.........."Son I am going to neighbouring Billo Aunty's house to borrow milkmaid. Take care of the house till I come back", she said and left.
After his mother left, Chiku sniffed the air to notice a peculiar smell. He murmured to himself, "oh, this is the smell of the cooking gas. It seems Mummy has mistakenly left the knob of the gas cylinder open."
Chiku felt nervous for a moment. But then he gathered courage and rushed towards the kitchen. It was dark in the kitchen.
His mother in her hurry had switched the current off rather than closing the knob of the cylinder.
Chiku was unable to see anything in the kitchen, for it was dark. But he was not looking for the switch either, for he knew that if he switched it on, it would produce sparks which might lead a fire.
Chiku was aware of the cautions one was supposed to take when there was a liakage of gas. He was very intelligent and witty.
He moved around in the dark looking for the cylinder. Then once he reached near it, he closed the knob of the cylinder immediately.
Thereafter, he opened all the windows of the kitchen. Slowly, the gas filled in the room went out. The smell also diminished fast.
Just then Chiku's mother came to the room holding the tin of milkmaid. AS soon as she entered the room, she smelled the gas and became nervous.
"It seems, my house will catch fire today", she thought and trembled out of fear.
"First, let me bring my child out", she thought and rushed to Chiku's room. "Chiku son, please get out of the room quickly."
Chiku heard his mother and came out of the room. "Don't worry, Mummy. I have already closed the knob of the gas cylinder. The gas is passing out of the room fast."
Thus Chiku's courage and presence of mind helped him avert a big accident.
Mummy praised his son for his presence of mind and hugged him to her bosom.