Tenali Raman travelled all over Vijayanagara kingdom, sometimes on the King’s work and sometimes on his own. One day, he was returning to Hampi when night fell. It was a cold, windy night and rain began to fall heavily as he looked for a shelter.
Seeing a light, he rode towards it and saw that he had reached an inn. Relieved, he got off his horse and went in. A big fire blazed in the fireplace and many people were huddled around it trying to keep warm. There seemed to be such a crowd.
Tenali Raman was soaked to the skin and shivering with cold. But there was no way he could find a place for himself near that fire.
The inn-keeper came up to him and said, “Come in, sir. You are wet. Please come in and get warm. I’ll send a boy to see to your horse.”
Tenali Raman thanked him, but continued to stand near the door. The inn-keeper asked him what the matter was.
“I am in a bit of a fix. I had a pouch with twenty varahas in it. When I came in just now, I found it was not in my jacket. I must have dropped it on the way. I must go back and look for it, but this rain……” and he stopped speaking.
The men near the fire had heard him. They stood up quickly. “Sir, please come in and sit down here. We will help you find your pouch of money.”
“You are all so kind,” said the clever Tenali Raman, “but the rain……” and again he stopped. The men said, “It’s only rain, sir. We’ll find your bag and bring it soon.” And they all left to hunt for the pouch of gold.
The inn-keeper looked at Tenali Raman and gave him a big grin. “You, sir, should be a great story-teller! Come to the fire and get dry and warm. Let me bring some hot milk for you.” And Tenali Raman stretched out near the blazing fire, putting his clothes around to dry, chuckling at the poor fellows who would be hunting in the rain and the dark for a pouch that was not there!
