Friendship

FRIENDSHIP WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

Thud! Thud! There was a loud banging on Shyla’s rooftop. She wondered what it was. She wasn’t up to date on the latest events as she had been away at her Granny’s place for the summer break.

‘Varsha, the annoying bear’s visited us again. Please do shoo it away’ came her father’s call. ‘Bear? What bear? I don’t know about any bears except the ones at the Byculla zoo which is a long way off’ retorted the angry Shyla. ‘Oh! Sorry dear, but when you were away at your grandmother’s place, a huge bear has been ruining our beautiful garden patch. It has even taken a strong liking to my prized pumpkins. You’ll soon get accustomed to the bear strolling about on our rooftop’ said annoyed Varsha, Shyla’s mother.

A few days later, when the bear problem was at its peak, Shyla decided to do her part. At night when everyone was asleep, she quietly slipped out of the house and waited patiently for the bear. After a few minutes which seemed like a few hours to Shyla, there was a blur of gold and brown amidst the trees and there it was! A colossal beast with golden-brown fur stood before her, holding one of her father’s precious pumpkins in one hand.

She had been ready for this; she had already brought bait – a large, super-juicy pumpkin. When the bear saw this, it forgot all about the pumpkin in its hand and rushed towards Shyla, but suddenly hesitated. Then, as quick as lightning, it snatched the pumpkin out of her hands and beat a retreat back to the forest. Amazed by these events, a dazed Shyla went back to sleep in her cozy bedroom.

The next night also the same thing happened and a strange relationship struck up between the two - an indestructible and strong friendship. The bear continued visiting Shyla forever until she had to move to Shimla for her brother’s education.