Long ago, a hardworking washerwoman lived with her only son, a 21-year-old young man. Every day, they carried heaps of dirty clothes to the river, diligently washing, drying, folding, and delivering them on time. Their services were trusted not only by the villagers but also by the royal palace, including the king himself.
Each morning, the washerwoman visited the palace to collect clothes from the queen’s maid. She would meticulously clean and return them before dusk. Pleased with her service, the queen treated the washerwoman with kindness, almost as if she were one of her own maids.
Thanks to the queen’s favor, the washerwoman and her son enjoyed a good life. They ate well, dressed in neat clothing, and earned a steady income. One fateful day, while scrubbing the royal garments, the washerwoman stumbled over a stone and fell, injuring her ankle. Her son, hearing her cry, rushed to her aid. Seeing her unable to walk, he made her sit comfortably in the shade before carefully folding and bundling the freshly cleaned clothes.
Since she couldn’t walk, she instructed her son to deliver the royal garments. Respecting her wish, the young man approached the palace gates and explained his mother’s condition to the guards. After receiving the queen’s permission, they allowed him to enter.
As he stepped into the palace, his eyes fell upon the young and graceful queen, seated elegantly on her swing. Mesmerized by her beauty, he stood in awe, completely spellbound. The queen, noticing his gaze, inquired about his mother’s well-being. Overjoyed by the chance to converse with her, he eagerly responded.
For three consecutive days, the washerwoman’s son visited the palace to collect and return the queen’s garments. Each visit became more precious to him, as he eagerly anticipated those fleeting moments of conversation with her. Soon, his admiration transformed into an intense longing. Life without her seemed unbearable. But when his mother recovered and resumed her duties, the guards no longer permitted him inside.
The young man fell into despair. His health deteriorated, his once-sturdy frame growing weak and frail. Concerned, his mother discovered the cause—he was deeply, hopelessly in love with the queen. She warned him against such thoughts, but he refused to listen. Seeing her son slipping away, she approached the queen, pleading for help. Moved by his suffering, the queen agreed to visit him in disguise.
Disguised and accompanied by her trusted maid, the queen visited the washerwoman’s house. She stayed for an hour, speaking gently to the love-stricken young man. His longing fulfilled, he breathed his last shortly after she left.
His body was taken to the cremation ground, where preparations for his funeral commenced. However, no matter how hard the washerwoman and others tried, the pyre would not catch fire. One by one, friends, family, and villagers attempted to light it, but all failed. Even the king’s efforts were in vain. The only person left to try was the queen.
With trembling hands, she took a torch and set it against the wood. To everyone’s astonishment, the flames roared to life. As the fire engulfed the young man’s body, the queen stood frozen, her head bowed in shame. The king, realizing the depth of his wife’s secret sorrow, shook with rage. But before he could react, the queen, overwhelmed with grief, leaped into the blazing pyre, surrendering herself to the flames.
Thus ended a tragic love story, forever etched in the hearts of those who witnessed it. The tale of the washerwoman’s son and the queen remains one of devotion, sorrow, and an unfulfilled love that led to an unforgettable fate.
Kalai is passionate about reading and reinterpreting folk tales from all over the country. Write to her at kalai.muse@gmail.com to know more about her.
Folk tale adopted and abridged from Folk Tales of Pondicherry by P. Raja.