1

Most of the content of this book is original, including the artwork. Where it is not original, we have applied for copyright
permission. In some instances, we have been unable to trace the owners of the copyright material. We apologise for any
unintentional omissions. We would be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgement, if any, in subsequent editions of
this publication.

Detective Tales and Other Stories

This book is the student companion for the BLPS program for use at level 10.
It is appropriate for children in the age group of 11 - 14 years.

ISBN pending
Published by MultiStory Learning Private Limited, No. 9, Ground Floor, 4th Street, Venkateswara Nagar,
Adyar, Chennai - 600020.
Email: naresh@blps.in
Copyright 2018, MultiStory Learning Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.
First published in 2013

No portion of this book may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying
without the written permission of the publisher.

Manager in charge of this revision – Deepti Ganesh

Editing – Jean Isaacs
Layout – Solaiappan
Content support – Veena Vasanthkumar
Illustrations – Sandhya Prabhat, Chaaya Prabhat
Cover Art – Amrit “Shaadigrapher” Vatsa
Logo and Mascot – Joint Family Design and Alicia Souza

Printed and bound in India by Repro Books Limited, Mumbai.

We would like to thank:

P S Senior Secondary School, Chennai for believing in us;
Tulika Books, Duckbill, Katha, Pratham Books, and others for their unstinting support;
The good folks at www.iloveread.in for giving us books when we needed them;
Mrs. Jean Isaacs, retired teacher of English.

2
 Preface

Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?

Yes? Then you will love this program. No? Then this
reading program is for you!
The Book Lovers’ Program for Schools (BLPS)
started on a hot summer day in 2009. Two young
storytellers landed at a school in a quiet neighbourhood
in Mylapore, Chennai to narrate stories to the students.
Our storytellers and the children exchanged stories,
played games, debated issues, wrote tall tales, designed
book covers, sang, danced and made merry. In other
words, we had a LOT of fun.
Our sessions prompted the children to borrow
more books from the library than ever before. In fact,
some books were borrowed by almost every student in
the class. Instead of talking about the latest TV show or
the previous day’s cricket match, children like you were
discussing books during the lunch break.
Taking forward everything we learnt from those children, we have chosen
a set of themes and books that we think you will enjoy reading over the course of
the year. These stories and poems will keep you company on a rainy day. Along
with this, we have included activities that you might like.
Don’t stop with the books mentioned here. Explore new worlds and you’re
sure to have several magical adventures along the way!

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO

OUR GRANDPARENTS,
THE BEST STORYTELLERS
IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

3
 CONTENTS
Cool Kids
5

Supernatural
21

Detectives
33

Myth And Magic

49

Unlikely Friendships
63

4
COOL KIDS

5
COOL KIDS

Ajay and the Last

Book on Earth
- Karthika Gopalakrishan

I t was a chilly May morning in Chennai. The year was 2074. The day was
Monday. Ajay hated waking up on Mondays.
He was dreaming of running up a slope but couldn’t reach the top.
He was looking for a handhold but he kept clawing at something soft and
yielding instead.
I say a little prayer for you, a voice rang out, sounding so much like
The Mojangles, one of his favourite bands. He woke up and realised that his
fists were clenched and his pillow looked rather beat up.
I’m wondering what dress to
wear now, the song from the alarm
continued. He jabbed the Screen,
which immediately turned down
the music and said, “Good morning,
Ajay! How are you today?”
A Screen was a rectangular
device strapped on like a wristwatch.
Each Screen was customised to give
its owner the best possible fit.
“Fine,” he grumbled, sleepily. A part of him was still in his dream,
wondering what lay on top of the slope.
“What would you like now?”
“Tell me the news, please,” Ajay said, as he drew his bed sheet aside.

6
His feet landed on his palmyra sandals. Their coarse and grainy texture
made him feel awake and grounded. Ajay firmly believed that he woke up
feet-first: The waking started at his toes and worked its way up to his head.
Governor Krishnan is all set to press ahead with the The Municipal
Convenience Bill, a law which will allow the government to cater to
its citizens’ every need by tying up with The Screen Manufacturers’
Association. Bills will be paid, goods bought, services rendered all at the
touch of a button, Ajay’s Screen chimed as he headed to the bathroom to
brush his teeth.
The lights came on softly as soon as he opened the door.
Once he was done brushing his teeth, Ajay poked his head out the
door and said, “Louder!”
The volume on the Screen increased.
The Indian football team has made a surprise
entry into the FIFA qualifiers. Supporters are
cheering the players on, hoping that they will make
it to the quarterfinals, the Screen said, over the
sound of falling water from the bathroom. Before
stepping under the shower, Ajay yelled through the
gap in the door: “Music – New releases!”
We bring you the band—Tundra Sunset—
that’s steadily climbing up the music charts with
its addictive acoustic single, Lean In. . . the Screen
obliged. Ajay hummed along with the opening
notes as the water from the shower fell on him. The
showers at his house were pre-programmed to dispense warm water for
two minutes, shower gel for 30 seconds, warm water for three minutes, a
shampoo for 30 seconds, and lukewarm water for four minutes.
Ajay’s was a no-frills unit. His friend Aniket, had a shower equipped

7
COOL KIDS

with sponges and pumice stones for a luxurious scrub, while another friend
Thomas, had a bath installed that allowed him to watch an event streamed
live on the opposite wall as he showered.
Ajay towelled himself, walked over to his cupboard, and got dressed
for school. “Timetable!” he called out once he was done.
Games, English, <Break>, Science, Philosophy, Games, <Lunch>,
Language, Maths, Art, Social Studies. All the subject files for today are in
place, the Screen trilled.
“Great! No errors this time,” Ajay mumbled, as he strapped his Screen
on. It was getting old and a bit rusty. Its updates were slow. It had made
an error last week when an Art file was damaged while copying it from the
school server. His teacher had promptly told him to buy a new Screen.
His teacher didn’t know Ajay’s parents. Everything in the house was
basic and functional. His parents hated an upgrade of any sort, unless
absolutely necessary. There were things in Ajay’s house that went back
generations! He was sure that a few of the vessels in the kitchen belonged
to his great grandparents.
“Amma’s probably at the gym,” Ajay
thought as he walked out of his room. He
waved to his father who was in the drawing
room playing Faux Coach, a video game
where the player could be the virtual coach
of a team of one’s choice. His father loved
strategising. He invariably picked the Indian
cricket team and took pleasure in changing the batting line-up.
Ajay fixed himself some breakfast and headed to school. It is
currently 7.03 AM. You will reach school four minutes earlier today than
your regular schedule, his Screen noted.
“Broadcast location to Aniket, Thomas, and Irfan,” he said. Ajay

8
waited till he could see the green dot come alive on the Screen. He took the
stairs two at a time.
Ajay had to walk straight down his road, turn right at a milk kiosk
around the corner, walk past Sew Suite where he got his clothes tailored,
and turn left at the junction ahead to reach Aniket’s house.
With a spring in his step, Ajay walked to the junction, deciding to
resume listening to the audio book of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and
Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. He could picture Aniket’s look of vast
disapproval. Aniket’s literary tastes were more contemporary. His friend
stepped out of the door as Ajay got to the gate of the building.
“Yo!” Aniket said. He was of medium height with spiky hair and
a complexion that was a healthy shade of brown. Aniket’s high cheek
bones and delicate, slanting eyes made him the ideal candidate to play a
Japanese girl in a school skit they had performed when he was younger.
To this day, he’s not sure what deluded him into accepting the part. Ajay,
Thomas, and Irfan still roared with laughter any time the word “Japan”
was mentioned in class.
Ajay nodded in greeting. “Stop narration,” he told his Screen. “If he be
Mr. Hyde, I shall be Mr. Seek! Good line, right?” Ajay queried.
Aniket groaned. “You’re listening to something random again, aren’t
you? You should just hang out with Pai. He has a bench all to himself, no
friends, an ancient Screen, and stares into space most of the time. He’ll stop
being the Loner with you around. Ajay and Pai: Proud Presidents of the
Random Books Club.”
Ajay grinned, enjoying Aniket’s genial ribbing. “Want to do a ride on
the Spinner?” he asked, pointing to the park next to Aniket’s house.
Aniket frowned. “How much time will we take to reach school if we
ride on the Spinner now?” he asked his Screen. You will reach school at 7.30
AM if you take the preset ride that’s two minutes long. If you opt for an

9
COOL KIDS

extra round, it will take three minutes. You will reach school at 7.31 AM.
“Chuck it. I’ll just get Thomas and Irfan to have an argument over
who’s better at Assimilus,” Aniket said, with a dismissive wave. Ajay and
Aniket loved to get Thomas and Irfan riled up.
Both their friends came close to blows while debating who was better
at playing the video game. Thomas and Irfan would leave school at 3 pm,
vowing that each would never speak to the other again. At 6 pm, they’d be
found in either of their houses playing the game again.
Thomas was tall, had pimply skin and sported a pair of green glasses
that would constantly slide to a point on his nose. This made him look as

though his face was set in a permanent scowl. Irfan had a mop of curly
hair and a hooked nose. Despite all the sitting around that he did, he
was inexplicably fit. He could run long stretches without getting tired. He
attributed it to good genes.
As predicted, Ajay and Aniket reached school at 7.30 AM sharp. Their
Screens had never been wrong so far since the devices kept a digital log of
their daily routines.

