Most of us are already familiar with Vikram and Betal and in this book Natasha Sharma brings some of these stories to life. The book Vikram And The Vampire is a somewhat simplified take of some of the stories from the Baital Pachisi. A merchant comes to King Vikramaditya’s court and presents him with an apple and tells him to keep it with him carefully. The merchant returns every single day that week and gives the king a different fruit. The king soon finds that all the fruits contain a precious jewel. He finds out the merchant is actually a sorcerer who promises the gullible King Vikram many more riches in exchange for a favour.
November 2016, volume 40, No 11