If you go back to ancient history you will notice that plenty of stories were written at that time and were listened to and enjoyed by many. Since there there was no one to promote these wonderful tales, they die and get buried together with the authors who wrote them This is such a story/ riddle I translated it from an old literature wrote back in ancient India. I have written the answer at the bottom of the page and would love those who read this story to answer first then proceed down to check the result. Note the answer is not straight forward. It holds a deeper meaning to it and i have given the answer which was written in the Epic Literature. If those who feel a different way and find that their choice of answer is best suited please do leave a comment and share with me your thoughts and wisdom.. ^{Happy Reading}

Tanis was slowly sipping his hot tea, his bones weary after riding his horse for nearly an entire day. Tanis knew he had to stop soon before dark falls his tired brains working out a way to find a place to sleep. "Not these fancy inns that's for sure!!!" He snickered to himself. He had just enough silver on him to buy his meals. "Maybe after the fair i will pamper myself in one of these fancy inns before setting back home" he consoled himself.

You see Tanis was a sculptor. He was in fact the best among his tribesmen. All year long Tanis would use his trusted knife which his father gave him and carved misshapen wood into beautiful objects and when the announcement is made that the White Men of the North are preparing for their year end celebration he would gather 10 of his best sculptures and make his way there and sell his art to the people there.

With the gold he would return to his tribe and his family will live on his gold till the next celebrations is announced by the White Men.The journey to the North is long and rough but the promise of gold always pushes him that extra mile.

Tanis was deep in his thoughts when he heard a gruff voice behind him" are those seat taken my dear man"? A plumb man somewhats in his 30s was standing with a food tray directly behind him. Beside the man stood a rather handsome guy also holding a similar food tray. Tanis usually kept to himself but he saw how crowded the inn was and he guessed the men were as tired as him and removed his bag where he held all his stuffs and gave them space to seat down. It took just seconds for Tanis to regret his actions because the plumb man nearly took the entire seat with his fat behind and Tanis had to squeeze himself against the wall to let the other man sit.

As it turned out the plumb man name was Foga. He was a silk merchant and he too was on his way to the White MEN land to trade his silk for gold. His handsome companion also came from Foga's hometown but the difference was he had nothing with him to sell. Foga explained he was on his way to leave his hometown to embark on the long journey when he met Rast( that was the handsome guy name) performing some magic tricks on the sidewalks. Foga was very impressed by his tricks that he encouraged Rast to join him on his journey to the North to impress the White Men with his magic. Foga was confident Rast would make a fortune there as he had in all the years he had gone to the North has never seen anyone perform magic tricks like Rast did.

For a cut of what Rast makes with his magic-tricks, Foga will show him the way around the country giving him tips where he could make the most gold. Rast who very much needed the money for his own personal reasons was obviously happy with the arrangement and left with Foga and the two of them were now where Tanis was, both looking for a place to sleep and both too could not afford to pay for a room. the exact situation Tanis was in now.

Foga and Rast ate their dinner while listening to Tanis as he told his story about his purpose of his journey North. Suddenly Foga remembered the old haunted house abandoned not far from here deep in the woods. He knew if it doesn't rain it will give them the perfect location to rest their horses and sleep as well. Rast and Tanis looked at each other when they heard the word haunted but both didn't want to give away it troubled them. Foga waited for their approval. Rast had no other choice and agreed to follow Foga and Tanis badly needing to stop and rest, agreed to follow them. He silently thanked his mother in his heart for giving him the ALMIGHTY amulet to protect him on his journey.

The house was surprisingly still in good condition and Rast saw that there was even a fireplace to keep them warm. He just hoped the spirits haunting the house were not there today. The 3 weary travellers quickly went about preparing to settle down for the night

To Tanis it seems that the ghost were not around that night rather the owls were on a single mission to wake those who were sleeping that night. It sounded as if a million owls were out all hooting their heads off...

Finally he gave up trying to sleep and went out of the house. He went and sat under a tree and silently cursed the owls for destroying his sleep. He then noticed the air around him was quite thick and he suddenly felt very chilly.He got up and started to walk back to the house when he saw a tall shadow in the mist directly to his left side. He froze for a moment then he slowly turned and tried to see what the thing was.

Squinting his eyes hard, he realized it was only a dead tree which had a slim trunk, the size of a man. He walked toward it and marveled at the slimness of the trunk. Then suddenly he whipped out his carving knife from his tunic and started to carve.

He worked like a man possessed. Tanis knew what he was carving. He knew the form which came and hit his artistic mind like a wave crashing to the shore. He knew this was the first time he was filled with such inspiration and he also knew this was going to be his best ever sculpture he had ever made in his entire life. Like a sweet melody floating out of a flute. Tanis worked on his masterpiece ever so smoothly.

