Story 11: The Mystery of the Sarayu River

THE MYSTERY OF THE SARAYU RIVER

BY. ADHAV.V

Chapter 1: The New Face in Malgudi

Malgudi was a calm little town by the Sarayu River, where nothing much ever changed. People knew each other well, and gossip spread fast. One evening, a man named Raju came to town. He wasn’t from around here, and everyone noticed. He rented a small room near the river and spent most of his time alone. The people of Malgudi were curious but didn’t know what to make of him.

What caught their attention the most were Raju’s nightly walks by the river. He always carried a small book, scribbling notes while staring at the water. It wasn’t long before the villagers started whispering—why was this man so interested in the river?

Chapter 2: Old Stories and Secrets

Raju continued his routine, keeping to himself during the day but heading to the river at night. One day, as he stood by the water, an old man named Ammani came by. Ammani was the oldest person in the village, and everyone respected him.

"You seem to be searching for something," Ammani said with a knowing smile. Raju was taken aback but didn’t answer right away.

Ammani nodded and continued, “There’s an old story about this river, you know. A wealthy merchant hid his fortune somewhere along the Sarayu before he disappeared. People have looked for it, but no one has ever found anything. Some even say the river guards the treasure.”

Raju listened carefully, but he wasn’t sure if he believed the tale. However, Ammani’s words lingered in his mind long after the old man had left.

Chapter 3: Strange Discoveries

The more Raju thought about the story, the more he became obsessed. He spent hours studying the river, noticing things he hadn’t seen before—strange patterns in the sand, the way the wind seemed to move the water in circles. He felt like he was getting closer to something, but he wasn’t sure what.

Then one evening, Raju found something unusual on the riverbank. It looked like someone had recently dug there. He was nervous but also excited. Maybe the treasure was real after all. His mind raced with possibilities as he decided to keep this discovery to himself.

But as days passed, the villagers grew suspicious. They could tell Raju was hiding something, and some even warned him not to mess with the river’s secrets.

Chapter 4: The Real Treasure

One stormy night, Raju made up his mind to uncover the truth. With his book in hand, he headed to the spot he had found earlier. The wind was strong, and the river seemed louder than usual, almost like it was whispering.

Raju dug into the earth until his hands hit something hard. His heart pounded as he unearthed an old, small chest. But when he opened it, there was no gold, no jewels. Instead, there were only a few old scrolls, covered in dust and age.

Confused, Raju looked over the papers. They weren’t worth money, but they held something even more important: the merchant’s writings. He had hidden stories and wisdom that he didn’t want to lose to time.

Just then, Ammani appeared behind him. "The real treasure was never gold, Raju," the old man said quietly. "It’s the knowledge the river has carried all these years."

Raju smiled. He realized he had been searching for something, but what he found was far more valuable than any riches. The whispers of the Sarayu had shown him the true meaning of the treasure.

The End