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"But I did not leave. I was curious and said to myself let us see what is to be found. I began to study the signs and symbols but without success. I began regretting I had burnt the paper. 'What ill would it have brought had I kept it with me?' I often thought."

"Then, I visited the place of my birth. I saw people living in poverty and thought to myself that I am a sannyasi and have no need for wealth, but these people have families to support; it will not be wrong in trying to recover the hidden treasure for their benefit."

"I knew where the original paper was to be found, so it was an easy task for me to obtain it."

"Since then, for the past one year, I have lived in this forest and searched for the treasure; I could think of nothing else. The more obstacles I faced, the more determined I became to find the treasure; like a mad man, I have spent days and nights in its pursuit."

"I never realized you had started following me. I was so engrossed in finding the treasure that worldly events failed to attract my attention - I was as if in a trance. If I had been my normal self, you would never have been able to keep yourself hidden from me."

"It is only today I discovered what I had been searching all these years. There is so much treasure here, which no king on earth has ever seen. I had only to decipher the meaning of just one more sign before I could reach the treasure; this was the most difficult task in the quest of the treasure, but I have worked it in my mind and that is why I cried out in joy, 'I have found it!' If I wish I could go and stand in the midst of treasure this very instant."

Mrityunjoy caught hold of Shankar's feet and pleaded, "You are a sannyasi and have no need for wealth - take me to the treasure. Don't deprive me."

Shankar said, "Today, the last chains that bound me have been freed. The stone that you hurled to kill me did not touch me but it pierced and shattered my temptations. I saw the dangerous image of desire today. My guru's smile has, after such a long interval, lit a flame of knowledge within me."

Mrityunjoy once again pleaded with Shankar, "You are a free man but I am fettered; I do not wish to be free. You cannot deprive me of this treasure."

The sannyasi said, "Son, take this paper then. If you can find the treasure, keep it." So saying he gave the paper and his staff to Mrityunjoy and walked away.

Mrityunjoy wailed after him, "Forgive me, do not abandon me - show me the way to the treasure." But he did not receive any reply. Mrityunjoy tried to find his way out of the tunnel. But the maze was so complex that he found himself trapped. In the end, he dropped down in exhaustion and fell asleep.

When he woke there was no way of knowing whether it was day or night. Mrityunjoy was very hungry and he ate the food he had brought along with him. Then he groped in the dark trying to find a way out of the maze, but he met only obstacles. He gave up his efforts and called out, "Oh there, sannyasi! Where are you?"

His call echoed through the maze of tunnels. An answer came to him from far away, "I am near you - tell me what do you want?"

Mrityunjoy said, "Please come and show me where the treasure is hidden." His voice sounded piteous. But there was no reply. Mrityunjoy called repeatedly but there were no replies.

In this underground maze of tunnels which were eternally shrouded in darkness, Mrityunjoy once again fell asleep. Waking up in the darkness he called out yet again, "Are you there?" This time there was an answer from quite near, "I am here. What do you want?"

Mrityunjoy said, "I do not want anything - only take me out of here."

"Don't you want the treasure?" the sannyasi asked.

Mrityunjoy replied, "No, I don't want the treasure."

There was the sound of flint stones being struck, and a torch was lighted.

"Then let's go, Mrityunjoy," the sannyasi said.

Mrityunjoy said in a reproachful voice, "Baba, should all my efforts go waste? After facing so many hardships, should the treasure still elude me?"

The torch was instantly extinguished. "Oh! This is so cruel!" Mrityunjoy exclaimed. He sat down and began thinking. There was no measure of time and the darkness stretched to infinity. Mrityunjoy wanted to employ all his physical and mental strength and shatter the darkness. His soul craved for light, the sky, and the colourful world outside. He called out, "Oh sannyasi, Oh you cruel sannyasi, I don't want the treasure. Rescue me from here."

The sannyasi said, "You don't want the treasure? Then hold my hand and come with me."

This time no torch was lit. Mrityunjoy held on to the sannyasi's robe and followed him. For a long time the two walked through the maze and upon reaching a particular spot, the sannyasi said, "Wait."

Mrityunjoy did as directed, and shortly he heard the sound of a rusted iron door being opened. The sannyasi took Mrityunjoy's hand and said, "Come."

Mrityunjoy sensed that they had entered a room. There was the sound of flint stones being struck and when the torch was lit, Mrityunjoy saw the most amazing sight! Layers and layers of gold were embedded on the walls! The room was filled entirely with gold! Mrityunjoy's eyes sparkled and he cried out like an insane man, "This gold is mine - I cannot go away leaving it behind."

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