After a few days, a meeting was called and a bundle of sheaves was produced. They were drawn from the bark of trees, dried and cut into small rectangles. Using the purple juice of the mulberry plant, the following words had been written, on them:

"By the spirit of the matter,
by the word made heavy,
by the promise made invisible,
by the voice behind the letter,
by belief in the unspoken,
by the trust in the unseen,
by honor in the unsaid,
by the seal of the chieftain of Ur,
and the will of the people,

We promise to pay the bearer, the sum of 100 coins in
Exchange of this note."

Luhu was pleased. Now instead of carrying the mountain of coins, he needed to carry only a bundle of notes.

Observing all these events, a thought came to Arth, like a bulb flashing in a darkroom. Arth had got insight and now knew who the Old Man of Monetary was. He was the spirit behind money. It was he who made the promise good in the exchanges of notes and coins in the world. He was the unspoken understanding, the trust and honor and belief between people, that adults thought were no longer true or important.

Arth now also understood why the Old Man invited him on this journey. It was to remember him and to remind others of him.

Arth felt words bubble up. He knew that the Old Man would disappear once he said anything. But he secretly felt that this time the Old Man would approve. Besides, Arth knew it was time for him to return.

He didn't know exactly what to say, but surprisingly when he opened his mouth and a Tongue of Flame flashed.

These are words he finally spoke of the Old Man:

He is spirit in the bark of a tree
He is in the might of economy,
He is in the empty pocket,

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.