Summary
The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand is a poignant story about a child’s deep attachment to his parents and his feelings of helplessness when he gets separated from them. The story revolves around a young child who visits a spring fair with his parents. As he explores the fair, he is fascinated by the various stalls, toys, sweets, flowers, balloons, and other attractions, and he repeatedly asks his parents to buy him these things. However, his requests are ignored as his parents remain focused on other matters.
The child’s innocence and longing for these simple joys are evident, but his parents, especially his father, do not indulge him. His mother, on the other hand, tries to distract him with the beauty of nature, such as the mustard field and the fluttering dragonflies. Despite these distractions, the child remains fixated on the things he desires at the fair.
However, as the child continues through the fair, he suddenly realizes that his parents are no longer with him. In a state of panic and distress, he searches for them, but in the chaotic crowd, he cannot find them. His cries for his parents grow louder, but no one seems to be able to help. A kind man notices the lost child and tries to comfort him, offering him sweets, balloons, and rides. But the child, now overwhelmed with fear and longing, refuses all the offers and insists only on finding his parents.
The story concludes with the child’s deep yearning for his parents, illustrating that no material possession or distraction can replace the love and security a child feels when surrounded by their parents. The Lost Child serves as a lesson about the unconditional love children have for their parents and the feeling of emptiness they experience when they are separated from them.
The Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond is a humorous and entertaining story that narrates the mischievous adventures of a naughty monkey named Toto, who is adopted by the narrator’s grandfather. The story begins with the grandfather purchasing Toto from a tonga-driver for five rupees. The grandfather, who has a strong affection for animals, already owns several pets, including a tortoise, a squirrel, rabbits, and a pet goat. Toto, with his sparkling eyes and playful nature, becomes a new addition to the family.
From the very start, Toto’s mischievous behavior creates chaos. He is placed in a closet, but his antics—such as tearing the narrator’s blazer, ruining the wallpaper, and damaging the peg—show that he is not an easy pet to manage. Realizing the trouble he is causing, Toto is moved to a large cage where he is kept with the other animals. However, his troublesome nature continues, and when the grandfather travels to Saharanpur, he secretly takes Toto along. Toto’s antics continue, as he rolls around in a kit-bag and causes trouble on the train, leading to a humorous situation where the ticket-collector charges Grandfather a fare for carrying a “dog.”
As time passes, Toto’s behavior becomes increasingly intolerable. He teases the family donkey, Nana, enjoys hot baths (almost boiling himself), and creates havoc by destroying clothes and utensils. One memorable incident occurs when Toto steals pulao from the dining table, splashes water on a woman, and then throws the plate from a tree. Despite the family’s efforts to manage him, Toto’s mischievousness reaches its peak. Eventually, the grandfather, with a heavy heart, decides to give Toto back to the tonga-driver for three rupees, bringing an end to Toto’s adventures in the family.
The Adventures of Toto teaches the lesson that while it is fun to have pets, one must also be responsible and considerate of others’ comfort. Toto’s unruly behavior highlights the importance of maintaining a balance in any environment, and how unchecked mischief can become overwhelming.