Nine year old Radhey Shyam ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He dodged into one lane then another, and then quickturned into a byelane that connected with a wider lane. He could hear the pounding of many feed far behind him - surely they too could hear him running - and they were fast gaining on him ! He had to find a hiding place - right now ! His eyes scanned and analysed the possible avenues of escape or alternatively, hiding from his pursuers. Right ahead of him he saw a temple - but that was a climb up the hill - half a kilometre away. On his left and right were apartment buildings with the usual balcony hangouts staring at life with their bored expressions. Few of them were looking down at him now with the same bored expression. But in front of him ? There were a few vegetable venders, a sari clad middleaged lady selling lemons, a fruit vendor and the scooter repair mechanic greasing a bike part. The lemon seller was standing with her basket in her hands and little Radhey rushed towards her. And before she had the time to gasp in surprise, he had lifted her sari and had planted himself safely between her healthy legs. The sari hid both her legs and Radhey as well and all she could gasp out was , "He - Ram !", but she did not budge. The pouding feet came closer and closer and suddenly they were all over the place. And they were gasping - asking different venders about a little boy running this way and - the lemon seller pointed towards the temple. As if in cue , all the venders pointed at the temple , and the pounding feet faded away - gradually ! When the last feet seemed distant she roared out the choicest of explicits which translated into" Get out from there this instant - you crazy xyzuw !" Radhey slid out from his santuary - and grinned at his savior who had by now put aside her basket and had placed both her hands on her big hips and had a very angry expression on her face. This sight was enough to get the rest of the venders and balcony hangouts laughing their heads out. The kid kept grinning and said " Thankyou aunty - you were great! And that sari of yours came in handy after all !" Having said that he sped away into one of the innumerable lanes. It was then that the lemon seller smiled, and then both her hands came down from her hips and then up to her face to hide her embarressment and she gaffawed her heart out and the rest of the venders joined her in her merth. For everybody knew this orphan - and everybody liked his zest for life and his will to survive. He did not pick pockets, he did not snatch chains, he did not grab ready to eat burgers from the hands of unwary office goers. No - he worked hard at the goods loading centre - helping the grown men pack their goods to be loaded onto trucks that travelled to different states. And they paid his weekly wages on time. And that money, he would take to the Post Master, who would make an entry crediting his account and writing out a Pass Book in his favour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You would think that such an honest little human being should not have any enemies ! But evil hurts the weak and the meek. And life had so many lessons to teach our Radhey ; lessons such as 'SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES' - and boy ! - did he learn !!! They had all noticed him earn his weekly wages. And they wanted money the easy way out - by snatching it from someone who had earned it the hard way! And so - one day, as Radhay came out of the loading centre, he failed to notice two 14 year olds standing in front of him - that is - not until he bumped into them. They kept grinning and asked him strange things, silly questions that were meant to instigate a fight. And he did not want to fight ! But then they pushed him and he fell, and then it dawned on him that they wanted to hurt him and take his hard earned money away! Suddenly, a rage welled up from within and burst forth in a flurry of wrists and kicks. And within minutes they were flat on the ground. But Radhey did not wait to watch - he ran. He kept himself hidden for a week before he returned. However, from then on he learned to fight to protect what was right and run away( if there were too many ) after he won. One day he went too far. Sixteen year old Raghuvir, the don's son had opened a burger stall on the main road and little Radhey had paid for a burger for one of his little friends today. His little friend happened to be seven year old Neeta, the Chief Packer, Ghanshyam's daughter. A few stranglers appeared from nowhere and wispered into Raghuvir's ear and he grinned. He asked Radhey what he was waiting for and received the reply, "For the Burger I paid for". To which Raguvir countered," You have already been given your Burgers , you took them yesterday!" Radhey knew trouble when he saw one. Neeta's expression said,"My Burger?!" Radhey looked at Neeta and said," Let's go" and holding her hand started walking backwards, his front facing trouble, yet every step backwards was meant to lead her away from the scene, . Everything happened very quickly then. Raghuvir jumped out of his shop to land in front of Radhey, sniggered and asked" Are you calling me a liar?" Neeta's eyes dilated in fear. Radhey knew how to fight for his rights and he would have stood up to claim what was right fully his, but now he had this little companion with him and he had to protect her ! He had to act fast, very very fast. Releasing his grip on Neeta's hand, he leapt towards Raghuvir and kicked him in the groin, who immediately slouched forward in obvious pain. Radhey grabbed Nita's hand, and yelled " Run ". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When the don wants Radhey in front of him, nobody rests until Radhey is in front of him. A compromise was brought about between the vendors and the packers on one side and the Dons men on the other. Yes - Radhey shall be produced in front of him but he should not be hurt. After all, Radhey was just a child. He belonged to each and every vendor and to each and every packer. Radhey was a part of them, he was after all late Lajvanti's son, the egg/bread vendor. And late Baburam once the Chief Packer cum Union leader was his father. One of the packers shall be present in the meeting it was agreed. A reluctant Radhey was now walking with Ghanshyam the Chief Packer towards Sukhia street the street on which Raghuvir and his father Bholu Chand, the dreaded Don lived with their family. . A motercyclist suddenly turned a nearby corner to enter Sukhia street. Radhey's little mind sensed danger but his manly companion Ghanshyam had his mind on his job and did not seem to pay attention. THE STORY WAS HALF FINISHED HERE. This has been judged as the best UNFINISHED STORY so far. Finish this well and we may want to buy your story from you ( i.e., give you an award ). Notice that though the story is titled 'The Lemon seller', the story started with Radhey Shyam and carried on about him so far! Why? Well - that is the challenge. Please read the rules for details. Read and finish other unfinished stories at http://www.storymoneybag/sectionchoice.html |
THE LEMON SELLER |
