I stood first in my class in the first quarterly test. Uncle patted me on the back. Aunt gave me a sweet-gulab jamoon. My friends demanded a treat. My friends demanded a treat.

Chachu too came to congratulate me. On seeing him, I shut myself in the bathroom. But I could hear him talking to uncle and aunt. ``Where’s our little nephew-our good nephew?’’ asked Chachu.

``He must be playing outside’’, said uncle.

`` I will give him a prize if he stands first in his final examination,’’ announced Chachu.

I felt proud but was too scared to go out.

In the half-yearly test, too I stood first. My friends and others flocked to our house to congratulate me. My parents, too, sent me a letter of congratulation. Thank heavens, Chachu, did not come this time.

The night uncle told me, ``Chachu is quite generous to the poor’’. ``Also, he loves children.’’

I was stunned. ``Then why does he frighten us? I asked.

``May be for the fun of it’’.

I was stunned. ``Then why does he frighten us?’’ I asked.

``May be for the fun of it’’.

``Does Chachu beat those who don’t study?’’

Uncle smiled, shaking his head. But aunt hastened to say. ``Chachu never spares those who do not obey their elders’’.

Examinations over, I went back to my parents. I knew I would have to discontinue my studies as there was no high school in our village.

The results were out.

``Prasad, you have done very well. You got more than 80%’’.Uncle himself brought us the good news. ``Chachu wants you to come back’’. ``No’’ I said firmly.

I admired Chachu but was terrified of him. I knew I was stupid.

``I am going to the village just for the sake of Chachu’’, I said firmly.

``Chachu won’t eat you’’, said uncle.

``A present is a present, however small’’, said father.

Mother intervened. ``Pashu won’t go now. He will go there after some time with me. I know Chachu loves children.’’

The nest week, a message came from Savita. Chachu is ill. He wants to see Prasad. He has sent him one thousand Rupees.’’

``Chachu has no child of his won and feels lonely’’. The man Said from the village.

`` I will go to Chachu, I will study there’’, I sad.