Blowing into the Flute

It was a Sunday. A day when the schools remained closed, a day Ayaan was always happy about. He had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted on that day.



In his hand Ayaan held a flute, it was his grandfather’s. It rolled out when Ayaan’s mother was rearranging one of the cupboards of the house and the flute rolled right into Ayaan’s vision and it was claimed very swiftly.



The sound of the flute spread into the apartment. It was not rhythmic or melodious in any manner and there seemed to be no end to it, as it is with children around.



On the days when school was open, Ayaan’s mother would make him sit with the homework and studying, which would also put a pause to the flute being played. But, what was to be done about Sunday.



“Go out with your flute, play it in the park,” said Ayaan’s mother and out went Ayaan happily with his flute, climbing down the stairs of the apartment building, playing the flute in his own haphazard manner. Some of the neighbours had already got a taste of it so they knew where it was coming from, while others wondered what was going on.



Ayaan ran straight out of the building looking around for a friendly face of someone around his age, but there was none, at least not around the apartment building. Maybe in the park.



Ayaan walked towards the park and on his way, he met the old society security guard. The security guard smiled at Ayaan and Ayaan smiled back at him.



“What is that?” asked the security guard looking at the flute in Ayaan’s hand



“This? It is a flute,” said Ayaan showing the flute



“Do you know how to play it?” asked the security guard



“Yes” said Ayaan and he blew air into the flute, once again producing a sound which just didn’t connect and then he asked, “how was it?”



“It will get better with time,” smiled the security guard, when he noticed someone waving to him and walked away



Ayaan ran into the park playing the flute.



“Stop!!” came a voice



Ayaan turned to find Jaya walking to him with an angry look



“Why? Didn’t you like the music?” asked Ayaan



“The cat ran away after getting scared from the sound of your flute,” said Jaya pointing to the direction, the cat ran towards



“Whose cat was that?” asked Ayaan



“Mrs Hirani’s, she said she would give me ₹ 200 if I found her cat. The cat was almost in my arms and then you came playing your flute,” said Jaya



“Mrs Hirani has a cat?” 



“She got one recently. It ran out of the open door and Mrs Hirani said she would give me ₹ 200 if I could find the cat”



“₹ 200? I can help you find the cat, and you can give me… ₹ 100?” said Ayaan



Jaya looked at the sky, it was getting hot as the Summer was at its strongest, she thought maybe she could make Ayaan do all the work now.



“Okay, I will give you ₹ 100,” said Jaya and then both of them started walking out of the park when they saw the security guard coming with the cat in his arms.



Ayaan asked, “Is that the..”



“Yes, that’s the one,” said Jaya



The security guard came near the wo kids waiting



“What happened?” asked Ayaan



The security guard looked back in worry and then turned to look towards Ayaan and said, “Mr Lalwani was returning from the market with groceries, when this cat came running scared and all of a sudden tried to climb on him, I was nearby and got hold of the cat.”



“Mr Lalwani isn’t hurt, is he?” asked Jaya giving Ayaan a quick angry look



“No, he wasn’t hurt, but he was certainly furious about his grocery bag falling down, breaking the eggs and spilling the milk out of its packet. I quietly brought the cat here,” said the security guard



“It’s Mrs Hirani’s cat,” said Ayaan thinking would he be held responsible for what happened after all it was him who scared the cat by playing the flute



“Oh! Then Mr Lalwani will certainly have a few angry words to say to her,” said the security guard



“… or you tell no one about what Mrs Hirani’s cat did and Ayaan will pay you ₹ 50,” said Jaya to which Ayaan abruptly turned to look at Jaya, a bit relieved



The security guard laughed and handed the cat to Jaya, “Well no one is going to know about it and I don’t need Ayaan’s money. Now hurry up and return the cat to its owner, I am sure she must be worried.”



The two kids hurriedly walked away as the security guard stood watching them.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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