A heart of gold
I stood first in my class in the first quarterly test. Uncle patted me on the back. Aunt gave me a sweet-gulab jamoon. My friends demanded a treat. My friends demanded a treat.
Chachu too came to congratulate me. On seeing him, I shut myself in the bathroom. But I could hear him talking to uncle and aunt. ``Where’s our little nephew-our good nephew?’’ asked Chachu.
``He must be playing outside’’, said uncle.
`` I will give him a prize if he stands first in his final examination,’’ announced Chachu.
I felt proud but was too scared to go out.
In the half-yearly test, too I stood first. My friends and others flocked to our house to congratulate me. My parents, too, sent me a letter of congratulation. Thank heavens, Chachu, did not come this time.
The night uncle told me, ``Chachu is quite generous to the poor’’. ``Also, he loves children.’’
I was stunned. ``Then why does he frighten us? I asked.
``May be for the fun of it’’.
I was stunned. ``Then why does he frighten us?’’ I asked.
``May be for the fun of it’’.
``Does Chachu beat those who don’t study?’’
Uncle smiled, shaking his head. But aunt hastened to say. ``Chachu never spares those who do not obey their elders’’.
Examinations over, I went back to my parents. I knew I would have to discontinue my studies as there was no high school in our village.
The results were out.
``Prasad, you have done very well. You got more than 80%’’.Uncle himself brought us the good news. ``Chachu wants you to come back’’. ``No’’ I said firmly.
I admired Chachu but was terrified of him. I knew I was stupid.
``I am going to the village just for the sake of Chachu’’, I said firmly.
``Chachu won’t eat you’’, said uncle.
``A present is a present, however small’’, said father.
Mother intervened. ``Pashu won’t go now. He will go there after some time with me. I know Chachu loves children.’’
The nest week, a message came from Savita. Chachu is ill. He wants to see Prasad. He has sent him one thousand Rupees.’’
``Chachu has no child of his won and feels lonely’’. The man Said from the village.
`` I will go to Chachu, I will study there’’, I sad.
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