Rishi's dad tried to calm Babu Yadav, but he was still upset.
"He tried to hurt my cow," Babu Yadav said.
"It is wrong."
"What did I do?" cried Vinnie, worried.
"Babu Yadav, I give you my word," said Rishi's father.
"I will bring the boy to the king myself."
"You'd better take him to the king!" Babu Yadav threatened.
He left with the cow.
"Why are cows so important?" asked Mandy.
"The cow is like our mother," began Rishi's father.
"I don't understand," said Mandy.
"Cows are gentle creatures and provide milk to feed the world," Rishi's father continued.
"It would be wrong to harm your mother."
"Why do I have to see the king?" asked Vinnie.
"Babu Yadav insists," said Rishi's father.
"We have to go to the palace.
The king will decide what is best."
Rima and her mother stayed home.
Vinnie and Mandy left with Rishi and his father.
They walked down the muddy roads.
Vinnie noticed many cows walking around freely.
"Do you believe in karma?" asked Rishi.
"What's karma?" asked Vinnie.
"Our bodies die, but our souls do not.
We live many lives," said Rishi.
"If we hurt an animal or a person, we will be hurt in our next life."
Rishi continued, "This is why all living things should be treated kindly."
Suddenly, they heard a loud clapping noise.
People on the road moved to the side.
Everyone stood still covering their eyes.
"What's up?" asked Vinnie.
"Do not look!" Rishi said urgently.
An old man in torn clothes walked up the road.
He was clapping two wooden boards together.
"Hello," Mandy called out to him softly.
The man turned away from Mandy and kept walking.
After he left, Rishi and the others started on their way again.
"Why didn't anyone look at him?" Mandy asked Rishi.
"He's an untouchable," explained Rishi.
"Why was he clapping those wooden things?" asked Vinnie.
"It's the law.
Untouchables must alert everyone that they are coming," Rishi replied.
"No one is supposed to even look at them.
They are the lowest kind of people.
Untouchables do the dirtiest jobs."
"Why?" said Mandy.
"We have castes in our society," Rishi began.
He pointed to two men with their hair knotted on top of their heads.
"They are the highest caste, the Brahmans.
They are our religious teachers."
A large elephant with bells came in the opposite direction.
On its back was a colorful rug and carriage.
A young man in white sat on top.
"The nobles are the next highest caste.
Like him," said Rishi.
"The next caste is made up of farmers and merchants.
My family belongs to this caste," Rishi said proudly.
"Below us are the servants' caste and finally the untouchables."
Mandy and Vinnie just looked at each other.