Ruskin Bond - Classic Ruskin Bond

The Room on the Roof

Chapter One

T HE LIGHT SPRING RAIN rode on the wind, into the trees, down the road; it brought an exhilarating freshness to the air, a smell of earth, a scent of flowers; it brought a smile to the eyes of the boy on the road.

The long road wound round the hills, rose and fell and twisted down to Dehra; the road came from the mountains and passed through the jungle and valley and, after passing through Dehra, ended somewhere in the bazaar. But just where it ended no one knew, for the bazaar was a baffling place, where roads were easily lost.

The boy was three miles out of Dehra. The further he could get from Dehra, the happier he was likely to be. Just now he was only three miles out of Dehra, so he was not very happy; and, what was worse, he was walking homewards.

He was a pale boy, with blue-grey eyes and fair hair; his face was rough and marked, and the lower lip hung loose and heavy. He had his hands in his pockets and his head down, which was the way he always walked, and which gave him a deceptively tired appearance. He was a lazy but not a tired person.

He liked the rain as it flecked his face, he liked the smell and the freshness; he did not look at his surroundings or notice themhis mind, as usual, was very far awaybut he felt their atmosphere, and he smiled.

His mind was so very far away that it was a few minutes before he noticed the swish of bicycle wheels beside him. The cyclist did not pass the boy, but rode beside him, studying him, taking in every visible detail, the bare head, the open-necked shirt, the flannel trousers, the sandals, the thick hide belt round his waist. A European boy was no longer a common sight in Dehra, and Somi, the cyclist, was interested.

Hullo, said Somi, giving his bell a tinkle. The boy looked up and saw a young, friendly face wrapped untidily in a turban.

Hullo, said Somi, would you like me to ride you into town? If you are going to town?

No, Im all right, said the boy, without slackening his pace, I like to walk.

So do I, but its raining.

And to support Somis argument, the rain fell harder.

I like to walk in the rain, said the boy. And I dont live in the town, I live outside it.

Nice people didnt live in the town...

Well, I can pass your way, persisted Somi, determined to help the stranger.

The boy looked again at Somi, who was dressed like him except for short pants and a turban. Somis legs were long and athletic, his colour was an unusually rich gold, his features were fine, his mouth broke easily into friendliness. It was impossible to resist the warmth of his nature.