The Best of Ruskin Bond Part 37

One day my parents found me

Playing near the leper colony.

There was a big scene.

My mother shouted at the lepers

And they hung their heads as though it was all their fault,

And the children had nothing to say.

I was taken home in disgrace

And told all about leprosy and given a bath.

My clothes were thrown away

And the servants wouldn't touch me for days.

So I took the marbles I'd won

And put them in my stepfather's cupboard,

Hoping he'd catch leprosy from them.

6.

A slim dark youth with quiet

Eyes and a gentle quizzical smile,

Manohar. Fifteen, working in a small hotel.

He'd come from the hills and wanted to return,

I forget how we met

But I remember walking the dusty roads

With this gentle boy, who held my hand

And told me about his home, his mother,

His village, and the little river

At the bottom of the hill where the water

Ran blue and white and wonderful,

'When I go home, I'll take you with me.'

But we hadn't enough money.

So I sold my bicycle for thirty rupees

And left a note in the dining room:

'Going away. Don't worry-(hoping they would)-

I'll come home

When I've grown up.'

We crossed the rus.h.i.+ng waters of the Ganga