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)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
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.
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.
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