That mysterious guy in my life

The very mention of his name gave me strange chemical reactions in my body. My face would turn red. I would then feel a gush of blood in my nerves. I had never seen him but I knew a lot about him. I should say I had an inner urge to meet him. Strange! I was curious about a person whom I had never met. Yes he disturbed me in my dreams too. His name did have a lot of control over me and people used that weakness too.

I was 6 years old then. His name was (or is) Poochandi. I was told he looked shabby, unshaved and dirty. He always carried a big bag in which he imprisons kids and take them away. He always targets kids who don’t eat properly or do not obey parents.

I had a lot of questions about him for which I never got answers. Where does he take the kids? Where does he come from? What does he do with the kids? Why is he always a shabby guy? How does he know which kids disobey their parents?

I found out later that this Poochandi was a menace to every kid. None of my friends had answers to these questions. At one point of time I was really irritated about him that I decided to face him. I wanted to put an end to all problems caused by him to our kids community.

It was a rainy day. I stood on the top of the terrace getting drenched in the rain. Yah I did like rain. First my mom came out.

Mom: (shouting) come in don’t get wet. Poochandi will take u away if u stand there.
Me: No. I won’t.
Mom: Look Vibha u r a good girl. Come in.
Me: I am not a good girl today.
Dad: (coming out) I will get u dairy milk chocolate if u come in.
Me: I don’t want it.
Dad: (Now irritated) U r much more troublesome than a guy. Why don’t u obey? I never wanted this kind of a girl.
Me: (with a sorrowful look) Daddy… but
Dad: (Now melting at my look) See why do want to stay in rain. U will get fever and doctor will give u injection.
Me: That’s okay for once.
Dad: (puzzled) For once? Why?
Me: Today I am going to kill that Poochandi
Mom and Dad: (Laughing) How? U r so small but he is powerful and big.
Me: (with a heroic smile) But today it is my day. All kids will be relieved.
(Then I proudly lifted a packet full of hydrogen bombs, a knife and scissors)
Dad: (Admiring my weapons) Ohh u r a brave girl. But he wont come today.
Me: Why is Sunday a holiday for him?
Mom and Dad (now laughing): He will never come.
Me: ???

My dad came and carried me in and I didn’t resist. Then he told me that the whole issue of Poochandi is just imagination. My dreams of heroic victory over the villain got scattered. I had pictured myself as Rajinikanth or Alexander the great defeating this Poochandi. Well I didn’t give up the thought that I had a hero in me. I am still searching for a villain.