The magic thief

Suddenly the number of thefts seemed to have gone up in the town where Suman lived. Dadi told him one day on his return from school, “Did you know that Lala Karorimal’s shop was looted today? No one knows who did it.”
The grocer Gajanan Lal’s jewelry shop had been looted the previous day. The thief had disappeared without leaving a trace. The policemen of the town were shocked by the cleverness of the thief who simply left no clues behind.
Lala Karorimal’s precious diamond pieces had disappeared before his very eyes as had Gajanan Lal’s jewels and Seth Mithailal’s sweetmeats.
“The thief must be supernatural,” Suman told himself and then sat up straight. What if the thief was gifted with supernatural or magical powers? Then he had a sudden brainwave.
Having finished his lunch and homework, he proceeded to meet with Billoo and Blackie. He’d heard dadi say that animals were gifted with keener senses than humans.
Walking along the main road he heard an announcement:
“Hear! Hear! The mayor wants the townspeople to look after their own belongings. The invisible thief is too difficult to catch.”
Suman came upon Blackie and Billoo beneath the mango tree in the market place. To avoid being overheard by passersby, he led them both towards the bushes behind Shyam Lala’s shop.
Billoo told him that he’d been able to smell out the invisible thief at Karorimal’s shop.
“Are you able to smell him now?” Suman asked. Blackie the Bull replied, “Billoo has a stronger sense of smell than I do!” Then Billoo added, “Why don’t you speak to Lalu the Dog? His nose is even sharper than mine!”
The three set out in search of Lalu.
They came upon Lalu at Seth Mithailal’s shop where he was eating samosas with relish. Seth Mithailal’s servants loved the dog and often sneaked him snacks and other eats.

Suman and his two friends held a quick conference with Lalu who agreed to smell out the invisible thief.
The next evening after Suman was returning from the market place having sold his toys he saw Lalu speeding towards him.
“The thief is in Sameeran Bi’s house!” Lalu was panting with his tongue rolling out.
Sameeran Bi happened to be the richest lady in town. And just as generous. She’d opened a school for girls from poor families. She was also known to feed the poor and beggars once every week.
The thought of the thief entering the house of such a respected and big-hearted lady upset Suman greatly. He proceeded towards Sameeran Bi’s house determinedly. Lalu, Blackie and Billoo did the same.
Lalu stopped and sniffed the air. Sameeran Bi’s house was in view. “The thief’s here!” he barked and bounded towards the godown. The other followed suit without a further thought.
The godown was choc-a-bloc with sacks filled with crops. Lalu ran towards a particularly fat sack and growled, “He’s in there!”
“What are you doing here?” Sameeran Bi’s watchman had suddenly appeared in the godown.
“We are looking for the thief,” said Suman. Furious, the watchman exclaimed, “What! Are you mad? That thief has managed to remain unseen so far and you say you can actually spot him. I never heard such nonsense in my life!”
“What’s happening here?” A melodious voice made itself heard. Now its possessor had also made herself visible. Suman wheeled around: it was none other than the gracious Sameeran Bi!
“Sameeran Bi!” Suman cried excitedly, “the thief is here, hiding in that sack. I’ll just get him out, you’ll see!” He began rubbing the ring vigorously. The sack began to wobble rapidly. “Stop! Please stop! hee! hee! hee…”
Sameeran Bi and watchman held their breaths in amazement when Suman, who was still rubbing his ring announced, “I’ll only stop when you make yourself visible to us!”
“Alright! Alright! Hee, hee, hee…. I’ll do so…hee, hee, hee…”

The thief was still laughing when he emerged from the sack in person. Everyone gasped in shock. Why, this was Bhiru, Seth Maithailal’s trusted servant!
Bhiru was now sobbing helplessly. Sobbing, he told Sameeran Bi that his master Lala Maithailal had never given him enough money for a living, nor enough to eat. He was even thrown out of his job without being given a reason. That day he was passing through the forests when he rescued a dwarf who was drowning in the river. The dwarf gave him the gift of disappearing at will. But he also warned Bhiru against misusing his gift. “But I did!” wailed Bhiru. He begged forgiveness of Sameeran Bi and of all those present and vowed never to steal again.
Once he left, Sameeran Bi turned towards Suman and asked, “How did you know where he was hiding?”
“It wasn’t me who discovered him,” Suman laughed, “it was Lalu the dog who found him!”

