A Strange Incident
One evening while returning home from school, a strange incident took place.
As my annual examinations were approaching, I had begun to attend extra classes.
As you know, evenings in hill stations are very misty. On this particular evening too, a mist lay thick all over. It was impossible to see clearly, so I got off my bicycle and began walking with it.
There was not a single person on the street but suddenly in the distance, I saw the figure of a man. I started walking faster but as I approached him, I noticed something odd. He seemed to be floating in the air! His feet were not even touching the ground! Afraid, yet fascinated, I just could not take my eyes off him.
Soon I got this strange feeling that the man had stopped and was waiting for me to pass. Beads of perspiration trickled down my face while my heart pounded loudly with fear. Then, as I crossed his path, the stranger held out a hand and said, “Go home quickly son. Don’t waste your time.” Not daring to look at his face, I sped home as fast as I could. I cycled as though ten tigers were chasing me!
At my house, I found my mother talking to a crowd of people outside. Breathless, I ran to her. She hugged me and wept, “Thank goodness you’ve come! Your father has had a heart attack, and we’re taking him to hospital. Now, be a brave girl and give him a smile.”
Holding my father’s hand on the way to the hospital, I remembered the strange man who had given me such an important message on this cold, misty evening. Silently, I thanked him for speeding me on my way to be with my family, in their hour of need.
