My Nightmare - An Adventure

8/10/2019 My Nightmare - An Adventure

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Chapter 1

During these summer holidays, my

house was under renovation. As such, we

decided to skip going on a vacation.

Instead, my parents thought of sending me

to my grandparents house. My grandpa

came to fetch me. I was obviously very

miffed. Spending vacation in a small village

of Bihar was definitely not my idea of fun.


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I am very fond of my grandparents, but the

town of Araria is hardly a place where you

can spend a memorable vacation.

Nevertheless, I agreed to go there as I was

hardly having any fun here. Grandma was

not well, so she could not come to pick me

up but she was waiting for me. When I

spoke to her over phone, I could feel her

excitement. She had already got mangoes,

litchis and corns picked for me from our

orchards.


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Grandpa and I reached Araria by train.

It was a comfortable journey. The view

from the window was refreshing as there

was lot of greenery and I could see

hardworking farmers working in their

farms. Grandma and Dinu kaka (grandpas

manager cum driver) had come to pick us.

Grandma hugged me immediately and

kissed me on my forehead. At 5:00 p.m. we

reached home and soon thereafter had an


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early dinner. Being a small town everyone

retired early for the day and we all went to

bed at 7:30 p.m.


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Chapter 2

While I tried my best to fall asleep that

early, I could not. I went up to grandpa

and told him that I was unable to fall

asleep. So my grandpa took me to a room

which was the library of the house. The

shelves were filled with books. He went to

one of the shelves and took out his

favourite book as a child The Golden


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Treasury of Childrens Literature. His

eyes shone with pride as he told me that it

had taken him months to complete this

book. He confided that even today, he

reads this book quite often. I could

believe him easily just by seeing the

interesting cover page on the book and its

thickness.

In the same room there was an old but

very comfortable rocking chair. I had not


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seen this room during any of my former

visits to my grandpas house. I asked my

grandpa about the chair and he told me

that it belonged to my great-great-great-

great grandfather.

My mind was spinning with all the four

great(s). So I thought of calling him my G4

grandpa and chuckled, however, I did not

share my amusement with grandpa.

Grandpa left me to read in the library and


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went off to his room. I rocked in G4s

chair wondered as to how he would have

looked and what he would have liked.


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Chapter 3

Suddenly my eyes went heavy and the

fatigue from the journey started to

overpower me and

I was startled to suddenly see a fairly

old man. I thought it was an odd hour for

somebody to be visiting us. He was tall and

smart and wore clothes that seemed a little


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out of fashion. But then I told myself that

lot of people in this area dressed

traditionally.

Hello Raghu! So you are here, huh he

said.

I stood-up from G4s chair to touch his

feet, being our custom to greet elders in

this manner. He looked amused and


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blessed me. I dont know why but I instantly

liked him.

So, are you happy to spend your

vacations here?

I was a little stunned. I could not

answer him at once.

He asked me again You did not tell me.

How do you like it here?


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I wanted to lie about liking it here but

within me I suddenly felt the urge to

confide in him and said, it is hardly any

fun here without my friends.

Oh yes, thats quite true. But you never know

where you will find your next adventure?

Yes! I hope I find some to keep me busy

here, or it will get boring.


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Oh! You will definitely have your

adventure I can assure you that

much.

Suddenly I found myself in the armchair

and was confused. Where did the man go?

Was I dreaming? What a foolish dream?

And, who was the man? What an idiot am

I, I didnt even ask who he was? .


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Chapter 4

I was confused about the man. Was it a

dream?

Raghu.. come and have your

breakfast. I heard my grandma calling me

and I answered Coming

At the breakfast table, my grandma

looked at me and asked as to why, I was


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looking so lost! I hadnt even started my

breakfast. I did not know what to tell her.

I replied softly - Nothing.

Grandma hoped that I was well and

feeling nice and comfortable in their

house.

No, no.. nothing is wrong I am

feeling very nice here.


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Later, I went for a walk with grandpa

and I learnt from him the history of the

place. He took me to a picture gallery in

the house. Most of the older pictures

were painted by some artist and the ones

that were fifty years or lesser were in the

form of photographs. These were family

photographs and included the later

generations.


