Wonder what the first independence day was like? Well, we have two first person accounts of that day-one a teenager, and another a seven year old. The memories of that momentous day are etched in their minds 75 year later. Listen and Enjoy!

The jagged bolts of lightning lit up the graveyard. The sound of the rushing streams drowned the noise of the rain. Vikram’s foot sunk into the slushy ground. He stopped, pulled his leg with force, and moved towards the Peepal tree. Another bolt of lightning showed him the way to the hanging corpse. Vikram steadied himself on the roots of the tree and pulled the corpse onto his shoulder. Now he had to walk back without losing his charge.

Would the vampire be quiet on this noisy night? Oh No! It didn’t care if the sun shone, or the clouds poured. The Betaal had its plan.

“Oh King, so even a thunderstorm can’t keep you away from the graveyard on this moonless night! Why, but why do you do this? Do you help everyone who comes to you? Must you go to such lengths to help the hermit? But do you know if he is worthy of your help? Listen to my story, for I think It will make you stop and think about what you do."

The Betaal began his story.

Listen and enjoy!

King Vikramaditya wiped the sweat running down his brows. The air was thick with a rotten stench, but he didn't veer from the path. He avoided the dying embers of fires here and there and walked on towards the Peepal tree. Once again, he swung the corpse with the vampire onto his shoulder, and once again, he began to walk back to camp.

 And once again, the Betaal broke the silence around him. "O Vikrama, what makes you leave the comforts of your palace and trudge along the desolate graveyard on this hot, sultry night? You give your all to this task. I wonder, though, if you can maintain your enthusiasm until you achieve your goal? Or will you give up soon? I am curious to know how your adventures will end because not everyone finishes what they set out to do. Let me tell you a story about Shekar the artist.

King Vikramaditya's long trek to his destination was almost over, for the corpse swung back and forth on the peepal tree. He knew the corpse couldn't see him. Why then did he feel its eyes boring into him? Vikrama shook his fancies away. “The biggest challenge for me here is not to let my fears take over. That’s what the Betaal wants. I cannot let it take over my mind,” he warned himself. But you wouldn’t have known that by looking at him. His face as calm as ever, Vikrama reached out and grabbed the corpse with the Vampire, slung it on his shoulder, and started on his return journey.
 Vampire spoke to king Vikram, "I do not know why you have taken up such a dangerous task. Perhaps it is because, as a king, you are ambitious. But beware, sometimes, ambition can be risky. Listen to my story, and you will know what I mean".

Listen and enjoy!

 Listen and enjoy!

King Vikrama shielded his eyes from the leaves and dust flying about in the air. It was hard to tell if those eerie howls were just the hot wind or if there was something else, something otherworldly in the graveyard. But you don’t get to be a great king known for your sense of adventure and quick thinking by walking back on your promises. So Vikrama trudged on, stepping over hard surfaces, be they branches, rocks, or even bones!

 When he got to the tree, he did not need to look for the corpse. Vikrama had done this so many times! His hands reached high enough to pry the corpse with vampire out of the tree. Then, taking long strides, he turned to where his guards waited. 

Vikrama had taken but a few steps when the Vampire cackled. “Aaaah, what a king won’t do to keep his word! Time after time you come back to grab me and I defeat you and yet, you won’t give up! I am not convinced that you put all this effort for others. Look into your heart! Are you sure that you don’t feel a little bit greedy? Are you sure that you are not doing this for yourself too? Hmmm? Let me tell you a story, a story of four travelers searching for gold and the misfortune that befell them..

. Listen and Enjoy!