Referring to a newspaper article, Swami's father tells Swami about a boy's courage of fighting with a tiger. Swami doesn't believe it entirely. He contends that the boy referred to in the article cannot be a boy. He must be a strong adult. Swami's father says that strength and age are not important; courage is important. Swami's father challenges Swami to sleep alone inside his office room at night if he has any courage. Though shocked at this frightful idea, Swami cannot say no to it. Swami thinks that his father is just joking. But the father is really serious. First, Swami tries to divert the topic but the idea doesn't work out. Swami proposes that he will sleep from the first of the next month. Swami's father insists that Swami should start sleeping alone from that night itself. He further taunts at Swami that it is disgraceful to sleep by the side of Granny or mother like a baby.
Swami's father continues reading the newspaper. Swami slips away from there and lies down on the bed beside his granny. Granny asks Swami if he doesn't want to hear a story. Swami hushes her to silence and says that he must sleep at once lest he should die. After awhile Swami's father pulls the blanket and orders Swami to go and sleep in the office room. Swami says that the office room is dusty and there can be scorpions. Father tells Swami to sleep on the bench. Swami's request for a lamp is turned down. But request for the door to be kept open is granted on a condition that he should not move out of the room. Father warns Swami that he will tell about Swami's cowardice to his friends if he moves out of the office room at night.
Swami is forced to sleep in the office room alone. He is afraid of darkness. All Ghost stories come to his mind. Sound of insects, rustling of dry leaves, ticking of clock and snoring, all these frighten him. He fears that a ghost can come and lift him away to a far off place. So, to protect himself from the ghost, He crouches under the bench and covers himself with a blanket.
After sometimes, he has a nightmare. The tiger chases him but he cannot run. He hears the scratching sound of tiger's claws. And then he hears a loud 'thud' sound. Fear grips him. He moves his hand to touch his granny but he touches one of the legs of the bench. He hears something moving towards him. He thinks that it must be a ghost. In a fit of fear he catches the legs when it comes very near to him and bites with all his might. The man cried loudly that something has bitten him. Next moment The Man tumbles down. Hearing the loud cry, Swami's father, the cook and the servant rush carrying a lamp. They see a thief lying and groaning in pain. His ankle is bleeding. He is caught and taken to the police station.
The next day, the news of 'Swami catching a thief' spreads all around. People come to congratulate Swami. Everyone praises Swami for his bravery. His friends show him respect now. The inspector suggests Swami to join the police when he is grown up. Swami says yes politely.
That evening, when Swami's father comes late in the evening, Swami is already at the bed by the side of his granny. Swami's mother says that he went to bed at 7:30 itself. father says, " So clever of him to go to bed before I come back". He knows it is a trick. Swami's mother guesses that her husband would go and wake Swami up and ask him to go and sleep in the dark room alone. She shouts at her husband to let the boy sleep where he feels comfortable. She says not to risk his life again. Father doesn't rebuke her but warns her not to spoil him by pampering him.
Milan Tomic
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
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