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To my amazement I saw a familiar face

among the strange faces that had been

painted. It resembled the man from my

dream the other day. The painting was

quite old and the glass on the frame was

chipped from one corner. The man in the

painting was actually looking a bit younger.

He had the same eyes. He had a touch of

devilry in them and arrogance of a man who

knew his worth.


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There were four big greats before I

could reach grandpa. I sure can call him

my G4 grandpa, cant I?

You sure can. grandpa answered,

quite amused by my antics.

For a moment I was just lost in my own

thoughts.


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The day remained uneventful

otherwise. After the dinner I went to the

library and picked up the same book. This

time in the contents I found the story of

Peter Pan. Once again Captain Hook was

being troubled by Peter Pan. Poor Captain

Hook


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Chapter 5

Did you call me poor? You

young fool!

Hey! Who are you? I asked.

You little fool! Dont you remember me!

You were reading about me a little while


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ago. Looks like you havent had almonds

during your life, the voice boomed.

Captain Hook? I asked with disbelief.

And who do you think would come to

visit you at this hour? Hook said.

Come now, dont be rude to the boy

Captain. Let me handle this, said another

voice.


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Then two translucent figures came into

form in front of me. I instantly recognized

one of them from my last nights dream and

the other was a guy wearing the costume

of a pirate and he had a hook in his right

hand. He matched the description of

Captain Hook in the book.

He was tall, fair and handsome but for

the thick beard he wore.


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His clothes were made of a fine looking

velvet and silk. Though, if compared with

the latest fashion, it was outdated and

very garish for male attire, he had a sulking

expression on his face. He seemed to be

highly annoyed with something.

I was so flabbergasted that I could not

utter a word.


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I heard G4 saying something but it took

me sometime to register and respond to

him.

Here Raghu, meet my friend Captain

Hook.. And Captain, this is my grandson.

He lives in Delhi and has come to visit my

home.


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So! Why are we here? Meeting the

boy? I am bored, and how is he of any

benefit to me? asked the captain rudely.

Hmph! I snorted. As if, I was

interested in a villain like him. He might

have been famous during his days but at

the end of the day it was Peter Pan who

was the hero.


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Suddenly, Captain Hook was very angry

and rushed towards me with a sword in his

left hand. G4 was swift and saved me from

Hook. He negotiated with him for a while

then Hook came to me, cleared his throat

and said, Little pal, the God in your world

is not letting me enter the heavens.

And why should he, you devil? I said.

You are a villain. You have been troubling


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Peter Pan and his friends. God doesnt let

people like you into heaven.

So you think that I am the villain?

Even though you know Peter Pan didnt

want to grow up.

So..

Well I think, Peter needed just a little

push to see things more clearly. Peter was


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a good, intelligent boy but he was wasting

all his precious years. Life when filled with

fun is good for sometime but

overindulgence of anything tends to turn it

bad.

And you would want me to believe you

did not over indulge?

Of course I did. But because of my

doing just what you accused me of, I lost


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my hand, I did not have a family, I had my

mates but, they were only with me because

of fear rather than any affection or

respect. As he said all this, his face

turned pale, he became sad and soon

speechless.

I know you wont believe me Hook

looked defeated.

But I do Captain, I do I said.


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I went to him and held his hook and the

other hand in my hand. Now I have

understood what you did was right. Peter

was an orphan; he did not have anybody

who could take care of him, guide him or

scold him. So you tried to do that in your

own way. You are a good man Captain

Hook, even though God doesnt let you

into his heaven. If ever I met Him, I will


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tell Him just that. And I would like to be

your friend, if you dont mind?

Thank you, Raghu. But now its time to

wake up.

Huh! What do you

I woke up to find grandma looking at

me in a confused way. And I realized it


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was just a dream. I felt peaceful and

content.


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I read the story of an ogre and his life

Shrek.

Somehow I have always loved the

character of Shrek. He might be an ogre

but he has a sense of chivalry and honour.

Of course he can be quite exasperating at

times but what mattered to me is that he

always comes around. So I started with my

reading. While I was reading Shrek I

started to think about the movie Shrek


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Forever After, and I remembered the

villain of the movie Rumplestiltskin.

He was a short guy with lot of cunning

and he makes magical deals (complete with

contracts). He has a giant pet goose

named Fifi. His face is large, he has no

facial hair.

