Cheemi was a poor orphan living in Pune. Nobody knew where she had come from. Yet everyone accepted the frail little girl and named her Cheemi — the little sparrow. She helped people by doing odd jobs for them, such as fetching vegetables from the corner shop or looking after babies when their mothers went shopping.
Everybody in the neighbourhood liked Cheemi, except Kaki. Kaki was the richest woman there. Cheemi, in her eyes, was dirty and inferior to her. Therefore, she would not allow Cheemi into her big house. The house was almost like a mansion with big wooden carved doors and huge halls. Surprisingly, the windows of the rooms decorated with beads and curtains, were very small.
Kaki lived with her son, her daughter-in-law Gauri and her little grandson, Chotu. Chotu was a great favourite with the girls. Gauri was a very nice, educated lady and didn't mind Chotu being carried by others. Kaki, however, never allowed Cheemi to touch Chotu. How Cheemi wished she could play with him!
That year, Panshet Dam collapsed and the waters of the Mutha river, near Pune, had entered the city. The water rose fast. There was confusion everywhere. Police vans were trying to help.
When water entered their house, Kaki and Gauri were on the ground floor. Within seconds the water rose. The police persuaded Kaki and Gauri to climb to the top floor. In the hurry and confusion, they forgot that Chotu was sleeping on the first floor!
The staircases were flooded. It was impossible to get to the bedroom on the first floor. The door to the room was closed but not bolted. Any moment the water could rush in. The women panicked. "Chotu!" they cried. "What'll happen to our Chotu?"
Suddenly the police discovered that one of the bedroom windows was open, but it was too small for an adult to crawl (爬) in. Only a child could. But no one was willing to let their children take the risk.
注意：
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Out of nowhere, Cheemi appeared.
……
Loud cheers greeted Cheemi.
