by Ruskin Bond
sahib. For he returned just in time to see the
tiger almost at the top of the ladder. He stood
up in his jeep, raised his gun, and fired.
‘Just one shot! Down
came that tiger—
Mehmoud paused for effect, and all I could say
was: ‘Hide in the water tank?’
‘There was no water tank. All I could do was send
up a prayer to the Almighty.’
‘And he must have heard you.’
‘He did indeed, baba. And so did Carpet-
sahib. For he returned just in time to see the
tiger almost at the top of the ladder. He stood
up in his jeep, raised his gun, and fired.
‘Just one shot! Down
came that tiger—
all in a heap—Carpet-sahib’s last tiger.’
‘It was yours, too,’ I said. ‘You were very brave. Jim
Corbett must have been pleased with you.’
‘Oh, he seemed pleased, but his sister was upset
because of all the broken furniture and the smashed
tiffin-carrier. I told hershe would
not need the stuff
in Africa but she wasn’t
amused. Memsahibs are a
bit funny and fussy about little
things like furniture!’
.7.
Mehmoud Retires
Well, these weren’t the only stories I
heard from Mehmoud, but they are
the ones I remember the best. He
was with us for a couple of years before returning
to his village in order to get married—before he
grew ‘too old’, he said—although he was only
thirty. We heard later that he had settled down in
his village, preferring the life of a cultivator to that
of a cook. Working in our kitchen must have been
pretty monotonous—no tigers ever came calling!
He was a wonderful cook, and I missed his cutlets
and curries, his patties and pies, his sauces and stews,
and his mango milkshakes. But most of all I missed
his stories—even if they were a bit on the tall side!
Mehmoud’s Sayings
To find adventure, follow a strange road
or try a new dish.
*
A life without surprises is a life with
no living.
*
What good is a full bank account
if your life is empty?
*
Flowers may fade,
but a true friend—never!