But by now, the people of Ur had learnt from their past mistakes that all that looked golden was not gold. So Kumha asked Gamil to wait, and off he went to the precious metal expert of the chieftain, to verify the quality of the silver and the nickel. But alas, the expert had gone to the nearby land of Dilum to get chemicals he needed for verifying the quality of metals.

So it happened that Kumha returned without his work being done. Fortunately, the tradesman was not in hurry and said he would come back in a few days.

Sure enough, he did and Kumha again paid a visit to the chieftain's metal expert. This time, his wife met Kumha at the doorstep. "My husband cannot see you today. He is very ill," she said. She seemed very anxious that Kumha should leave. "That is strange. She is usually a friendly person," Kumha thought to himself.

Later he heard that the metal expert was suffering from some strange illness. There were rumors that he had angered the local magician. who had turned him into a pig for one day. The life of a touchstone was not easy.

But life was not treating Kumha well either. By now, the tradesman had lost patience and could not wait any longer and he cancelled the order he had placed for the utensils. Kumha was crest-fallen.

Seeing his plight, Arth couldn't help uttering:

The problem with
precious metals
is expediency.
If it wasn't so difficult,
to check the weight and fineness,
they would have proved their mettle
as standard currency.

But alas, one more time yet he had not heeded the promise made to the Old Man. On hearing Arth's words, the Old Man vanished once again, but not before saying. "Remember, Remember!" Suddenly, the city too vanished before their eyes and Arth and Uruk were back again at the tree, where they had met the Old Man.

It was time for Uruk to call for the Old Man again. Though Arth had witnessed the Tongue of Flame before, he could not help being filled with wonder, when he saw it again. Soon they heard the familiar words, "Oh, my bones, ache!" The Old Man had returned and their journey was to continue.

The Old Man Monetary is copyright of Reserve Bank of India and is posted here in public interest and to spread banking awareness among kids.