Story Writing
Foolish Abu
Long,
long ago there was an old woman who had a son, whose name was Abu. He was
robust and sturdy; but was very foolish. Common sense was something most
uncommon with him. Despite being physically extra ordinary strong, he did not
like to work, and never helped his old mother.
The poor old woman worked day and night
to earn bread and butter for Abu and herself. But Abu sat idle doing nothing.
During summer he would go to the garden and sit in the cool shade of a tree,
during winter he would remain in the house throughout the day, thawing his
body.
One Sunday Abu’s mother was feeling
extremely tired. She said, “Abu when will you realize that you too should do
something and help your old mother? After all, how long do you think I am going
to live? It’s high time that you did something about improving the situation.”
“What do you expect me to do, dear
mother?” said Abu. Abu’s mother turned around and said in a rather loud tone,
“Do anything, but earn some money. Sitting idle at your age is simply
shameful.” Then suddenly in a fit of anger she said, “Remember, if you don’t
earn some money today, you are not going to get food.”
“But mother, you must tell me where to
go,” said Abu helplessly.
“Go to Thakur Rananjay Singh. I am sure
he will employ you to work in his garden,” the old woman said.
So on Monday Abu went and met Thakur
Rananjay Singh. He asked for a job. Thakur sahib took him to the garden and
explained to him what he was supposed to do.
At the end of the day Thakur sahib gave
him a one rupee coin. Abu did not know what a money was, because nobody ever
give him any money. Instead of keeping the one rupee coin safely with him he
began tossing and playing with it. Unfortunately the coin fell from his hands
and got lost. He even care to search for it. He went home empty handed.
His mother said, “Did you earn something
today?”
“Yes, I earned a one rupee,” said Abu
proudly.
Then
Abu explained to his mother how he lost his money. Abu’s mother told him that
he should have kept the money in his pocket.
Abu said, “I am sorry mother, but I shall
follow your advice in future.”
On Tuesday Abu went out again, but this time
he worked on a farm. He took the cows of the farmer to the grass field and
brought them back in the evening.
At the end of the day, the farmer,
instead of givi8ng him money, he gave him a dish of milk. Abu remembered his
mother’s instructions and put the dish of milk in his outer pocket of his coat.
He came home. There was no milk in the dish.
His mother heard everything and said
that that was not the way he should have brought a dish of milk; he should have
put it on his head and brought it home.
“All right, I shall follow your advice
next time,” said Abu.
On Wednesday, Abu went again to the same
farmer to work for him. This time he helped the farmer’s wife to make butter
from milk.
At the end of the day, the farmer once
again, instead of paying him money, gave him a lot of butter.]
Abu remembered his mother’s advice and
put it on his head. But the butter had not yet hardened and the heat of his
head began melting the butter. First, the butter got into Abu’s hair and then
making its way it ran down his face and got into his eyes and ears.
By the time Abu reached home there was
no butter left with him. His mother became very angry and said that instead of
carrying the butter on his head, he should have wrapped it in a piece of paper
and brought it home.
Abu scratched his head as if he had
realized his mistake and said that he would keep her words in his mind in
future.
On Thursday Abu again went to the garden
of Thakur Rananjay Singh. This time Thakur sahib did not give him any money at
the end of the day; instead he gave him a little dog.
This time Abu was very careful and did not
want to make any mistakes. He took a big piece of paper, wrapped the little dog
in it and began moving towards his house.
But the little dog began feeling very
uneasy. He tore the paper with its sharp teeth and bit Abu’s hands. Abu had let
it go. The dog jumped down and ran away.
Today also Abu returned without any
achievement. His mother hear his story and became angry with him. She said that
a dog is not supposed to be wrapped in a piece of paper. He should have put his
belt around the dog’s neck and pulled it after him.
“Oh, I should have known that,” said Abu
thoughtfully and promised to keep her words in mind in future.
On Friday Abu went out again; but this
time he worked in a shop. At the end of the day the shopkeeper gave him a big
round piece of cheese. “At last this time I shouldn’t be making any mistakes,”
thought Abu. He pulled out his belt, put it round the cheese and began pulling
it after him.
Just when he was midway, it began
raining. But Abu unmindful of the consequences and keeping the instructions of
his mother in his mind, continued pulling the cheese. By this time he reached
home, the cheese had become dirty all over and could not be eaten.
“You stupid! Why didn’t you carry the
cheese on your back?” said Abu’s mother angrily.
“All right, I should do it next time,
“said Abu repenting.
On Saturday Abu went to work on the same
farm. When he finished his work, the farmer said, “I feel extremely sorry for
your mother. Even at this age she has to carry wood to the town on his back. So
this time I am giving you a young horse, and things will become easy for your
mother.”
“Thank you very much!” said[S1] Abu happily. “My mother will indeed become very happy to see the foal.”
Abu remembered his mother’s
instructions which she given him on Friday. As he sincerely wished to carry out
her instructions he slung the foal on his back and began moving towards his
house. Robust and sturdy, as he was, he managed it without much difficulty.
Now there was a rich man in the
village who had a beautiful young daughter. The drawback with the girl was that
she was that she was deaf and dumb.
He consulted many doctors but nothing
worked. One doctor who was the rich man’s friend said, “There is only one thing
that can help your daughter speak; and that is if you can somehow manage to
make her laugh.”
Everyone in the village tried to make
the girl laugh, as her father had declared a handsome cash prize for anyone who
succeeded in making her laugh. But unfortunately no one succeeded.
That evening while Abu was carrying
the foal on his back, the girl happened to see the scene. It was a funny thing
to see. The back of the foal was on Abu’s back and its legs were up in the air.
First the girl giggled and then burst
into laughter.
The girl’s father saw her laughing. It
was a pleasant surprised for him. He came running, picked his daughter up his
arms. “Oh my sweet little doll! I am so happy to see you laughing. That means you
can also speak now. Tell me darling, what made you laugh,” said the rich man
happily.
The girl signaled to Abu and said,
“Look father, just look at the funny scene; that boy carrying a foal on his
back.” Saying this she began laughing again.
The rich man was so happy that he
called Abu and gave him the declared cash prize; enough to keep him happy
throughout his life.
Abu had become a rich boy now. Strangely
enough, becoming rich brought a lot of change in him. He was no more the
foolish Abu now.
Since Abu had brought a lifetime change
in the girl, the girl had become emotionally attached with him. This did not
remain unnoticed by the girl’s father. He came to Abu’s house and talked with
his mother and on one auspicious day he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to
Abu.
Abu lived happily ever after..
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