Finally He fell back and looked at what he had done. In front of hm stood the most beautiful maiden the 3 worlds has ever seen. The sculpture looked as if it was going walk out to him anytime. So alive it looked. Tanis looked bewitched at his wooden sculpture. He couldn't believe he actually created such beauty. Suddenly he heard a gasp. Foga stood there looking at the wooden maiden totally engrossed in it. Rast walked behind him and he too stopped in his tracks staring at the miracle. Tanis smiled at them and said" well if you want her you got to cut up up and bring her back home. but the wood is dead so the bark will be falling off in a few days time" His eyes tearing slightly realizing his masterpiece was not going to last.

Then all of a sudden Rast walked up to the sculpture and said "NO!!!" i CANT ALLOW HER TO JUST DIE LIKE THIS!" Tanis and Foga knew the situation was getting crazy. No matter how beautiful the sculpture looked it was going to fall off one piece at a time.Rast turned to them and said "Foga you kept on saying my magic were mere tricks but have you ever asked yourself how was it possible to make myself disappear in front of so many people and then come out again under a piece of cloth in broad daylight? How can it possibly be a trick? I may not be a powerful sorcerer but i was planning on saving up enough gold to travel to the Dark Land in the East and learn more powers there.When Tanis and Foga heard the mention of the Dark East they gasped. It was rumored all the witches and unimaginable creatures lurked in that part of the world. Rast was crazy to be thinking of going there. Rast oblivious to their thoughts carried on" i have never seen beauty of such kind before and i am going to summon all the dark power i have to bring her to life. Foga decided he had all along been travelling in the company of a lunatic. But Rast still in his own world turned and placed his hands on the sculptor.

Foga and Tanis looked on without uttering a single sound watching the drama unfold in front of them. Strange chantings were coming out of Rast mouth and they grew more and more louder. Tanis heard the trees around him beginning to shake violently. Foga to his horror realized not one owl was hooting when only a while ago they were tearing his ear drums with their hollow screams. Then a bright flash of light tore out from the ground below cutting right into the centre of the sculpture. All 3 heard an agonizing scream coming from the tree and it tore into their hearts

Then all of a sudden everything became still. Rast was on the ground thankfully sitting up while Foga and Tanis were looking at the sculpture with disbelieving eyes. The sculpture was no longer there. In front of them stood the maiden much more beautiful than ever, looking at them back with so much of fear in her eyes. She was totally naked. Tanis heard someone running but he was too shocked to bother who or what it was. All that mattered was his sculpture, his beautiful sculpture, his creation alive! Just like Rast had said., Rast looked at the maiden. He knew everything was worth it. The pain in his hands, the burning of his palms and the exchange he made with the Dark Lord to bring the sculpture to life was worth it. He looked lovingly at his creation.

He then heard someone running behind him. It was Foga. He had one of his silk cloths in his hands. He ran to the beautiful maiden and covered her naked body. She then looked at the 3 and said" I don't know what has just happened and i don't know what im doing here. You are the only people here with me. To whom do i belong to? Me my dear lady i am the one who brought you to life you belong to me. Just as the beautiful girl stepped forward to where Rast was standing Tanis said NO!!! Me. i AM THE ONE WHO MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU BELONG TO ME!!! The girl then looked at Tanis and took a step in his direction. Rast turned towards Tanis angrily and said without me she would still been a sculpture. SHE BELONGS TO ME... Tanis in turn said" without me the sculpture would have still been a dead tree. SHE BELONGS TO ME!!! Both men turned to Foga and asked him to decide who she belongs to.

Foga scratched his head and wisely said "ME, she belongs to me because she is wearing my expensive silk. Tanis and Rast looked at him disgustingly and turned towards the beautiful girl who was looking on, confusion clouding her beautiful face.

She took a deep breath and said " I have decided who is the man whom i belong to" All 3 men looked at her eagerly.She continued" Obviously the man who takes me back is going to make me his wife so looking at what has happened there is only one man among you 3 who has the rights to be my husband the other 2 don't...

"WHO IS THE ONE?" all 3 asked...

The Beautiful Young Maiden said...........................................

• Tanis the Sculptor- Tanis Created THE MAIDEN. In life the Creator is considered God. Tanis became her God when he moulded her and gave her shape

• Rast the Sorcerer- From a tiny seed from a father, the mother nurture that seed for 9 months and give birth to a new life. Rast gave life to the wooden sculpture. By right he is the Parent to the girl.

• Foga the Merchant- Foga did the simple act of covering the maiden nakedness. A Valiant man protects his woman modesty. Foga became that man. He is the best among the 3 to marry the beautiful maiden

ANSWER; The MERCHANT

My Indian ancestors would have weeped if they had read this story. From a simple 4 line riddle i spun nearly a thousand words yarn befitting of a Lord of the ring Fantasy. If those of you not Indian what im trying to say here is from a simple "Why did the chicken cross the street joke", i started off with the chicken, its hometown and family then the work departments who dug the road and finally how it crossed it. you get it? no?