10
 They had Games during their first hour at school. Ajay was an
average sportsperson. His only consolation was that he was better than
Thomas. Irfan and Aniket were good at games and were friends with the
girls on the team. Ashley was their football friend while Sindhu was their
basketball friend. Their school was known to have the best mixed teams in
the state. Ajay just hung around in the background and played a game on
his Screen while the others spoke to the girls.
The rest of his classes were a whirl. Before he knew it, he was
standing with his friends at the main gate before leaving for home. Aniket,
Thomas, and Irfan stood at the gate discussing whether they should try
out the cheat codes in Assimilus that evening. Ajay wondered what he
would do at home. He didn’t feel like playing the video game. Maybe Ma
would have something for him to do.
CLEAN. It turned out that she wanted him to help her clean the
house, starting with the attic. Ajay sighed, resigned himself to the task, and
trailed behind her with an old scarf tied around his face to protect himself
from the dust. Like his mother, he carried an electric duster with which he
could change the mode from “Slow” to “Turbo,” depending on his mood
and how fast he wanted to get the cleaning over
with. Ajay held a barcode printer in his other
hand because his mother wanted to catalogue the
items in the attic. When she decided to clean, she
went all out.
She led the way upstairs and opened the
room. Once Ajay’s eyes adjusted to the dim
light inside, he began following his mother’s
instructions. He dusted a trunk here, helped
open a cupboard there, and stuck barcodes
everywhere. His mother was sorting through the

11
COOL KIDS

objects, selecting a few for a neighbourhood sale and labelling the ones
that she wanted to keep.
Ajay spotted an old cardboard box with an oddly shaped object
sticking out of it. It turned out to be his grandfather’s gramophone. It was
stuffed carelessly into a box with a lot of old vinyl records. At the bottom of
the pile, he found a dust sleeve with a record inside it.
“Real paper? Wow!” Ajay whispered as he examined the sleeve. It
was the cover of an album labelled Synchronicity by a band called The
Police. “Funky!” Ajay mumbled as he tilted the sleeve to get the record out.
Instead, out slipped a slim, circular notebook. It had the same appearance
and dimensions as a vinyl record and was sewn together. The front page
was black with a pattern of faint concentric lines on it. Clearly someone
had gone to great lengths to hide it among the stack of records. “Good that
they did. Otherwise it would’ve been destroyed like all the others,” Ajay
thought, looking over his shoulder to check if his mother had seen him find
the treasure.
Ten years ago, governments across the world had ruled that books
had become obsolete with Screens occupying the position that they had
enjoyed in the life of humans. As a result, books were systematically
destroyed in a movement called “Surrender – 2064.” Ajay realised that
his parents would not have thought of checking a stack of records while
combing the house for books to hand over to the government.
Taking a deep breath, Ajay opened the book. C. W. Ananthakrishnan
Vembudu, the second page said. Ajay’s heart skipped a beat when he
realised he was holding his grandfather’s book, signed with his own hand.
He turned to the third page. “Jan 4, 2012,” he read. “That’s… 66 years ago.”
Ajay realised his hands were trembling. A thrill of fear and discovery
rippled down his spine.
Had he just discovered the last book on Earth in his attic?

12
 BOOK REPORT
Here is a list of books under this theme:

• Quiz Quest - Amrutash Misra

• The Sword of Kuromori - Jason Rohan
• Avalon High - Meg Cabot
• The Secret Seven Series - Enid Blyton
• Goodbye Stranger - Rebecca Stead

Who is the cool kid in the book that you read? What are the hurdles faced
by the character and how did he/she overcome them? Besides physical
barriers, were there mental or emotional obstacles that the protagonist
had to get past as well? Write your thoughts in the space below and fill in
the book report on the next page.

13
 My Book Report
Draw the cover of the book Favourite character -
Draw a picture

Character Setting
My favourite character was This is where the book’s
events took place:

Words to describe this character:

The Story
A basic overview of the major events in the book.

What I liked about What I didn’t like about

the book - the book -

How many stars will you give this book?

 Activities
Secret Powers

If you could have a secret super power, what would it be? What would you
use it for? Think of a situation where your super power will help you get out
of trouble. Share it with your classmates.

Story Folds

This activity will make authors of all of you. Your teacher begins the
activity by writing two sentences on a sheet of paper.

This sheet is folded in such a way that only the second sentence is
shown. It is then passed on to a student in the first row who writes the next
two sentences. The paper is folded the same way and passed on to the
next student. At the end of the exercise, the paper is unfolded and the story
is read aloud.

If the sheet of paper runs out before the whole class has got a chance
to write, conclude the game. It starts afresh with the next student in line.

15
COOL KIDS

Gadget Guru

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create gadgets that can
better your life? Here’s your chance to bring that dream one step closer
to reality. Use the space on the next page to draw a poster depicting your
dream gadget.

Include a picture, the name of your gadget, brief details of how it

works and how it will change people’s lives. An example of one such gadget
is given below:

16
17
COOL KIDS

Teen Speak
Decode these teenage slang words by yourself and then ask your parents
if they could guess what it means:

1) YOLO

2) GOAT

3) TBH

4) FOMO

5) Lit

6) IRL

7) Hundo P

8) (stay) Woke

9) Glow up

10) IKR

18
 Proud Prodigies

What do you think a superhero like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman

was like as a child? Did he/she finish his/her homework quickly? Did he/she
wear a uniform to school? Did he/she have friends? Design a comic strip
depicting your version of his/her story.

19
COOL KIDS

Catch Phrase Canon

Every cool kid needs a catch phrase or a signature phrase as a personal

stamp. These are a few popular catch phrases: Homer Simpson’s “D’Oh!”
from The Simpsons; Fred Flinstone’s “Yabba Dabba Doo!” from The
Flintstones; Bugs Bunny’s “Eh, What’s Up, Doc?” from The Bugs Bunny
Show.

What do you think your favourite character would like for a catch phrase
or a punch line? Name the character.

Write down three options in the space below.

20
SUPERNATURAL

21
SUPERNATURAL

The Major’s Lease

From Indian Ghost Stories

- S Mukerji; Adapted by Karthika Gopalakrishnan

A curious little story was told the other day in a certain Civil Court
in British India. A military officer, let us call him Major Brown, had been
transferred to India recently. He had arranged to rent a house on a long
lease. This is a rough plan of the house, the original of which was probably

in the Major’s handwriting.

The house was large and stood in the centre of a very spacious
compound. There was a garden which appeared to have been carefully laid
out once, but as the house had no tenant for a long time the garden looked
more like a wilderness. There were two well-kept lawn tennis courts and

22
these were a great attraction to the Major, who was very keen on tennis.
Over and above everything he found the landlord very obliging. He
had consented to make all the alterations that the Major wanted him to
carry out at his own expense.
However, after three weeks, the Major and his wife cleared out and
took shelter in a hotel. The landlord demanded rent for the entire period
stipulated in the lease and the Major refused to pay. The matter went to
Court. The presiding Judge, who was an Indian gentleman, was one of the
cleverest men in the service. He thought it was a very simple case.
The Judge asked the defendant Major Brown, why he had vacated
the house.
“I could not stay,” said the Major “I had every
intention of living in the house. I got it furnished, too.”
“What do you mean by saying that you could
not stay?”
“If your Honour passed a night in that house,
you would understand what I meant,” said the Major.
He took the oath and made the following statement in open Court.
“My wife and I are generally in bed by about 11 pm. (The room
marked “G” on the map.) The servants go away to the outhouses some
distance away from the main building. Only one jamadar (porter) remains
in the front verandah to keep an eye on the building.
For the first 15 days we were quite comfortable. Then the trouble
began. My wife was reading late one night by the light of a bedroom lamp.
We stayed up talking about the story till close to 2 am,” the Major said.
“At that moment, we heard footsteps along the corridor. The corridor
runs the whole length of the house. It was well-carpeted but still we heard
the tread of a number of feet. We looked at the door “C.” This door was
closed but not bolted from inside. Slowly it was pushed open and, horror of

