The happiest man

“The king says that he is quite unhappy," said the queen to the royal courtier.

"Is he not well?" asked the courtiers.

"It looks as if he is physically sound, but he is crestfallen and feels sad."

"Maybe that he is not quite happy about what's going on in the kingdom."

Then the courtiers managed to see the king who was in a contemplative mood confined to his chamber.

"Can we see you, Our Majesty?"

The king nodded his head showed his willingness to see them. The king was silently looking aside. The royal courtiers gathered around him.

"Are you not feeling well, Your Majesty?" the chief of the courtiers asked.

Then the king nodded his head and said: "Yes,"

"Do you want to get the great healer in the kingdom?"

"Yes by all means,"

Then the courtiers went to see the greatest healer in the kingdom. They informed the healer about the condition of the king.

"I want to see the king," said in the first instance.

The courtiers ushered in the great her healer to the inner chamber of the palace, where the king stood in the silent. The healer wanted to talk to the king in privacy. As such the courtiers who gathered round were sent out of the chamber.

In a soothing tone the healer spoke to the king.

"Do you wish to go out of the palace Your Majesty?" He asked. The king nodded the head to say 'no'.

"Are you feeling lonely?"

"Yes,"

"Do you sleep well?"

"No."

"Do you like to play a game?"

"No."

"Have you not met a happy person these days?"

"No."

"What do you like to do?"

"Nothing."

The healer went on questioning the king for a long time. He ultimately tried to diagnose the real sickness.

"I sincerely feel that you are a great thinker,' said the healer. A smile appeared on the face of the king.

"Yes, I think a lot, and do a little,' said the king in a mild tone.

"Yes, I know," said the healer.

"What do you want me to do to get rid of this sad feeling that lingers in my mind?" asked the king.

"There is one little remedy, which you can do with much ease."

"Tell me," said the king.

"You need to wear the shirt of the happiest man in the kingdom and walk higher and thither in the palace."

"Are there happy people in my kingdom?"

"There ought to be at least one. But he should be a genuine one who does not just pretend to be happy before you."

"I would rather do that," the king was enthusiastic.

Then the healer requested the royal courtiers which he had diagnosed.

"Our great majesty should wear the shirt of the happiest man in the kingdom. Please wander forth and get the shirt of the happiest man."

The king did not command. Yet he did not resist the remedy.

The royal courtiers went from place to place in search of a happy person. They went to taverns to find that most people drink in order to drawn sorrows. Then they went to workplace to see the most people were struggling hard for a mere earning. Most of them were unhappy. Some pretended to be happy, but on further enquiry found that they have quite a number of complaints. There were people who had disputes with others. Then came a day when they found a man who was living in a hut singing a song. The courtiers approached him and asked a series of questions, to gauge the condition of happiness in him.

"I am a son of this soil,' he began to say.

"I should live as long as I wish."

"Have you no complaints?" they asked.

"Complaints?" he questioned.

"Complain about what? What's the use of complaining when you have got a lot of things to do?"

"Don't you feel unhappy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you not poor?"

"I may be poor comparatively. But I got to get rid of these things I have one day."

"Do you live alone?"

"No, I have a family to look after."

"Are you happy to be with them?"

"Of course yes. They are my family. I sing with them. I dance with them. I talk to them. We are together as a family. Nothing can crush us."

"So you are a happy man."

"You may say so."

"The king of this country wishes to see you."

"Why? But never mind, I don't mind meeting him."

They ushered him before the king. The king was surprised to see this man without a shirt.

"Can I have a shirt of yours?" the king asked following a long conversation.

"The thing is Great Majesty, I haven't got one!" the happiest man replied.