Two Detectives

One morning, Nikhil and Akhil's Dad returned from his walk in the park, unusually upset.

- Vandana Gupta

“This has gone too far,” he said while sipping tea, “Thefts are happening in broad daylight now.”

“Where did the theft take place?” Mom asked.

“It was at one of the houses in the next colony, and it happened yesterday. The residents had gone on a vacation to the mountains, and the front door was locked. The thieves broke in through the rear window and stole valuables, that too during the daytime.”

“Everyone stays indoors during cold days with their heaters on. The thieves know this, and are not afraid to strike during the day,” Mom said.

“Where’s your uncle?” Dad asked the children. Their uncle was in town and both children were quite fond of him.

“He’ll be here soon,” Akhil answered.

“Bhaiya, do you think the police will catch the thieves?” Akhil asked his older brother Nikhil later as they sat at the dining table, after tea.

“Let’s see. In the book I just read, the kids solved the case before the police did,” Nikhil replied thoughtfully. Akhil's eyes lit up. “Should we try to catch the thieves ourselves?”

“Let’s give it a try!” replied Nikhil.

In the afternoon, the two brothers went to the house where the theft had taken place and began snooping around.

“Bhaiya, the police must have already checked thoroughly. What will we find now?” Akhil asked.

“We might find something the police missed,” Nikhil said hopefully.

After some time, Akhil held up an empty pouch of mouth freshener. “This must have been thrown by the thief! We could use this to find him!” he said.

Nikhil held up a broken slipper. “I found it near that bush. The thief must have broken it while running away,” he explained.

The children looked around for some more time and didn’t find any more suspicious objects. As they were leaving, Akhil pointed, “Bhaiya, that tall man with long hair and a mole on his face—he looks scary.”

Nikhil turned to see a man of that description in a