The broken watch

Bolu bear finished his dinner and was getting ready to go to bed.  Just then, he heard someone knocking at his door. ‘Who could it be?’ murmured Bolu as he went to open the door. As soon as Bolu opened the door, 2 masked men entered his house. “Who are you?” asked frightened Bolu. “We are wearing masks, Can’t you see? One would easily understand that we are robbers. May be you thought we are returning from any fancy dress competition,” mocked a masked man and both of them laughed loudly.

Hearing this Bolu was very scared. ‘What do you want?” Bolu gathered courage and asked the masked men.  “Ah, a foolish question. We are robbers and would ransack the whole place.

But you are asking us what do we want?” laughed the unidentified men again.

“I will not let you steal anything from my house,” firmly said Bolu.

“We don’t want your permission to take away your things,” said the masked men and they were arrogant and rude.

“Tie him up and throw him in a corner. We will start our work,” said a masked man and they tried to hold Bolu and tie him up.

Bolu struggled in their hold and tried to free himself from them. During this stunt, the hand of one of the masked men hit against the wall. He was wearing a wrist watch. Due to the force with which his hand hit the wall, the watch broke.

“Look, what you have done to my watch,” said the thief and beat Bolu in anger. Later, both the thieves ransacked his house and stole away all precious things.

After they had fled, Bolu managed to free himself from the ties and called the police. Soon Inspector Happy reached his place along with his assistant Hariya Deer.

“Hmm…so there were 2 masked men,” said happy Elephant as he listened to the entire incident carefully as Bolu narrated.

“Yes Inspector.”

“Can you explain the way they were talking to each other? Did they sound peculiar,” asked Inspector Happy.

“No, they spoke normally and I did not find anything strange in their way of talking,” said Bolu.

“Alright, let us trace and find the whereabouts of these masked men quickly, said Happy Elephant and turned to go out of Bolo’s house. Suddenly he saw something glittering on the floor. That was the broken dial of one of the thieves’ watch.

“What is this?” enquired Happy Elephant.

“Sir, one of the thieves wore a watch and it broke when they tried to tie me up,” said Bolu.

“An evidence to catch those men! But Bolu, you forgot to tell me about this,” said Happy Elephant.

“How can this broken dial help to catch the thieves?” asked Bolu “It would certainly help. Anyway, let me go now,” said Happy Elephant as he put the broken watch piece in his pocket.

Inspector Happy immediately sent an official order to all the watch shops in that area to inform the police of someone brought a broken watch for repair.

But Inspector Happy did not get any call the whole of next day. He lost hope and thought his plan to catch the thieves was a waste. Just then, his telephone rang. “Sir, I am calling from Banke Watch Centre. We have received a watch for repair. The dial is damaged, “said the shopkeeper.

“I will come now to see the watch. You keep it with you and do not return it immediately,” said Happy Elephant. Soon, Happy reached Banke’s watch shop along with Hariya Deer.

“Show me the watch that has come for repair,” asked Happy Elephant. When he saw the broken watch, he examined it carefully. He pulled out the broken dial from his pocket and checked if that piece fitted right into the dial well.

“This is the watch. Banke who come here to give you this watch for repairing?”

  “Sir, I do not know who gave this watch. But I have told him to come after an hour to collect this watch,” said Banke.

“Alright, I will wait here. Signal me as soon as he comes here,” instructed Inspector Happy and moved away from the counter. He also called Bolu to come to the police station immediately.

Banke was fixing the dial in the broken watch. Just then, Sonu Jackal and Gonu Fox came to the shop. Banke signaled Inspector Happy. Without wasting a minute, Happy caught both Sonu and Gonu at the watch shop.

“Hey, why are you holding us. Leave us alone,” shouted Sonu. “You robbed Bolu’s house yesterday and I am arresting you for the same,” said Inspector Happy. “That is not true. What evidence do you have to prove that,” asked Gonu.

“I found a piece of your broken watch dial at Bolu’s house yesterday. The same watch that you have brought for repair,” said Happy in a firm voice. Happy brought Sonu and Gonu to the police station and Bolu was waiting there. When Happy explained the whole trap, Bolu was glad and even recognized the voices of the thieves. Happy asked Bolu to go home and assured that he will get his belongings very soon.

Bolu, remember not to open the door without checking who is standing outside,” advised Inspector Happy. Bolu thanked the inspector and returned home.