(This work has been copyrighted)

Blackie The Bull

The town was buzzing with excitement. A cycle race – a major annual event in which all the best schools of the town participated – was about to take place. Suman’s school too was to take part in the race.
Next to the school was a huge field which was also the venue for practice. Those who came to practice were usually sons from well-to-do families who would be driven to the field in style. And in such beautiful cars too! Suman marveled at the colors – red, green, blue, yellow… even silver and mauve. Just like chariots out of a fairy tale. Suman would look at his old bicycle and feel a twinge of envy. When he grew up, he resolved, he would earn a lot of money and… “Can’t you see where you are going, idiot? Looks like you have buttons for eyes!” The voice belonged to a rich man’s son who, while speeding towards him on his brand new bicycle, landed on the ground with a thud. The rich man’s son named Sunil was now shouting at the top of his voice, “Aren’t you the one who comes to practice at the field? Very well, I’ll set you right there!”
Suman gingerly touched the third finger of his right hand; the ring was still there. He’d lost his fear of being struck by bullies thanks to the ring. The bullies, on the other hand, ran for their lives on seeing him. In his heart he blessed the dwarf whose life he’d once saved.
Feeling a presence behind him, Suman turned. Directly behind him was standing a large bull. It was Blackie the Bull who was also known as the ‘madcap bull’ because of his antics. He would chase people and sometimes drive his horns into them. His favorite haunt was the Shiva temple in the heart of the city.
The madcap bull never harmed Suman though. The reasons were not far to seek: Where the townspeople would call him ‘madcap’ to his face or throw stones at him Suman would always show him respect, bring him biscuits and shower affection on him.

Blackie asked Suman, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No!” whispered Suman who did not wish anyone to overhear and wonder. But Sunil did overhear for he growled, “What are you mumbling, idiot? Too afraid eh?” His beautifully cut new navy blue trousers were caked in dust thanks to the fall. Blackie, who was beginning to lose his temper, advanced towards Sunil.
“No Blackie, no!” Suman yelled. Blackie stopped at once. A sudden hush fell among the onlookers. No one had been able to stop madcap Blackie before like this.
Dadi, who got to hear of the incident, asked, “I believe you pulled off a miracle today with the madcap bull?”
“Isn’t he a living being dadi, just like us?”
“Wow!” exclaimed dadi happily, “you’ve become so wise!”

Dadi had prepared a delicious meal of mango pickle and chapattis which Suman ate with relish. He then proceeded towards the field to practice. The race was to be held on the following day.
The cycle bought through dadi’s meager savings was very old yet Suman rode it like a champion. He would have won the race hands down if it were today. If only…
On his return he was surprised to see Blackie at his doorstep. Dadi was feeding him chapattis. What was Blackie doing there?
“Wait dadi,” he said, “I’ll feed him. Why don’t you go inside?”
No sooner had dadi left than Suman turned and asked, “Tell me Blackie, is everything alright?”
“It isn’t. Why else do you think I’m here?”
Blackie the bull then went on to tell Suman about the conversation he’d overheard at the bazaar. Sunil and his friends had held a meeting under the peepul tree at the heart of the bazaar. No one had paid heed to Blackie’s presence there. One of the boys was saying, “Lets go and give him a beating. He thinks too much of himself!”
“No!” said Sunil. “Lets not get into fist-fight. Don’t forget, the race takes place tomorrow. I have another idea: How about exchanging one of the tyres of his ramshackle old bicycle with a punctured one? He thinks he can win the race, hah!”