23
SUPERNATURAL

horrors, three shadowy forms walked into the room. One was distinctly the
form of a white man in European night attire, another the form of a white
woman, also in night attire, and the third was the form of a black woman,
probably an Indian nurse or ayah.
We remained dumb with horror, as we could see clearly that these
unwelcome visitors were not of this world. We could not move.
The three figures passed right round the beds as if searching for
something. They looked into every nook and corner of the bedroom and
then passed into the dressing room.
Within half a minute they returned and passed out into the corridor in
the same order in which they had come in, namely, the man first, the white
woman next, and the black woman last of all.
We lay as if dead. We could hear them in the corridor
and in the bedroom adjoining, with the door “E,” and in the
dressing room attached to that bedroom.
They returned and passed into the corridor and then
we could hear them no more.
It must have taken me at least five minutes to collect my senses and
to bring my limbs under control. When I got up, I found that my wife had
fainted. I hurried out of the room, opened the front door and called the
servants. I gave my wife some brandy to revive her.
The servants had arrived. I told them what I had seen. The chaukidar
(the night watchman), who was an old resident of the compound, gave me
the history of the ghosts. I have brought the chaukidar with me today and
shall produce him as my witness.”
This was the statement of the Major. Then there was the statement of
Jokhi Passi, the chaukidar, recorded as follows.
“My age is 60 years. This house was built two or three years after the
Mutiny. I have always been in charge. After the Mutiny, a Judge came to

24
live in the house. He was called Judge Parson (probably Pearson). He once
sentenced a young Muslim boy, who was charged with murder, to death.
The aged parents of the young man vowed vengeance against the Judge.
On the night after the execution took place, it seemed as though a
few trespassers were in the compound. I was the watchman then. I woke
up the Indian nurse who slept with the Judge’s baby in a bedroom next to
the Judge’s room. On waking up, she found that the baby was not in its cot.
She rushed out of the bedroom and informed the Judge and his wife. Then
a feverish search began but the baby was never found. The police were
informed and they arrived at about four in the morning. The police enquiry
lasted for about half an hour and then the officers went away promising
to come again. At last the Judge, his wife, and nurse all retired to their
respective beds where they were found lying dead later in the morning.
Another police enquiry took place. It was found that the cause of
death was snakebite.
There were two small punctures on each victim’s leg. How a snake got
in and killed each victim in turn, especially when two slept in one room and
the third in another, and finally got out, has remained a mystery.
But the Judge, his wife, and the nurse are still seen looking for the
missing baby every Friday night. One rainy season, the servants’ quarters
were being re-roofed. I had to sleep in the corridor then; and thus I saw
the ghosts. At that time I was as afraid as the Major Saheb is today, but
then I soon found out that the ghosts were quite harmless.”
This was the story as recorded in Court.
The Judge was a sensible man. With a number of people, he decided
to pass one Friday night in the haunted house. He did so. What he saw
does not appear on the record; for he left no inspection notes and probably
never made any. He delivered judgment the following Monday.
“I have recorded the statements of the defendant and a witness

25
SUPERNATURAL

produced by him. I have also made a local inspection. I find that the
landlord (the plaintiff) knew that the house was practically uninhabitable,
for certain reasons. He concealed that fact from his tenant. He, therefore,
could not recover the costs he incurred on the property. The suit is
dismissed with costs.”
The haunted house remained without a tenant for a long time.
The proprietor subsequently made a gift of it to a charitable institution.
The founders of this institution performed a religious ceremony on the
premises. Afterwards the
house was pulled down and
on its site now stands one
of the grandest buildings in
the area that cost a full ten
thousand pounds to build.
Only this morning
I received a visit from a
gentleman who lives in the
building, referred to above,
but evidently he has not
even heard of the ghosts of
the Judge, his wife, and his
Indian ayah.
It is now nearly fifty
years, but the missing baby has not been heard of. If it is alive, it has grown
into a fully developed man. But does he know the fate of his parents and
his nurse?

26
 BOOK REPORT
The supernatural is common to all these books.

• Coraline - Neil Gaiman

• Indigo - Satyajit Ray
• The Imaginary - A. F. Harrold
• The Puffin Book of Spooky Stories - Introduced by Jerry Pinto
• The Haunting of Hiram - Eva Ibbotson

Which portion of a book from the list above did you find the most spooky?
Can a story without a ghost also be considered spooky? Give examples of
how the author created a spooky situation in the book that you just read.
What did you think of it? Write your thoughts in the space below and fill in
the book report on the next page.

27
 My Book Report
Draw the cover of the book Favourite character -
Draw a picture

Character Setting
My favourite character was This is where the book’s
events took place:

Words to describe this character:

The Story
A basic overview of the major events in the book.

What I liked about What I didn’t like about

the book - the book -

How many stars will you give this book?

 Activities
Lights Camera Action
You have just read the story The Major’s Lease. Imagine you are making a
movie of it. Draw a storyboard of a scene from the book in the space below.

29
SUPERNATURAL

Scary Speak

Have you ever been startled by someone creeping up silently behind

you? Have you jumped out of your skin while watching a horror movie or
reading a scary book?

Think about the eeriest things that you have seen, read, or heard
about. Why did they alarm you? Did any of them involve the supernatural
element?

Talk to the class about your experience.

Supernatural Grammar

Students are divided into three groups. All the students write the letters A
to M on the left side and N to Z on the right side of the page, skipping a line
between each letter. Students have five minutes to think of as many words
as possible that are associated with the supernatural.

Students write this down next to the letter with which the word starts.
At the end of five minutes, the teacher makes a note of the words that
each group comes up with. These are classified into “nouns,” “verbs,” and
“adjectives.”

The group that comes up with the most words wins!

30
 A Visit From The Brown Lady

Raynham Hall a country house in Norfolk, England, is reported to be

haunted. It is reputed to be the scene of one of the most famous “ghost
photographs” of all time—that of the “Brown Lady” coming down a
staircase.
The photograph was originally
taken by Captain Hubert C Provand
in 1963 and published in the
magazine Countrylife, during the
same year.

Legend has it that the “Brown

Lady” is the ghost of Lady Dorothy
Walpole (1686-1726). She was the
sister of Robert Walpole, who is
considered to be the first Prime
Minister of Great Britain.

Lady Dorothy was married to

Charles Townshend, who was known
for his violent temper.

He is reputed to have become

angry with Lady Walpole and locked her up in one of the rooms.

She remained in Raynham Hall till her death from small pox in 1726.

31
SUPERNATURAL

Tales Of Talismans

In different cultures around the world, people believe that certain objects
can keep evil spirits at bay. In India, a face is painted on pumpkins and
placed outside houses. Metal horseshoes are used as protective charms in
Western countries.

Do some research and find out other objects that are used similarly in
different cultures. Make a presentation about them in class.

White Room

What do you think it’s like to be a supernatural being? Imagine you get to
meet one such character from a book. Where will it happen? What will you
say? Enact the scene for your class.

32
DETECTIVES

33
DETECTIVES

S.O.S - Save. Our. School.

- Amrutash Misra

T he children at the Tsunami Village Primary School (TVPS) were not

among the luckiest in the world. They had lost their homes and at least
one member of their family to the tsunami of 2004. Now it looked like their
school might shut down. This news was of special significance to 12-year-
old Ramu.
Mrs. Arpitha Raman the school principal, had announced during
the morning assembly that the supplies truck was missing, presumably
stolen. Every year, the school was sent books, uniforms, and shoes through
donations collected by voluntary organisations. The steady patronage from
local politicians and businessmen ensured that this
came through without a hitch.
This year, the supplies truck was flagged off
by Mr. Bhavani Shankar a politician from Cuddalore.
His photo had appeared in the newspaper with Mrs.
Arpitha Raman standing next to him. Ramu’s father,
C Ramesh Babu the truck driver, was seated in the
vehicle. Now, Ramesh was the main suspect in the case as he had gone
missing with the truck.
This was four days ago. Ramu’s family had not heard from his father
ever since the truck had left Cuddalore.
“Abraham our wonderful sub-inspector, is convinced that your father
has made away with the truck,” Seema said during the lunch hour.
“What does Abraham know? He hasn’t even conducted a proper
investigation,” Tahir said.

