More Short Stories For Children by Unknown

More Short Stories For Children by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: More Short Stories for Children 2009 115p 8170111692
Published: 2010-03-09T03:45:18+00:00


* * *

Grandmother liked to go for a walk every morning.

That Sunday, Nina and I were hanging at the gate, chatting, when Grandmother came out, resplendent in crisp white, her silver hair gleaming, and an elegant walking stick in her hand.

"Would you like to take a walk with me, Sunila?"

I ignored the peace offer. 1 had not forgiven her for driving the children away.

"A spoil-sport," I commented sourly as Grandmother's back receded into the distance.

* daughter-in-law

59

"Don't be rude," protested Nina.

"Why not? She's a hypocrite. All that puja and prayer she does! How can she be unkind to poor little kids? If that's her religion "

My indignant speech was interrupted by loud shrieks. We rushed out to see.

"Give me that coin!" screamed a man.

"I won't. It's mine. I earned it!" we could hear a young girl shouting back.

We ran on, for the voice was familiar. We found Grandmother standing on the road, staring at a strange scene. A little girl raced down the street, pursued closely by a thin, dark man. I recognised Kaushalya.

Fists clenched, eyes desperate, Kaushalya sped past Grandmother, the man at her heels. The next moment he had caught Kaushalya.

"Bachao! Bachao!"* she screamed.

"So you won't give the money?" leered the man, trying to prise open her fist. Kaushalya fought like a cat. "No, no! Maa told me to keep it for buying rice!"

The man used all his brute strength to wrench the money from the small fist.

"Babuji, leave her!" we heard, as Bunia came running to her sister's help. "You'll use the money for drinking. You know we need it for rice."

This only angered the man. He glared at Bunia and shook Kaushalya hard. Still she refused to part with the precious coin. Enraged, the man slapped her.

Bunia tried to pull her sister away. Her father raised his hand.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The piercing sharp sounds made my head whirl with rage. Kaushalya reeled, staggered a few steps, and collapsed, right near Grandmother's feet. The old

*Save me

60

lady stepped back hastily.

The coin fell with a tinkle on the hard pavement.

With a cry of triumph the man pounced on it.

"I've got it! At last."

I could watch no longer.

"Catch that man!" I shouted and rushed forward.

I had only one thought in my mind. That money must be restored to Kaushalya. But the coward had fled.

Nina and I raced after him, watched by a dazed Bunia.

I was conscious of Grandmother's shocked eyes as I ran past her. A crowd watched us, but I did not care.

We must catch him, we must.

We drew close to him. I stretched out my arm and caught the man's shirt. He turned, dodged and fled back the way he had come. He was out of our reach once again. Desperately, we kept running after him.

The man was again racing past Grandmother. I saw Grandmother thrust out her walking stick as he sped.

Down he fell flat on his face.

Quickly the man staggered to his feet. By then Grandmother had stepped forward.

"You...you scoundrel!" raged her sharp voice.

"How dare you take that



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