Suman left his bicycle outside. At night Sunil and his friends silently made their way to the hut to carry out their wicked plan.
At the crack of dawn the next day Suman was wheeling his bicycle outside the hut when he spotted Blackie. The friendly bull, in a bid to protect Suman from his enemies, began walking beside him. Seeing the two together, Sunil and his cronies turned away.

Suman won the race that day. Sunil and the other boys stared in jealous amazement when Suman sailed ahead of them on his brand new bicycle! How had he learnt of their plan? Had someone informed him? But who? Sunil scratched his head in frustration.

Actually Suman had left his old bicycle outside the night before while his brand new bicycle – he and dadi had pooled in their savings – had been lying hidden underneath his bed. Sunil and his friends had meddled with the wrong bicycle!
The race being a prestigious event of the town, Suman’s prize was awarded by the town’s mayor. Dadi said on his return that day, “I knew you would win!” Suman silently thanked Blackie the Bull.

The Tree

‘Dadi’ is what Suman’s grandmother was called by everyone. Reason being that she was too old for anybody to remember her real name.
It was quite another matter that other women were extremely jealous of dadi who happened to be the best at knitting in the locality.
Suman returned from school one day to find dadi chatting with Vimla chachi who used to knit for a living too, like dadi. Vimla chachi was telling dadi about a tree which could respond to questions.
Had Vimla chachi discovered a magical dwarf too then? He decided to pay close attention to the conversation. Vimla chachi was telling dadi about a tree which moved one of its branches answering ‘yes’ in response to questions.
Suman was amazed nonetheless. Was it actually possible for a tree to respond to questions?
That evening he went across to Romu’s who had some new information up his sleeve. The magic tree was a piece of nonsense, Romu told him. It was simply a ploy on the part of the locality’s women to show poor dadi in a poor light.
“Youth hasn’t left the hands of that old bent witch, has it!” he’d heard Vimla chachi snigger. The rest of the locality’s women had sniggered too. Kamla chachi who was noted for black and yellow teeth had laughed in glee and said, “She’s quite mad as it is, after this incident no one will want to give her any business.”
The evil plan was this: Poor innocent dadi would be led to the mango tree next to Shyam Lala’s grocery and encouraged to ask questions of it. Bystanders and passerby would laugh themselves to death. What great entertainment, the women had decided. Suman could barely control his anger.
It was afternoon yet. Suman decided to have a word with the mango tree. He was worried though. Would the tree listen to him? More important: Would the ring’s magic work on it?
Suman was still pondering these questions when Vimla chachi turned up at the doorstep suddenly. “Dadi is not in,” Suman sounded surly. “Who is it, Suman?” Dadi shouted from within. “Oh Vimla it is you! Come on in, why are you standing outside?” Looking accusingly at Suman Vimla chachi said, “Your grandson was telling me such tall stories!”
“Oh don’t mind him, he’s only a child. But please tell me, does the tree really answer questions? God knows how many times I have gone past it and never known about its magical properties!”
“Hey dadi! Just come with me and you’ll know,” Vimla chachi almost dragged dadi outside the hut. “Wait!” Suman yelled from inside the little hut, “I am coming too.” He could barely contain his anger. How jealous and small-minded these women were who were trying to make fun of a poor old woman.
Vimla chachi did not lead dadi to the mango tree, after all. Rather she brought dadi and Suman to the backyard of her house where stood a thorny tree like a watchman on guard. Suman was now really worried. He’d never seen this thorny tree before.
Poor dadi, who was utterly innocent, now asked, “But Vimla , didn’t you say it was the tree next to Shyam Lala’s…”
Turncoat Vimla chachi replied, “When did I say that, dadi? It is the same tree I told you about, honest.”
Suman, who was between dadi and Vimla chachi, turned slightly. From the corner of his eye he saw the end of Kamla chachi’s sari fluttering in the wind. Sudden laughter rose from one of the rooms in the house.
“Can I ask questions of this tree then?” dadi asked.
“Of course you can,” said wicked Vimla chachi. “But you are only permitted to ask three questions.” Someone laughed once again from inside one of the rooms in the house.
Dadi had closed her eyes in the meantime. She called to the tree, “Dear tree deity! Do you know me?” The thorny tree swayed a little and then began to shed its thorns. Pretty soon the thorns had covered the entire backyard. So amazed was dadi at the tree’s feat that she forgot to ask the other questions.
Dadi’s jealous neighbors emerged from Vimla chachi’s home with their mouths open. How had this happened? Of course, no one had seen Suman pull out his ring and rub it.

