Raju and Chetan were very excited. The cricket match in the park with their friends had really been thrilling. Both of them had played well, taking the match to a nail biting finish. It was almost 7 'o' clock in the evening and they were rushing home before it became dark.

As they were walking on the side walk, a figure suddenly appeared right in front of them. A tall man wearing dark glasses ordered them to halt.

Both Raju and Chetan were taken aback. Suddenly, the man sensing their fear changed his tone and spoke politely, “Are you coming from the park?” “Yes”, replied Raju. Chetan tried to pull him. He remembered how his mother used to warn about talking to strangers.

But Raju was stubborn. He thought that he was a grown up boy and could take care of himself. He wanted to show Chetan how mature and smart he was. So, Raju continued talking to the stranger.

The man began to look into the children's eyes intensely. Then he said, “Oh! I am feeling so bored. We could play a game in the park. I have a surprise gift which I will give you if you play with me.”

Raju was thrilled to hear about the gift.

“Yes, yes, we will play.” Raju looked at Chetan. And he asked in the same breath “What is the gift?”

“Well, it is a surprise.”

“Let's go back into the park.”

The three of them went into the park. It was almost empty. The man found a secluded spot.

“What is the game?” asked Raju.

“It is simple. I want to test which one of you is stronger.” The one who wins, will get Rs.100/- from me.

“Oh! that is great”, Chetan spoke all of a sudden.

“What do we have to do?”

“It is simple and easy. Just slap yourself on the cheek. Let's see for how long you can do it.”

The boys were quiet. It was a very strange test. But somehow they were both hypnotized.

They started slapping themselves.

One, two, three, they went on and on.

The man continued to stare into their eyes.

Their cheeks were turning red.

And then, a whole group of people suddenly showed up shouting-

“Raju, Chetan, where are you?”

As the sounds began to come closer, the man ran off.

The crowd found Raju and Chetan still slapping themselves.

Nobody knew where the man went or what his intentions were! The children were in a state of shock.

Tears rolled down every eye seeing the plight of the children. However, their mothers were really happy to see them safe. They had raised an alarm when the children did not come home by 8 'o' clock. It was then that all the neighbours gathered and began searching for the kids. The children told their side of the whole story only when they reached home. They were grateful that due to their parents'timely action, they gotsaved. And they learnt an important lesson “Never trust or talk to strangers”.

Moral : Never trust strangers.

Questions:

Q1.Where were Raju and Chetan coming back from?

Q2.Whom did they meet on the way?

Q3.How did the stranger lure the children?

Q4.How were Raju and Chetan saved?

Glossary

Intensely     :  deeply

Secluded     :  hidden from view

Hypnotized :  to attract someone in a mysterious way

Intentions   :  something that you want or plan to do

Vigilance    :  careful attention