A Hero

For Swami things took an unexpected turn

Not a coward! Title he had to earn

 

It was the news of the boy who kept the tiger at bay

By fighting it from atop a tree for a day

What do you say to that? Asked father

It can’t be a boy who did it! Said swami, A grown up rather

 

Wiser than a newspaper? Are you? Said father with a sneer

Courage is everything, strength is nothing when it comes to fear

But said swami, Father, How can that be? 

What can courage do if a Tiger should attack me?

 

Let alone fight a tiger, it will suffice

Tonight if you sleep in my office, alone to be precise 

An attempt to distract

Was disposed without tact

 

Seeing no way out his luck he cursed

Can I start from the next month’s first?

Father nodded his head

And into the office he was led

 

Dusty office, hidden scorpion

Nothing could change his father’s opinion

Lamp in the room? 

It was too much to presume

 

An open door was his last ask

Only if he promised to complete the task

Or else at school the story

Would be told in all its glory

 

As he lay alone in the room

He could feel the impending doom

He hated the story in the newspaper 

Why did the boy have to do such a caper

 

With the passing of time

And with every chime

Rustling of leaves or the owls hooting

Sent his heart beat shooting

 

Noticing the flickering tree shadows on the walls

Mani’s encounter with devils he recalls

Covering himself fully with the sheet

He could hear his chattering teeth

 

Hurriedly he spread his bed under the bench

Felt the comfort of being in a trench

Covered himself from head to toe 

Unknown to himself he fell asleep so

 

His sleep wasn’t so sound

He saw a tiger and was stuck to the ground

The tiger pounced on his back

And sharpened his claws ready to attack

 

Scratch, scratch Swami heard 

And a light thud

It was right next to him

It wasn’t in the dream

 

He tried to open his eyes

Unsuccessful were his tries

He realised he was alone

He suppressed a groan

 

Something moved in the dark

Was he the devils mark

His end was near 

That was clear

 

Why wait in horror 

He crawled out in terror

Hugged the intruder’s leg tight

And bit it with all his might

 

‘Aiyyo’, cried the man in pain

Trying to free himself in vain

In a flash came father and servants with a light

The man gave up without a fight

 

The next day the news was out 

The headmaster said he was a true scout

Swami was showered with praise

And it went on for days

 

For Swami things had turned

A hero's title he had earned