Page 3 - My FlipBook

The Grumpy Old Man

"Uh-Oh! Here he comes!" Mahesh whispered to Rahul. "Lets get out of
here."

Rahul nodded, and the two cycled away together as fast as possible. They
ran in to Payal and warned her about Uncle Uh-Oh.

Nobody knew his real name, but that's what the kids called him. A
bespectacled, grey haired, clean shaven man, had moved in to the
neighbourhood a month ago, but he spoke to no one. Kids, in particular,
annoyed him. He shooed them away if they happened to be anywhere in his
vicinity.

The kids were sad when uncle Mathur, who always had a smile for them
and often slipped them toffees, moved to America, to spend more time with
his grandchildren, who were growing up there. Then they saw Uncle Uh-
Oh move in. When they saw him tending to the garden, left behind by uncle
Mathur with such a loving expression on his face, they were sure he would
be just as nice as uncle Mathur.

But as they hovered near the fence, hoping to be offered the last batch of
good guavas, the tree would bear that year, they were shocked to hear him
growl. "What are you all doing here? Go away to your homes. Don't you
dare touch my garden. Shoo! Scram."

He sounded so stern and nasty, that the kids never approached the garden
again. But, he even yelled at the poor kids cycling on the streets. Once,
while he was on his way to the market, Nidhi went to fetch a soccer ball,
that had fallen right in front of him. The children were surprised to see him
bend to pick up the ball. But, when he handed it to Nidhi, she looked
frightened, and he walked away in a huff.

"What happened Nidhi?" Rahul was concerned.

"I don't know. He had such a strange look on his face. First I thought he
was glaring at me, but his eye's were fixed on the ball. Then he looked at
me so angrily, as he gave me the ball. The man is crazy!"

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