One day it was (Tuesday) about 5 hrs. in the evening. The lord of that county (district) came in a chariot drawn by four horses; five attendants accompanied him on horses with spears and swords. He showed great pomp & royal status. The cobbler couple bent down on their knees and greeted him with folded hands (namaste). The lord was proud, haughty and stern in his words and behaviour.
He thundered ; “ I heard highly about your worker Santayya; I bring some rare type of deer skin. It costed me thousand dinars. I bring some costly gems also; they cost thousands of dinars (one dinar was one gold coin of 25 gms). I want artistic shoes as per the design; I got it drawn on a paper here. I pay one thousand dinars as labor-charges. I want to wear these shoes when I shall attend the coronation function of the son of the emperor next week. I give three days time. If any mishap occurs, I behead your entrire family; be careful.” The chief attendant gave the deer skin and some rare gems and gold laces to Ramayya. The cobbler replied,” Yes ! My lord! We make shoes exactly as per the design-diagram you gave; there shall be no mishap or no delay. Let your attendant come on Friday evening; the shoes will be ready as per your orders.” At that time Santayya stared at the entrance door of that room; and smiled. The cobbler couple noted this; but said nothing. They had full faith on Santayya; they gave the materials and drawings to him to make shoes as per order.
Three days were over; Santayya prepared beautiful slipper but not shoes; these slipper are to be fitted to the feet of a dead person, before burying him in a grave. The cobbler couple found this late; they lost their temper; they scolded him aloud; Sanyasamma brought a dagger to stab Santayya.
Santayya was calm and well-composed; he was not irritated; he replied, “I did correct foot-ware; there is no mishap. You get no risk.” Just then the attendant came; he asked whether the shoes were made; he told the lord died that morning; he does not need shoes as per original order. He needs slippers to be fitted to his feet, before burying the corps. He saw the slippers were ready. He felt happy, paid the thousand dinars as charges and took the slippers with him. The cobbler couple were astonished; yet were pleased to note no mishap occurred. All went well.
Santayya was silent; he looked at the sky towards heaven and saluted with folded hands. The couple were surprised. The business prospered well; the cobblers built a very huge mansion, with royal luxuries. They acquired hundreds of hectors of agricultural lands; they were very happy and rich and famous. They stopped working and lived happily, enjoying the luxuries; only Santayya was working as cobbler.
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