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The Stranger in the Dark

Story

"Grandma, were you ever lost?" Aarav asked.

She smiled. "Once. God helped me in a strange way that time."

"Tell me," he said, sitting closer.

"I had gone to Surat for work. By the time I finished, it was dark. I took a rickshaw toward my hotel."

"What happened?"

"I'd forgotten the address."

Aarav's eyes went wide.

"The streets all looked the same. I walked and walked. Then I noticed the rickshaw driver was still there. Following me."

"Weren't you scared?"

"Very. I turned and asked him why."

"What did he say?"

"'You look lost, sister. I'll stay close until you find your hotel.'"

Grandma paused, looking past Aarav for a moment, as if she could still see the street.

"I found it, finally. I thanked him. Offered him sweets from my bag."

"Did he take them?"

"He did. Then he said something I never forgot."

"What?"

"'I have two daughters. One is your age. I couldn't leave a woman alone at night.'"

Aarav went quiet.

"So... God sent him?"

Grandma touched his cheek gently.

"Maybe. Sometimes He doesn't come with thunder or light, beta. Sometimes He comes wearing a driver's faded shirt, asking nothing in return."

Aarav looked down at his hands, thinking.

Outside, an auto rickshaw rattled past their gate, its small bell ringing once into the evening air.

Grandma didn't say anything more. She didn't need to.

Worksheet

MCQs

  1. Where did Grandma get lost? a) Mumbai b) Surat c) Delhi d) Pune
  2. What had Grandma forgotten? a) Her bag b) Her hotel's address c) Her phone d) Her money
  3. Who stayed close to help her? a) A shopkeeper b) The rickshaw driver c) A policeman d) Another woman
  4. What did Grandma offer the driver? a) Money b) Sweets c) Tea d) A gift
  5. Why did the driver help her? a) He wanted money b) He had a daughter her age c) He was lost too d) He knew her

True/False

  1. Grandma remembered her hotel's address right away. (___)
  2. The rickshaw driver followed her quietly through the streets. (___)
  3. Grandma was scared when she noticed him following her. (___)
  4. The driver asked for money in return for helping her. (___)
  5. Grandma believes help can come in unexpected, ordinary ways. (___)

Fill in the Blanks

  1. Grandma had gone to Surat for _______.
  2. She had forgotten her hotel's _______.
  3. The rickshaw driver said, "I'll stay close until you find your _______."
  4. Grandma offered him _______ from her bag.
  5. He said he had two _______, one her age.

Short Answer Questions

  1. Why was Grandma scared at first?
  2. What reason did the driver give for helping her?
  3. What does this story say about how help can arrive?

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