A great adventure!

Mangalore Today News Network

His name was Rajesh and his pet name Raja. Everyone in that large house preferred to call him Raja and true to that word he was treated like a Raja in that house. Every need of his was taken care of and there were people who were at his service any time of the day or night. Our hero Raja is just 20 and had enjoyed all the luxuries of life.  The reason- he was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. He was the only  much pampered son of the Dixit couple. He was born after several mannats, nearly ten years after their marriage.

It was a Sunday and it was 10 am; as usual Raja was still in bed.He had no intention of getting up. Mrs Dixit came upstairs to wake up her son saying “Raja Beta, get up its past ten. We have to go on a picnic.” The word picnic was enough for Raja to jump out of the bed.Within half an hour, the family was ready for a weekend outing. They reached a famous tourist spot of their city within an hour and enjoyed the scenic beauty there. Raja decided to wander about and with due permission of his parents  set out on his mission. Soon he began to explore the area. As he moved forth,he felt there was an aura of mystery in the area.Soon, he came across a hut.He went close by and noticed there was no one around. Somehow he mustered courage and tried to knock at the door but as he touched the door, it was wide open to his surprise. He stepped in. The interiors of that house were of the bygone years and Raja was stunned to see a large table with a wide array of eateries spread out. He loved tasty food and wanted to taste them, but was afraid. Very soon an old woman emerged from inside. She smiled at Raja and said “Come on child, have some food. I prepared them for my grandson who is not to be seen.” She held Raja by his hands and took him to the table. As he drew closer to the table, he sensed some foul smell and soon realized that it was the food that smelled foul. The old woman forced him to taste the food which for Raja seemed as if it was prepared ages ago. “My grandson who left for the town has never returned. You look like my grandson. Have the food,”she said. Raja felt as if everything in his stomach came out. The food smelt so bad and the old woman was holding a little of it in her hands to feed him. Raja somehow managed to gulp a little.The old woman forced him to drink a little water and that water too seemed ages old. No sooner the food went down his throat, Raja felt giddy and collapsed. He woke up only to see several people around him.Suddenly, everything flashed into Raja’s mind and he looked around, there was no hut but only trees around.As the crowd was dispersing, Raja overheard a woman saying “I had heard that an old woman had died at this very spot a few years ago unable to bear the agony owing to her missing grandson.” Raja couldn’t believe his ears. Was she the same old woman whom he saw in that hut?