In Shrek Forever After, King Harold

and Queen Lillian are going to sign their


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kingdom over to Rumpelstiltskin to break

Fiona's curse, but the deal is cancelled

when they learn that Shrek has rescued

Fiona from the tower, and he wishes Shrek

was never born. Seeing Shrek regretting

the life he has, Rumpelstiltskin makes a

deal with him, taking away the day he was

born. This deal enables Rumpelstiltskin to

be the ruler of Far Far Away, by creating

an alternate reality in which the king and

queen carried out their deal with him and


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then disappeared (Rumpelstiltskin having

twisted the deal).

Shrek tries to reverse the deal using

the exit clause (a true love's kiss, although

Fiona intensely dislikes him) before 24 hours

lapses and he disappears forever, but

Rumpelstiltskin has an army of witches to

stop him and hires the Pied Piper to

capture him and the other ogres. He

succeeds in capturing all but Shrek.


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Good! I thought at the end. Good

ogres are supposed to be happy and short

villains are supposed to suffer.

And how would you know who is good,

and who is the villain? Do you have a

degree in theology?

Huh... no, but what exactly is

the..logy? I said.


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Well Mr. Judge I am the person whom

you were calling a villain, but actually I am

the real hero of the movie. And by the way

theology is the study of religions.

Rumplestiltskin was looking really smug.

Then from behind him came my G-4 and

Captain Hook and Hook said to

Rumpletiltskin Oh dont talk so harshly to

my friend. He is really a nice guy, he would

understand if you talk to him.


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Alright little boy now listen. So you

think I am the villain, right?

Absolutely, correct! I said.

See, huh. he said to hook.

Talk to him. Hook said and

Rumpletiltskin turned to me and said, So

little boy, now Shrek as you know wanted


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his privacy and space and because of that

started scaring people and when his life

changed to normal with his family, he got

bored out of his life and just left it! Would

a family do that?

I was left speechless. I, in order to

teach him a lesson and save his family did

what I did and you people and the God

think I was wrong and are laughing at me,

punishing me, abusing me and insulting me?


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Is that what this world and the ogres

should do with me, just treat me like a

pest, right? he said and tears rolled his

pink-red chubby cheeks.

I held his hands and said Is there any

chance that I am going to meet you guys in

reality with this black background at home

because I am not going to lie, so of course

its a dream.


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Then I added hastily Maybe I can

convince the God to let you in the

heavens, when I meet him!

To my amazement, all of them jumped

with joy and suddenly a huge large figure

stood in the fog and just sat there. I could

not see its face and asked who he was. He

replied politely and in a gentle voice I am

God and you wanted to convince me about

something. Dont bother to tell as I know


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what is in your mind. During the last few

days I have been with you and heard what

Hook and Rumpletiltskin have had to say. I

do agree that they have a point. So maybe

I can let them in the heavens if they want

and they can now follow me. Everyone

went away with God but G4 didnt. I

looked at him with a question on my face.

G4 told me that as a landlord, he had been

like a dacoit during his time, looted many,

spent most of his earnings in an incorrect


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way. I was shocked to hear that. Suddenly

God said that if he now repents his action

and feels ashamed of what he had done

then he was most welcome to join because

God. Gods purpose gets achieved once a

bad soul turns into a good soul. G-4 was so

happy to hear that, that even at this old

age, he bid me good-bye and ran towards

God. Just then I woke-up with a heavy

heart. I tried to close my eyes and re-enter

the dream but I just could not. Soon I saw


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grandma standing before me. She had a

soft smile on her face and helped me get

ready for the day. It was time to catch my

train back to Delhi. On my way I narrated

my strange dream to grandpa. He showed a

lot of interest and when I reached home,

gifted me The Golden Treasury Of

Childrens Literature.


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Acknowledgement

No one walks alone on the journey of life. Just

where do you start to thank those that joined

you, walked beside you, blessed you and helped

you along the way, continuously urged to write,

and to put my thoughts down on. My teachers at

Amity are my biggest inspiration. They have

always encouraged us to follow our heart. I want

to dedicate this book to all my teachers. As this

is the first time I have collected the courage to

write and show. I sincerely hope you like it.

I also want to thank my parents for helping me

shaping the book.

2 12 kreetik Thakur

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My Nightmare - An Adventure