Anish and vinay were returning back from school. They were
talking to each other all the way while walking on the footpath of the Central park
they noticed an old beggar sitting there.
Vinay took out a 1 rupee coin from his pocket and gave it to
the beggar. Anish was lost in thought. He used to read a lot of detective stories
this made him curious about strange people and things around him. He said to vinay,
“we’ve never seen this beggar here before, somewhere something is wrong.” “Stop
investigating. He must have come from some other place in search of alms.” They soon reached home.
Later, they saw the beggar at the same place every day. Anish felt sick in
school and his teacher permitted him to go home. Anish thanked his teacher and
left the school. It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It was a hot sunny day and
therefore people were staying indoors. The roads were empty and deserted.
Anish was walking slowly. He noticed the beggar who sat near
the central park while crossing the road. He had a new digital camera in his
hand. He was clicking photographs of the central park from different angels. Suddenly
the beggar spotted Anish. He got alert and hid the camera in his torn blanket
and sat with the bowl in his hand.
Anish got alarmed. He reached his house soon. His mother called the
doctor and Anish rested after taking the prescribed medicines.
After 2
days Anish felt quite well. He went to the breakfast table. Papa was reading
newspaper. He said in an upset tone, “It has difficult to survive in cities
these days.”
“What happened, papa?” “A bomb
blasted in Central park yesterday. No one died but 15 people were seriously
injured. Terrorist group by the name, ‘Terror’ has taken the responsibility”
“They said that if the police release 2 of their comrades
who are in the jail now, then there would be more such more blasts.” Anish was shocked to hear
this. That day, while returning back from school, he looked for the beggar near
the central park. “Oh! Where has that old beggar
gone?”
“No any idea about him. I did not see him yesterday either when I was
going back home before the blast,” said Vinay with a curious look. “I
have a doubt if he is also a part of the terror group who planted the bomb
yesterday.” “What are you saying, Anish?” asked Vinay shockingly.
“I saw him clicking photographs of this park. How could a
beggar get an expensive digital camera? I am sure he was one of the
terrorists,” said Anish firmly. “Oh! But what can be done now? He is not seen
here now .He must have gone to his hideout because blasts through him.”
They returned home while discussing this. It was Anish’s
mother’s birthday. Papa came early from the office. Anish also got ready after
coming back from the school.
Papa planned for evening show and dinner in a restaurant.
Soon, they reached Prabhat Theatre in their car. Papa bought tickets for the
evening show. He parked the car in the allotted parking and they all hurriedly
walked inside the theatre. It was show time. Suddenly Anish and ran in the
other direction. His parents stood there and looked at him in surprise.
Anish saw an inspector there trying to arrest a person who
was selling tickets in black. Anish went to the inspector and explained his
observation and his doubts regarding the beggar. The inspector rushed towards
the beggar. As soon as the beggar saw the inspector approaching, he left his
belongings and started running. Both, inspector and the beggar disappeared in
the crowd.
As they came out after watching the film, they found the
inspector waiting for Anish at the gate. He smiled and shook hands with papa
and congratulated him. He said, “Your son is very sharp. Really , he was an
informer for the ‘terror’ group, disguised as a beggar . I have locked him up
in the police station and waited here to talk to you.”
“He has accepted that, after Central park , this theatre was
their target for blast. He used to take photographs and send them to the terror
group who chalks out a plan.”
Papa was looking at the inspector. He was very happy to hear
the whole story.
After some days, the Mayor of the region invited Anish to
honor him and gave him gifts. Next day, Anish occupied the front page in
newspapers ans headlines in TV reports.
