Ezaarem by Vinod Modha - HTML preview

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CHAPTER 15 - Oh!! King Chhotu?

 

The giant was lying under a tree and as Ramu approached him he opened his eyes. 

Ramu said to the giant:

"Hello, I am Ramu Mamu. Look, I have been to the court of King Motu the Magnificent today." 

The giant sat up.

"Hey!! Mr. Ramu Mamu!!

I am l'l ole Totu!

So glad to see you!

Please tell l'l ole Totu, what’s the news?"

"Tomorrow, King Motu will come here, unarmed and alone, to negotiate a settlement with King Chhotu.  Now, you want to go to Ezaarem as soon as you can without wasting any time. Right?" 

The giant nodded and said:

"Sooner the better Mr. Ramu Mamu!

Sooner the better, I tell you!"

"Look Giant Totu, we thought, you are not doing anything right now.  So why don't you go and fetch King Chhotu the Cheater here now. In the meantime I'll go and get King Motu the Magnificent.  That way, as soon as King Chhotu and King Motu meet, you don't waste any more time hanging around. You can go off to Ezaarem straight away.  Isn't that a good idea?"

The giant thought for the briefest second.

"Yes. Yes of course! Why did I not think of that?" 

He got up.

"Right Mr. Mamu. Why waste any more time?

I know, I’ll use my magic spell to bring King Chhotu here.  

Do it right

Or do it wrong,

Bring King Chhotu the Cheater here,

And don't take long!!"

Straight away there was a flash of lightening, a huge puff of smoke rose from the ground. A dead white bull appeared on the ground there!  Ramu and Giant Totu jumped back in horror. Ramu and the giant were too shocked to see the white bull that had a crown on its head, of all things! 

A light bulb went on in Giant Totu's head and immediately he put two and two together. The bull had been King Chhotu all along! Wizard Dotu's magic trick no doubt! If King Chhotu was dead then there was nothing for the giant to do any more. So he turned towards Ramu: "Since the bull has died, my last task here is discharged.  The bull is really King Chhotu." 

Ramu could not believe what he heard.

"Oh!! King Chhotu?? King Chhotu is a dead white bull?"

"Yes Mr. Ramu Mamu and that is his tiara for a crown.

Don't try to figure out why and how.

You are puzzled, and I see you frown,

But we don't have time to go into it now!"

And so, to be extra sure it was King Chhotu, the Giant used his magic to turn the bull back into its original form, the body of King Chhotu the Cheater, - unfortunately, a dead King Chhotu the Cheater.

Ramu was completely taken back by this. He needed some time to think what he should do.

Then the giant had another thought and looked at Ramu.

"Alright.  This changes everything Mr. Ramu Mamu. 

I am leaving here so go inform your good King Motu!"

Ramu was overjoyed: "What Giant Totu?  Really? No more attacks?  We are safe?"

"Yes Mr. Ramu Mamu, I am off to go to Ezaarem right now." 

"Hey that is great Giant Totu. Thanks a lot!! But tell me, where exactly will you go for Ezaarem?" 

"Hey!! Call me Totu!! Totu, just Totu!!

Last I heard of Ezaarem, he went to

settle in Kiltland, and there I am now off to. 

No time to waste.  Good bye and see you!"

"But wait a minute Giant Totu, just hang on a second, er Totu. So Ezaarem you say is a "he"! OK. Just one thing though. How can I put this. Look, in fact you don't have to go to Kiltland and look for Ezaarem there. Why?  Its fantastic news, because your friend Ezaarem is already here and has come to meet you himself!! Yes!! Turn around and take a look!!"

At that point Sanu came running out of his hiding place. The giant saw him, instantly recognised his friend "Ezaarem" and was so glad to see him. He ran to him and lifted him up in his arms.  

"Ezaarem!! You! Here! My lost pal!

My best buddy all grown up for real!" 

Sanu and Totu had lots and lots to talk about. 

They talked about how the giant used to come and play with little Sanu. How he used his magic so that only Sanu could see him.  How he used to do his magic tricks for him. They used to fly together and have lots of wonderful magical adventures.  But at the end of every day the giant had to go back to the Wizard who was his master.

The Wizard had started to set him more and more demanding and difficult tasks, so that the giant could not come often to play with Sanu.  So by and by, and it was sad, he had lost touch with Sanu.

In the meantime Ramu had moved to Kiltland with his family.  Before leaving, Sanu had left a note for Giant Totu in a secret hiding place where the giant was sure to find it.

But now, at long last, after so many years, the two friends were together again.  Soon they were lost in conversation and were laughing, joking and playing together. They forgot all about time and place! 

"You two now, don't you go away. I'll be back."

Ramu left them playing together.