(This work has been copyrighted)

Billoo

Billoo was one lazy cat. If there was one thing in the world he did well it was sleeping. He slept all day long in front of the grocer’s – Shyam Lala’s – shop. Suman, on his way to school – and back – would stop by to give the lazy cat a pat. Billoo would open his eyes once, look up, then go back to sleep.
No one knew where Billoo had landed from. Suman had learned that he’d been somebody’s pet a long time ago. But that was all Suman got out of him.
Needless to say, Veeru and his gang of bullies made no end of fun of Suman who could follow the language animals spoke. But the bullies were cowards too. Afraid of Suman’s “ticklish” powers, they would pass snide remarks from afar and flee for their lives.
Then Sheru had a brainwave.
“Lets tease the fat cat,” he told his cronies, “it will make Suman mad, won’t it? That idiot appears to be crazy about animals, yuck!”
The plan was this: pebbles and rocks would be rained on poor Billoo from a safe distance. Billoo’s pain and the inability to punish his offenders would drive Suman to tears.
“Sounds great!” Veeru thumped his brother’s back.
The bullies lost no time locating their victim.

The day was sunny. Under the mango tree, next to the Lala’s grocery, lay Billo in deep sleep with his head beween his two front paws.
“Get up lazybones!” Lagan struck the first stone. Billoo woke up, his sleep rudely broken.
“The lazy good-for-nothing cat doesn’t even know how to run!” Lagan threw a stone narrowly missing Billoo’s tail.
A crowd had collected. And worse. It was encouraging the bullies.
A fat man in pyjamas whose string was hanging loose, yelled, “All he does is eat all day; doesn’t move a step!” The fat man looked so comical that the crowd couldn’t help laughing.
And where were the three bullies? They had fled after stoning Billoo and watching the scene from a safe distance.
“Run Billoo, run!” The crowd turned in the direction of the voice. It was Suman’s.
“I can’t, you know that!” Billoo sounded tearful.
“Shut up! Just spring to that tree next to you.”
“I can’t spring anymore!”

The crowd, which could only hear Suman’s part of the conversation, was mystified. Some thought he’d gone mad. “Look at him,” laughed the comical man in pyjamas, “he’s talking to the cat as though to a friend!”
“The boy’s gone round the bend!” another commented.
Suman wasn’t paying attention to the banter around him. He was simply worried about Billoo being attacked once again by the cowards from their hiding places. Without a second thought, he rubbed the ring. Lo and behold! Billoo landed on a branch of the mango tree. The crowd was shocked into silence. Shyam Lala emerged from the grocery and watched as Billoo shook his tail from the tree top.
Now there was no stopping Billoo. Landing on the ground he ran in search of the bullies.
His first target was Lagan who was having chaat at a sweetshop. He landed chaat and all on the ground as Billoo tackled his knees with full force. Veeru and Sheru, who’d watched the commotion, picked up a stone each. But they were no match for Billoo who knocked them down as well. The cat had turned into a lion. The bullies fled, leaving their chaat behind.
“Say sorry to Billoo!” Suman was shouting. “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, harming a poor defenseless cat!”
“Say sorry! Say sorry!” the crowd was chanting. The tide had turned for Billoo.
The crowd forced the three offenders to apologize to the cat. And Billoo? He actually thought he was the cat’s whiskers! At least now no one would say he was a lazy good-for-nothing cat.