The Case of The Missing Diary

The Case Of The Missing Diary

Note By The Narrator

Hello readers. I am Nita and my father’s name is Ramesh. I am 14 years old. In this story I’m writing about one of my adventures in New Delhi. Hope you like my adventure.

My Adventure

“Dad, when will we reach Delhi?”, I asked dad.

I and my dad are going to a rural area in Delhi near Yamuna river. My dad works in a fertilizer company and he had to commercialise this fertilizer more in those areas. My dad needed some company to him so I was ready to accompany him. And another reason to accompany him was that, from my childhood I wanted to see Delhi and its fascinating monuments and taste its famous fast food.

I and my dad were now travelling in the Rajdhani Express train to reach Delhi.

“We will reach there by about half an hour”, replied my dad.

As he said after half an hour we reached The Hazarat Nizamudin railway station. It was very crowded. After a long struggle we managed to get out of the crowd.

Outside the station was waiting a friend of my father.

“Hi Ramesh, Its been a long time since I had last seen you”, said his friend.

“Oh Sushant Hi, you did change a lot since I had last met you”, said my dad.

He took us in a Ambassador car to the guest-house we were staying. I was really surprised to see so many monkeys here. I thought Delhi is a very modern city with less stray animals.

At last our car came to a halt in front of a very old building. I think it is more than 200 years old.

“This is the guest-house where you will be living for the time of your stay. He will only take Rs500 per night. Sorry if it is not good but this is the only guest-house available in this area. Hope you will like Delhi”, said Sushant uncle (I now call him uncle).

As I entered our room I was shoked to see so much space inside. I had never seen a room with so much space in my life. I think it is 1.5 times more larger than our house. But as Sushant uncle said it was not so clean.

I said to my dad, “Dad, isn’t this room very large?”

“Yes indeed, my dear”, replied my father.

I looked outside the window. All the buildings outside were like our old guest-house itself. I saw many boys chasing the monkeys by hitting them with stones. I could see so many monkeys that I think there are more than 100 monkeys in that area itself.

As I and my dad were resting on the only double bed in the room, I saw a rough-looking man looking inside our room with sharp eyes. He was looking like a thief or something like that. I thought of telling dad but he soon went away.

After the long journey we were feeling very tired and we thought of sleeping but the electricity in the guest-house got cut. It was really very hot inside the room and we were feeling suffocated with the heat so my father gave me the advice to open the window so that cool breeze could pass through it and we could feel a little better.

 After I woke up I saw my father sitting on a chair and he was looking very upset.

“What happened dad?”, I asked.

“DayKeeper is missing”, said my father.

“That’s really very bad”, I said. I was very shocked.

Wait a minute I didn’t tell you that who DayKeeper is. Well It is a Diary which my father used to write his memories. It also contained the speech which he would make to the peasants here about the fertilizer. It took a lot of hardwork to complete. It took mor than 5 days to complete the speeh. He always called his Diary, DayKeeper.

“All my hardwork is a waste now. What will I do now?”, said my dad very upset of the incident.

“How did it happen?”, I asked.

He told me that he had kept the diary on the table near the open window. He told that someone might have stollen it.

I was sure that the man who was looking like thief has stolen it. As you guys are thinking, I am also thinking what the thief might do with a diary. I think he is jealous of my dad or might want to shame my dad and etc. I quickly said to my dad to call the police and also told that till the police comes she will take ‘The Case of the Missing Diary’. I quickly went out of the room without even letting my dad to reply. I only thought how to catch the man who was looking into our room very suspiciously.

I kept walking blindly thiking very hard how to catch him till I bumped with a tall man. I was shocked to see him. He was the same man who I saw near our room in the guest-house. I saw him carring a bag and he was I think in a hurry.

I said, “Your game is up Mr Er”

“What are you talking about?”, he asked as if he was surprised but I was not a child to become a fool because of his expressions.

“Don’t try to fool me. Hand over the bag to me. I have to check it”, I ordered him.

“What is this nonsense. Is this a challenge put up by your friend? I know, I will give you my bag and you will run. Isn’t this what you are planning?”, replied the man.

“I promise to you that I will not take your bag away but if you don’t hand over your bag I’d better call the police”, I said.

“Ok take this but don’t try any mishief. Do you understand?”, said the man handing me the bag.

I opened the bag and searched for the DayKeeper but all I found was clothes and some old documents.

“Pardon me sir, I thought you were a thief”, I asked forgiveness.

“What is the problem and why did you think I was a thief?”, he asked me with surprise.

“Er, the problem was that my father’s diary which contained a important speech is stolen and I thought you were a thief because who were looking in our room in the guest-house very suspiciously. Can you tell me the reason?”, I asked him.

