The Hero WORSHIPPERS

Children are born hero worshippers,I believe implicitly.This story runs around a tiny village,”Babbar" in North western part of the than,India,Now Pakistan.The dwellers appeared civilized and cultured despite of the fact,formal Education was not so common in that era. They had cordial relations with the Government,that’s why most of the Babbars had been enjoying high respect and ranks in Army and other offices. Some appeared as farmers and some represented small businesses in the village. In First great war (1914.1919)Eighty four men participated in the war,mostly martyred.In return ,the Government ,in the respect of showing loyalty to the government in the crucial time of war,announced special grants and favour to the Babbars.In those days the Babbars living style were highly prestigious.They had brick houses with proper sanitation, special electricity line,brick roads,Dispensaries with doctors,School up to five grade with a foot ball ground ,one can easily say a “model village “ of those days and the village tabbed as “Small England”.To raised the standard more high,Governor granted to establish a pharmacy and a Café,subsidized .The pharmacy amounted to a Widow of Army soldier,Maria and Café stamped to Ex Army man Son,named Salik. These two places had a significance in the eyes of dwellers.One could easily go to the pharmacy for emergency treatment or First Aid and the Café was considered as a center of life,to get together,With tea ,coffee ,and strawberries tarted pastries.Cafe crowned an ideal place for the music lovers, chess players,to discuss Village politics,and family cabins got pegged in the vicinity of the Cafe.Small kids ,,usually came to the Café to sell the strawberries .Salik ,had an ideal personality in the eyes of every one, especially kids and young girls.The young kids liked to grow up like Salik.They regarded him as their hero.Salik becomed indeed a herotyped,with baritone voice,tall and stylish,and knew the art of public relations.He came from a mediocre origin but in a short span he became a tall figure in the village.Toto,a Kid ,turning ten, had been selling strawberries to salik from the last two years.Salik,always in front of him, ,weighed the strawberries and paid him well but also gave him some candies and chocolate as a gift.As usual, Toto came and Salik weighed the strawberries and went inside to grab some chocolate for him.Toto,un purposely put his strawberries in the weigh scale ,and he founded the weight unbalanced.He checked it again and again ,and the result showed unbalanced.Toto,came to be minor but intelligent.He understood Salik had cheated him and not only him but the other poor kids and the customers, from the last many years.He picked up the strawberries and rush towards Maria's pharmacy ,and asked her to weigh the strawberries.She weighed it,it was more than one and half pound.But Maria couldn't get this act of Toto. Toto wanted to tell Maria about this incident but he saw Salik and Maria,in a restaurant .Salik wanted to propose Maria.”Maria,after marriage we would settled in city,opportunities are greater there.”Maria,strangely stareing her.”Salik,you are a thorrow gentleman but after my husband’s death,I’m happy with my pharmacy”.She replied.”I would wait for your reply “Salik only said this and kissed her hand,and rounded a bracelet on her wrist and also gave a beautiful present “A beautiful musical dancing couple showpiece". Toto saw  this and became pensive .He didn’t want to tell to Maria about Salik's cheating.”Maria ,from the last two days,Toto is having a slight fever"said grand ma of Toto.”it’s a slight fever,

why is he looks so worried ?.Asked Maria.But his grandma hurriedly set out and Maria twitched making some medicines for Toto.”Who gave you this bracelet“.He knew but he asked from Maria.”Salik gave it to me last night “.She replied smilingly.”Do you like Salik" Toto asked.”yes,of course “She answered.”But you know he is a great liar,cheater and not God fearing".Toto said all this in one say.”Today you act strangely,take the Medicine and rest for few days".Suggested Maria.”Maria,I mean it and in future I would not go for picking strawberries and even berries,I don’t like to sell it to Salik,a cheater".Toto uttered all these words furiously.”You don’t love and marry her,I’ll show it to you" and Toto sprinted.He strolled Salik’s café and picked that weighing stone of one pound."why did you picked up this from the Cafe, would it not marked as stealing”.?Concernedly asked Maria.”No,it’s not stealing,I brought to show it to you". Said Toto.They both stepped towards Café.”This is the thief”Toto pointed towards Salik.”Don’t say like this,He is a thorrow gentleman “.Said Maria with little anger."Now you are misbehaving,calling me thief".loudly said Salik.”I would call the police “.Salik shouted."Go ahead”Toto said boldly.All the customers stood up.In the meantime Toto grandma came.She went ahead with apologizing but Toto was still stubborn.”Why are you apologizing from a thief,?He is looting all the villagers from the last so many years “.Toto said it on the top of the voice.”Wait ,what is all about weight of pound "? Interrupted Maria.Maria took up two small bags of tea of one pound and placed it on the weight machine.It balanced imperfect.”Why it is not balanced?”asked Maria from Salik.”Maybe it would not perfectly adjusted “.Salik replied.”No,it is loaded"added Maria.All the customers started leaving the Café.”No,please nobody would leave the Café,today we will ask some questions from Salik”Maria announced."He is dishonest,He is also raising fund for the hospital,we would check the register for the fund raising and his café is subsidized,He is drawing forty percent of subsidising amount from the exchequer”. Maria said highly.They took the keys of the cupboard from Salik.”please,Maria don’t go,I would pay each an every penny,we would leave this Village “begged Salik to Maria.”you distorted your image as a hero.All the Children wanted to grow up like you,children are the responsibility of the elders,I wouldn’t forgive you for that”with saying this Maria came out slammed door.Toto was sitting on a wooden bench.She sat with him and take his face in her hands.Toto was weeping.”I don’t want to grow up like thief”.Toto said it with wet eyes.”No, You would grow up like a good boy.”said Maria .After this incident,Village sought some changes.Children again kick off collecting strawberries and berries and sell it to the Café but now the owner of the Café was not Salik.He quietly left the village,He was unable to face the Children.Now, Maria became the care taker of the Cafe.

The End.”THE HERO WORSHIPPERS “.