleading. She closed her eyes and joined her hands. A bright light arose from her body and she turned into a beautiful plant. Queen’s jaws left wide opened to see the mesmerizing view. She had sparkling flowers all over. They gave a vicious smile to each other and woke up. They moved towards Phoolmati. They broke her branches, tear her flowers, crushed her leaves and left the room laughing in the triumph of their long awaited victory. Phoolmati turned into human again covered with blood all over and fell on the ground unconsciously.
On the other side the flower on the king’s turban fell on the ground and faded. King got the idea and he took his horse and hastily rode back to his queen. Phoolmati was lying on the ground unconscious. He cried and cursed himself why he left her alone. He took her and asked his men to call vaid quickly. Vaid checked her and gave medicine. It took days for her to recover. King used to sit beside her night and day. He was waiting for the name of the person who had don that monstrous thing to his queen.
After a week she finally woke up. King was very happy to see her and apologized for his negligence. He asked her who did that to her. Phoolmati cried and told him the whole incident. King could not believe that. He knew they were jealous of her but never had thought they would do such a thing to Phoolmati. He ordered to execute all the three queens. Now he was left with his youngest beloved wife. She was better with time. She used to bloom everyday but could grow only single flower as she lost her purity when the queens crushed her flowers with feet but she earned her king and his love. They both had beautiful children. They lived happily ever after.
