Adventures of Raghu - the challenge

Raghu had always been an avid lover of the outdoors. Life for Raghu was an adventure. Having been brought up in a little town adjoining a forest, Raghu was always out on the prowl. His mother could hardly keep up with him and his notorious ways. 12 years old now, while other kids were busy playing video games, reading books or playing in the playground, Raghu would pick up his bike and be on his way into the forest to explore the wilderness, climb trees, make wild friends and dwell deeper into the secrets of the outdoors.

Today morning, Rasiya, a spectacled cobra and Raghu’s dearest companion came rushing in through the hole in Raghu’s room wall. Raghu had made this secret hole in his room wall an year ago. It connected to the garden outside, through which Rasiya could easily slither in. It was a well- kept secret which only Raghu and Rasiya knew. “They’ve given out the first clue Raghu! Here is the leaf they have written it on!” squealed Rasiya as he gasped for breath. “Really! “ cried out an excited Raghu as he jumped to grab the leaf from Rasiya’s mouth.

It had been a month since Raghu was biking home one evening and had suddenly noticed a man with long hair and a big beard, streaks across his face, swinging across tree branches. “Was it really possible? Was there really a Tarzan?” was the first thought that had crossed Raghu’s mind! He had quickly parked his bike and run towards the voices he heard. They were wild calls, hooting sounds and noises of clapping. There he had seen a large group of human looking people with strange marks on their faces. He had later discovered that they were the Arsea tribe members. He had kept a close watch on them ever since and been absolutely fascinated by their physical abilities.

They could swing from tree to tree, jump in ways no humans could, climb trees like large lizards, make strange yet wondrous sounds and roam freely in the forest like any other animal. Their major food was also only honey!

Raghu had so badly wanted to be a part of the tribe and learn their ways since then. He had tried to meet the chief of the tribe to become a part, but the chiefs men would not let him get past them. They detested people from town and spoke rather harshly with Raghu. It was Rasiya who had then intervened and spoken to them of how Raghu had helped many animals and beings in the forest. This had opened them up to giving Raghu a fair chance. They had challenged Raghu to three tests. If he passed, they promised they would let him meet the chief.

Today they had sent a message on a leaf to Raghu through Rasiya. It carried in it a riddle -

“They’re scared of me but I don’t know why

I’ve made so many children cry!

I cannot be seen, I cannot be heard

But you can find me in a hole or mountain cave. Now isn’t that absurd?”

Below it was another line in bigger letters -

Come meet me, the chief's minister, at the answer near Tiger hill.