Page 52 - English Reader - 4

‘Can I help you?’ asked Arjun kindly, going up to

him.

The old man spoke in a thin, cracked voice. He
requested Arjun to let him take his arm. He said,

‘This road is so uneven.’
‘I would love to help you, sir,’ said Arjun, for he

knew he could easily make up what time he had
lost by running when he left the old man.

But the poor old gentleman leaned heavily on

Arjun’s sturdy little arm and tottered along. So
slowly did he walk that five minutes had gone

before they were half-way up the road.
Arjun explained to the old man that he was on his way to a cricket-match, and that he

must not be late, but he seemed not to hear him.

‘Where do you live, sir?’ called Arjun at last in the old man’s ear.

‘Up the road and some way round the corner,’ he answered in his thin, weak voice. ‘I
should be so much obliged if you could see me home. You look like a very kind little

boy.’

See him home? And they were still a long way off! ‘If only he could walk a little faster
thought Arjun. By now the teams would be already on the field and the captain would

be wondering why he did not come.
Suddenly, the old man stumbled over a loose pavement stone, and fell heavily on the

ground.

‘Don’t leave me, little boy,’ murmured the old man.

‘No, I will stay here,’ said Arjun, and he sat down
beside him till the old man was fit enough to get up.

Arjun was becoming more and more anxious. The
minutes almost seemed like hours. Then, at last,
turning the corner came a jolly-looking policeman.

Arjun could have shouted for joy.

‘I’ll see this gentleman home, little boy,’ the
policeman said, after Arjun explained what had

happened.

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