The 'Death' of Miya Fooski!

- Miya was lost in thought: How did that necklace fall from above?

- This was a big mystery. If solved, it would prove Miya's innocence...

Jivram Joshi

"D adaji! Dadiji! It's story time!" Little Sonu burst into the room, practically leaping onto his grandmother's lap. His older sister, Monu, chuckled as she followed close behind.

"Whoa there, little monkey! Easy on Dadiji's lap," Dadiji laughed warmly.

"Dadaji, today we want a Miya Fooski story!" Monu declared, her eyes sparkling.

"Yeah! Miya Fooski!" Sonu echoed, as if his best friend had just walked in. (And in their world, Miya Fooski really was like an old buddy!)

Dadaji's eyes twinkled. "Alright, kids! Miya Fooski it is!"

Both children leaned in, their ears ready for the adventures of their favorite character. Miya Fooski was a legend, a character their grandparents had known since their childhood! What an amazing, long-ago friend!

...And Dadaji began...

***

Amrapur village.

There lived Sheth Chhotalal.

He was very wealthy. He had a big bungalow.

One night, some thieves broke into Chhotalal Sheth's bungalow.

They opened the room where the safe was.

Inside the safe were diamond necklaces and gold bangles.

The thieves broke the safe and stole everything.

Then they ran away. The bungalow's watchman, Fangaram, had helped the thieves.

But as they left, the thieves worried: what if Fangaram told the truth?

So they killed Fangaram and escaped.

Just before dawn, Miya Fooski arrived at the gate of Sheth Chhotalal's bungalow.

He saw Fangaram's body.

In the dark, Miya Fooski thought it was a man lying down.

He walked over and called him.

But there was no response. He seemed unconscious.

Miya Fooski tried to help him sit up.

But his hands got covered in blood.

Then Miya Fooski realized someone had stabbed him.

He was alarmed. He saw no one around the bungalow.

He walked around to the other side of the bungalow.

There was an open window upstairs.

Miya Fooski looked up.

Just then, a diamond necklace fell from above and landed around his neck.

He was shocked.

How did this necklace end up around his neck?

As he stood thinking,

the doors of the bungalow opened.

Four or five men ran in with Sheth.

They caught Miya Fooski.

Soon police and the officer arrived.

Miya Fooski had a diamond necklace around his neck.

And his hands were bloody.

Sheth shouted: This thief has killed my watchman!

And he's looted everything from the safe!

The officer thought the other thieves must've escaped.

They handcuffed Miya Fooski and took him to the station.

They started questioning him.

Miya Fooski gave only one answer: I am not a thief.

The officer threatened him in many ways.

A whole day passed.

The next day, the officer got angry.

He threatened to hang Miya upside down above fire.

Meanwhile, he sent a constable to Rajpur

To inform Miya Fooski's family and the village chief.

But Miya Fooski did not confess.

On the third day, the officer was furious.

He raised his cane to beat him.

Miya Fooski panicked.

But suddenly he remembered something from that night.

He had climbed a tree in the dark and was hiding.

Below the tree, some thieves had come and sat down.

They were dividing stolen goods.

From the tree, Miya Fooski had fallen on them.

They dropped the loot and ran away.

All the stolen items ended up in his hands.

One necklace that fell on his head was among those.

There were gold bangles and a diamond-studded ring too.

Earlier, Sheth Chhotalal had said such things were stolen.

Miya Fooski thought:

Maybe those were the same thieves.

The goods I hid might be Sheth's.

Let me shock everyone.

If it's Sheth's loot, we'll say:

If I were the thief, why would I show you this?

So Miya Fooski told the officer:

Let's go to the forest.

I'll show you the stolen goods I hid.

If it's really Sheth's, you'll know I'm not the thief.

The officer agreed.

He took Miya Fooski with a team of constables.

Sheth Chhotalal also came.

A crowd followed them from the village.

As they left the village,

Tabha Bhatt and Dala Sheth arrived to check on Miya Fooski.

They saw the crowd and stopped.

At the front, they saw Miya Fooski handcuffed.

Surrounded by police and the officer.

Dala Sheth panicked.

Tabha Bhatt said: Let's go with the crowd.

Dala Sheth angrily said: We're not going to die.

Tabha Bhatt replied: We just want to know what happened.

Dala Sheth said: Then go alone. I won't come.

If people learn we're Miya Fooski's friends, they'll beat us.

If the officer finds out, we'll be arrested as accomplices.

Let's not do that.

Tabha Bhatt said: We won't tell anyone we're from Miya's village.

Dala Sheth said: You go if you want. I won't.

He quietly sat down.

As the group came close,

Dala Sheth whispered: Bhattji, let's move to the side.

If Miya sees us, he'll shout our names.

Then we'll be beaten too.

The officer will think we're accomplices.

Bhattji agreed.

They slipped away from the temple porch.

The crowd moved ahead.

Tabha Bhatt worried:

Where are they taking Miya?

Dala Sheth said: I know.

Bhattji asked: Where?

Dala Sheth whispered: To hang him.

Bhattji gasped: What?

***

Dala Sheth said: Yes. He murdered someone. He'll be sentenced to death.

He looted Sheth's bungalow and killed the watchman.

Murderers deserve the death penalty. Even twice.

