The Village Drummer’s Promise: A Short Story About Keeping Your Word
In the village of Mallampalli, there was a boy named Somu who could play the dappu, a flat, round drum, better than anyone. When Somu drummed, feet started tapping all by themselves.
Every year, the village held a festival for the goddess at the small temple on the hill. The old drummer, Yellaiah Thatha, had played at the festival for fifty years. But this year, his hands were stiff and tired.
“Somu,” he said, “will you play at the festival this year? Without the dappu, the procession cannot begin.”
Somu’s eyes shone. “I promise, Thatha. I’ll be there.”
The Tempting Offer
A week before the festival, a rich man from the city arrived in a shiny car. He was organising a big wedding in town and needed a drummer.
“I heard you’re the best,” he said to Somu. “I’ll pay you five hundred rupees to play at my wedding.”
Five hundred rupees! Somu had never had so much money. He could buy new clothes, a new drum, and sweets for his little sisters.
“When is the wedding?” Somu asked.
“This Friday evening.”
Somu’s heart sank. Friday evening was the temple festival.
A Hard Choice
That night, Somu couldn’t sleep.
The festival is just a village thing, one voice in his head said. Someone else can play. Five hundred rupees is a lot of money.
But you promised Thatha, said another voice. And there is no one else who can play the dappu.
In the morning, he went to talk to his mother.
“Amma, if I break a small promise for something very important, is that wrong?”
His mother wiped her hands on her sari. “A promise is like a thread, Somu. Once you tie it, people hold onto it. If you cut it, they fall. Is anyone holding onto your promise?”
Somu thought of Yellaiah Thatha, the villagers, and the goddess’s procession waiting for his drum.
Keeping His Word
That afternoon, Somu found the rich man at the tea stall.
“Thank you for the offer, sir,” he said. “But I already promised to play at our temple festival on Friday. I can’t break my word.”
The man frowned. “You’re turning down five hundred rupees for a village festival?”
“Yes, sir,” Somu said, though his voice shook a little.
The man shook his head and drove away.
The Festival
On Friday evening, the whole village gathered at the foot of the hill. Lamps flickered. The goddess’s decorated palanquin waited.
Somu lifted his dappu and began to play. Dhum-dhum, dhaka-dhaka, dhum! The villagers cheered. The procession began, winding up the hill with music, dancing, and flowers. Yellaiah Thatha walked beside Somu, tapping his stick in time, his eyes full of pride.
An Unexpected Guest
At the top of the hill, Somu noticed a familiar figure in the crowd. It was the rich man from the city.
“My wedding plans changed,” he said. “I came to see what was so important that you would refuse my money.”
He watched the villagers dancing and the old drummer smiling.
“A boy who keeps his word even when it costs him,” the man said, “is a boy I can trust. My son’s wedding is next month. Will you play? And bring your teacher too.”
Somu grinned from ear to ear. “I promise, sir. And I always keep my promises.”
Moral of the Story
Keeping your word shows others that they can trust you. A promise is valuable because it is kept even when breaking it would be easier or more rewarding.
Questions to Discuss
- What promise did Somu make to Yellaiah Thatha?
- Why was it hard for him to keep it?
- What did his mother mean when she compared a promise to a thread?
- Why did the rich man trust Somu in the end?
This story about keeping promises is a lovely way to talk about trust, integrity, and doing the right thing.
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- Why We Love Tenali Ramakrishna – The Cleverest Kid in History!
- The Vow of Bhishma
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