“Uncle, tell me about the girl.” This was the umpteenth time little Pappu asked the auto driver after he had dropped all the students to their houses.
 

“Okay. So you listen. I will narrate as I ride...”
 

The last stop was Pappu’s house. Along the way, the auto driver told the boy a story about a 12 year old one legged girl living alone in a hill nearby the school who used to come downhill everyday to help the children who hadn’t done the homework.

As they reached the last stop, Pappu’s mother was waiting at the gate fuming.
 

“From tomorrow, you don’t have to come. We will send Pappu in the school bus from now on.”

​

“Why, Madam? What happened?”
 

“Not only me, but many of the kids’ parents have decided to boycott you because you are telling outrageous stories about one legged girl to all the children.”
 

“Not to all, Madam. Only to Pappu.”

​

“See. You are admitting it yourself. Pappu is only 10 years old. Do you think he should listen to this kind of horror stories?”

“It’s not a horror story, Madam. It’s about my...”
 

“Enough!” The lady shouted. “All the mothers are complaining to me that Pappu is scaring their kids. No one wants to talk to him anymore. It’s all because of you. You just get lost from here.”
 

“I am sorry, Madam. I won’t tell any story...” She didn’t even wait to listen as she dragged Pappu inside the house.

 

​

 

He had made up his mind to open up his heart at last. Taking a bouquet with him, he was all set for the proposal.
 

“Best of luck, Dinesh.” His mother wished him.
 

“Thanks, Mom.”

​

He hiked up the craggy uneven path that led him up to a hill. He was glad that he was finally able to climb the hill that had been his dream since childhood.
 

A lone standing small brick house immediately came to his sight outside which an elderly man was washing his auto rickshaw while a young girl, seated in a chair was reading a book.
 

Upon seeing him, the old man asked, “Yes? How may I help you?”
 

His lips parted into a wide smile. “Uncle! Didn’t you recognize me? I am Pappu.”
 

The man strained his eyes and peered at him hardly. “Oh! That naughty boy who loved to listen to stories from me? You’re so grown up.”
 

“I am 24 and I am a teacher now.”
 

“So I guess that bouquet is for the long lost auto driver?”
 

“No. It’s for his daughter.”
 

The young girl confusedly looked at him and then down at her only leg.
 

“I understood uncle’s story’s meaning long back about the one legged girl helping children finish the homework. My mother understood it only now.” He glanced at the girl who was looking at him keenly. “That girl still helps many of my students. I have known her for quite some time now. So I wish to proceed ahead.”
 

She bashfully smiled at him while the old auto driver hugged him happily.

​

 

THE END