Ravana Goes To Silicon Valley: Chapter 2
He saw a girl of eight or ten years old guarding a small herd of sheep a short distance away. In the past there hadn’t been any sheep grazing there, but he noticed that the grass was growing a little thicker than it used to.
“Stop! You can’t be here! This is private property. Turn around, or face the consequences.”
Suddenly the girl was standing right in front of him, blocking the path. She tapped him in the chest with her staff as if to show him she meant business.
“I happen to be the owner of this property,” Chandru said with a broad smile. “It’s been in my family for generations. Some say it was gifted to us by Lord Rama himself. I used to trek here, as did my father and grandfather.”
“Is that so? I’ve never seen you before, I think you’re a liar. Give me a proof. Tell me what lies behind that ridge.”
“A lake that stays frozen all year round.”
“So what? Anybody can look that up. We have Google Maps at home, you know. Tell me what’s special about this lake and I let you pass.”
“There’s an old legend my grandfather told me. After Ravana’s defeat, Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana brought the corpses of some of Ravana’s generals and officers and displayed them on the ice of the frozen lake as proof to the gods of Rama’s victory. Over the eons the demons and rakshasas sunk deeper into the ice. My grandfather claimed to have seen their actual shapes, but I’ve only seen dark shadows in the ice. It could be rocks or anything.”
“What kind of grandson calls his grandfather a liar? Go away or face my anger!”
Chandru was amused by the precocious little shepherd girl’s lecturing and threats, but decided to humor her.
“You’re right, and I’m ashamed. There could be dead men entombed in the ice. Maybe they are rakshasa warriors, maybe they are pilgrims or nomads who got lost in a snow storm? I don’t claim to know this and I apologize to you and to my grandfather.”
The little girl scowled at him and waved the staff in a menacing way. Clearly the situation required something more than an apology.
“Tell you what, I’ll give you hundred rupees if you let me pass.”
“Five hundred.”
Chandru reached inside his parka and pulled out his wallet.