“I am the owner of the guest-house and I was looking inside the room to check out if everything was alright. Don’t be sad. For your hard-work I’m giving this 10 rupees”, he said while giving me a Rs 10 note.

“Thanks for your gift”, I said.

I sadly returned and looked at the window. I was shocked to see that there were a group a monkeys just above the window as the old wall was caved in.

I said to myself, “Hope this time I am right.”

I saw a boy playing with a baloon nearby. I asked him, “Here take 10 rupees and please give me the baloon. I have some important buisiness.”

He gave me the baloon and went up to our room. I had a pencil in my pocket. With it I burst the baloon. It made so much noise that not only the monkeys jumped out of the cave but many people were also disturbed.

“Why is she making such a loud noise?”, one women in the opposite building said. I asked forgiveness and climbed on the window.

My dad called me, “Why did you become a naughty girl when my mind is really disturbed?”

I replied, “Wait a minute dad?” and continued climbing the window.

At last my joy had no end. I had found the DayKeeper. I went to dad and gave him a surprise by giving him his favorite diary.

Surprised dad asked, “Where did you find DayKeeper and who are the thiefs?”

“He is the most dangerous thief in this locality”, I said adding suspense.

“Who is he? Tell me. I will complain to the police?”, dad asked.

“Even the police can’t do anything about him”, I said. I was really enjoying this joke.

“What?” asked as expected surprised dad.

“Yes, he is a MONKEY”, I said laughing.

I and my father had a long laugh about this topic. As my father was happy he also gave me a 10 rupee note.

But I was not happy at all. You may think I am very selfish and want more money as prize but that was not. As I was going to spend it that little thief, the monkey came and snatched the 10 rupees from my hand and ran away.

I will end my adventure here. Ok, take care especially from the monkeys.

The End

Spring After Winter

I saw the trees blossoming

With the changes in the weather

Winter slowly turning into spring

And all the life once again starting

I saw bees and butterflies

Flattering their wings to and fro

To get some sweet necter from the blossoming flowers

And to satisfy their long thrust for necter after winter

I saw children coming out of their houses

To play in the nice and pleasant weather

As they had been locked in their houses

With the long lasting winter

After seeing all this

I realised the enjoyment of spring after this long lasting winter

Which I never realised in my whole life

I thank God for the wonderful season of spring

After the long lasting season of Winter

Hunted

Hunted

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I and my friends got a chance

To visit a famous Tiger Reserve

Where I and my friends could shoot the tiger

With big and wonderful cameras

We went to the Reserve on a Jeep

Looking for the animal

With Big Paws, Sharp Teeth and Black Strips

On its shining Golden Body

But for our disapointment we didn’t see a Tiger.

We searched for it everywhere

In the Caves where it might live

Near water bodies where it might satisfy its thirst

In places where it might satisfy its hunger

But to our disapointment we didn’t find one.

We searched for it in the Whole Reserve

From North to South

And East to West

We didn’t leave a inch not to be checked

But to our disapointment we didn’t find one.

So Disapointed we were

That we decided to return

And go back Home

And see the tigers in TV or Magazines

As we were going I saw something

In the big and throny Bushes

I went to see what it was

Lo and Behold it was a big Gaint Tiger

But to my bitter Disapointment

Somebody had already shot it

Not with a camera but with a Rifle

I had found a tiger which was HUNTED

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The Biggest Drama

The Biggest Drama

                                          -Edida Meher Manish

Life is the biggest drama in the world

From a cute little baby

To an old man

The drama continues

First of all the drama starts by a baby

Crying loudly as much as he can

In the secure hands of his mother

“I want this , I want that”… are the only words he says

Next is a boy

With a big and heavy bag, hanging on his shoulders

He loves everything in his days of fun and laughter

Except the Monday morning blues

Then comes a matured young man

With an aim in his life

He has a laptop in his hands

And he is the master of his days

Next is a middle-aged man

With a busy job in his hands

He does not have time for laughter and fun

As he has lot of tension in his mind

Then comes a retired man

With no job to do in his hand

Daily passing time by watching daily soaps in Television or

Go out of station on vacation

Next comes a weak and frail old man

Who cannot even stand

Wearing a spectacle on his sharp nose

And in his hand, he has a religious book

At last, after all this drama

His heart and everything in his body stops working

He sleeps in the darkness of a coffin

Thus ending “The biggest drama in the world”

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5 Days Of Enjoyment (Part 3)

5 Days Of Enjoyment

Edida Meher Manish

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Continued…

4^thDay…

Date: 15^th Jan’ 2011

This time Sarita woke up very early in the morning as she wanted to play games which had to happen today.

Ram was the last one to wake up. He would have slept one or two hours more if his mother wouldn’t have woken him up. His mother said, “Don’t you want play games which will be organised today.”