34
 Seema and Tahir were Ramu’s closest friends. The trio’s favourite
TV show was a detective series. The officers on the show conducted a
thorough investigation for each case with a list of suspects, motives, and
rounds of interrogation. Abraham had done none of that.
Ramu was worried. His school was about to shut down. His father
was missing and was now branded a thief. “If Abraham won’t do an
investigation, we should do it ourselves,” he said.
It was a Friday. The weekend lay ahead of them. Ramu, Seema, and
Tahir walked home slowly after school, each thinking about how to proceed
with the case.

“We need a list of suspects,” Ramu said. “Let’s start with the photo in
the newspaper.”
“Mr. Bhavani Shankar, Arpitha Ma’am, and Ramu’s father were in the
picture. That’s three suspects,” Seema said.
“My father is innocent,” protested Ramu. “I’m sure of it.”
“We still have to write his name down,” Tahir added.
Ramu remembered that real detectives didn’t rule out any suspects

35
DETECTIVES

just because they happened to be family. He frowned. “Abraham is the

fourth suspect. He’s not even trying to find the truck. Maybe he has
something to hide.”
“I’ve heard that the drunk guard at the toll gate works with a gang.
They stop trucks and take a few boxes from each and sell them on the side.
I think his name is Daniel. This could’ve been his job,” Tahir piped in.
Seema thought for some time and said, “Do you remember the big
fight Fauji Sir had with Arpitha Ma’am last month? He swore revenge.
Maybe we should put him down as a sixth suspect.”
The three detectives couldn’t think of anyone else to add to the list.
They had reached Tahir’s hut. His parents were not home. They wrote
down everything they knew about the people on the list.

Suspect Suspect name About Possible motive?

number
1 Arpitha Raman Woman, 50 yrs old.
School Principal.
Wife of the village
panchayat head.Respected
elder of the community.
Motive unclear. Her
family is among the
richer ones in the
village.

2 Bhavani Shankar Local politician. Sends many Money. Perhaps the

trucks with supplies for truck was empty to
village hospitals and schools. start with.
Expected to win the MLA
elections next year. Very
ambitious. Rumoured to be
a crook but no one knows
for sure.

36
Suspect Suspect
About Possible motive?
number name

Truck driver. Ramu’s father. Money. Ramesh’s

C Ramesh Honest person with no great ambition. family is very poor.
3
Babu Recently expressed a desire to move to They lost everything
the city with family. in the tsunami.

Police inspector.
His father is an Army officer.
Motive unclear, as of
4 Abraham Appeared for the Army exam 10 times.
now.
Failed the physical test all 10 times.
Reputation for being dishonest.

Security guard at the toll gate on the

highway near Tsunami Village.
Known to be corrupt—stops vehicles and Money, for the “good
5 Daniel
takes a few boxes to sell on the side. times.”
Often drunk—frequently found at Rukmani
Bar with Old Monk Rum and fish fry.

PT Teacher at TVPS. Recently suspended.

Called Fauji Sir because he is strict.
Revenge.
6 Fauji Sir In charge of the keys and looked after the
general administration. Quarrelled with
the principal recently.

37
DETECTIVES

“My uncle served with Fauji Sir in the Army. They still talk to each
other. I might be able to worm some information out of him. My uncle loves
telling stories. I just need to be clever with my questions,” Tahir said, when
they had finished.
They discussed the other suspects on the list. They decided to strike
out Ramu’s father’s name. If he had indeed stolen the truck, he would have
reached out to his family and moved to the city as he had planned. It was
more likely that he had been kidnapped or even murdered.
The mere thought of this spooked the detectives. They needed to
solve this mystery fast. If Ramu’s father was still alive, this might be their
chance to save him.
The trio drew up a game plan for Saturday. Seema’s mother operated
a telephone booth and Xerox centre near Mrs. Arpitha Raman’s house. “She
has told me that Arpitha Ma’am often goes there. I’ll ask if there’s anything
particular that she remembers,” Seema said.
The next day was Saturday. Seema met Ramu and
Tahir near the fishing nets. A group of boys were playing
volleyball close by. “My mother says that Arpitha Ma’am
has been trying hard to get funds for the school. The
managers of a software company have agreed to help
though they didn’t give her the specifics. She’s waiting to hear from
them. Arpitha Ma’am told us that the school is closing because she doesn’t
have any other choice right now. My mother says that she is desperately
hoping that the software company responds soon. Otherwise she will be
left with no choice but to shut down the school,” Seema said.
“The supplies truck is the school’s lifeline. Arpitha Ma’am wouldn’t
block it if she’s trying so hard to save the school. I say we strike her off our
suspects list,” Ramu said.
“Fauji Sir was admitted to a hospital after a severe asthma attack

38
last week. My uncle visited him two days ago. Fauji Sir had a dust-up
with Arpitha Ma’am because she had caught him smoking on the school
premises. Now the doctors have advised him to break the habit. My uncle
said that Fauji sir was so scared by the attack that he has resolved to take
the doctor’s advice seriously. He wants to get well and resume work at the
school as soon as possible,” Tahir said.
“He’s off our list as well then,” Seema said.
They were left with Abraham, Bhavani Shankar, and Daniel. “Bhavani
Shankar lives in the
city. We can’t travel
that far right now. Let’s
focus on Abraham and
Daniel because they’re
close by,” Seema
observed.
Tahir added,
“My uncle also had
something else to
say, which might be
related to our case.
The recruitment officer at the Army training unit in the city, who is a friend
of my uncle’s, is being investigated for taking bribes. If Abraham wants to
bribe him, so that he’s declared fit at the physical test though everyone
knows he’s not, he’ll need a lot of money. This gives him motive.”
“That’s true,” said Seema.
“My friend Jacob helps his father at Rukmani Bar sometimes. He says
that the regulars come in soon after sunset. I could sneak in the back door
and check if Daniel is there today. Can we meet back here at 7.30 pm?”
Ramu said.

39
DETECTIVES

The others agreed. Ramu spent the day finishing his homework and
helping his mother tally the accounts from the week’s sale of fish. She
was at their neighbour’s house to watch the evening news, hoping for a
breakthrough in the case, when Ramu sneaked out.
Rukmani Bar was located on the road leading up to Tsunami Village.
Ramu slipped unnoticed behind the cycles parked in the front yard to
reach the back door. Praying that it would not creak, he pushed the door
open gingerly. He saw Jacob’s father filling up a glass,
his back to the door. The room was dim and the music
loud. It reeked of sweat.
Ramu crouched down low and saw that there
were a few tables arranged in a line beside Jacob’s
father’s counter. He spotted Daniel at the second table.
The first table was empty. Ramu rolled beneath it and
drew himself into the shadows. He could hear Daniel
grumbling. Ramu turned around and saw a pair of
feet approaching in his direction. Taking a chance and
hoping that the man would not look down, Ramu stuck
his foot out. He saw the man trip, heard a crash, a clanging of metal as a
steel plate struck the floor, and a splatter of thick liquid as the contents of a
bottle fell to the ground.
Ramu’s heart beat fast as he heard Daniel curse the man for falling
on him. Daniel stood up in a rage, his hands on the other man’s collar. He
was so caught up with shouting at the other man that he didn’t notice his
cell phone slip out of his pocket. Ramu spotted it. Quietly, he slid his hand
out and reached for the phone.
A small crowd gathered around the table, attracted by Daniel’s
shouting. Ramu took the opportunity to slither out of his hiding place and
slink out the door. He was careful as he made his way out of Rukmani Bar.

40
He walked slowly at first and gradually broke into a run as Tsunami Village
drew closer.
He was gasping for breath by the time he reached Seema and Tahir
near the fishing nets.
He fell on his knees next to them and held out the phone. Seema
looked through the photo gallery. There were lots of
photographs of a warehouse. Tahir guessed that this must be
near the factory on the east side of the village.
They looked at the call logs on the phone. The children
found that most of the calls in the last three days had been
made to one number. 98848-08009.
They dialled the number from Daniel’s phone.
“Hello,” said a raspy voice.
The children kept quiet. They tried to place the voice but couldn’t.
“Hello. What is it?”
Seema cut the call. “Let’s send him a message.”
They thought for a while and came up with a plan to trap the person
on the other side of the phone. They sent the following message:
“The truck is missing. Ramesh Babu has run away. Come to
warehouse immediately.” Then they promptly switched the phone off.
They ran to the village junction and took the only road that led to the
factory. They hid behind a tree.
Under the moonlight, they could see that the road was empty for
miles. They wondered if anyone would come. If Daniel had indeed hidden
the truck in that warehouse, who was his mystery accomplice?
Just then, they saw Abraham cycling down the road from the village.
Ramu saw the next 24 hours pass by in a flash in his mind—informing
Arpitha Ma’am about what they had found, the panchayat getting together
to pressurise Abraham, and finally Ramu getting to see his father again.

