It was a colourful evening. Children of a town were divided into two teams to play and enjoy cricket. Tapin kept a name of Vaasu’s team and that was ‘Lost property’ as they never followed rules. They were in habit of cheating and making fun of others.
Tapin was a smiling boy. He was kind and helpful too. All children used to tease him for his physique but his mother taught him that height and features were given by God. She made clear to him that height, colour and looks never affect character and quality of a person. So Tapin was happy by heart.
That day, Vaasu was balling whose nick name was XXXL because of his giant personality. Batting was enjoyed by Tapin whose nick name was Tiny tot as he had short height. Friends referred them with nick names while playing. At the last ball, Tapin hit high in the air. It was a six but to tease him the fielder lied that it was a catch out. All started hooting…
‘Tiny tot, loses a lot
Tiny tot, loses a lot.’
Tapin became sad but he didn’t reply anything. He faced cheating many times that he felt the situation very casual.
Next day was Sunday. Children woke up early morning and started calling each other to play. When XXXL shouted “Hey, Tiny tot! coming to play or has any excuse?” at the door of Tapin house.
Tapin denied and chose to climb a tree. He moved towards the oldest tree of their area. He was whistling and was trying to find place at tree’s trunk to climb.
Suddenly, he heard a voice. It was a request of a little mouse to make him free. He was stout and dark in colour. His moustache seemed as spikes and ears like thorns. His fat body was filled with mud where his bright teeth were out. He was shouting for help as his leg got stuck in a mousetrap.
Tapin freed him instantly. He spread some grams and jaggery before the rat.
Rat was very happy. Feeling good vibes from each other both became close friends. Tapin shared his situation and behaviour of his friends The rat told Tapin that his friends too called him ‘Grabby’ as he was slow in his moves. Both friends were facing physical teasing by their friends.
‘A friend less clever, is a friend forever.’ became the motto of their lives. Tapin gave him a name that was ‘Ratty’. Their friendship was fair and selfless. The song of their friendship was like…
‘People are fled,
Animals nowhere,
You’ll get a cashew,
This song first you bear,’
They used to sing and laugh together. Tapin started spending his time with Ratty rather than other children.
It was Tapin’s birthday. His friends wished him and called very politely to play. But as he reached the playground all started singing slogans at his height. Ratty was sitting on a branch right there. He saw Tapin’s eyes were teary. Ratty promised to make him happy forever. Both went at Tapin’s home to enjoy rest of the day.
But that scene filled Ratty with anger. He decided to take revenge.
Since a month, no child could play cricket. Nobody could find out the reasons of damage happened to their cricket kits. All were troubled to know that their bats, balls, wickets, gloves etc. had biting and holes. It was very painful for them to waste their evenings without playing cricket.
They were surprised to see Tapin’s perfect playing sets. Children doubted Tapin but couldn’t find any proof against him. They were tired of mending their playing sets.
All requested Tapin to share his playing sets or tell the reason that how were his items not got damaged.
Tapin asked only one thing in return that if Vaasu would share the formula of getting good height, he would too give his things.
Vaasu understood at once. He regretted at his behaviour . He agreed that physique and looks were given by God so we must not insult anybody for that. He accepted that we become arrogant too if we tease others. All children felt sorry to Tapin.
Listening everything, all animals also started behaving nicely to Ratty and stopped telling him ‘Grabby’ any more.
Commenting and teasing got disappeared. All became good friends. The name of group changed from ‘Lost Property’ to ‘Host Property’. But still the best friend was Ratty only who turned Tapin’s life.
Children noticed that their playing items were also stopped being bitten. They took that episode as God’s punishment.
But still Ratty was biting one thing, that was chocolate given by Tapin.