“Oh, I have completely forgotten about it.”, said Ram.

“You should be taken into a hospital as you are a dementia patient.”, said Ram’s mother.

“Don’t say that mom. Please help me in getting ready.”, said Ram.

Ram quickly went to the bathroom and had his breakfast and went to the rest of the group. He saw only the girls. Sarala was doing Blah, Blah, Blah to Sarita and Manika. He asked, “Where are Narayan, Abhiram and Venkat? I can’t see them anywhere. Haven’t they came till now.”

Sarala said, “They are playing cricket at the ground at the back side of this house.”

“Thank you for your kind information.”, he mimicked the sound of the customer care lady.

The girls laughed.

Ram went to the back side of the house where he found the boys playing cricket. He said, “I also want to play.”

“Let Venkat do the batting. I will take his wicket in a few balls only.”, said Abhiram.

As Abhiram told Venkat was bowled out on the first ball itself.

They played an individual match. Venkat had to bat first, then Narayan, then Ram and finally Abhiram had to bat.

Venkat this time made 1 run. He was bowled out by Abhiram.

Narayan made 14 runs. Narayan was bowled out in a funny way. Venkat bowled a very slow ball. Narayan wanted to hit huge six. He came running out of the crease and swung his bat hard. As he was a very weak fellow he lost the grip of the bat. The bat went flying to the boundary and the ball had slowly hit the stumps.

Ram was at his best. He scored 49 runs. He was hitting sixes on sixes. When he tried to hit the ball bowled by Abhiram a six he could manage the ball to go to the boundary. Narayan catched the ball very easily.

‘I will take my revenge’ This mantra is followed by Ram very much. When Abhiram was on 10 he threw a fast ball which got forced him to defense. The ball hit the edge of the bat and it went directly to the hands of Ram.

The sun was glowing very hard so they decided not to play another match. They went to Sarala’s house where the girls were playing. The girls were playing UNO cards.

Then only Meera aunty came. She said to the children, “After everybody has lunch all will come to Krishnaya tatagaru’s house. We will start the games for you and also for the elders.”

Sarala said, “Everybody go to their houses and have lunch. We will have to go there as fast as we can.”

They all went to their houses to have lunch.

After half an hour they  had assembled near Krishnaya tatagaru’s house. The chairs ordered by Subash uncle had just came in a tractor. The children started assembling them for the audience.

After all was set, people started coming to Krishnaya’s house.

Even the people from Kandikupa started coming. Julu, Santosh, Kannu and Janika akka came.

Then the host of this event Meera Aunty came. She gave a short speech.

The speech had only one line but the line was very meaningful. It was ‘It is not important to win but what is important is to take part in it’.

First Event – Running Race

Age – Under 12

Gender - Both

She announced,  “The first event is running race for under 12 children and the participants are Venkat, Manika, Surab from Kandikupa and Sonakshi from Kandikupa. Only three of them will win prizes.”

The four of them lined near the starting line waiting for whistle by Suresh uncle. They had to go straight and touch the wall to win the race.

Suresh uncle gave a loud whistle. The children from Dontikurru shouted ‘Venkat and Manika come 1^st and 2^nd’ whereas children from Kandikupa shouted ‘Surab and Sonakshi, you can win the race.

Venkat and Surab would have ended up in a tie if Venkat had not touched the wall before Surab did.

Result –   

1.        Venkat     

2.        Surab  

3.       Manika

Second Event – Running Race

Age – Under 16

Gender - Female

Meera aunty announced, “Now the race is for the under 16 girls and the participants are Sarla, Sarita,  Janika from Kandikupa and Jeevani from Kandikupa. Only 1^st and 2^nd will be awarded.”

When the race started everybody shouted “Go Dontikurru rock stars Go.”

Kandikupa gang shouted “Don’t say that. Kandikupa Lions are kings.”

Results –    

1.        Sarala 

2.       Jeevani

Third Event – Running Race

Age – Under 16

Gender - Male

“Boys line up for under 16 running race. Participants are Ramkrishna, Abhiram, Narayan, Julu, Santhosh, Kannu. Whoever comes 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd will win prizes.”

The boys sat in a running position. This time Subash uncle did not whistle. He said Ready… Set… and Go…

The boys started running. Narayan was very poor runner.

Results –

1.         Ram

2.       Julu

3.       Abhiram

2        Like this many events took place. Many games were played for example – Frog Jumping, Potato Race (for all the people of all ages), Pulses Identifing (for old ladies only), etc.

It went on till it was evening. They stopped playing outdoor games and started playing indoor games like Antyakshari, Atlas and Dumb Charades (not for winning prizes).