41
DETECTIVES

BOOK REPORT
Here is a list of books with the same theme.

• The Sherlock Holmes Connection - Anushka Ravishankar

• The Adventures of Shrilok Homeless - Pika Nani
• Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz
• The Rhythm of Riddles - Saradindu Bandyopadhyay
• Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie

In your review of the book, outline the mystery that the detective sets out
to solve. How does he or she go about it? What did you like about their style
of detective work? Have you ever considered solving a mystery yourself?
Write your thoughts in the space below and fill in the book report on the
next page.

42
 My Book Report
Draw the cover of the book Favourite character -
Draw a picture

Character Setting
My favourite character was This is where the book’s
events took place:

Words to describe this character:

The Story
A basic overview of the major events in the book.

What I liked about What I didn’t like about

the book - the book -

How many stars will you give this book?

DETECTIVES

Activities
Whodunit, Little Star

Do you remember the nursery rhymes that you were taught in school?
Pick one rhyme. Examine it for a potential mystery. For instance:

Jack and Jill went up the hill,

to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.

Here are a few thoughts that may arise in a detective’s mind: Why did Jack
fall? Did he slip or was he pushed? Was Jill the one who pushed him? If so,
why did Jill fall? What are the doubts that surface when you think of any
other nursery rhyme? Answer them. Solve your mystery. Write the story in
the space below.

44
45
DETECTIVES

Be Your Own Detective

Testing a crime scene for fingerprints is an important part of every
detective’s training kit. Each fingerprint is unique as no two are exactly
alike. Fingerprints are made up of three basic patterns: whorl, arch, and
loop. While the whorl refers to the circular ridge of a fingerprint, the
arch pattern comprises ridges lying one above the other in an arching
formation. The loop pattern is formed when the ridges lean towards either
the left or right side. Each fingerprint is made up of different combinations
of these patterns.

Have you ever wanted to dust a scene for prints? Start with your
home! Here’s how:

You will need:

• Cocoa powder or graphite powder from your pencil

• A white visiting card
• Clear tape
• Small paintbrush

> Find a flat, smooth surface or area to test for a fingerprint

> Sprinkle cocoa or graphite powder on the surface where the print is
> Gently brush the powder with the paintbrush to make the print appear
> Place clear tape directly over the fingerprint
> Gently peel the tape. Press it firmly on to the white card for transfer.

You have successfully lifted a fingerprint!

46
 Code Maker
Students sit in a circle. The teacher chooses a child to be the “Code
Breaker” and places a blindfold over his/her eyes. The teacher then points
to another child who becomes the “Code Maker.” This is done in silence.

The Code Maker performs an action and claps in rhythm. The

group joins in. Then the Code Breaker’s blindfold is removed. The children
continue to perform the action and clap in rhythm.

The Code Maker changes his/her action. The group should follow him/
her. He/she continues changing the action. It could be scratching the nose,
stroking the chin, etc. The Code Breaker must guess the identity of the
Code Maker. When the Code Breaker successfully guesses the identity of
the Code Maker, that child becomes the new Code Breaker.

Private Eye Ace

Have you read in the newspapers about mysterious cases being solved?
Who are the people who perform the work of detectives in your city? Find
out about one of them.

Make a brief speech about him/her in class, mentioning a famous

case that the individual solved.

Bring a picture of your chosen subject to class.

47
DETECTIVES

The Queen Of Crime

Dame Agatha Christie is famous for creating two of the

world’s most popular detectives in fiction—Hercule Poirot
and Miss Marple.

The Guinness Book of World Records states that

Dame Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all
time. She has written 66 crime novels, 13 plays, 154 short stories, and six
romantic novels. Her works have been published in 70 countries in more
than 50 languages.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is considered one of the most

influential crime novels ever written.

Elementary Stuff

A detective has to be smart at piecing together bits of evidence and must

be calm under pressure. What are a few other qualities that you liked
about the detective in the book that you read? Discuss them with the class.

48
MYTH AND MAGIC

49
MYTH AND MAGIC

How Thor Got His Hammer Back

- A tale from Norse Mythology; Adapted by Deepti

Loki and Thor were once invited to the house of Thrym, in Jötunheim.
Thrym was a stupid Giant, with a cunning streak. He had made a feast for
them and in the midst of all the merry-making, Thor had been unwatchful.
Only when they were far from Jötunheim, did Thor realize that his
hammer, Mjolnir, was missing. Mjolnir was the defence of Asgard and the
help of the Gods. He could not remember how or where he had misplaced
it. Thor, who had sworn never to let the hammer out of his sight, did not
know what to do.
Loki thought it would be worthwhile to see if Thrym knew anything
about it. He went straight to Asgard, their home, and spoke to none until he

50
reached Frigga’s palace.
“Will you lend me your falcon dress so that I can fly to Thrym’s house
and find out where Mjolnir is?” Loki asked his mother.
“Of course, my son. To bring back Mjolnir, I would gladly give anything
I possess,” said Frigga.
So Loki put on the falcon dress and flew to Thrym’s house. He found
the Giant on a hillside putting golden and silver collars upon the necks of
his hounds. Loki, in the falcon suit, perched on the rock above him, and
watched the Giant with falcon eyes.
“Soon we Giants will have the gold of Asgard to deck our hounds and
our steeds, yea, even the necklace of Freya to put upon you, the best of my
hounds,” boasted the Giant, unaware of Loki’s presence, “For Mjolnir, the
defence of Asgard, is in Thrym’s holding.”
“We know that Mjolnir is in your possession, Thrym,” spoke Loki, from
the rock, “but know that the eyes of the watchful Gods are upon you.”
“Ha, Loki, Shape-changer,” said Thrym, “All your watching will not
help you find Mjolnir. I have buried Thor’s hammer eight miles deep into
the earth. Find it if you can. It is below the caves of the Dwarfs. It is useless
for you to search for it,” said the Giant sulkily.
“But imagine the treasures you could get if only you returned Thor’s
hammer to its rightful owner,” said Loki.
“No, cunning Loki, I will never restore it, not for any treasure in
Asgard,” said Thrym.
“Is there nothing in Asgard you would like to own? Odin’s ring or
Frey’s ship, Skidbladnir?”
“No, no,” said Thrym. “There’s only one thing I would take in exchange
for Mjolnir. Freya, the most beautiful goddess in all of Asgard, for my wife.”
Loki watched Thrym with his falcon eyes. He saw that the Giant
would not alter his demand.

51
MYTH AND MAGIC

“I will tell the Asgardians of your demand,” he said at last, and he flew
away.
Loki flew straight to the hall where the Gods sat in Council and told
them of Thrym’s demands. None would agree to let the beautiful Freya go
live in Jötunheim as a wife to the stupidest of the Giants.
Cunning Loki said, “I have thought of a trick that may win back the
hammer from stupid Thrym. Let us pretend to send Freya to Jötunheim as
a bride for him. But let one of the Gods go in Freya’s veil and dress.”
“Which of the Gods would bring himself to do such a thing?”
“Oh, he who lost the hammer, Thor, should be prepared to do as much
to win it back,” said Loki.
Loki left the Council of the Gods and went to Thor. “There is only one
way to win the hammer back, Thor,” he said, “and the Gods in Council have
decided that you shall take it.”
“What is the way?” said Thor. “But no matter what it is, tell me and I
shall do it.”
“I am to take you to Jötunheim as a bride for Thrym. You are to go in
Freya’s veil and bridal dress.”
“What? You want me to dress in woman’s clothes?” shouted Thor.
“Yea, Thor, and wear a veil over your head and a garland of flowers
upon it.”
“I—I wear a garland of flowers? Stop this mockery, Loki,” said Thor
roughly, “or I shall shake you.”
“It is no mockery. You will have to do this to win Mjolnir back for the
defence of Asgard. Thrym will take nothing else in exchange but Freya.”
So Thor and Loki set out for Jötunheim. A messenger had gone before
them to tell Thrym that Freya was coming with her bridesmaid; that the
wedding-feast was to be prepared and that Mjolnir was to be at hand so
that it might be given over to the Asgardians.

52
 Thrym and his Giant mother hastened to get everything ready for
their future bride.
Thor and Loki arrived at the Giant’s house in the dress of a bride and
a bridesmaid. A veil was over Thor’s head hiding his beard and his fierce
eyes. He wore a red-embroidered robe. Loki was veiled, too. The hall of
Thrym’s great house was swept and decorated. Great tables were laid for
the feast.
When Thor and Loki stepped across the threshold, Thrym went to
welcome them. He wanted to raise the veil of his bride and give her a kiss.
Loki quickly laid his hand on the Giant’s shoulder. “Freya would be
very offended to be kissed before this company.”

