MY GUARDIAN

Chapter-8

I had grown old now, almost twenty-four years of age. One evening while Herbert was out touring for his job, I was all alone by myself at my place reading a newspaper. I heard a noise of someone stepping on the staircase. For a moment, I thought that it was my sister’s ghost. But the very next moment, I came out of my imagination. Taking my reading lamp to the staircase, I called out, “Is there someone downstairs?”
“Yes,” replied a strange voice from the darkness.
“Which floor do you want?” I asked.
“The top, Mr Pip,” the voice replied.
“Well, that’s my name. Is there any matter?” I asked.
“No. Nothing’s the matter,” the man replied and came on.
He was substantially well dressed but looked like a voyager by sea. He had long grey hair, and must be about sixty. He was a strong muscular man. His legs were quite powerful, browned and hardened by living in the open. As he came upstairs, he held both my hands.
I was not able to digest it and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Oh. I can explain the matter,” he replied.
“Do you wish to come in?” I asked.
“Yes, I do wish to come in.”

He looked at me strangely, feeling and looking satisfied, as if he has found a part of his in me. It seemed as if meeting me was his ultimate goal which had now been accomplished. He came in and pulled off his overcoat and hat. He, then, again held my hands.
I did not like it this time and said, “Hey! what do you mean?”
It was harsh and rude. I knew it. But I couldn’t help it.
He, then, slowly rubbed his hands and said rather sadly, “Disappointment is meant for a person who has come all the way looking forward to this.”
Saying this, he sat on the chair which stood before the fire. I was still trying it hard to figure out who the man was.
Looking all around, he asked, “There’s nobody at home, is there?”
“Why do you as a stranger, coming at this point of time, ask such a question?”
“You are a kid,” he said laughingly, “But you are brave and I am glad that you have grown up brave too.”
In a trice, I recognized him. Although I couldn’t remember any of his features yet I knew him. Even the wind and the rain could not make me forget that man. He was my convict. He needed no file, no coloured handkerchief to identify him.
He rose and came to me where I stood. Then he, held my hand and said, “You are a noble child, dear Pip. You acted nobly, and I’ve never forgotten it.”
He was about to clasp me but I couldn’t take it any more and stopped him.
“If you are grateful of what I did as a child, I think you have proved your thankfulness by changing yourself. You must have taken a lot of pain to find me out, but you must understand,” I stated.
“What must I understand?” the convict asked.
“That I cannot risk to reveal that chance meeting or the conversation that we had,” the convict stated.
I noticed that he was wet and cold. “Will you drink something before you leave?” I asked slackenly.
“Yes, I will,” he replied in a broken voice.
Feeling ashamed of my rude behaviour, I softly asked him, “How are you living?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of things. I’ve been a poultry man and a stock breeder. I’ve done the job pretty well.”
“Oh, I am glad to hear this,” I said.
“I hope you would be, dear Pip,” said the convict.
With a strange smile on his face he asked, “May I know how you have done so well?”
“My fortune has been very good and I’ve been chosen to be a gentleman. I am chosen to succeed to someone’s property,” I stated.

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