(Short Story)
This time the monsoon was delay and was not enough to harvest the farm of fill up the big ponds the river Ghagra keep flowing neither Grandmother's tricks nor children's tricks of unclothing succeeded in the rain. Only one sound come from everywhere "all clouds gives water". On the request of children God gave the water but that too like the urine of God India. Rain water was not enough as the small ponds were also not filled up. Only mud and mud everywhere. Like the clouds were there lightning sounds were also heard it was appearing that it will rain heavily. After that we will go to our grand nana's place and enjoy the sweets and drinks over there. But the almighty's vision was something else. Now with the water of tube well we are sowing the crop of rice. If the crop will not grow as required then we will be of a very little value.
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Realistic Rural woman painting by ilayaraja
This time the monsoon was delay and was not enough to harvest the farm of fill up the big ponds the river Ghagra keep flowing neither Grandmother's tricks nor children's tricks of unclothing succeeded in the rain. Only one sound come from everywhere "all clouds gives water". On the request of children God gave the water but that too like the urine of God India. Rain water was not enough as the small ponds were also not filled up. Only mud and mud everywhere. Like the clouds were there lightning sounds were also heard it was appearing that it will rain heavily. After that we will go to our grand nana's place and enjoy the sweets and drinks over there. But the almighty's vision was something else. Now with the water of tube well we are sowing the crop of rice. If the crop will not grow as required then we will be of a very little value.
Suddenly Rasbatia went quiet and spanking on her forehead.
She said after a long time men has come back and I was busy telling tales. OK
leave it tell me how is the food cooked.
Just like Holy water.
Oh shaking her head and covering her face with saree she
turned. After several months seeing her husband back se was so glad that it was
appearing like whole lot of love was clearly visible in her eyes.
In the village there were so many unemployed and very few
were employed and of low income. Only some who have earned much education that
person say bye to village. After becoming at order age Ram Avtar also did the
same his mother wept and cried but of no use. Ram Avtar left for the city.
After his marriage Ram avtar went to city to earn rupees
after one year he has come back to his village and when frisked by Rasbatia Ram
Avtar says whenever there was a whisper then the veins of brain started humming
and a felling of insecurity then only the remembrance of village comes through. There is no any
musical instrument in the city nor any folk songs being sung only the people
are vanishing in the crowd and the customs & traditions are being blown out
of air. Remixes are there in the city. In air conditioned chambers people
sitting and giving the description of clouds and Baba Kalidas and Tulsidas
singing Chumma-Chumma.
And talking in the same manner Ram Avtar went silent. Oh I am
also talking meaningless. Tell me how are you and what's the news about
village. Oh, don’t ask the news of the village here a canal was being dug up.
In that case village head was murdered and on the other hand Satrohna…………
saying this Rasbatia went numb. What happened to Satrohna. Ram Avtar spooked Rasbatia.
Rasbatia replied. In this Dussehra Holidays his Chachi fixed his wedding with
the daughter of teacher Trilochan of Badhaipurwa. Bedhuni only one week passed
of the marriage that there was a call from army that in the KARGIL Pakistani
soldiers have attacked. Chachi told him that Pakistani soldiers are very cruel
beware of them.
Satrohna went back after seven days a letter came that he had
reached safely and now he is being sent to KARGIL. Badhuni heaved a sign of relief
and then started praying Goddesses. Here in the village rumours went around
some say that Pakistani have captured KARGIL but some other say that Government
is hiding the truth and Pakistani soldiers have entered too far. Some say that
our country has suffered a huge loss. But some say that no it's not like this our
army has driven them back.
A day passed by there was no news about Satrohna. Budhani
served her mother in law used to cook food and made her mother in law eat. She
used to work ship all Gods and Goddess but no news about Satrohna. No letter
came from Satrohna's end.
On the day of Kalipuja Budhani cooked delicacies and served
for her mother in law. After her mother in law had those delicious foods when
she herself sat to have those delicacies she thought that her lips have dried
up by the thirst and hunger. By the cold her body colour began to turn blue.
Badhuni threw the bite on the floor she was going to eat.
Why are you doing like this asked her mother in law. Being a
bahu of house you should not throw the bite on the floor. It is unfair Badhuni
turned red faced. Again she tried to have one more bite from her plate. But
same thing happened she felt tasteless and unable to chew but again she thought
that same unusual could happen to her husband so she ate that bite but vomited.
Then her mother in law did not forced her to eat. She began to think that now
her tongue has lost the taste of delicious foods. As she had also lost the
taste fifteen years back.
OK enough is enough now I can't hear Rasbatia. Only tell me
where is Badhuni. He asked with heavy heart.
After the death of her husband people of the village started
commenting they use to say that she is a witch as she has taken the life of her
husband. She lived until her mother in law was alive. When her mother in law
died she also had rat poison and ended her life. Saying the Rasbatia eyes were
also filled with tears that hugging Ram Avtar. She said you will not go to city
again leaving me.
Ram Avtar began to think about it that Rasbatia is right.
Upto how much he will run in the city due to fear of his boss threats from
moneylenders and the grocers. Then he
saw some ants climbing up the wall. He began to think that when these small creatures
do not leave hope till their end. Then why should he leave his village from the
problems. At last happy days will also come in my life and on that day I will
blow the bugle.
He was lost in these thoughts then Rasbatia hooked him. Wake
up its raining heavily get inside the house. I have cooked the pakories of
besan and onion for you.
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