The Tenth Night: The Iron-Eating Mice & The Hawk's Flight

On the tenth twilight, the matchmaker slipped onto the veranda bearing an opulent ruby-studded golden armlet (*baajuband*) sent by Prince Gunashali.

Draped in royal turquoise-blue silk with heavy gold zari, Prabhavati fastened the ruby armlet onto her arm by candlelight, captivated by royal grandeur.

She adjusted her silk dupatta and stepped toward the gate with eager confidence.

From his high golden swing, Shuka bowed with dazzling courtly elegance.

Prabhavati paused on the threshold, raising an amused eyebrow at the green bird.

Shuka raised his golden crest and whispered with dramatic gravity:

"Listen to the greatest tale of poetic justice!" began Shuka. In the sacred city of Ayodhya, poor merchant Jirnadhana was departing on a distant trade voyage. He deposited five hundred heavy solid iron ingots with his wealthy friend Dhaneshwara for safekeeping.

Years later, Jirnadhana returned and politely asked for his iron deposit. Greedy Dhaneshwara smirked deceitfully, feigning deep sorrow!

Jirnadhana smiled calmly without raising his voice: *"Mice are voracious creatures, friend; it is not your fault! Let your fifteen-year-old son come with me to the river ghat to carry my luggage."*

At the river ghat, Jirnadhana led the young boy to the safe, luxurious house of a trusted relative, giving the boy sweetmeats and toys to play happily in comfort.

Jirnadhana returned alone to Dhaneshwara's house. Dhaneshwara ran out in panic: *"Where is my beloved son?!"*

Jirnadhana sighed with a deadpan straight face:

Furious, Dhaneshwara dragged Jirnadhana before the Royal Judge Dharmakirti: *"This man is a kidnapper and fraud! How can a hawk carry away a heavy teenage boy?!"*

In the crowded courtroom, Judge Dharmakirti addressed Jirnadhana sternly: *"Explain how a bird could fly away with a boy, or face imprisonment!"*

Jirnadhana bowed with supreme courtroom eloquence:

The entire royal court, ministers, and Judge Dharmakirti burst into roaring, thunderous laughter, instantly seeing through Dhaneshwara's greedy lie!

Judge Dharmakirti ordered Dhaneshwara to return the five hundred iron bars plus one hundred gold dinars compensation, while Jirnadhana safely brought back the smiling boy to his father.

Jirnadhana walked out of the court triumphantly, having answered deceit with poetic justice without shedding a drop of blood!

Back on the moonlit balcony of Chandravati, Shuka concluded the tale with piercing moral clarity under the starlight.

Prabhavati sat on the velvet bolsters, laughing in sheer delight at Jirnadhana's brilliant deduction.

Shuka delivered his tenth decisive riddle:

Prabhavati sat in quiet introspection, realizing that the prince's promises were as hollow and absurd as iron-eating mice.

As the lesson sank into her soul, golden dawn sunlight flooded the Chandravati skyline! The temple conches sounded across the city. The tenth night had passed!

Smiling with profound reverence, Prabhavati removed the ruby armlet, handed Shuka a handful of sweet almonds, and returned peacefully to her bedchamber—her virtue and lineage saved for the tenth night!