5)The Ancient Temple's Ghostly Singer

An ancient temple. Grass and wild plants have dug into the edifice of the structure and hidden it from public view. A cow herd  lazing against a banyan tree while around 45 odd cows are feeding nonchalantly. A soft breeze blows the cow herds hair away from his ear. He knows immediately that the singer shall sing and he sits up. The cows jerk their heads up. The breeze stops. The cows resume feeding. The next waft is stronger - it moans and growls - then stops. The cows graze on. The breeze stops. Then , as if from very far away - a voice of someone singing - and the soft waft of someone playing the violin to give the singer company. The breeze really roars this time and the trees sway heavily this way then the other. And as if from within the roar of the breeze the singers voice rises and the cowherd recognises the raga coming from the ruins far away that he had heard being sung for the past eleven years from this very tree. He gave accompaniment to the raga with his flute. The far away singer seemed to realise the presence of this new accompaniment -  and his rendering seemed to become stronger, more determined.

Gradually the cowherd works up the courage to enter the forbidden walls of the ruin - and is greeted by - the ghost of the ancient warrior king, who had a sad story to narrate. The King had a good voice and had been preparing his finest raga with his musicians when the neighboring kingdom attacked his kingdom. He had promised his wife that when he returned from the war - she would hear him render - His masterpiece. The battle was won - his Kingdom was safe but he did not return with the rest of his soldiers. His wife had loved him so much, and she had so much wanted to hear his masterpiece. She waited for 2 full years. Then, she committed sati - thinking he was no more. And when the fishermen brought back a fully healed King to his Kingdom, everybody was happy - but the King. How could he - his wife was not there to hear him render - His Masterpiece!