The Bidadari Legend

There was a time when the lake was such a magical place. The water was pure and the lake was surrounded by large shady trees and the air was fresh. That magical place was very attractive for angels. They usually came down to earth and bathed in the lake and the lake became their playground. One day the angels were bathing in the lake and didn’t realize that there were human eyes watching.

That day, Raja Pala was doing his daily work. He was sitting under a tree waiting for the birds. The cool tropical breeze made him fall asleep. He woke up by surprise when he heard sounds of female voices. He found beautiful girls were bathing in the lake. Raja Pala hid behind a big tree. Then he saw shawls were hanging on a branch of tree near him.I’ve never seen such beautiful shawls they must be the angels that villagers talk about. Raja Pala took one shawl and put it under his shirt.

Bidadari PaintingThe angels finished bathing and prepared to leave the lake. They put their clothes on, Suddenly one of them screamed “I can?t find my shawl. Where is it?”

“Where did you put it?” asked the other girl.”I put here, next to my clothes ”

the girl said. She looked panic. “Ok. Don’t panic. We’ll look for it.” Her friends tried to comfort her. Raja Pala was still standing in silence behind the big tree watching the girls looking for the shawl that he placed under his shirt.

“We’ve looked everywhere and we can’t find it. Maybe a deer took it?” one of them said. “We have to go. It’s getting dark.””No, don,t leave me here, please.” the girl started to cry.

“But we can’t stay. I’m sorry, my sister. May gods protect you tonight.” The other girls then tied their shawls around their waist and held the tips. Then slowly they started to fly away.

After everybody left, Raja Pala went out from his hiding place . “Are you, ok?” he asked softly. “No, I’m not ok. I’m alone here.

I’m lost. I can’t go home” the girl was crying. “Don’t worry. You can stay with me.” Raja Pala said gently, charming her, “I’m a nice person. I won’t do harm to you.” Time passed by, Raja Pala and the angel girl had married. For many years, Raja Pala still hid the shawl in the rice barn. But you can’t hide a bad secret forever. It will show up and eat you someday.

And that day came for Raja Pala when a black chicken entered his barn and made it messy. The wife took a broom to scare the chicken and get rid of it. Suddenly her eyes saw something shiny in the rice. She approached it and was very surprised when she saw something very familiar to her from a long time ago.

Raja Pala entered the barn and was shocked when he saw his wife was standing there holding a shawl that he hid all this time “It was you” his wife asked him “How could you do this” she was very disappointed with Raja Pala “I’m sorry. I just” Raja Pala tried to give an explanation and hoped his wife would forgive him. “I have to go.

I can’t stay here. I don’t belong here.” His wife tied the shawl to her waist, held the tips and flew off back into the heavens. She left Raja Pala and he cried alone.

Since then Raja Pala swore that he or his progeny would never keep black chicken. It was bad luck for him. Moral of the story if the start is good, the end will good. If the start is bad, the end will bad. “You can not hide dead fish forever, sweetheart.”