CHINTU AND THE LEOPARD

Suddenly Chintu heard an uproar from the classroom. The teacher also became curious with the students. He stopped the class and went outside with the students. They saw, far away, in a paddy field some people were shouting with bamboo sticks, sickles, shovels etc. They could not understand what happened actually. They saw a leopard was running across the field. Now they realised the matter. The teachers who came out, instructed children to get in the class room and shut the doors. Students and the teacher went inside the rooms.

But the leopard started coming towards the school after being chased by the village people. However Chintu became curious and he opened a window to see what was happening outside. He saw the leopard in the courtyard of the school and it jumped up on a mango tree. It was roaring from there and the village people surrounded it . The crowd was shouting and the leopard was scared and roaring too. Chintu saw the leopard and he realised that the leopard was asking for an escape route. He then opened the door slowly and closed the window. He told all his classmates to come out. They were scared. But Chintu made them see that the leopard was surrounded by the village people. So they accumulated a bit of courage and as Chintu said they entered the next room, though the next room was locked from inside. Chintu knocked at the door and told them to open the door. They opened after hearing Chintu's voice and let the other students in the class room. But Chintu did not enter.

They asked him once to enter. But he said no, ' I am just coming.' Chintu went into the crowd and shouted,' The leopard was asking for an escape route.' One man shouted,' We must kill it. Otherwise it will kill us and our cattle.' Then Chintu said, 'Let it enter the empty class room.' He showed the open door of the class room to the people. He said, ' We lock it first inside the room.' People agreed immediately and encircled the whole school premises leading the leopard to enter the class room. The leopard had no other option. It thought it was better to enter the empty class room for safety. As it entered the classroom, Chintu ran and latched it from outside. The village people gathered in front of the class room and became furious to kill it.

But Chintu stood in front of the door and said, ' We must not kill it. We can contact the forest department. They will help us.' Meanwhile the teachers and some students joined the mob. Suresh was there. He immediately telephoned several people and collected the phone number of the forest department. As he phoned the forest department, within one hour their team arrived and rescued the leopard from the mob. Suresh patted Chintu for his bravery.