We were a group of friends and we would meet on Fridays under the big tree outside the school compound. We would normally discuss school happenings, plan outings and go out bird-catching and also bird-watching. Soon we were known by the name of 'Young Nature Lovers'. The weekly meeting was a regular feature, it helped to bring together our various activities.

One Friday we met as usual. Sheikh was a little disturbed. He was unhappy with the way his new neighbor treated his dogs. He had seen two of them, big Alsatians. But he underfed them and beat them and they would cower under his gaze. They used to be chained the whole day long. Sheikh had been upset for many days now. Earlier he had thought this was just a precaution the man took on having shifted to a new area. but, as the days passed, both his fear and dislike of the man got a strong hold over him. We decided to have a conference and to plan a course of action against the new neighbor. We wanted to teach him a lesson. 

Hussain was the most agile and alert among us and so we decided to hand over the campaign to him and asked him to plan a course of action. Hussain said he would think over it and let us know the following day. Having fixed up a meeting place, we went to our respective homes. 

The next day Hussain was all eager and bright when we got together and we were all eyes and ears. He had made up his mind and now he explained to us the plan. He felt that the man should he subjected to the same treatment as he subjected the dogs to and the best way was to lead him to a room, corner him and then let the dogs loose on him. But the very idea of cornering him was a little too much for us. How would we do it? Who would bell the cat? 

But Hussain had an answer to this. He would pretend to be injured outside the man's house and thus the man would he compelled to take him inside. Once there, it was up to us to help him. We questioned Sheikh closely regarding his neighbor's habits and working hours. It appeared that he went for a walk every evening regularly at seven. The best thing would be to meet him on his return when in the evening light he would not be able to recognize anyone even by chance.

Some of us climbed some trees just outside his house. As the man returned from his walk at about half-past seven. Hussain was there lying on the roadside groaning away to glory. The man stopped and in his brisk way started questioning Hussain who answered with spasms of pain. He said he was in pain, had sprained his ankle or perhaps sustained a fracture and was unable to walk. He knew no one there. He had come on an errand for an old uncle and was still some distance from his house. He begged for help and said he was tired an thirsty and would the man help him. Very reluctantly we could see the man help him limp along to his house. He looked up and down the road to see whether he could get some other help, but as there was no one else. he was compelled much against his will to act the good Samaritan. Then just when he entered his house, we rushed on him and closed the door. Two of us climbed a tree and peeped through a ventilator and one of us unchained the dogs to lead them in. In the meantime, Hussain got up and climbed the steps with a whip in his hand. The dogs were ferocious and all their pent up anger found an expression. The man jumped up in fear and held on to the ceiling fan with the dogs barking at him all the time. Only when Hussain had told him the whole story and extracted a promise from him that he'll treat his dogs better in future did we help him tie the dogs and let him free. Gradually he has become more tolerant in his behavior. He gives better food and does not beat the dogs any more. They are also allowed to be free for long hours. Now often in the evenings we see them him when he goes for a walk.