The ancient pond in the forest looked quite familiar and in no time I spotted the old tiger holding out the gold bangle.

I felt neither any surprise nor any fear. Since childhood I had been exposed to the picture of the greedy traveller accepting the gold bangle offered by the tiger in my primary class text-book.

"O pious Brahmin..."

"You are wasting your time," I hastened to say. "Through the courtesy of Pundit Vishnu Sharma, I am quite aware of your treacherous character. I have no use of gold. Besides, I am no Brahmin, nor is there the necessity for you to address one by one's caste. Times have changed."

"You mistake my intent, gentle Sir. I do not at all insist on your bathing in this pond before making a gift of the bangle to you, as Vishnu Sharma would have you believe. I am willing to hand over the bangle to you straightaway. Please step forward and take it. Bathe, of course, you should, but you may do so later!"

I drew close to the tiger and accepted the bangle in a casual manner, simply because I did not care to be careful.

As I advanced at the pond, I broke into a belly-laugh. The tiger was taken aback. At least, that was what I thought and that pleased me.

"Why this laughter, please? But I ask only because you are likely to be disappointed if I don't. I have no curiosity about anything," said the tiger.

"I am laughing because you who have tricked so many, are now yourself the butt of a trick. I have come to this pond with the intention of drowning myself. I will move into the deep water. You will have no chance of dragging me out and devouring me, I am sorry to say. And, with the gold bangle gone, you will be deprived of the means of entrapping other travellers," I said and watched the tiger over my shoulder. He seemed annoyed, but made no comment.

Having firmly decided to take my life, I did not mind living for a while longer. Avoiding the fatal mire, I swam lightly towards the middle of the pond and feeling the hard earth below, stood in neck-deep water and examined the bangle.

I was amazed. It was made not of gold alone. There were sizeable pieces of diamond and other precious stones set on it.. It radiated a wonderful glow and I kept gazing at it for long. I thanked my luck for the chance to behold such a marvel just before dying.

Then I cursed my luck. Why had it -- I mean my luck -- not put such a prize in my hands a year, or even a month ago? I could have avoided the anguish which had pushed me to the brink of suicide!

"Why trouble yourself? It is you who have taken the decision to die. Certainly, you can revise your decision and resolve not to die," was the tiger's unexpected comment.

My delight lasted for but a moment. "Why this ridicule, O King of Beasts! How can I hope to escape from you?" I asked in a cracking tone.

"From me? Indeed! How did you escape from me when you received the bangle from my hand?" the tiger reminded me.

The awe that should have struck me when I first approached the tiger for the bangle, struck me now. My blood ran cold making me feel warm even in that water which hardly ever knew the sun. I realized that my attachment to life which had been at the low ebb a moment ago, was growing stronger by the minute.

I could not take my eyes away from the bangle. And as I gazed at it, I clearly felt the grip of life slowly tightening on me. Man takes life so much for granted that he is seldom aware of the amazing fascination it exercises upon him. Returning now into life from an almost zero point, I experienced the entire process of the flowering of that fascination. Life which had tasted so very bitter only moments ago was an irresistible romance now.

I contemplated the effect the bangle could have on the material plane of my existence. Its diamonds alone would surely place me among the most affluent members of my society. I would buy a lavish retreat in Tahiti; assume a new name -- should it be Vikramaditya or Harun-Al-Rashid? -- and commence a new life-style.

I do not remember for how long I stood in the middle of the pond, putting on the bangle, pressing it to my chest, kissing it or holding it to my cheeks.

Once, looking at the bank, I saw the old tiger relaxing with his forelegs stretched and head resting between them.

"You assure me that you will not harm me, don't you? I must confess that I am having second thoughts on my decision to die," I said. My voice sounded a bit unnatural. Surely that was due to my excitement, I felt sure.

The tiger raised his head, fluttered his eyes and looked around and then stared at me. It was a tired look, tinged with sadness and, strangely, a serene peace. I felt a deep sympathy for him and slowly climbed onto the bank.

The tiger looked at me once again and closed his eyes. I somehow felt that all was not well with him. I approached and gave him a shake. He sprawled on the grass. He had been dead.

But when my eyes fell on my hands, I was horrified. How strange they appeared! And all my other limbs too! I sat totally stupefied for a moment. Then advancing towards the pond I gazed at my reflection in the water. It was true: I had turned into a tiger.

It was growing dark. The blue-gold hue of the bangle became more prominent in the dusk. Every time I looked at it, I felt ripples of joy rushing through my veins. But my brain that had become tigerly was not as sharp as my human brain had been. It took quite some time for me to realize that the bangle for which I had re-embraced life was of no use to me in my metamorphosed condition. The more l dwelt on this insight, the more acute grew the turmoil in my new heart, which seemed to burst and bleed. In anguish I let out a sharp cry.

I heard the echoes of my roar fading across the hills. Perhaps the violence of the cry cracked my throat. I was initiated to the taste of blood with my own blood.

Over my head, on the branch of a huge banyan tree, a she-dove questioned her consort, "Why did such misfortune befall this gentleman?"

"Perhaps he is facing the consequences of a double suicide," said the dove.

"But he did not commit suicide!"

"That the bangle dragged him back to life is beside the point. His decision for suicide had been final and hence he must suffer its consequences. His decision to live for the sake of the bangle was yet another suicide and he must have its consequences too."

I could not understand the rest of what was said. Their 'buts' and 'hences' and 'moreovers' skidded over my ears. In matters of logic doves are far superior to tigers. However, before my human sensibility had entirely faded, I learnt that I would have no liberation until I had succeeded in handing over the bangle to some other traveller.

Yet, looking at the bangle, I felt a surge of joy.

A little later the streaks of moonlight revealed to me the skeletons of a dozen tigers, scattered around the tree.

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