An Elderly Advice Saves the Day: A Short Narrative

 An Elderly Advice Saves the Day: A Short Narrative

Never, even in the worst of all nightmares, decline advice that comes from the elderly. Don't confuse the acceptance of advice with indecisiveness. Wise men (and even fools) have always said, from time immemorial, that the best advice always flows right from the hearts of the elderly. Never brush aside what your grandma or grandpa or any other old (and of course wise) relative says because each word they utter isn't just advice but also has the potency to change the course of destiny. You may wonder, how? Their sayings can not only prevent you from encountering the worst experiences but also can expose you to life-changing experiences that you may have always resented. The following narrative expounds on the unforgettable, dreadful event,  experienced by a boy and how his grandma's advice helps him weather the storm.

Flash and boom! The thunder roared and growled into my ears. As I sat there, alone and all alone, lost in deep thought, I felt the cold piercing my skin. I could see the clouds shedding tears that seemed unstoppable. All of this made me gloomier than ever before, as I sat there observing the horrifying weather, through the bars of my window. Lost in thought, I began recollecting all the incidents I encountered. There I was - joyously playing in the backyard with my ball. There it went, under a tree, in my garden. As I bent down to pick my ball, I could watch the tree shaking vigorously, as though in fear. I could somehow feel the restlessness of the leaves on the tree, as though they were apprehensive of something near to happen. I picked my ball and peered over the garden fence. I saw a man standing on the other side. He held a box in his hands fancily decorated with glitter. It had also been tied with a red ribbon, probably to give an appealing look. Fascinated by its alluring appearance, I desired to own it. 

"Can I have a closer look at the box, please?" I said.

"Oh, of course, you can, but only if you come with me!" said the anonymous man, who spoke as though he had selected his words carefully. He surely didn't want to alarm me. I agreed with a nod, forgetting the rules I was expected to obey put forth by my parents. Neither the weather nor the harsh winds seemed polite. The gusty winds especially blew hard, as if they wanted to stop me from going. I left my ball and started walking. We soon reached an abandoned cottage. It wasn't big, and all you could see was darkness, cobwebs, shattered pieces of glass, twigs and dust. The verandah was full of weeds. That made it evident that the place was untouched by human hands. It was lonely there. 

"Why have you brought me here?" I raised a question.

"Oh, you don't know," replied the man, "The contents of the box are to be seen only in a place such as this. Now, go and find a comfortable place and open this box. I'll be back in a while." Saying this, he left. 

I entered the creepy cottage wherein I sat in a corner with the box in my hands. I excitedly tore open the box, only to find it was all empty. I threw away the box in a fit of pique. Then, I heard a dangerously loud, wicked laugh from outside. Bang! The door closed. I ran to open it, only to realise it had been locked. From the window I could see the very same man whom I was with earlier, sitting smugly in the verandah. I realised that I had been tricked. 

My thoughts slowly faded and I was back in the same gloomy world. It was raining cats and dogs. Even donkeys and rabbits, I suppose. The clouds were shuddering.

"It's been a couple of hours since I came here and it's high time I figure a way out," I murmured.

I then suddenly realised that I had my bag with me. I had it with me all the while. Hoping to find snacks to munch on, I began foraging my bag, only to find a rope, a hammer and a few other tools. Then it struck me! That was my tool bag! My grandma used to always tell me that it's very beneficial to have a tool bag handy. "You may require it, some time." I recollected her exact words. I pulled out the rope along with the hammer. As I continued my futile search for provisions, an idea struck me. I could use the hammer to break the worn-out walls of the cottage. I could use the rope to tie the evil man! What a splendid idea! Things worked as per my plan. I left the place with the man desperately wanting to catch hold of me. Looking at the cottage, I could predict that it would completely get demolished in a few hours. I ran until I reached the police station where I complained about the man. The policeman then got him arrested. I felt indebted to the lord as well as my grandmother - my saviour. 

When I reached home, I narrated the entire sequence of events. My parents and grandparents were upset about my behaviour but also appreciated my bravery. After all, it wasn't a very bad day. It could have been worse if I hadn't listened to my grandma's advice. She had certainly saved the day! I thought it would be good, to write down this unusual incident in my diary. And, so I began "Flash and boom! The thunder roared and growled...".

Gaurav Chandra Tuli