53
MYTH AND MAGIC

“Do not raise the bride’s veil, son. These Asgardians are more refined
in their ways than us,” said Thrym’s old mother.
The size of the bride did not surprise the huge Giants who were in
the wedding company. They stared at Thor and Loki, but they could see
nothing of their faces because of their veils.
Thor sat at the table with Thrym on one side of him and Loki on
the other. Then the feast began. Thor, not noticing that what he did was
unsuitable for a refined maiden, ate eight salmon right away. Loki nudged
him and pressed his foot, but was ignored. After the salmon Thor ate a
whole ox.
“These maids of Asgard,” said the Giants to each other, “they may be
refined, as Thrym’s mother says, but their appetites are big enough.”
“We left Asgard eight days ago. And Freya refused to eat anything on
the way here. So anxious was she to see Thrym and to come to his house,”
said Loki to Thrym.
“Poor darling, poor darling,” said the Giant. “What she has eaten is
little after all.”
And now a piece of the veil slipped aside and Thor’s eyes were seen
for an instant.
“Oh, why does Freya have such glaring eyes?” asked Thrym.
“Poor thing, poor thing,” said Loki, “She has not slept for eight nights,
so anxious was she to come to you and to your house, Thrym. But now
the time has come for you to join hands with your bride. First, put into her
hands the hammer, Mjolnir.”
Then Thrym, the stupidest of the Giants, rose up and brought Mjolnir,
the defence of Asgard, into the feasting hall. Thor could hardly restrain
himself from springing up and seizing it from the Giant. But Loki was able
to keep him still. Thrym brought over the hammer and put the handle into
the hands of the woman who he thought was his bride.

54
 Thor’s hands closed on his hammer. Instantly he stood up. The veil fell
off him.

His blazing eyes were seen by all. He struck one blow on the wall of
the house and down it crashed. Then Thor went striding out of the ruin with
Loki beside him, while the Giants bellowed as the roof and walls fell down
on them.

And that was how Mjolnir, the defence of Asgard, was lost and won
back.

55
MYTH AND MAGIC

BOOK REPORT
Here is a list of books with the same theme.

• The Wordkeepers - Jash Sen

• Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

• The Magician’s Elephant - Kate diCamillo

• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C S Lewis

• Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer

Which creature did you find the most impressive in the book that you read?
In your book review point out how you would interact with the creature if it
were present in your world. What would you do if the creature walked into
your class at school? Write your thoughts in the space below and fill in the
book report on the next page.

56
 My Book Report
Draw the cover of the book Favourite character -
Draw a picture

Character Setting
My favourite character was This is where the book’s
events took place:

Words to describe this character:

The Story
A basic overview of the major events in the book.

What I liked about What I didn’t like about

the book - the book -

How many stars will you give this book?

MYTH AND MAGIC

Activities
Open That Dictionary

What if Yama, the God of Death in Hindu mythology, was necrophobic? Or

if Noah, made famous by the biblical tale of the ark, was zoophobic? Find
out what each of these terms signify. Use the dictionary.

Phobia Fear of

> Agoraphobia

> Ailurophobia

> Bibliophobia

> Ergophobia

> Gamophobia

> Necrophobia

> Phasmophobia

> Sciophobia

> Tonitrophobia

> Zoophobia

58
 Rooted In Meaning

A few stories from mythology have become so popular that they have
spawned words that are now a part of the English language. Here’s a
selection of some of these words:

• Herculean

• The Midas Touch

• Atlas

• Panic

• Achilles’ Heel

• Volcano

• Titanic

• Siren

Do you know what these words mean today? They originated from the
myths of Greece and Rome. Read the stories if you haven’t already.
Discuss your responses with your teacher in the next class.

59
MYTH AND MAGIC

Monster Menu

What do monsters like to eat? Could it be Banyan root stew, chocolate mud
pies made from beach sand, or jalebis laced with tar? Design a four-course
menu for the monster based on what you think it will eat.

rse
Main Cou
s
Appetiser

Desserts
Starters

60
 Chimerical Creation

In Greek Mythology, a chimera is a fire-breathing female monster, with a

lion’s head, a goat’s body and a serpent’s tail. Use your creativity and come
up with your own chimerical creature.

61
MYTH AND MAGIC

Mixing It Up

Pick your favourite passage from a book on myth and magic. Read it aloud.
Encourage your classmates to identify the context in which the events
described in the passage occur. Write down your own version of the story
in the space below.

62
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

63
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

Cabuliwallah
- Rabindranath Tagore

M y five-year-old daughter Mini cannot live without chattering. I really

believe that in all her life she has not wasted a minute in silence. Her
mother is often vexed at this and would like to stop her prattle, but I would
not. For Mini to be quiet is unnatural, and I cannot bear it long. And so my
own talk with her is always lively.
One morning, for instance, when
I was in the midst of the seventeenth
chapter of my new novel, my little Mini
stole into the room, and putting her hand
into mine, said, “Father! Ramdayal, the
door-keeper, calls a kak a kauwa! He
doesn’t know anything, does he?”
Before I could explain to her the
difference between one language and
another in this world, she had embarked
on the full tide of another subject. “What do you think, Father? Bhola says
there is an elephant in the clouds, blowing water out of his trunk, and that
is why it rains!”
And then, darting off anew, while I sat still, trying to think of some
reply to this, “Father! What relation is mother to you?” With a grave face I
contrived to say, “Go and play with Bhola, Mini! I am busy!”
The window of my room overlooks the road. The child had seated
herself at my feet near my table, and was playing softly, drumming on her
knees. I was hard at work on my seventeenth chapter, in which Pratap

64
Singh, the hero, has just caught Kanchanlata, the heroine, in his arms, and
is about to escape with her by the third storey window of the castle, when
suddenly Mini left her play, and ran to the window, crying, “A Cabuliwallah!
A Cabuliwallah!” And indeed, in the street below, there was a Cabuliwallah,
walking slowly along. He wore the loose,
soiled clothing of his people, and a tall
turban; he carried a bag on his back,
and boxes of grapes in his hand.
I cannot tell what my daughter’s
feelings were when she saw this man,
but she began to call him loudly. “Ah!”
thought I, “he will come in, and my
seventeenth chapter will never be
finished!” At that very moment the Cabuliwallah turned, and looked up at
the child. When she saw this, she was overcome by terror, and running to
her mother’s protection disappeared. She had a blind belief that inside the
bag, which the big man carried, there were perhaps two or three other
children like herself. The peddler meanwhile entered my doorway and
greeted me with a smile.
So precarious was the position of my hero and my heroine, that my
first impulse was to stop and buy something, since Mini had called the man
to the house. I made some small purchases, and we began to talk about
Abdur Rahman, the Russians, the English, and the Frontier Policy.
As he was about to leave, he asked: “And where is the little girl, Sir?”
And then, thinking that Mini must get rid of her false fear, I had her
brought out. She stood by my chair, and looked at the Cabuliwallah and
his bag. He offered her nuts and raisins, but she would not be tempted, and
only clung the closer to me, with all her doubts increased.
This was their first meeting.

65
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

A few mornings later, however, as I was leaving the house, I was

startled to find Mini, seated on a bench near the door, laughing and talking,
with the great Cabuliwallah at her feet. In
all her life, it appeared, my small daughter
had never found so patient a listener, save
her father. And already the corner of her
little sari was stuffed with almonds and
raisins, the gift of her visitor. “Why did you
give her those?” I said, and taking out an
eight-anna piece, I handed it to him. The
man accepted the money without demur,
and put it into his pocket.
Alas, on my return, an hour later, I found the unfortunate coin had
made twice its own worth of trouble! For the Cabuliwallah had given it
to Mini, and her mother, catching sight of the bright round object, had
pounced on the child with: “Where did you get that eight-anna piece?”
“The Cabuliwallah gave it to me!” said Mini cheerfully.
“The Cabuliwallah gave it to you!” cried her mother greatly shocked,
“O Mini! How could you take it from him?”
I entered at the moment, and saving her from impending disaster,
proceeded to make my own inquiries.
It was not the first or the second time, I found, that the two had met.
The Cabuliwallah had overcome the child’s first terror by a judicious bribe
of nuts and almonds, and the two were now great friends.
They had many quaint jokes, which amused them greatly. Mini
would seat herself before him, look down on his gigantic frame in all her
tiny dignity, and with her face rippling with laughter would begin: “O
Cabuliwallah! Cabuliwallah: What have you got in your bag?”
And he would reply, in the nasal accent of the mountaineer: “An

