Laughter Medicine

One day early morning I was doing morning walk along with my wife. Suddenly we both were frightened by some strange roaring type sound. At quite far distance, a person was jumping raising his hands, laughing, shouting loudly and performing some funny, strange actions. Wife was persuading to run away from the place at once, fearing the attack of mad man. Any how, we decided to walk smoothly ignoring the person and avoiding eye contact with the person. As distance between the person and us was abating, my wife was sweating and clinging to me. While the person was crossing, we were holding our breath. Suddenly, I started laughing, actually the person was M.K. Gupta a colleague of mine, who was practicing yoga to release tension. After that, we both burst into laughter. This event invoked a discussion between us whether happiness or laughter can be created artificially. Suddenly, I recalled a short story which goes as follows.

Once upon a time, a young prince of a state was on tour in his kingdom. While passing through a forest, he heard melodious sound of flute, played by a shepherd boy sitting on nearby tree. Prince got down from horse and started listening to flute. Suddenly, he observed miraculous event happening in front of him. Shepherd boy was laughing loudly and flowers were pouring out of his mouth, soon a heap of flowers piles up on the ground. Prince started persuading the shepherd boy to move with him to city. The boy was initially reluctant, but repeated requests agreed. The prince employed the boy and assigned him job of laughing on the indication of prince. Prince used to take him along with him at prestigious occasions and places.

Time passed, prince’s got engaged with beautiful princess on neighbor king. The prince asked the shepherd boy to attend his marriage function and demonstrate the his miraculous ability on the marriage day. The boy asked for few days leave to meet his family members, which was immediately granted by the prince. The boy in happy mood began traveling towards his house. At night he reached the house expecting warm welcome from his wife. Even after repeated knocks at door, response was null. In slight anxiety he started roaming, to his immense surprise a man was running from back door the house. His wife opened the door and stood in some upset, perplexed, unhappy mood.

After completing his leave, he returned to capital. On the fixed day, fabulous wedding procession proceeded towards neighbor’s state with high pump and show. People were dancing along the way. On reaching warm welcome was given by host king and a function was organized in honor of the prince. On the stage kings of states, prince, bride, and senior ministers and close relatives were occupying specially decorated chairs. In the auditorium common public was occupying the seats. On the stage various culture programs were being performed. Exceptionally good dinner and drinks were being served. The function was on full swing. Prince indicated the shepherd boy to demonstrate his strange quality. As the boy started laughing, black coal pieces started emanating from his mouth. The whole stage was filled with coal. The event caused extreme humiliation to the price. He ordered the security guards to immediately arrest the boy. The boy was taken into custody and beaten black and blue. He was instructed not to open his mouth during the whole marriage function. At night he was ordered to stay in horse shed at some nearby place. It was midnight, there was no sign of sleep. He came out of the shed, started roaming around the shed in anxious mood. Suddenly, a shadow appeared behind the shed wall. “Who can be at midnight?” question struck his mind. Out of curiosity, he hid him self behind a tree and started observing what was happening. Soon, a girl a came and clasped the man. The girl was weeping and telling, “O my darling! Let us meet me for the last time, to morrow prince will permanently take me to his state. You have to forget me, over love story has come to end, there is no other way. Please, for sake of our love, in front of public behave like servant only.” Then after some time both shadow disappeared.

Next day, after completing the wedding rituals, it was the time bride departure. The scene was slightly sad. Bride was weeping hugging her parents and relatives. “Mummy, how I will live without you. If I had to depart from you why you people have brought me up with so much affection and love.”, such voice was spreading the atmosphere. All of sudden a loud laughter diverted the attention of the people. It was shepherd boy who was laughing, colorful flowers were emanating from his moth. The whole ground was filled with beautiful and colored flowers. Prince was surprise and happy. Band party once again started bhangra tune and people began dancing. Bride stopped weeping and was looking at the astonishing event. People was discussing among them selves, “Why the boy could not perform yesterday night”.