Price of A Rope
Once upon a time, there lived a farmer who had three sons. He treated them equally. However, when he died, the two older sons shared the property between themselves and deprived the youngest boy of everything. The youngest son, whose name was Nithi, asked, “What about me? Don’t I get anything?”
The Gift of a Rope
The two older brothers brought out a length of rope and said, “This is all you get. Now be off with it.” So, Nithi took the rope and went away. While traveling through a forest, he saw a squirrel. He looped his rope around the animal and caught it. In this manner, he also captured a rabbit.
A Dream by the Lagoon
Afterward, he built two cages and placed the animals inside. Exhausted from his efforts, he rested by the banks of a lagoon. As he sat there dreaming of the animals he would catch with his rope, he imagined selling them for a lot of money. All the while, his hands were busily plaiting and replaiting the rope.
A Water-Demon’s Scheme
Unknown to him, a creature from the lagoon watched him from the murky depths. This creature was a water-demon, which sent its son up to discover what the boy was doing. A young water-demon emerged and confronted Nithi, but the lad did not show any signs of fear.
The Challenge
The demon asked boorishly, “Man, what are you doing here?” Nithi replied confidently, “I am fashioning a loop to encircle and take out the whole lagoon, along with all its creatures.” Alarmed, the water-demon returned to his father and recounted Nithi’s bold statement. The senior demon instructed his son to propose a game. If Nithi lost, he would become their slave.
Failed Competitions
Junior came out of the water and challenged Nithi, “I dare you to climb this tree faster than I can.” Nithi replied carelessly, “I’m too busy now, but my brother will compete with you.” He then released the squirrel, which scampered up the tree faster than the eye could see, leaving Junior crestfallen.
Returning to report his failure, Junior was instructed to challenge Nithi to a race. Again, Nithi replied, “Let my other brother take you on.” This time, he let out the rabbit, which sprinted away in an instant. After yet another defeat, Junior went back to the water-demon, who then suggested a personal combat with Nithi.
The Bear’s Intervention
Hearing the challenge made Nithi frightened. Just then, he spotted a bear in the vicinity and pointed, saying, “There is another brother of mine. Go and fight with him first.” The junior demon attacked the bear but was badly wounded, bleeding as he returned to report his defeat against Nithi’s small brothers.
A Wealthy Return
Terrified, the water-demon sent his son to Nithi, offering to pay him to leave them in peace. Nithi took off his cap and indicated he wanted it full to the brim. When Junior departed, Nithi dug a pit in the sand, tore off the upper portion of the cap, and placed it over the pit’s opening.
When Junior returned with a small bag of gold coins and emptied it into the cap, everything fell into the pit. It took multiple trips for the water-demon to fill the cap, and when he finally left, Nithi tied all the money into a huge bundle and returned to the village as a wealthy man. His jealous brothers bombarded him with questions and discovered his secret. They rushed to the lagoon, ropes in hand, but they never came back. Presumably, the creature from the black lagoon had devoured them.