In the not so distant past lived a Brahmin (a cast Hindu), Taranlal. He was not educated. He earned his living by begging, which was customary amongst Hindus. He managed to get just enough to feed himself. He however was a daydreamer. He was a little eccentric too. It was because he was called Taranlal, he also always carried a long well oiled bamboo stick with him.
It was Uttarayan day (A Hindu religious day). On this day people give sweets made of sesame seeds and jaggery with coins hidden inside them to people who come for alms to their houses.
This time around Taranlal got plenty of these sweets while on his begging rounds. When he reached the colony of potters, he was tired and so sat down under a tree to rest. The potter, who had his house close to this tree, had kept his pots in the shade of this tree, a little away from its trunk.
