The Ghost’s Revenge

The Wicked Landlord

*A dense South Indian jungle with a mysterious banian tree. A young boy carrying a small pot hesitates as he stands on a sunlit dirt path.*

Hundreds of years ago, there lived a wicked landlord in a certain village near a jungle. The landlord had employed a few bandits who roamed about in the jungle. Whenever someone passed through it, they attacked and took away anything valuable the traveler carried. Often, they would kill their victims and bury them in the woods.

A Scholar’s Fate

One day, a great Brahmin scholar was passing through that forest after receiving a bag full of money as a reward from the king. As soon as the bandits spotted him, they attacked. Realizing he was a famous man known to the king, they decided it was safer to kill him, ensuring that no one would learn of his fate. They buried the old man’s body under a banian tree.

The Boy’s Encounter

Years later, the Brahmin’s grandson, a young boy, came to learn his lessons from a teacher in the landlord’s village. One afternoon, while on his way home through the jungle, he met an old man near the banian tree. “My child! I have held this small pot for you for a long time. It is full of gold coins. Please accept this gift. However, I advise you not to travel with such wealth as evening approaches. Go to the landlord’s house and ask for shelter for the night. Depart for home tomorrow morning,” the old man warned.

A Night of Deceit

The curious boy accepted the pot, removing the cloth covering it to find it indeed filled with gold coins. He thanked the old man and promised to heed his advice. The boy went to the landlord’s house, requesting shelter for the night. The landlord, seeing the pot in the boy’s hands, reluctantly agreed.

*The boy encounters the wicked landlord near the grand house, unaware of the danger that lies ahead.*

At midnight, the landlord entered the boy’s room while he lay asleep. Fascinated by the pot, he lifted it, opened it, and was astonished by its contents. Unable to comprehend how a small boy could possess such wealth, he emptied the pot, kept it down, and left the room with the treasure.

The Theft Revealed

Early the next morning, the boy prepared to leave for his village. He picked up his pot but was surprised by how light it felt. Looking inside, he discovered that the coins had vanished. He rushed to the landlord, asking, “What happened to my gold coins?”

“Gold coins? How could a small boy like you speak of gold coins?” shouted the landlord. “But I insist, I had gold coins with me, and now they are gone!” the boy cried, racing into the village to complain to the villagers about the theft. Soon after, the landlord learned of the boy’s claims and ordered his servants to capture him.

Justice or Injustice?

The boy was brought before the landlord. “You have tarnished my reputation by claiming I am a thief!” the landlord howled. He turned to his advisers and asked, “What punishment does this boy deserve?”

“He should be hanged, my lord, for if he continues to live, he will only make more irresponsible claims!” said the chief adviser, and others nodded in agreement.

A Grandfather’s Challenge

As the crowd gathered to witness the boy’s fate, an old man emerged, challenging the landlord.
“What right do you have to hang this innocent boy?” he demanded.
“What right do you have to raise this question?” retorted the angry landlord.
“I am the child’s grandfather,” replied the old man, “and you owe me an explanation.”
“The child has spoken scandalously against me,” said the landlord.
“In that case, you are the complainant, not the judge. This case should be tried by the king,” the grandfather insisted, causing a flicker of fear in the landlord.