THE SHEPHERD BOY

Munian, is 14 years old boy. His mother died when he was 10 years old. His father and grandmother in Pinjur village brought him up. He had very little school education and spent most of his time gracing his goats. From childhood he was found of goats. His father a farmer had a dozen goats. But now he had only 4 of them left.

Early morning Munian used to take the goats to grazing at a near by fields. He played very little with his peer groups. He spent most of the time feeding and talking with his goats. One day when his father had no money to pay a loan he decided to sell the goats to a butcher. Munian came to know this from his grandma. He took the goats to his uncle’s house and refused to come back home. Some how his father promised not to sell the goats. And then only Munian returned back to his home.

One Morning Munian was preparing to take the goats to the fields with his long stick. His grandma advised him not to go, as the sky was dark and clouded. She expected a heavy rain in the afternoon. Munian just ignored her and continued to move with the goats. When he reached the field it became very dark as night. He remembered his grandma advice and prepared to get back. But the sky opened suddenly and the rain came down heavily. He had no way but to take shelter under a neem tree. He waited and prayed God for the rain to stop. But there was no sign for it. He was worried his grandma will be searching for him. So he decided to move and keep running in the rain, but the goats refused to move fearing lightning and thunderbolts. Suddenly the rain slowed down and Munian was very quick to keep moving. He walked pushing the goats with his long stick. When he reached the center of the field, there was a thick and bright lightning. His eyes and the entire field got illuminated for a few seconds and big thunder struck his head. Munian fell down on the earth unconsciously. The goats feared and ran in different directions. The rain again stared heavily and Munian remained lying on the ground with his face down. And the rain stopped at midnight and so Munian’s little heart too.