"Where is it? where is it??" The mob of children were asking Ghani to show where the snake was. He was in the middle of gang of children of all age groups and many of them were even elder to him. He was explaining the incident over and over again with each newly added audience and was obviously enjoying all the attention. And each time the drama was unfolding with greater intensity.
He started off again with greater enthusiasm as his younger sister joined the listeners, "Arey, it was as long as the skipping rope. It had a huge hood which could be used as umbrella for babies. It was as black as Sharma uncle's doberman. It was just a feet away."
Shanti almost squeaked, " Bhayya, where did you see that and why did you go there?".
He raised his chin as far as he can and answered to this unnecessary question, "I had gone to pluck some mangoes from the orchard near the bunglow. It was on that tree which has a hanging branch towards the gate. Do you think the snake stopped me from what I had started? No, It did not. I came out with four huge mangoes. And one of them is almost ripe."
All of them gasped again together and were awed with their super hero. Innocently, Shanti extended her hand and said, "Bhayya, can I have one mango please."
Ghani was annoyed at her now, "I wont give you. Its my hard-earned fruit. Go and get for yourself."
With that everybody giggled at Shanti as grew red in her face. Sobbing uncontrollably she ran away to their home. Beforeshe entered their garden, she stopped and turned around. Then she resolutely walked towards the orchard as the twilight was approaching fast. In few minutes she was at the gate. She looked around in the little light to see if the snake was around. Then with a jump she held on to the low branch over the gate. She pulled herself up and lowered into the orchard through another low hung branch. It was darker inside the gate. Traces of fear started to creep into her heart. But still she went ahead to look for mangoes. She loudly declared, " I will find four ripe mangoes, then I will see who comes begging for it." With a vary eye for the snake she went from tree to tree for finding reachable fruits. She suddenly heard a rustle behind her. Shanti jumped and looked around but saw nothing. She started to sweat, but didnt want to go back without a fruit. As she was plucking her first fruit, something touched her hand and it was soft. She pulled back but there was nobody there. Trembling she dropped her fruit and ran for the gate. something started to run behind her. She could hear the sounds. She shouted and ran faster. A hand bolted out of dark and held her shoulder. Shanti turned around and saw the face of a bloody vampire grinning at her. Then three things happened at same time, she screamed, fainted and her heart stopped beating.
Ghani ripped off the mask and caught his sister before she fell down but she was not moving.
He started off again with greater enthusiasm as his younger sister joined the listeners, "Arey, it was as long as the skipping rope. It had a huge hood which could be used as umbrella for babies. It was as black as Sharma uncle's doberman. It was just a feet away."
Shanti almost squeaked, " Bhayya, where did you see that and why did you go there?".
He raised his chin as far as he can and answered to this unnecessary question, "I had gone to pluck some mangoes from the orchard near the bunglow. It was on that tree which has a hanging branch towards the gate. Do you think the snake stopped me from what I had started? No, It did not. I came out with four huge mangoes. And one of them is almost ripe."
All of them gasped again together and were awed with their super hero. Innocently, Shanti extended her hand and said, "Bhayya, can I have one mango please."
Ghani was annoyed at her now, "I wont give you. Its my hard-earned fruit. Go and get for yourself."
With that everybody giggled at Shanti as grew red in her face. Sobbing uncontrollably she ran away to their home. Beforeshe entered their garden, she stopped and turned around. Then she resolutely walked towards the orchard as the twilight was approaching fast. In few minutes she was at the gate. She looked around in the little light to see if the snake was around. Then with a jump she held on to the low branch over the gate. She pulled herself up and lowered into the orchard through another low hung branch. It was darker inside the gate. Traces of fear started to creep into her heart. But still she went ahead to look for mangoes. She loudly declared, " I will find four ripe mangoes, then I will see who comes begging for it." With a vary eye for the snake she went from tree to tree for finding reachable fruits. She suddenly heard a rustle behind her. Shanti jumped and looked around but saw nothing. She started to sweat, but didnt want to go back without a fruit. As she was plucking her first fruit, something touched her hand and it was soft. She pulled back but there was nobody there. Trembling she dropped her fruit and ran for the gate. something started to run behind her. She could hear the sounds. She shouted and ran faster. A hand bolted out of dark and held her shoulder. Shanti turned around and saw the face of a bloody vampire grinning at her. Then three things happened at same time, she screamed, fainted and her heart stopped beating.
Ghani ripped off the mask and caught his sister before she fell down but she was not moving.
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