They kill others without mercy.

Bhattji said: Don't say that. Miya never kills.

He saves people!

Let's go see what happens.

Dala Sheth said: You go. I'm staying here.

Tabha Bhatt rushed ahead to join the crowd.

People were gossiping.

From their talk, Bhattji understood everything.

But he couldn't figure out:

How did Miya know where the loot was?

Maybe he saw the thieves hiding it.

That must be why he's showing it to the officer.

Bhattji asked someone in the crowd:

Did this thief say he knows where the stolen loot is?

The man said: Yes!

Bhattji said: Then the real thieves must be others?

Someone else said: But Miya was caught with bloody hands.

Another said: He also had a necklace.

A third said: It's clear. He's the murderer and the thief.

One man disagreed: No, others were with him.

They stole and ran away. He was left behind.

Another said: If others ran, why did he stay in the bungalow?

Something's fishy.

Who wears a stolen necklace and stands there?

Someone else added: That's strange indeed.

Another said: The biggest question is:

Why would a murderer stay in the bungalow?

This mystery will unravel soon.

So the discussions continued.

The crowd entered the forest.

Miya stopped.

He turned to the officer:

Sir, this is the spot.

The officer looked around.

Miya smiled: Impressed by my trick?

The officer frowned: Trick?

He raised his cane.

Miya clapped and said: Don't raise it, sir.

We're honest.

See that thorn bush in the ground?

The officer touched it with his cane: This one?

Miya said: Yes, that one.

Officer asked: What about it?

Miya laughed: Don't you understand?

The officer got angry and hit him with the cane.

But a funny thing happened.

Miya ducked,

and the blow hit a constable nearby.

He screamed in pain.

The officer got angrier.

He raised the cane again.

Miya said: Wait!

Look under that bush.

The loot is buried there.

He pulled the bush out.

Despite handcuffs, he reached to clear the dirt.

The officer told a constable: Clear the dirt.

They began digging.

Soon a cloth bundle appeared.

The officer bent over to look.

Miya said: See that? Pull it out.

They opened the bundle.

Inside were diamond necklaces, rings, gold bangles.

Miya smiled: Isn't that the loot?

Told you we're honest!

The officer ordered: Tie it up and carry it.

The constables obeyed.

Then the officer said: Let's go.

Miya asked: Where?

The officer said: You can take off the handcuffs and lead us.

I'm not going to the station. I'll go home.

The officer stared coldly.

Miya asked: Why?

Officer: Your name is now in jail records.

You must come.

Miya: But I showed you the loot. I'm not a thief.

Officer: Then who are the real thieves?

Miya: That's your job to find out. I've done my part.

Officer: That story is made up. We're not fools.

Miya: If I were the thief, why would I reveal the loot?

Officer: We know you're lying to avoid punishment.

That tree story is nonsense.

Let's go.

Miya was silent.

Officer: Why are you standing?

Miya: Why don't you believe me?

Officer: Maybe you're not the thief.

But how do we know you didn't kill the watchman?

You must be punished.

Miya: I didn't kill him.

Officer: Then who did?

Miya: Ask the dead man.

I wasn't there.

Officer: How did your hands get bloody?

Miya: I thought he was unconscious and tried to help him.

Officer: Tell all this at the station.

Miya realized the officer wouldn't believe him.

Refusing would mean more beatings.

So he walked along.

The constables and crowd followed.

Tabha Bhatt was among them.

Bhattji was deep in thought.

He believed Miya's story about the loot.

The bloody hands story also seemed true.

But how did the necklace fall from above onto Miya's neck?

That was hard to believe.

Still, Miya never lies.

This was a big mystery.

If solved, it would prove Miya's innocence.

Miya was quiet.

Lost in thought::

How did that necklace fall from above?

Who would believe that?

They reached the station.

The officer got permission from the magistrate

to keep Miya in custody for further investigation.

Tabha Bhatt returned to the temple.

Dala Sheth asked: What happened?

Bhattji looked disheartened.

Dala Sheth said: Tell me!

Bhattji replied: Miya is really in trouble.

Dala Sheth was delighted.

He said: I told you so! But what happened?

Bhattji said: He showed where the stolen goods were.

Dala Sheth's joy grew: See? I was right. Police don't catch just anyone.

Showing the loot proves he was involved.

One mystery solved. What about the murder?

Bhattji said: That's the big worry. Theft may lead to a few years in jail. But murder brings a death sentence.

Dala Sheth smiled: So Miya killed too? Of course.

A thief is also a murderer. I said it all along.

Tabha Bhatt nearly wept.

Dala Sheth said: Why cry? He deserves what he gets.

That's justice.

Bhattji sat in worry. And Miya Fooski sat silently in the station. What will happen next? 

***                   

Dadaji stopped.

"Dadaji, please!" Sonu and Monu cried out.

"Nope! Bedtime! You've got school in the morning, remember?" He smiled.

"Oh, no!" the kids groaned, disappointed.

"But you'll tell us the rest next time, right? Promise?" Monu asked.

"Promise! Now, go!"

...Jingle, jingle, little champs! Just like Sonu and Monu, we'll have to wait to find out what happens next in Miya Fooski's adventure! We'll discover the rest of the story this coming Saturday!