Deep Lake

It was a small town. Very small. Most of the people were
entertainers. Men and women came from far and wide and stayed in the
beautiful rest-houses. As soon as the sun went down the music halls
would start the performances. There was theatre, singing, dancing,
mimicry. There were illusionists, freaks and fire eaters. Children
showed acrobatics and jumped on trampolines. Someone ate glass and
someone was shot from a cannon. The pageantry was endless. It was a
great place to just let go and feel happy. The town was suitable for
this. The weather was always pleasant. It rained only at night when
everyone was indoors. In the winter the chill in the air brought even
more revelers. With no rain at all there were huge carnivals held all
around the lake. The carnivals had giant wheels, fancy dress parades
and a greatly popular lottery. When the biggest carnival ended on the
31st of December people were too tired even to think. On 1st January
the locals as well as the guests gathered on the banks of the lake for
morning picnics. The lake itself was circular in shape. It covered an
area large enough to hold a city. People were not allowed to bathe in
the lake. If you wanted to go from one bank to the other you could walk
the distance around the water body. Other than that there was a huge
boat which moved along the edge of the lake all the time. The waters of
the lake were crystal clear. Whenever anybody came to the town his host
would make sure that he visited the lake. The lake was fed by rain
water. Nobody knew when and how the rain filled up the lake. For it
always rained after sunset in this town. During daytime there was never
a hint of clouds in the sky. People always felt that no matter what
happened Deep Lake would always have an abundance of water in it. Deep
Lake. That is what they called their lake. No one was quite sure why.
Perhaps the name was connected to the fact that the lake was rather
deep. Whatever it was the people of the town swore by Deep Lake. You
could call them names but if you said something about the lake they
would pounce on you.
But one day Deep Lake began to dry up. It started losing moisture from
the edges and in six months it was quite devoid of any water. It still
rained at night but the bed of the lake seemed to soak the water like
blotting paper. People were used to harvesting rain water so there was
no scarcity. But, with the lake dried up, the town lost its sheen. The
carnivals around the lake appeared too flamboyant and noisy. The
picnics were not held at all. Fewer people came to the music halls. The
town seemed to be dying. Then a little boy began digging the muddy bed
of the lake. After digging for about three days his shovel hit
something metallic. Then other lads followed him and then their
fathers. Suddenly the whole town was digging the lake's bed. They dug
for three months without rest. And what emerged from the layers of mud
below the erstwhile Deep Lake was astonishing. It was a complete city
made of SOLID GOLD. There was a magnificent citadel, a hall of pillars,
a granary, grand baths, auditorium and dwelling houses. Nothing like
this spectacle had ever been imagined or expected.