There was a king. He was very ill. He asked the royal proclaimer to make an important announcement, “The King is ill. The person who cures him will get a reward.”

The king did not have an ordinary illness. The medicine to cure it was not even known to the royal doctors. Due to this strange illness, the king had become fat not thin.

Now, the king could only sit, when the royal attendants helped him and he could lie down on bed, but that took with the help of attendants. The question of walking did not arise at all.

Overeating and lack of exercising were the reasons of the king’s present physical condition.

Announcements were made many times. Many physicians came and went, taking away fat fees.

Beating of the dhol was now a regular activity in the kingdom. The condition of the king was getting worse day by day. One day, a poor farmer, Kashiram, heard the announcement. Kashiram was a laborious and intelligent man. He, somehow, understood the cause of the king. He chalked out a plan and prepared to cure the king.

He grew his beard and moustache long so that he could look like an experienced doctor. He went to the court and bowed down to greet the king. After saluting, he said, “My Lord! I know about your illness and I can also eradicate it. I am not an ordinary doctor. I am the best of all.”

The king looked impressed by his words and allowed him to start the treatment. Kashiram said, “Your Majesty, there is one condition, you have to follow what I say. Otherwise, the medicine will not work.”

The king had no other option than to accept what Kashiram said. Kashiram then told the king what was to be done. “The task is very simple. You have to eat five neem leaves a day,” said Kashiram. “Just five neem leaves!” asked the surprised king.

“But there is a condition. The leaves should be of a particular neem tree that stands about a mile away from the palace’s main gate. The other point to be kept in mind is that one and only one neem leaf is of be plucked at a time and is to be brought back to the palace gate and then chewed. Following the same, five leaves are to be taken daily by the king.” The king seemed to be afraid of the task. “Oh Lord! You have to continue this for thirty days without any break. Also, the task should be perfomed only by you and not by anyone else,” added Kashiram.

King’s life was in danger. So, to save himself, he started following Kashiram’s advice. But, the task was so difficult to be performed by the fat king. On the very first day, the king somehow walked down to the neem tree but with the help of a dozen royal attendants, the king pulled down a leaf.

After coming back to the main gate of the palace, the king slept for all day long. Then, next day, Kashiram came and got the report. Although, the king did not complete the task but Kashiram encouraged him to continue the treatment. The same thing happened the next day too. Days passed, now the king felt that he was able to walk up to the tree on his own.

Then he realised that he was not so tired after returning back to the palace. He, then, started enjoying to walk to the tree and come back.

After fifteen days, the king felt much better than before. He appeared to have got a little slim. It was a great surprise for all.

At the end of the thirty days, the king was able not only to sit and stand on his own, but also to walk easily. The king’s illness was cured. He was happy that Kashiram had made him realise the importance of exercise and the disadvantages of overeating. The king was no longer obese. He became fit and healthy.

As promised, the king gave a bag full of diamonds and jewels to Kashiram. Kashiram was, now, a rich man. He was rewarded for his service to the king. The king, now, exercised daily. “Being healthy is being happy.”