Bhola Saves The Day – Part VIII

That night Bhola was unable to sleep. He now knew what Shyam’s problem was. He knew he had less than twenty-four hours to save his friend, Shyam from a merciless whipping from his own parents. The only thing he didn’t know was how.

“How do I save Shyam? How do I convince the village what Shyam is really going through? How will everyone react when I tell them the truth?”

These were the questions which troubled him. He turned his face to the window. The night was dark and deep. Stars shone outside like tiny fireflies. Everything was quiet save for the chirp of a sparrow up yonder. It was on a night like this that Shyam’s problem had started. It was a night like this that had caused all the chaos in Shyam’s life. It was only fair then that a night like this also put an end to it all.

“Mama, Papa, wake up,” Bhola screamed at the top of his voice.

His parents, weary after a long day of labour, continued to snore. Bhola thought he had screamed loud enough to wake up the whole village and the neighbouring ones too. Annoyed, Bhola gave it one more try. This time he went up a notch.

Nobody stirred, save for the curtains blowing in the wind.

Bhola gave it one more try. This time it was so loud that even the angels sleeping in the heavens above felt the tremors.

His parents woke up with a start and asked him what the matter was. Their faces were a mixture of perplexion, fatigue and high levels of annoyance. Bhola’s next few words, however, completely altered their expression.

“I think Shyam’s ghost has entered my body.”