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My father worked as a technician in Thermal Power Plant, Obra located in Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh in India about 120 km from Varanasi. Obra stands by the side of the Renu & Sone Rivers, tributaries of the Ganges. Sonebhadra district is situated in the range of Kaimur Mountain. This won't be a hyperbole if I say that the whole Sonebhadra is situated in the lap of nature.

We were provided accommodation perfectly fit for our family by UPSEB, the power plant, where my father worked. Our home was located at the corner of our colony with the roads crossing from the front and right side and approximately 100 meters away from the main Khairatiya market and 200 meters from Bus Stand. There was the entry from the front door, which was a drawing room cum first bedroom, connected to the inner one on left side and to the verandah on the straight. Front room cum drawing room possessed a big window while the inner-one had two big windows both opening in the lawn and one door opening in the Verandah. Verandah was limited in its length by the kitchen in the right corner. Half of the courtyard side wall of the verandah was grilled from upside which was joined with a grilled gate for the cross ventilation and ample sunlight in the home, opening in the courtyard. Then there was a toilet and a bathroom in the courtyard on the right side, the shed of a big mango tree in the mid of the courtyard and a cemented tank of water just opposite to the grilled gate. The courtyard was connected to the study room by a door in the middle of the right side wall. The study room often served the purpose of a bedroom too whenever we had guests. Most of the accommodations in Obra were prepared in pairs. We were joint with our neighbor from the left side. There was a big Neem tree on the lawn at the corner of our home on the left side. It would be quite right to say that we had got ample space to play in the courtyard and lawn. The study room was not a part of accommodation provided by UPSEB but it was prepared by the father for our study and obviously for serving the guests.

I've got a brother and a sister and I am the youngest of all. We all were very naughty in our childhood. My brother was wisest, as per our thinking and of course Daredevil too, amongst us. The two trees were a necessary part of our childhood. In summer times they protected from direct radiations and in the winters they were our favorite place of taking milk, tea or coffee on shining holidays. In the daytime, we usually sit there to play (carom, ludo etc.) and to study. We always enjoyed the light breezes playing about their boughs. In the early mornings and evenings, birds filled the air with their cries but we, except my brother, were afraid of sitting there in the late evenings and nights even in the light of lamps. This was due to fear of ghosts and witches implanted in our minds by our elder brother. He told us many stories of ghosts and witches living on our mango tree. When we asked him why was he not afraid of those; he replied that he had made them his friends. And it is true that he always felt free to roam anywhere anytime without any fear.

The reality came to us after a long time.

That day, I and my sister both left the study room at 6 PM. I was then 9 years old, my elder sister was 11 and my elder brother was 14. Our brother came for dinner at 8 PM and after dinner, he went back to the study room. Then after taking milk, we went to bed. By bad luck, our brother missed milk that day. After the emergency duty, our father came home at 10 PM. Mother told him that we, the younger duo, were sleeping and our elder brother was studying. Father became very happy when he heard this. He thought to cater the milk by his hands to his studious child and .............................

He knocked the study room many times but didn't get any response

"What happened?" Mother asked.

"He is not responding."

"Must be sleeping."

"I differ."

"Oh God! I am afraid then. " Mother became a bit restless.

"Come on! Will you keep quiet for a moment." Father tried to sense the inside environment adhering himself to the door. Nothing he got.

A bit stressed father then went from the lawn side of the door. He knocked..... and the door opened at his very first thud.

"Where has our child gone?" Mother screamed.

"I think I know."

The winter season was knocking at the door. The night show was over at Dinesh Talkies at midnight. The audiences were numbered. And the boy was one of them. He enjoyed the movie wearing the shawl. Fully covered, approximately, quite alert. He moved towards his home taking a view of his surroundings, none of his acquaintances.

But someone was waiting for him outside, off the sight.

As the boy moved the latter followed him surreptitiously. Half of the way, the boy felt like being followed. He turned back, immediately. But, got a trace of no one. He now ran in full speed. The latter also strode.

He was at home within two minutes. Now, the boy looked around; no one was watching, he thought and jumped the fencing.

Father was stunned at his expeditious jump.

The boy, my brother, entered his room from outside.
But he was perplexed now...... Mother was waiting inside.

"You idiot! I thought you would be studying and you....loitering around in the midnight." She yelled.

"What's wrong in it? I was feeling a little drowsy. Hence I went for a walk."

Mother was awestruck. She came forward a step and gifted him a hard slap. And it took only a moment to big brother to comprehend that he was caught. He was now on his knees.

"Mom, I am sorry, extremely sorry. Please forgive me."

Mother kept mum.

"But please don't brief it to Papa. I would be grateful, forever."

"Turn around." Mother said then.

And he turned...... Father was standing behind him with arms crossed on his chest. He was caught red-handed. What a pathetic situation he faced that night. Although Mom scolded him too much that day the father didn't say a single word to him. Big brother realized his fault and promised to never repeat that activity thereafter.

BUT.....Big brother was a great player by his nature.

Soon we found that there was a pair of monkeys in our colony. This pair created terror in our colony. I and my sister were frightened after hearing about monkeys. Our parents instructed us not to go outside, especially in the afternoons. But in the daytime, peculiarly on holidays, we usually enjoyed the mango tree branches hanging in the courtyard rustling pleasantly while we swung over them. I recall this was a little cold Sunday morning in November when my brother gathered us with the children of our neighborhood and said "I am not frightened of those Monkeys because I am a brave boy. May I know who else the brave one in my neighborhood is? Please raise your hands."

As expected no one raised his/her hand.

He smiled boastfully and said "Huh! No one."

Instantly I replied with innocence, "But Brother, How can you say that you are brave?

"Because I am and I can prove it," My brother said.

He then told us to gather at 1 PM in our courtyard and we did the same. After some time we found that the pair was on our mango tree. My brother had some roasted grams in his hands. When he saw the pair of monkeys he sat there and offered them the grams. With some hesitation, the female monkey came to my brother and started to eat the grams from my brother's hands while the male monkey was keeping a close watch over this.

My brother was continuously giving soothing expressions to the female one and offering grams to her. Soon the offering came to an end when the grams were finished. The female and the male both started glaring at him but he thought they had become his friends. He continued his soothing expressions and lovely comments on the female one.

Suddenly big brother felt a thunder-stroke and became straight, that too, in a fraction of second keeping his right hand on right cheek. He was unable to understand what had happened?

But we saw what happened. Actually, the male monkey got irritated and he couldn't tolerate the expressions of my brother for his female partner, as I think. He then suddenly jumped from his position and slapped my brother hardly and started terrifying.

My shocked brother was frightened. His dare cost him an arm and a leg. He saw all around and left the place without saying any word to anyone.

And at once, we all left that place after him. Because we weren't brave.