7/26/2019 Who Played With Thatha - by Geeta Varma
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Who played with Thatha?!
Geeta Varma
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Thatha was tired after having spent a long day out. He was walking home. He lived in a quiet village
surrounded by mountains. Thatha loved to watch the sun set behind the mountains. He thought
that the sun smiled as he blessed all with its warmth and light. Otherwise, how would the plants
grow into trees? How would trees give fruits? How would we see each other?
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Just then, he heard the sound of the drums and pipes. When he looked up, he saw many children
playing the drums and pipes. Is it real? he thought. But there were monkeys and, he couldnt
believe, elephants too. The elephants were dancing and the monkeys were busy climbing up and
down the trees. How cute! he thought, I must tell Appu quickly. He will be delighted to see all
this. Thatha started to walk fast. But suddenly everything was quiet. When he looked up, there was
no one. He couldnt believe it. How canthings disappear like this?!
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Thatha had just turned a corner, when he saw something very interesting. A dog was talking to a
+huge potato. Thatha went close to them to listen to what they were saying. The potato was saying
that it could easily race the dog. And, the dog was telling the potato, You look yummy. Can I eat
you? Immediately the potato started running fast. And the dog started chasing it. That was really
funny. The potato rolled and rolled and jumped. The dog couldnt reach it. Thatha could not help
laughing. Ha ha ha.. he said loudly. He then realized that he was alone. This cant be true, he
thought. How can things disappear like this?!
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Then Thatha started walking again till he reached a tree. There were beautiful birds, monkeys,
insects.. They were playing hide and seek! When the long insect with many tiny legs, flying in the
air said,Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz BrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrBzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, all the birds ran
away. And all the monkeys climbed up the trees.
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Only one bird could not run. It hid itself inside a fruit. Only Thatha could see all that. Just then, the
same dog reached there and ran away again.
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Where are they all going? Thatha wondered. Meanwhile the fruit broke open and the bird came
out. It was like an egg hatching! Appu would love to see all this, he thought. But then there was no
one there again! How can things disappear like this?! Very funny indeed!
Thatha had hardly crossed the tree when he turned back. What?! He couldnt believe his eyes. The
tree was loaded with fruits swinging and singing a strange tune. Is this jazz? Or violin? Or Chinese?....
Thatha thought that it was a combination of many kinds of music and language. How can this
happen?! Then there were goats nearby, jumping together with the music. Very strange, Thatha
thought. Now, as he watched, everything disappeared! Oh Oh! Is this possible?! How can things
disappear like this?!
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Thatha kept on walking. He was getting closer home. Now he decided not to look up. At that very
moment, he saw that there was a beautiful pool in front of him. A cool breeze blew across his face.
Thatha felt very happy. There were different kinds of fishes swimming inside the pool. Thatha
decided to put his feet in the water. He lifted his walking stick to immerse and find the depth of the
pool. That was too much! One fish leaped out as a rabbit! This was becoming weird! Now, Thatha
guessed that everything would disappear again. Aaaaaaa.nnnnd, it did. How can this happen again
and again?! Is this some kind of a trick?!
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Thatha could not wait to tell all this to Appu. He knew only Appu would believe him. No one else
would. They would laugh or make fun of him or embarrass him.
What is this?! the words came out of his mouth. It was the dog and the potato again. Only, now,
the potato was small and inside the dogs mouth.
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Thatha decided to close his eyes. He did not want to be tricked again. He thought of Appu. He
wished he was there close by. He had almost reached his house. He saw his little farm and the
house. He saw a few birds and tried to chase them. Then he wondered, Will this disappear too?!
Thatha. Thatha That was Appu, his darling grandson. He had after all reached home! Thatha,
look, I found a pup. Appuwas standing there with a sweet little black pup. He was smiling. Ah!
My little one, wait , let me tell you my story! Thatha told himself, and sat down in front of his
house, waiting for Appu to finish his story of how he found the pup.
This was real. Not a trick or an illusion. Both Thatha and Appu had so much to share!
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