66
elephant!” Not much cause for merriment, perhaps: but how they both
enjoyed the fun! And for me, this child’s talk with a grown-up man had
always in it something strangely fascinating.
Then the Cabuliwallah, not to be behindhand, would take his turn:
“Well, little one, and when are you going to your father-in-law’s house?”
Now nearly every small Bengali maiden had heard long ago about
her father-in-law’s house; but we were a little new-fangled, and had kept
these things from our child, so that Mini at this question must have been
a trifle bewildered. But she would not show it, and with ready tact replied:
“Are you going there?”
Amongst men of the Cabuliwallah’s class, however, it is well known
that the words father-in-law’s house have a double meaning. It is a
euphemism for jail, the place where we are well cared for, at no expense
to ourselves. In this sense would the
sturdy peddler take my daughter’s
question. “Ah,” he would say, shaking
his fist at an invisible policeman. “I
will thrash my father-in-law!”
Hearing this, and picturing the
poor discomfited relative, Mini would
go off into peals of laughter in which
her formidable friend would join.
These were autumn mornings,
the very time of year when kings of old went forth to conquest, and I
without stirring from my little corner in Calcutta, would let my mind
wander over the whole world. At the very name of another country, my
heart would go out to it, and at the sight of a foreigner in the streets, I
would fall to weaving a network of dreams—the mountains, the glens,
and the forests of his distant land, with his cottage in their midst and the

67
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

free and independent life, or far away wilds. Perhaps scenes of travel are
conjured up before me and pass and re-pass in my imagination all the
more vividly, because I lead an existence so like a vegetable that a call
to travel would fall upon me like a thunder-bolt. In the presence of this
Cabuliwallah, I was immediately transported to the foot of arid mountain
peaks, with narrow little defiles twisting
in and out amongst their towering
heights. I could see the string of
camels bearing the merchandise, and
the company of turbaned merchants,
some carrying their queer old firearms,
and some their spears, journeying
downward towards the plains. I could
see... But at some such point Mini’s
mother would intervene, and implore me to “beware of that man.”
Mini’s mother is unfortunately very timid. Whenever she hears a noise
in the street, or sees people coming towards the house, she always jumps
to the conclusion that they are either thieves, or drunkards, or snakes, or
tigers, or malaria, or cockroaches, or caterpillars. Even after all these years
of experience, she is not able to overcome her terror. So she was full of
doubts about the Cabuliwallah, and used to beg me to keep a watchful eye
on him.
If I tried to laugh her fear gently away, she would turn round
seriously, and ask me solemn questions:
Were children never kidnapped?
Was it not true that there was slavery in Cabul?
Was it so very absurd that this big man should be able to carry off a
tiny child?
I urged that, though not impossible, it was very improbable. But this

68
was not enough, and her dread persisted.
But as it was a very vague dread, it did not seem right to forbid the
man the house, and the intimacy went on unchecked.
Once a year, in the middle of January, Rahman, the Cabuliwallah,
used to return to his own country, and as the time approached, he would
be very busy, going from house to house collecting his debts. This year,
however, he could always find time to come and see Mini. It might have
seemed to a stranger that there was some conspiracy between the two, for
when he could not come in the morning, he would appear in the evening.
Even to me it was a little startling now and then suddenly to surprise
this tall, loose-garmented man laden with his bags, in the corner of a dark
room; but when Mini ran in smiling, with her “O Cabuliwallah! Cabuliwallah”
and the two friends, so far apart in age,
subsided into their old laughter and their old
jokes, I felt reassured.
One morning, a few days before he had
made up his mind to go, I was correcting
proof-sheets in my study. The weather
was chilly. Through the window the rays
of the sun touched my feet, and the slight
warmth was very welcome. It was nearly
eight o’clock, and early pedestrians were
returning home with their heads covered.
Suddenly I heard an uproar in the street, and looking out saw
Rahman being led away bound between two policemen, and behind them
a crowd of inquisitive boys. There were blood-stains on his clothes, and one
of the policemen carried a knife. I hurried out, and stopping them, inquired
what it all meant. Partly from one, partly from another, I gathered that a
certain neighbour had owed the peddler something for a Rampuri shawl,

69
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

but had denied buying it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahman had
struck him. Now, in his excitement, the prisoner began calling his enemy all
sorts of names, when suddenly in a verandah of my house appeared my
little Mini, with her usual exclamation: “O Cabuliwallah!
Cabuliwallah!” Rahman’s face lighted up as he turned to her. He had
no bag under his arm today, so that she could not talk about the elephant
with him. She therefore at once proceeded to the next question: “Are you
going to your father-in-law’s house?” Rahman laughed and said: “That
is just where I am going, little one!” Then seeing that the reply did not
amuse the child, he held up his fettered hands, “Ah!” he said, “I would have
thrashed that old father-in-law, but my hands are bound!”
On a charge of murderous assault, Rahman was sentenced to several
years’ imprisonment.
Time passed, and he was forgotten. Our accustomed work in the
accustomed place went on, and the thought of the once free mountaineer
spending his years in prison seldom or never occurred to us. Even my light-
hearted Mini, I am ashamed to say, forgot her old friend. New companions
filled her life. As she grew older, she spent more of her time with girls. So
much, indeed, did she spend with them that she came no more, as she
used to do, to her father’s room, so that I rarely had any opportunity of
speaking to her.
Years had passed away. It was once more autumn, and we had made
arrangements for our Mini’s marriage. It was to take place during the Puja
Holidays. With Durga returning to Kailas, the light of our home also would
depart to her husband’s house, and leave her father’s in shadow.
The morning was bright. After the rains, it seemed as though the
air had been washed clean and the rays of the sun looked like pure gold.
So bright were they, that they made even the sordid brick-walls of our
Calcutta lanes radiant. Since early dawn the wedding-pipes had been

70
sounding, and at each burst of sound my own heart throbbed. The wail of
the tune, Bhairavi, seemed to intensify the pain I felt at the approaching
separation. My Mini was to be married that night.
From early morning, noise and bustle had
pervaded the house. In the courtyard there was
the canopy to be slung on its bamboo poles;
there were chandeliers with their tinkling sound
to be hung in each room and verandah. There
was endless hurry and excitement. I was sitting
in my study, looking through the accounts,
when someone entered, saluting respectfully,
and stood before me. It was Rahman, the
Cabuliwallah. At first I did not recognise him. He carried no bag, his long
hair was cut short and his old vigour seemed to have gone. But he smiled;
and I knew him again.
“When did you come, Rahman?” I asked him.
“Last evening,” he said, “I was released from jail.”
The words struck harshly upon my ears. I had never before talked
with one who had wounded his fellow-man, and my heart shrank within
itself when I realised this; for I felt that the day would have been better-
omened had he not appeared.
“There are ceremonies going on,” I said, “and I am busy. Perhaps you
could come another day?”
He immediately turned to go; but as he reached the door he
hesitated, and said, “May I not see the little one, sir, for a moment?” It was
his belief that Mini was still the same. He had pictured her running to him
as she used to do, calling. “O Cabuliwallah! Cabuliwallah!” He had imagined
too that they would laugh and talk together, just as of old. Indeed, in
memory of former days, he had brought, carefully wrapped up in paper, a

71
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

few almonds and raisins and grapes, obtained somehow or other from a
countryman; for what little money he had, had gone. I repeated: “There is a
ceremony in the house, and you will not be able to see anyone today.”
The man’s face fell. He looked wistfully at me for a moment, then said,
“Good morning,” and went out.
I felt a little sorry, and would have called him back but I found he
was returning of his own accord. He came close up to me and held out his
offerings with the words: “I have brought these few things, sir, for the little
one. Will you give them to her?”
I took them, and was going to pay him, but he caught my hand,
and said: “You are very kind, sir! Keep me in your memory. Do not offer
me money! You have a little girl. I too have one like her in my own home.
I think of her, and bring this fruit to your child not to make a profit for
myself.” Saying this, he put his hand inside his big loose robe, and brought
out a small and dirty piece of paper.
Unfolding it with great care, he smoothened
it out with both hands on my table. It bore the
impression of a little hand. Not a photograph. Not a
drawing. Merely the impression of an ink-smeared
hand laid flat on the paper. This touch of the hand of
his own little daughter he had carried always next to
his heart, as he had come year after year to Calcutta
to sell his wares in the streets.
Tears came to my eyes. I forgot that he was a poor Cabuli fruit-seller,
while I was. . . But no, what was I more than he? He also was a father.
That impression of the hand of his little Parvati in her distant
mountain home reminded me of my own little Mini.
I sent for Mini immediately from the inner apartment. Many
difficulties were raised, but I swept them aside. Clad in the red silk of her

