Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.

Once upon a time, there lived a king who was placid. He, once he desired to construct an arch, which would eddy the people. The kings' desire was soon implemented, and a beautiful arch was constructed.
When the king rode down the thoroughfare, his crown has fallen down from his head getting hit by the arch, which was constructed too low. The king considered it as a disgrace to him and wanted to hang the culprit.
 
He immediately ordered the soldiers to hang the chief of the builders. The chief then said that it was the mistake of the builders. Then the king shifted the punishment to the builders. The builders then cried that the size of the bricks was more; hence, the architect must be hanged. Thus the punishment was finally shifted to the architect. The architect reminded the king that, the king himself had made some amendments in the design that he had shown. Now it finally turned towards the king.
 
He thought for a while and ordered the soldiers to bring the wisest man in the country. As ordered by the king, they brought an old man, who can barely see and hear. He suggested that the arch should be hanged since it was the reason for such disgrace, which was immediately put into practice. Then one of the ministers objected saying that how can they hang an arch so shamefully. Then the king took back his decision and wanted to deal it his own way.
 
The said that the nation wants someone to be hanged immediately, so every man was measured by and by and only one man was tall enough to get stuck in the arch, and it was the king. So finally, he was hanged.
 
The people of the country then wanted a new king. According to their tradition, they asked the first person to pass the city gate. Unfortunately, the person was a mad man. When the soldiers asked him about, who the next king should be? He replied ‘melon’, as he liked them the most. So a melon was finally crowned and was put on the royal throne.

The Tale of Melon city is a narrative poem by Vikram Seth written in the couplet form. The poem is an account of an incident involving the monarch and citizens that took place in a city long ago. The tale is humorous with a very sharp focus on the thematic aspect. Structurally, the story has three parts-the first part mentions about a king's wish to build an arch. The second part relates his complaints regarding the faulty construction of the arch and the last part narrates how his decree ultimately falls on him leading to his hanging. The poem in a high tone of humour narrates the transition of power from the king to a melon which became a symbolic head.

In the beginning the poet narrates that there was a king in a city long ago. One day the king expressed his desire to construct an arch spanning the main thoroughfare to improve the onlookers morally and mentally. The king was just and peace loving. The construction work was soon undertaken by employing large number of labourers.

After the completion of the arch, the king went to inspect the newly constructed arch. The arch was very low. His crown struck against the arch and fell off. Feeling dishonoured, the king decided to hang the chief of builders. All arrangements were made for the hanging. The Chief of builders defended himself by shifting the responsibility to the labourers. Convinced by the argument, the king then ordered to hang all the labourers. The labourers shifted the responsibility to the size of the bricks. The king accordingly ordered the hanging of the masons. The masons in turn defended themselves and put all blame on the architect. The king ordered to hang the architect. The architect reminded the king that he (King) had made some amendments to the plan when it was shown to him. The architect indirectly put the blame on the king. The king was confused to hear the architect's argument. The king solicited the advice of the wisest man in his kingdom. Accordingly, the wisest man was found and brought to the court. He was so old that he could neither walk nor see. He gave the verdict that the arch was the real culprit. It was the arch that hit the crown violently and it fell off. So, the arch must be hanged. Accordingly, the arch was led to the scaffold. In the meantime, a councillor pointed out that it would be very shameful act to hang the arch that touched the king's crown.

The crowd which gathered there to witness the hanging of the culprit was getting restless. Sensing their mood, the king said that someone must be hanged since the nation wanted a hanging. The noose was set up. It was somewhat high. Each man was measured turn by turn. But there was only one man who was tall enough to fit in the noose, and it was the King. Interestingly, the king was hanged.

The poet then narrates the third part of the poem. In the concluding part the ministers heaved a sigh of relief that they were able to find someone, otherwise, the unruly crowd might have risen in revolt. After the death of the King, it was required to choose another king. As per the convention, the ministers sent out the herald to proclaim that the next to pass the City Gate would choose a king. An idiot happened to pass the City Gate. The guards asked him who was to be the King. The idiot answered that a melon should be chosen to be the next king. Actually that was his pet answer to all questions as he liked melons. The ministers crowned a melon and placed their Melon King reverently at the throne.

The poet narrates that the citizens were least bothered about their symbolic head. They enjoyed the principles of Laissez faire. They were very respectful to their new monarch as the new monarch did not interfere in their lives.