THE DAY GRANDPA TICKLED A TIGER

Grandpa James was extremely fond of animals and his house in Dehradun was like a mini zoo. There was an odd collection of A monkey, A goat A chameleon, A hornbill, A Squirrel, several Buffaloes and also a young python .The animals had become part of the household and one day Grandpa had a visitor .We are expecting an important group of people from Delhi for shikar ,would you .Please guide them Mr James .Who, me my dear abut you know I don’t hunt.
I know sir .But you could help them track tigers you know this area so well .That’s true I will guide them .But I cannot promise any tigers mind you. So along went grandpa with the group of eager hunters what an impressive sight they made .But by evening, phew I am tried .We have been trudging all day in these hills and not a tiger in sight . I say let’s go back to the guest house. Thank you Mr. James you did try to help us.
As Grandpa took a short cut home hey what is this a tiger cub as well . I will take you home you seem to be lost. Grandmother marry was anxiously waiting outside the house. You have been away so long .I was getting worried why you have brought a kitten. Yes well actually it is a baby tiger.
Mary eeeeks you are not going to keep it here it is dangerous . Clam down my dear .He does not know he is a tiger . As yet find a good name for him as usual Mary gave in .The cub was named Simba . Look how fast Simba has made himself at home . Yes reclining like Cleopatra on my best sofa. Soon that sofa became Simba private terriorty . If anyone dared to go near Simba snarled hey easy samba grandpa said . I just came to collect my pipe.
Even Mahmoud , the cook who brought him food began to feel uneasy.He really like a spoilt kitten eats and sleeps all day and growls. During the summer holidays hello Grandpa got any new pets Ruskin my boy meet Simba, he is really cute where did you get him ? i found him .Soon here Simba catch the ball “ hey that is not fair do not nip my feet”. Simba loved to play and to explore the neighborhood however . There come James boy and his pet . Let cross the road how they can live with a tiger .I just can not imagine. Back from your walk? Ruskin Where is samba? . I have left him in mahmoud’s room for the night grandpa. One of these days we will find samba on mahmoud's bed and no sign of mahmoud. I hope not I will miss mahmouds curry.
But as Simba grew older older he became more tiger like in behavior. Sahib I dont want Simba in my room he look evil at me .Yes Sahib he chases all our visitors too. A family conference was held I do not think we keep samba here much longer what a pity .Anyway I will write to the Superintendent of Mysore Zoo .A few days later Simba went in style to Mysore the Superintendent of the Zoo was delighted to have Simba .He is a good specimen Mr James so healthy and so docile look after him well please I will try and visit him soon.
But it was many months before grandpa and marry could visit Mysore again . I will go and see how simba is doing you do that. He went straight to simba’s cage well simba old boy . Climbing over the railing grandpa got closer to Samba play with him how have been you been , you old rascal samba growled stop growling at me Samba or you will get a smack on your head.
The tiger now settled down ,quietly licking grandpa’s hands . A Guard saw the crowd and came to investigate when he saw what was happening hey what are you up to?. I am talking to Samba he is my tiger weren’t you here when I gave him to the zoo.
I am new here all I know is that this tiger has a terrible temper . I never touch him. Ah there the other guard you know this is my tiger .Don’t you know sir it is not your tiger. Oh I know he belongs to the zoo now but he was mine. But sir ,it is not your tiger at all . Your tiger died two months ago .Yes sir of pneumonia this tiger was trapped in the hills only last month he is very dangerous.
All this while Grandpa was still stroking the tiger who kept licking Grandpa’s hand at the guard words , grandpa slowly withdrew his hand . Putting his face close to the tiger ‘s he mumbled good night Simba and then with a scornful look at the guard ,grandpa walked briskly out of the Zoo.