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(Scene 1: At the sea- Fishermen can be seen fishing at the sea)
Narrator: It was the season for Hilsa-fish. Fisherman could think of nothing but Hilsa-fish.
(Scene 2: At the fish market)
Narrator: Fisher mongers sold nothing but Hilsa-fish.
Fisher monger: Come, buy. The price of Hilsa is down today.
(Scene 3: At the household- Two people can be seen talking about the Hilsa-fish)
Narrator: Householders could talk of nothing but Hilsa-fish.
Woman: How much did you pay for that Hilsa?
Man: You wouldn't believe it if I told you.
(Scene 4: At the palace)
Narrator: And in the palace too the courtiers could discuss nothing but Hilsa-fish.
Courtier 1: Your majesty, you should have seen, the huge fish I caught, it was...
King: Stop it! Are you a courtier or a fisherman?
(Scene 5)
Narrator: The courtier fell silent with downcast eyes, the king felt guilty.
King: I'm sorry I lost my temper. It is the season for Hilsa-fish and no one....Not even Gopal can stop anyone from talking about Hilsa- fish not for even about five minutes.
Gopal: Oh! I think I could, Your Majesty.
King: Then let me see you buy a huge Hilsa and bring it to the palace without anyone asking you a word about it.
Gopal: I accept the challenge, Your Majesty.
(Scene 6: At Gopal's house)
Narrator: A few days later---
Gopal's wife: Why is your face half-shaven?
Gopal: I'm dressing up to buy a fish.
Gopal's wife: What's the matter with you? Why are you smearing yourself with ash?
Gopal: I told you I'm dressing up to buy a Hilsa-fish.
Gopal's wife: Listen to me! Please you can't possibly go out in those disgraceful rags! What are you up to?
Gopal: How many times must I tell you, woman? I'm out to buy a huge Hilsa-fish.
Gopal's wife (thinking to herself): It's happened to him! He's gone mad!
(Scene 7: Gopal is on his way from the market and is walking with a big fish. He can be seen passing through a crowd of onlookers; they are commenting on his look)
Narrator: Gopal bought the Hilsa-fish. Gopal started walking towards the palace. Boy: Mother, Look at that man! Isn't he comical?
Man 1: He must be a mad man.
Man 2: Hush! I think he's a mystic.
(Scene 8: Outside the palace)
Narrator: When Gopal reached the court---
Guard 1: What do you want?
Gopal: I want to see the king.
Guard 1: You can't see the king! Get away with you!
(Scene 9)
Narrator: Gopal began to dance and sing loudly.
(Scene 10)
Narrator: Inside the palace---
(The king hears the conversation between the guards and Gopal)
Guard 1:The man is crazy!
Guard 2: Throw him out at once!
Gopal: I want to see the king let me in!
(The guard is called for, and then the king demands Gopal's presence)
King: Bring that man to me at once!
Guard 1: Yes! Your Majesty.
(Scene 11: Inside the palace)
Narrator: Gopal was brought before the king.
Courtier 2: It's Gopal!
Courtier 3: The man has lost his mind!
Courtier 4: I think it's one of his crazy jokes.
King: All right, Gopal. Out with it! Why are you dressed up in this ridiculous fashion?
Gopal: Your Majesty, You seem to have forgotten something!
King: Forgotten something?
Gopal: Strangely enough no one seems to be interested in Hilsa-fish today! From the market to the palace and the court, not a soul has spoken a word about Hilsa-fish!
(Scene 12)
Narrator: Only then did the king remember the challenge he had thrown to Gopal.
King: Ha! ha! well Gopal, congratulations! You have achieved the impossible once again!
Note: The details given inside the brackets are not from the textbook. They were given for the better understanding of the students.
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Honeycomb. Gopal and the Hilsa-fish(pp. 36-47). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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