Three kidnappers

It was a summer day. Sun was shining brightly. It was really hot. Everyone, who was not out working, was relaxing in the cool confines of his home. Except Minty, the naughtiest monkey in the town. He was on the rooftop of his home, flying a beautiful kite.

But today even his kite was not inclined to fly. Minty tried all tricks of flying a kite but it just would not fly. In anger and irritation he tore the kite and threw it down in the street.

When he was throwing the kite from the roof he saw that a huge fox was standing near the house where his friend, Pintoo, lived. Pintoo was a simple and timid rabbit. He was alone in the home since his parents were out on their jobs. “The fox has evil intentions,” thought Minty.

The fox rang the doorbell. Pinto opened the door and politely asked, “Sir, what can I do for you?”

The fox grabbed him by his neck and lifted him as if he was a small doll. He pushed him in a bag that contained some clothes. He lifted the bag on his shoulder and looked around. No one had seen him kidnapping the rabbit.

But Minty had seen everything. For a moment he was stunned. He knew that he would have to do something quickly to help his friend. He rushed down the stairs and into the bedroom. His mother was asleep.

“Get up mama, someone has kidnapped Pintoo.”

“Don’t you bother me with your silly pranks.  And don’t go out in sun, you will get a heat stroke.”

Minty felt that he could not waste time explaining everything to his mother. He ran out of his house and saw the fox walking casually with a bag on his shoulder. He started following the fox.

The fox was not aware that he was being followed and kept walking leisurely. He went from one street to another; from one road to another. After walking for about half an hour he entered into an old dilapidated house.

Minty looked around and saw a window that was not firmly closed. He opened the window. He peeped into the house. The room was empty. He took courage in both hands and entered the house through the window. He searched one room and then another. But he saw no one. He came to a courtyard. On one side of the courtyard there was a dark and dingy room. The fox was in that room. There were two hyenas with him. Although Minty could not see but he assumed that Pinto would be in that room, with his hands and feet tied.

He hid himself on one side of a cupboard that was kept in the courtyard and attentively listened to what the crooks were saying to one another.

“Can I eat him? I love rabbit meat,” said one hyena.

“Shut up,” shouted the fox.

“Boss, what is the next move,” asked other hyena.

“Go and call his father from a public phone. Don’t use your mobile phone. Tell him, he will have to pay one million rupees if wants his son back,” fox growled.

“Do you have his phone number,” meekly asked the hyena.

“Yes.” Fox gave him a slip of paper on which he had noted the phone number.

Minty had been devising a plan to help his friend. He said to himself, “I need a distraction to help Pintoo.”

He thought of something and quietly left that house. At that very moment one hyena came out of the house. Minty followed him. The hyena went to a public telephone booth and made a call to Pintoo’s father. He said, “Mr Rabbit, we have kidnapped your son. If you want him back you will have to pay one million rupees. Please arrange the money quickly. I will call you after two hours. But please don’t bother to call the police if you want your child back in one piece.”

When the hyena left the phone booth, Minty entered the booth and dialled a number. He talked for a minute or two and left the booth. He came back to the den of kidnappers and again hid himself behind the cupboard. He heard the hyena saying, “How and where should we collect the ransom money?”

“I think we can call him here. He can deliver the money and take back his child,” other hyena suggested.

“Are you a fool? We can’t let him see any of us. He will have to leave the money at some place of our choice,” the fox said.

But their discussion was interrupted by the sound of a siren.

“What is it?” asked the fox.

“Must be the police,” said one hyena.

“What should we do?” asked other hyena.

There was loud knocking at the door. Three crooks were dumbstruck. The knocking did not stop. Hyenas were trembling in fear.

“Let us run away from here,” both the hyenas mumbled.

“No, let me see who it is. Both of you remain here and keep a watch on Pintoo,” said the fox.

He went to the main door and opened it. There were two Firemen at the door.

“Why did you take so much time to open the door? What if something happens to the child?” asked one Fireman impatiently.

The fox was too confused to say anything.

“Now get aside and show us where the well is,” said other Fireman.

“What is happening? Why have you come here?” asked the fox.

“Why have we come here? We have come because we got phone call that a child has fallen in a well in this house,” said one Fireman.

“There must be some mistake. There is no well in this house. And there is no child in this house,”

“How could that be? We never make a mistake. This is the house we were told to come,” Fireman insisted.

The hyenas had, out of curiosity, also come there. The fox glared at them but they ignored him.

“Sir, someone must have played a prank with you. There is no well in this house,” the fox pleaded with them.

“In fact there is no well in any house in this area,” said one hyena.

While the fox and the hyenas were having this argument with Firemen, Minty went to the room where Pintoo was being held. His hands and feet were tied and tape had been stuck on his mouth. Minty untied him, removed the tape and whispered in his ear, “Don’t speak and don’t make any noise. We have to leave this place immediately.”

They left that house through the window through which Minty had entered. Once they were out of that house they ran like hell and did not stop till they reached PIntoo’s home.

Kidnappers had a lengthy argument with the Firemen and eventually the fox was able to convince them that there was no well in that house. When the Firemen left the fox heaved a sigh of relief. But his happiness was short-lived. Pintoo was not in the room where they were holding him. They searched the entire house. But they could not find him.

Pintoo’s father was overjoyed when he saw his son. He had already informed the police and an Inspector was also present. Minty told them everything including the phone call he had made to the fire brigade. It was on his call that Firemen had come.  The Firemen distracted the kidnappers and Minty was able to rescue his friend.

The police immediately raided the den of kidnappers. They were taken by surprise. All three were arrested.

Minty, who was the naughtiest monkey in the town, became a hero of the town.

© i b arora