In those days, the African small kingdom of Lumbana (a fictitious name) was a self-governing kingdom, where King Ginikwa was famous for courtesans and debauchery, with nightly tours of wine and carnivorous food in his royal palace.
Foreign dancers also used to dance half-naked at these parties. All the sycophants of the king used to take part in these parties. All these feasts used to start from night till morning.
The first child of the king was a brave girl of 17 years and the second child was a boy but he was still very young and only 2 years old.
Madhuka did not like all this at all, she and her mother were very upset with this adultery of the king. So she was very concerned about the future of the people of her countries.
The people of the country were very angry with their king and could revolt against their king any day. This thing was a heavy burden on Madhuka's soul and she was thinking of its solution day and night.
The people of the state could not tell their problems to anyone, because after debauchery all night, the king did not listen to any citizen, on the contrary, he used to punish him for complaining.
Madhuka was very worried about the economic, strategic and social condition of her kingdom, but she was not able to tell her problem to anyone, she felt that if this goes on, someday the treasury will be completely empty. And as a result, the army or the people may revolt any day.
She knew that if the public or the army rebelled in this way, it would not be in anyone's control to handle that rebellion.
To avoid these problems, the only thought that came to her immature mind was to marry a sensible prince or a brave warrior and take all the responsibility for the kingdom on herself.
After several days of thought and consultation with the patriot chief general, chief advisor, and several patriot citizens, she sent a trusted messenger to the prince of a neighbouring kingdom with a message that she wished to meet him.
The neighbouring kingdom was ruled by a very good ruler, Prince Benjamin of that kingdom was a very brave, intelligent and strong 23-year-old youth, he had heard many tales of the beauty and intelligence of his neighbour's princess Madhuka.
As soon as Benjamin received the secret message from the princess, the prince was very surprised, he said to the messenger, you go and tell your princess that I will come to see her exactly after 4 days.
But this meeting will be only between the two of us. There should be no soldiers or employees. I will wait for him after 4 days at 8 pm alone in the forest near his palace.
Taking this message from Prince Benjamin, the messenger went back to Princess Maduka and gave her the message.
Exactly four days later, Benjamin reached the appointed time and place, Madhuka also reached in a short while, and both of them greeted each other. Princess Madhuka apprised him of the problems of her country and said that if you want, we both can end this problem together. You marry me, then both of us together will take care of the rule of this state.
Benjamin, already captivated by Madhuka's beauty, said that he would soon discuss the matter with her father and proposed her to marry him.
Madhuka was pleased to hear his answer and a heavy burden was removed from her mind.
Benjamin reached his kingdom and asked his father for his consent after discussing the proposal given by Maduka, to this his father said, my dear son, although the king of that kingdom has a lot of infamy due to his character's demerits, but if If you like that proposal, then you are free to take a decision yourself by listening to the voice of your inner soul.
After thinking for a couple of days, Benjamin conveyed his consent to his father and then within a few days, Benjamin's father sent a marriage proposal to King Ginikwa of his daughter Maduka and his son Benjamin, Ginikwa accepted the proposal because He had no clue of Benjamin and Madhuka's plans.
Within weeks, Maduka is married to Benjamin, and as planned, Maduka and Benjamin take over the reins of the country, imprisoning King Ginikwa in a palace with full facilities.
A wave of happiness spread among all the people of the Lumbana kingdom. They started feeling that now their good days have come.
THE END
