Two Destinies

Two Destinies

- B.C.Bond

Moonlight glittered on the palace pond like silver carp. Hearing his father approach, twelve-year-old Siddhartha realized the hour was late. The moon had reached its zenith. Tossing a rock into the pond, he shattered its glassy surface. Dark ripples spread across the water, ending the evening’s spell.

“Why are you up, my son?” King Suddhodana recognized the troubled look in his son’s dark, unwavering eyes.

“Father, why can’t I explore outside the palace?” Frustration was unmistakable in Siddhartha’s reply.

The king frowned, knowing his son was questioning traditional rules that had long guided court life.

“If I’m to be a good king, I should see how our subjects live,” Siddhartha said.

“You’re too young to venture into the harshness of the world,” the king replied. He pointed toward the garden. “For now, enjoy the beauty within our palace walls. See how everything is ready for tomorrow’s celebration? There will be singers, royal musicians, and a magician to mystify you.”

“Why do you give me three of everything? I have a winter palace, one for summer, and another for rainy season. I have three servants. Even three lotus ponds in my garden.” 

“Asita, our soothsayer, predicted three pillars would support your life path. The first pillar is devotion to duty. The second, wisdom. And third, love, shared by all you serve. Three symbolizes your destiny. Now, isn’t the garden magnificent?”