Long ago, in the late 18th century, there was British rule in India. But they allowed some small kingdoms to be ruled by their kings.
In such a small estate, Malati lived with her mother and two siblings.
Malti's mother was working in King's house, and Malti stayed at home looking after two small siblings.
She was an expert in making sweets from milk. The knowledge she had learned from her grandmother.
Sometimes she gave sweets to an old woman who had a shop by the main road.
"Mother, I want to read and write like King's daughter," Malti said.
"No, dear we poor people are not allowed to go to school. And you are a girl. For
girls to read and write means no one from our community will marry you." Mother clarified
So Malti's desire to study was unfulfilled. Whenever she praised God, she only prayed to get a chance to study.
She always whispered her desire to a yellow ribbon laying near the statue of God.
One day she made a chena poda for the shopkeeper. The old lady came early. Malti hurriedly put the sweet in a leaf basket and bound it with her favorite yellow ribbon, as she couldn't find any other thing to bind.
When the old lady touched the basket she felt a strange uneasiness but she was in a hurry, so she rushed to the shop.
In the shop, she handed the sweet basket to a waiting Gora Shahab. Gora Sahab touched the sweet basket and felt strange unease, but he was in a hurry
so rushed for the king's court.
He gave the sweet basket as a gift to the king.
When the king touched the sweet basket, he also felt a strange uneasiness.
He was very surprised. He pulled the ribbon to see the desire of a 10-year-old girl shaped into a sweet.
The milk cake was shaped like a girl reading a book.
He immediately called for the shopkeeper who sold it to the Gora Shahab.
The old lady was very frightened.
"Have you made this milk cake?" King thundered.
"No, sir. Is it not good in taste?" The old lady asked in a terrifying voice.
"No, the best chena poda I have tasted in recent times, but I want to meet its maker," the king said.
The old lady gave the address of Malati's house.
The Malti along with her mother were immediately called to the court.
"I am very sorry. My daughter has done a great mistake. She has dishaped the chena poda" Malti's mother told to the king.
" No, Malti has opend my eyes" king assured the mother.
"From now on education will be free for all,poor or wealthy, boy or girls ,young or okd. I will make many schools in different places so that everyone can get access to education ." King announced
He gave three gold coin to Malti for her creativity.
Malti gor her wished full fill. She thanked her yellow ribbon.