72
wedding-day, with sandal paste on her forehead, and adorned as a young
bride, Mini came, and stood modestly before me.
The Cabuliwallah seemed amazed at the apparition. He could not
revive their old friendship. At last he smiled and said: “Little one, are you
going to your father-in-law’s house?”
But Mini now understood the meaning of the word “father-in-law,”
and she could not answer him as of old. She blushed at the question, and
stood before him with her head bowed down.
I remembered the day when the Cabuliwallah and my Mini had first
met, and I felt sad. When she had gone, Rahman sighed deeply and sat
down on the floor. The idea had suddenly come to him that his daughter
too must have grown up, while he had been away so long, and that he
would have to make friends anew with her also. Assuredly he would not
find her as she was when he left her. And besides, what might not have
happened to her in these eight years?
The marriage-pipes sounded and the mild autumn sunlight streamed
round us. But Rahman, standing in our narrow Calcutta lane, saw in his
mind’s eye the mountains of Afghanistan.
I took out a hundred rupee note, gave it to him, and said: “Go back to
your daughter, Rahman, in your own country, and may the happiness of
your meeting bring good fortune to my child!”
Having made this present, I had to curtail some of the festivities. I
could not have the electric lights I had intended, nor the military band, and
the ladies of the house were despondent about it. But to me the wedding
feast was all the brighter for the thought that in a distant land a long-lost
father was going to meet again his only child.

Note: The pictures in this story are from the Hindi film, Kabuliwala, which is based
on the short story by Tagore. The film, starring Balraj Sahni, was made in 1961 and
directed by Hemen Gupta.

73
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

BOOK REPORT
This list comprises books with the same theme.

• Flora and Ulysses - Kate diCamillo

• The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne

• The Butterfly Lion - Michael Morpurgo

• How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell

• Charlotte’s Web - E. B. White

How do the lead characters speak to each other in the book that you read?
Does the friendship in the book remind you of the time spent with your
own friends? Include this aspect in your review of the book. How does the
author make the friendship seem believable? Write your thoughts in the
space below and fill in the book report on the next page.

74
 My Book Report
Draw the cover of the book Favourite character -
Draw a picture

Character Setting
My favourite character was This is where the book’s
events took place:

Words to describe this character:

The Story
A basic overview of the major events in the book.

What I liked about What I didn’t like about

the book - the book -

How many stars will you give this book?

UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

Activities
Your Story

If you could forge an unlikely friendship with a character from a book, who
would you pick? Find out some more information about the character and
make a presentation.

Spin A Story Web

Owen the Hippopotamous was separated from his parents when a tsunami
wave washed him out to sea. After being found by wildlife rangers, he
was taken to an animal sanctuary in Mombassa, Kenya. Owen’s handlers
decided that he would share a habitat with an ancient 100-year-old
tortoise called Mzee. It was reported that Owen behaved towards Mzee, a
male, as if the tortoise were his mother. The hippo and tortoise bathed and
slept together, and Owen licked Mzee’s face and was protective if anyone
approached the tortoise. Hippos generally remain with their mothers
for four years, and Owen stayed with Mzee until 2007 when he was
introduced to other hippos.

Write a short story or a dialogue in 100 words, or design a comic strip

of Owen’s experience on meeting the other hippos. Does Owen miss
Mzee? Do the other hippos accept him into their group right away? Does
anyone ask him questions about what it was like to share his home with a
100-year-old tortoise?

76
Use the space provided for your story /dialogue /comic strip.

77
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

BFFs Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS:
4) US slapstick comedy duo, who were friends both in reel and real
life - Laurel and ______
5) Charlie Brown’s canine companion - ___________.
8) Winnie the Pooh’s human friend is called _____________.
10) Charlotte’s best friend Wilbur is a __________ .

DOWN:
1) One’s blonde, the other’s a brunette. They’re frenemies in the
comic world - Betty and ___________
2) Mowgli’s honey-loving best friend - ___________
3) Sherlock Holmes’ constant companion - ______________
6) The young girl who befriended the BFG - ___________.
7) Famous tot-tiger team - Calvin and ___________
9) Harry Potter’s first friend in the Wizarding world -
____________
78
 Between The Lines
Dorothy finds herself transported to a new land in The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz a book by L Frank Baum. She makes friends with a cowardly lion, a
Tin Man with no heart, and a scarecrow with no brain. What do you think
they are telling each other in the picture below?

Write or draw each of their responses.

79
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

For Your Eyes Only

Do you want to write a secret message to a friend? Here’s your chance to

write it in invisible ink! For this, you will need:

> Lemon juice/Grapefruit juice/Milk/Baking powder

> A paint brush or a cotton swab
> A sheet of paper
> Scrap paper
> Hot iron

Different mediums may be used to write messages in invisible ink. For your
first letter, choose either lemon juice, lemon/grapefruit juice, milk or baking
powder. Dip your paintbrush or cotton swab in any one of these solutions.

Write your message on paper carefully because you won’t be able to see
what you’re writing.

To make the message appear, place your sheet of paper in between two
sheets of scrap paper and run a hot iron over it. Your message will appear
as if by magic! This occurs because of a chemical reaction between the
dried liquid on the page and the heat of the iron.

Send a letter to your friend today! Make sure he/she knows the ‘secret
code’ to be able to read it.

80
 Compatibility Quiz

Your teacher will split you into pairs. Write down the answers for the
following questions about your friend. Once you’re done, exchange your
books with each other and see how many you and your friend got right!

1) Which place would your friend like to visit?

2) Which cuisine does your friend prefer?

3) Name your friend’s favourite book and author.

4) List a few of your friend’s pet peeves.

5) What’s your friend’s favourite animal?

6) Which subject does your friend like the most?

7) Which famous person would your friend like to meet?

8) Does your friend have a nickname? What is it?

9) Is there any expression or phrase your friend says often?

10) Which movie genre does your friend like best – comedy, horror,
romance, sci-fi, action?

81
UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS

Other Recommendations
• Hitler’s Daughter - Jackie French

• To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

• The Canterville Ghost - Oscar Wilde

• The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie

• Young Sherlock Holmes: Knife Edge - Andrew Lane

• The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman

• The Bandits of Bombay - Satyajit Ray

• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore - W E Joyce

• Magisterium: The Iron Trail - Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

• Dragons at Crumbling Castle - Terry Pratchett

• The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak

• The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate

82
 A nswers
Cool Kids - Teen Speak:
1) You Only Live Once, 2) Greatest of All Time, 3) To Be Honest, 4) Fear Of Missing Out,
5) Amazing, 6) In Real Life, 7) One hundred percent certain, 8) having awareness
of issues concerning social and racial justice, 9) Refers to a person’s incredible
transformation, 10) I Know Right.

Myth And Magic - Open That Dictionary:

Agoraphobia - fear of social embarrassment
Ailurophobia - Extreme or irrational fear of cats
Bibliophobia - Fear of books
Ergophobia - Fear of work or fear of finding employment
Gamophobia - Fear of commitment
Necrophobia - Fear of death or dead bodies
Phasmophobia - Fear of ghosts
Sciophobia - Fear of shadows
Tonitrophobia - Fear of thunder
Zoophobia - Fear of animals

Unlikely Friendships - BFFs Crossword puzzle answers:

ACROSS: 4) Hardy, 5) Snoopy, 8) Christopher Robin, 10) Pig
DOWN: 1) Veronica, 2) Baloo, 3) Watson, 6) Sophie, 7) Hobbes, 9) Ron.

83
 The Big Bookish Finish

Here’s a chance for you to have some fun with all the books that you’ve
read under the BLPS programme this year. Play a game of Pictionary or
Dumb Charades using the book titles mentioned in the BLPS Activity Book.

This is how Pictionary is played: Split your class into teams. A title
is given to you by the teacher. One person from a team goes to the
blackboard and draws dashes to indicate the number of words in the book
title that his/her team mates have to guess. For instance, a book title with
four words in it is indicated thus: _ _ _ _

Next, the team representative draws pictures to help his/her

teammates guess the words in the book title. The team that guesses the
most book titles wins.

If you prefer acting out the book titles, then Dumb Charades is the
game for you. Have pre-defined actions or signals for articles such as a,
an, and the. Split your class into teams. The teacher gives you the title of a
book. One person from a team begins by indicating the number of words
in the title and proceeds to act out the words in the title. The team that
guesses the most book titles wins.

84