It was 8’20 pm. One thing to say about Dontikurru is that, almost all the people are addicted to a weekday serial known as Mogalirekulu. Someone said that it is 8’30pm so all the people started departing quickly. All the children were very upset because of this. They also went to their houses to have their dinner.

At 9’30pm all children called the people to come to Krishnaya tatagaru’s house because they were having tambola. They were happy that they were able to bring much more people than they had expected.

A ticket’s cost was set to Rs.10. Many of them bought 2-2 tickets. Maliya ammamma had bought 5 tickets.

As they started playing many of them did not get the numbers which they wanted. They started shouting that they wanted this number-that number.

At last Narayan had won first housie, then Maliya ammamma won second housie and at last Subash uncle won the third housie.

That completed the activities for the day.. They all went to their houses and said to themselves, “Yes I have won a prize which I am expecting to get tomorrow.”

They slept by dreaming about what kind of prizes there would be given tomorrow.

The world happiness has been found in Dontikurru itself.

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5^th Day…

Date: 15^th Jan’2011

Everyone woke up before 7’00am waiting to collect the prizes which they will get.

They ran to Subash uncles house.

Subash uncle said, “You all woke up so early in the morning?

“Yeah…” said Narayan.

“Any idea about the prizes?”, said Venkat.

“Not till now.”, said Subash uncle.

Sarala asked, “When will you buy the gifts.”

“I and Teja uncle must plan it. I think we will go at 9’30am.”, said Subash uncle.

Sarala said, “I hope it is a IPod or a PSP or a Mini Laptop.”

“Sarala are you stupid?”, asked Manika.

“Surely not.”, said Sarala.

“Then stop having those stupid thoughts.”, said Manika.

“Oh Sorry.”, said Sarala to Suresh uncle.

“OK. I am going to tell Teja uncle about the gifts OK.”, said Subash uncle and went to Teja uncle’s house.

“What shall we do now?”, asked Ram.

“Why not play UNO cards?”, asked Sarita.

“OK. Bring the cards to Krishnaya tatagaru’s house. We all will be there.”, said Narayan.

Sarita ran in the direction of her house and all the others went to Krishnaya’s house.

After nearly 5 minutes Sarita came running to Krishnaya’s house with the UNO cards.

They played the UNO cards for 2 hours. It was like playing for only half an hour.

Prakash annaya was coming towards them.

Narayan asked, “Hello annaya. Where were you yesterday? I did not see you anywhere.”

“I was in my friend’s house.”, said Prakash annaya.

“You missed lot of things.”, said Ram.

“Did I?”, said Prakash annaya.

“Why are you here?”, asked Sarita.

“Nothing. Well Subash uncle told me to tell you that he had bought the prizes from Katerikona.”, said Prakash annaya.

“Really?”, asked Manika.

“Yes really.”, said Praksh annaya.

“Subash uncle also said that the prize distribution will be held at 2’30pm.”, said Prakash annaya.

“By the way, what is the time now.”, asked Narayan.

“Its 11’30.”, said Prakash annaya.

“What 11’30?”, said Sarala in a shocked manner.

“Yes.”, said Prakash annaya.

The children went back to their houses to wash themselves and to dress up nicely.  They had their lunch and then gathered near Krishnaya tatagaru’s house at 2’30pm for the prize distribution.

After 10-15 minutes many people started coming. People from Kandikupa also came after half an hour. At last Meera aunty with Subash uncle and Teja uncle came to Krishnaya tatagaru’s house.

Babji tatagaru, Baba tatagaru and Krishnaya tatagaru were made the prize distributors.

Meera aunty said, “The first category is running race of chldren with age under 12. Baba garu please award Venkat because he came first in running race.”

And like that they awarded everyone who won the other competitions.

The prizes were pencil boxes, magnets, solar flower pots, calculators, key chains, etc.

The prize distribution went on till 6’00 in the evening. After the prize distribution all the children stood up and shouted with full force ‘DONTIKURRU ROCKS, DONTIKURRU ROCK STARS ROCKED IT’.

The children talked for hours and hours till it was 11’00pm. It was the end of their 5 days of enjoyment. As they went to their houses sadly as it was their last day of enjoyment.

They had their dinner and slept with emotions. They all thought “Fun is over. Everybody will return from where they had come to Dontikurru”.

Sad To Part With Each Other…

All woke up early in the morning to say good bye to their friends.

Abhiram was the first one to part.

He said, “Don’t worry. I’ll come in summer holidays then we will have our famous Summer Days.”

After Abhiram it was Narayan’s turn.

Ram said, “When will you come?”

“Surely in Summer we must meet.”, said Narayan.

That way everyone went to their respective cities or villages. Ram was the last one to go. He was thinking, “Hope all will meet at Summer Holidays and have our famous Summer Days like these 5 Days Of Enjoyment.”

The END

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