The two magicians
Dirty dozen
The art of talking to dead people
Three ghosts
Midnight patrol
City animals
God's favourite children
Totem
Realization
Human relations
The president
Tammanna and the betal leaves
The cruel king
Elizabeth's story
- poolabala
Midnight Patrol
New Brindavan colony is plagued by thefts and the gentry of the colony hit on a plan to get rid of the burglaries. Accordingly the youth are given the charge of patrolling at night.
Everybody thought that the issue was resolved as the patrolling began. It was half past one and three young men were marching along the streets with clubs in their hands.
They were passing Subbu’s house. They talked about Subramanyam alias subbu aka the bodybuilding champion. One of them said “Poor Subbu, was so much interested in body building that he almost dissolved in tears when his parents opposed his exercises strongly.” What is the loss? “He simply does some work outs in the morning at the gym” exclaimed the other. The third man said “But his parents want him to study they feel that he is losing the precious morning time. His Bhaskar babai too opposed” Bhaskar babai works in a cinema as a booking clerk. He exhorted Subbu to not to be like him. What else Subbu can do. Subbu stopped doing exercises. Hardly did they know that Subbu was doing exercises in the back yard of his house at the same time. It was all dark. Subbu stood under the banana trees. There were shrubs and bushes all around. He was doing some workouts. The three young men were singing to their pleasure and walking the beat. Suddenly they noticed some body was moving in the darkness. They shouted thief, thief. At the same time Bhaskar babai was coming back from cinema after finishing his duty. He stopped his bicycle and shouted “Who is it?” Subbu heard the people shouting. But he couldn’t make out anything. It was noise to him. But he understood that his Bhaskar babai returned. He sensed danger, jumped into the bathroom and shut the door. There was silence for a while. Later he heard someone saying “I saw him getting into dark” An old man said “he must be hiding somewhere around here” “Look up the bushes are moving but don’t go in the dark. It is dangerous. I saw a snake moving here. said a lady.
“Please turn on the light, is there no light in the backyard?” somebody said. “Yes there is one but it was fused” said Bhaskar babai. “swith on the light in the bathroom and open the door” said Subbu’s father. Subbu was panicked. He was gripped with mortal fear. He is going to be a laughing stock. He bolted the door from in side. Somebody who heard the sound of the bolt shouted “Hey he is hiding in the bathroom” “come out you rascal” many people shouted. Bhaskar babai tried to pull the door but the neighbours warned him of the possible consequences. The lady said “A thief is a professional he comes with stones, chili powder and the like” Everybody stepped back. “Call the police, call the police” somebody suggested. “I will never do it again, leave me, why call the police?” cried Subbu feebly from the bathroom. “How dare you rogue, you stand no chance, the police will thrash you.” said Bhaskar babai. The Police arrived at the spot in a commendably short time but Subbu was half dead when the door was opened.
