How could I ?

This is a short story which appeared in a Malayalam Magazine (Jyothisha Ratnam 200 January 1-15). I had translated this way back in 2003 itself. Here is the translated story:

Geetha and Seetha are sisters. They made their living by selling cow's milk in the nearby town. For this they had to walk some distance through a lonely forest-like place.

One day as they where passing by this place they saw a saint dressed in saffron taking rest under a big banyan tree. Seeing this Seetha told:

"He is a big saint. I know him. He resided in the nearby town. He was forced to become a saint by the death of his child."

"Yes, Indeed he is a great saint. He has a great mind that deserves appreciation, which decided to leave back all worldly pleasures" Geetha whispered.

"But he has not become a complete saint yet" Geetha remarked.

"How could you tell like this?" Seetha wondered.

"Even if he choose to go beyond such pleasures, he has not left all. See he is taking rest under the tree with its root as a support to his head". Geetha replied.

"Yes, how could a saint feel good for such pleasures". Seetha exclaimed.

They both went past the saint and delivered milk as part of their routine. When they came back the same way, they saw the same saint taking rest but under another small tree, in bare ground.

"Do you see that?" Seetha roared.

"Well, he has improved a little bit, but not fully." Geetha remarked.

"Now, how could you tell that?" Seetha asked with surprise.

"A saint, never overhears what others talk about. Well this man changed the way of resting by hearing us talk."

"Pity, the man" Seetha has also got the same view.

They both left out to their house. But in the mind of the saint the question went on and on and on.

"How could I?".