A story in three episodes by Vagmi Shah, Class IX B
[Click here to read part 2]
Episode 3
“So, what are you exactly?” I asked the creature with the head of a woman and the body of a lion.
“I am a sphinx,” replied the creature.
“But aren’t you supposed to be mythical?” I asked.
“Sure. You humans believe that sphinxes exist only in mythology but there is some truth behind those stories too. We exist but remain concealed from the majority of the species. I came to this quiet forest to live peaceful life. I have even built my own castle for my comforts.”.”
“Oh! So that was your castle?”
“From what you tell me, I gather that you have already visited my fine castle. Well! Well! I hope you were comfortable?”
“Who couldn’t be? I simply loved that place. It was very soothing and refreshing. It gave me a new strength. Thank you for letting me use it for the night.”
“You are welcome.”
We walked in silence for a while.
“But I still don’t understand, why did you reveal yourself to me?”
“As I am a benevolent sphinx, I thought of helping you to get out of this forest.”
I was overjoyed at hearing that she would help me.
“I will help you, but on one condition.” She continued.
My heart sank a little bit on hearing this. What if she asked me to do something that is very difficult and may jeopardize my life?
“Don’t worry, I will not give you a piece of difficult task but will ask you three riddles.” She said calmly, reading my mind.
“But for me to show you the path leading out of this forest, you will have to answer one of my riddles correctly. If you fail to do so, then you will be compelled to stay here with me for the rest of your life. Is that clear?” she said.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
“So here’s how it goes –
Here, there is no north, west or east, And weather fit for not man nor beast.”
“Umm…..let me think. ‘There is no north, west or east.’ That means south. And weather……..” I trailed off. Time ticked away and I kept on thinking.
“This is an obfuscatory riddle!” I said in defeat.
“Should I reveal the answer?”
“Go ahead.”
“The answer is `North Pole’. Here there is only South.”
I was dismayed. I now had only two chances left.
“Don’t worry. How about this one –
Large as a mountain, small as a pea, Endlessly swimming in a waterless sea.
“Well, this is a tough one. You really ask very enigmatic riddles.” I again fell into deep thought but was again unable to answer it.
“I don’t know the answer. You may tell me.”
“Fine, but after that you’ll only have one chance left.”
“Okay.”
“The answer is `asteroids’.”
“Oh!” I exclaimed, “It is large, but in space, only as small as a pea.”
“Now, for the final countdown. Here it is –
Always wax, yet always wane, I melt succumbed to the flame.
Lighting darkness, with fate unblest, I soon devolve into shapeless mess.”
“I think I know this one.” I thought for a while, and then it clicked suddenly.
“I know! I know! The answer is `candle’.” I said in triumph.
“Absolutely correct,” she said with a smile. Without another word, she began leading me out of the labyrinth.
“Thank you very much.” I said gratefully.
“My pleasure” she replied.
She came to the brink of the forest to see me off. I left the forest and did not turn back. After that day, I never got to visit her nor the forest again. I went on with my life, forever treasuring those bittersweet memories that would never fade away.
The end
