The Well Woman- The tiger

During the dry seasons she would appear. The well woman. For a little food or money, she would draw the water from the well. It saved the mothers from having to walk to town. Instead they would just send a child with some ginger root or a few dates to collect the water.

The children would gather around her and beg for a story, so she would sit on the well’s worn stones and spin a tale. “Where did I leave off?” she asked.

“Prince Mahavir was riding down the streets, searching for beautiful Esha who didn’t like him, because he was rumored to be cruel,” a young girl spoke up.
“Of course.”


Prince Mahavir was searching for Esha, but she had fled into the city and hid near the fountain where the bazaar was being held. The street was alive with music and performers, barters selling their wares. Scents of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg floated on the air.

Esha passed by a woman selling roasted carob, chicory root, cardamom and quinoa, as well as dates, cloves, and black pepper. “Pretty lady,” the woman called, “what are you running from?” Esha flicked her eyes towards the old woman. “This can help.” A withered hand handed her a bottle.

When Esha turned to face her, the old woman and all her wares were gone. She would have the vial away had a man not suddenly announced, “The prince comes!” Quickly, Esha drank the liquid. She fell to her knees and lay there for several seconds. When she finally stirred, she looked into the clear fountain water and saw a tiger staring back at her.

The prince saw the beautiful tiger from atop the elephant he was riding, and ordered a servant to bring it to his garden. There Esha became his pet. Every day he would visit her. He was always kind and gentle, so her opinion towards him began to change. How could he be cruel if he was so kind to the creatures of the earth?

Every day the prince would leave on his search for the beautiful Esha, and every day she would leave in search of the old woman. One day she finally found her. The old woman recognized the tiger and said, “Have you learned your lesson?”

The tiger buried her head with her paw. “Never judge by rumors,” said the old woman as she set a bowl in front of the tiger and bade her drink. A moment later, the tiger was beautiful Esha again.

Esha returned to the prince’s garden, where he found her. She spoke first. “Shall I tell you a story of a prince who loved a servant girl?”


With the tale finished, the children returned home, but the old well woman, humming, began to mix together with withered hands ginger root and black pepper to sell at the bazaar. Her tea, after all, was legendary.