Nine year old Radhey Shyam ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He dodged into one lane then another, and then quickturned into a byelane that connected with a wider lane. He could hear the pounding of many feed far behind him - surely they too could hear him running - and they were fast gaining on him ! He had to find a hiding place - right now ! His eyes scanned and analysed the possible avenues of escape or alternatively, hiding from his pursuers. Right ahead of him he saw a temple - but that was a climb up the hill - half a kilometre away. On his left and right were apartment buildings with the usual balcony hangouts staring at life with their bored expressions. Few of them were looking down at him now with the same bored expression. But in front of him ? There were a few vegetable venders, a sari clad middleaged lady selling lemons, a fruit vendor and the scooter repair mechanic greasing a bike part. The lemon seller was standing with her basket in her hands and little Radhey rushed towards her. And before she had the time to gasp in surprise, he had lifted her sari and had planted himself safely between her healthy legs. The sari hid both her legs and Radhey as well and all she could gasp out was , "He - Ram !", but she did not budge. The pouding feet came closer and closer and suddenly they were all over the place. And they were gasping - asking different venders about a little boy running this way and - the lemon seller pointed towards the temple. As if in cue , all the venders pointed at the temple , and the pounding feet faded away - gradually ! When the last feet seemed distant she roared out the choicest of explicits which translated into" Get out from there this instant - you crazy xyzuw !" Radhey slid out from his santuary - and grinned at his savior who had by now put aside her basket and had placed both her hands on her big hips and had a very angry expression on her face. This sight was enough to get the rest of the venders and balcony hangouts laughing their heads out. The kid kept grinning and said " Thankyou aunty - you were great! And that sari of yours came in handy after all !" Having said that he sped away into one of the innumerable lanes. It was then that the lemon seller smiled, and then both her hands came down from her hips and then up to her face to hide her embarressment and she gaffawed her heart out and the rest of the venders joined her in her merth. For everybody knew this orphan - and everybody liked his zest for life and his will to survive. He did not pick pockets, he did not snatch chains, he did not grab ready to eat burgers from the hands of unwary office goers. No - he worked hard at the goods loading centre - helping the grown men pack their goods to be loaded onto trucks that travelled to different states. And they paid his weekly wages on time. And that money, he would take to the Post Master, who would make an entry crediting his account and writing out a Pass Book in his favour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You would think that such an honest little human being should not have any enemies ! But evil hurts the weak and the meek. And life had so many lessons to teach our Radhey ; lessons such as 'SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES' - and boy ! - did he learn !!! They had all noticed him earn his weekly wages. And they wanted money the easy way out - by snatching it from someone who had earned it the hard way! And so - one day, as Radhay came out of the loading centre, he failed to notice two 14 year olds standing in front of him - that is - not until he bumped into them. They kept grinning and asked him strange things, silly questions that were meant to instigate a fight. And he did not want to fight ! But then they pushed him and he fell, and then it dawned on him that they wanted to hurt him and take his hard earned money away! Suddenly, a rage welled up from within and burst forth in a flurry of wrists and kicks. And within minutes they were flat on the ground. But Radhey did not wait to watch - he ran. He kept himself hidden for a week before he returned. However, from then on he learned to fight to protect what was right and run away( if there were too many ) after he won. One day he went too far. Sixteen year old Raghuvir, the don's son had opened a burger stall on the main road and little Radhey had paid for a burger for one of his little friends today. His little friend happened to be seven year old Neeta, the Chief Packer, Ghanshyam's daughter. A few stranglers appeared from nowhere and wispered into Raghuvir's ear and he grinned. He asked Radhey what he was waiting for and received the reply, "For the Burger I paid for". To which Raguvir countered," You have already been given your Burgers , you took them yesterday!" Radhey knew trouble when he saw one. Neeta's expression said,"My Burger?!" Radhey looked at Neeta and said," Let's go" and holding her hand started walking backwards, his front facing trouble, yet every step backwards was meant to lead her away from the scene, . Everything happened very quickly then. Raghuvir jumped out of his shop to land in front of Radhey, sniggered and asked" Are you calling me a liar?" Neeta's eyes dilated in fear. Radhey knew how to fight for his rights and he would have stood up to claim what was right fully his, but now he had this little companion with him and he had to protect her ! He had to act fast, very very fast. Releasing his grip on Neeta's hand, he leapt towards Raghuvir and kicked him in the groin, who immediately slouched forward in obvious pain. Radhey grabbed Nita's hand, and yelled " Run ". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When the don wants Radhey in front of him, nobody rests until Radhey is in front of him. A compromise was brought about between the vendors and the packers on one side and the Dons men on the other. Yes - Radhey shall be produced in front of him but he should not be hurt. After all, Radhey was just a child. He belonged to each and every vendor and to each and every packer. Radhey was a part of them, he was after all late Lajvanti's son, the egg/bread vendor. And late Baburam once the Chief Packer cum Union leader was his father. One of the packers shall be present in the meeting it was agreed. A reluctant Radhey was now walking with Ghanshyam the Chief Packer towards Sukhia street the street on which Raghuvir and his father Bholu Chand, the dreaded Don lived with their family. . A motercyclist suddenly turned a nearby corner to enter Sukhia street. Radhey's little mind sensed danger but his manly companion Ghanshyam had his mind on his job and did not seem to pay attention. THE STORY WAS HALF FINISHED HERE. This has been judged as the best UNFINISHED STORY so far. Finish this well and we may want to buy your story from you ( i.e., give you an award ). Notice that though the story is titled 'The Lemon seller', the story started with Radhey Shyam and carried on about him so far! Why? Well - that is the challenge. Please read the rules for details. Read and finish other unfinished stories at http://www.storymoneybag/sectionchoice.html |
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