The Mysterious Box

Chirag and Nidhi's holidays were on, and they were playing at home. Mummy and Papa had gone to the office. The doorbell rang. There was a courier addressed to Chirag.

- Vandana Gupta

Just then, the children saw their neighbour, Dinesh Uncle, coming out of his house. "Children, have you received a package?" he asked.

"Yes," the children said excitedly.

"That's good. I'm also expecting one. I was waiting for it."

"He looked so happy as if this package had come for him," remarked Nidhi, going inside.

"This is the first time a package has arrived for me, and that too, such a big and heavy one," said a delighted Chirag.

"Who has sent it?" Nidhi wanted to know.

Chirag looked carefully at the box. "I don't know. There is no name. Just a phone number, but it has come from Jaipur."

"I wonder what's inside it," Nidhi was curious.

"Let's open it and see," Chirag opened the box hurriedly.

There was a storybook inside.

"Strange that such a big box has been used to send such a small book," Chirag thought out loud. "And we don't even know anyone in Jaipur."

"Bhaiya, your birthday is coming. Someone wants to surprise you, maybe that's why there is no name," Nidhi guessed.

"At least there's a phone number. Let me call this number," Chirag said while dialling the number, which turned out to be a wrong number.

They called all their relatives and friends and enquired about the book but they got no clue about the sender.

"Let it be. We will get to know that sooner or later. Let me throw the box," said Chirag, picking it up, but he struggled.

"Nidhi, this box is empty but it still seems so heavy." Nidhi picked up the box. "Yes, it is heavy. Let's not throw it just now. We'll show it to Mummy and Papa in the evening."

As soon as Mummy and Papa got back, the children showed their parents the book.

"Good! You love stories, don't you? You can read it," Mummy smiled.

"But, Mummy, the box does not have the sender's name or address and it is so big and heavy."