सनकल

 

सनकल

नहरिक काते-काते वो चल जाइत छल। फाटल-चीटल नुआसँ देहक लज्जावरण दैत दुनू हाथे दुनू बच्चाकेँ कोरतर दबने एक सुरे बढ़ल जाइत रहए। जेठक ठहा-ठही रौद। चारूकात कतहुँ क्यो नहि। मुदा ओ अपसियाँत भेल बढ़ले जाइत छलै। कि भेलै ओकरा से नहि कहि? प्राय: ओ सासुरसँ रूसि गेल छल। थाकल, ठेहियाएल वो पाकड़िक छाहरि देखि बसि गेल। ओकर आँखिसँ नोर झर-झर खसय लागल। के पोछत ओकर नोर? सुनैत छल जे सासुरमे लोककेँ बड़ सुख होइत छैक। सासु-ससुर, दिओर, दियादिनी सभ छलै ओकरा। मुदा सभ जेना जन्मी दुश्मन रहैक ओकर। ओकर अनेरे खिदांस करब जेना ओकरा सभक धर्म रहैक। खेबो-पीबोक ओकरा कष्टे छलैक। घरबला कमासुत छलैक। मुदा भैयारीमे सभसँ छोट होयबाक कारण परिवारक ऋृण ओकरापर बहुत रहैक।  भाए सभ गरीबीमे छलैक। तेँ जे चारि-कौरी कमाइतो छल से कैठाम बँटि जाइत छलैक। स्त्रीसँ ओकरा प्रेम तँ छलैक मुदा कालक प्रभाव ओकरो नहि छोड़लकै। समय बीतलासँ ओकरा सौन्दर्य-सौष्ठव कम भए गेल छलैक आ ओकर ध्यान क्रमश: कोनो आन स्त्रीपर केन्द्रित होमए लागल छलैक। ओ स्त्री सुन्नरि तँ छलै, संगहि ओकरामे आधुनिकताक पुट सेहो छलैक, आंगिक चमत्कार छलैक आ यौवनक मादकता ओकरा आकर्षणक केन्द्र बना देने छलैक...।

कोना-ने-कोना यैह बात सभ ओकरा कानमे पड़लैक जे ओकरा पचाओल नहि भेलैक। दरिद्राक भार फराक, तंदुरूस्ती घटैत से छलैक आ ओमहर घरबलाक उपेक्षापूर्ण आचरण...।

मोन जेना बेरक्त भए गेल रहैक आ तँए एक दिन वो सासुरसँ काँखक तर बच्चाकेँ दबने भागि गेल।

नैहर धनिक तँ छलै मुदा भाए सबहक राज। बाप मरि गेलै आ माए सेहो बुढ़ भए गेल छलैक। क्यो घरमे मोजर नहि करइ। मुदा बेटीक तँ की नहिरे की सासुरे। आ तँए भागल-भागल जखन वो नैहर पहुँचल तँ चारूकात गामक नव-पुरान लोक ओकरा घेरि लेलक।

“किछु सुनलिऐ? फलनमाक बेटी सासुरसँ भागि अयलैक अछि।”

इत्यादि-इत्यादि, जकरा जे फुराइक से बाजैत छलै। आर वो हतप्रभ बीच अँगनामे ठाढ़ रहए। के खोंइछ खोलत आ के पटिया ओछा कऽ बैसय कहतैक। अपने घरमे वो पराया बनल छल। क्यो सहारा नहि बुझाइ।

ताबतमे प्राण दाइ कतहुँसँ एलखिन आ कहलखिन-

“दूर जाइ जाउ। केहन पाथर भए गेलहुँ अहाँ लोकनि...! बेटी डाटी छइक आइ आयल, काल्हि चल जायत। तकर अनादर किऐक करैत जाइत छी।”

कैटा कनियाँ सभ आबि गेल छलैक ओहि आँगनमे। तीनटा ओकर  भाए छलैक। भरि-भरि दिन वो जेठकाकेँ कोरा खेलबैत रहैत छलैक। जाड़क मासमे रौदमे तेल लऽ देह मलैत रहए आ कनेको जहाँ बच्चाकेँ सर्दी होइक तँ जेना ओकर प्राण सन्न दय रहि जाइत रहैक। मुदा आइ चारि-पाँच दिन अयला ओकरा भए गेल छलैक आ ताधरि जेठकासँ टोका-चाली नहि भेलैक।  भाए सभ तीनू तीन ठाम भए गेल छलैक आ माएकेँ तीनू गोटे मिलि कऽ फराक खोड़िस दैत छलैक।

हारि कऽ जखन ओकरा कोनो  भाए नहि पुछलकै तँ माएक संगे रहए लागल।माए तँ माए होइत छैक किने। रहि-रहि कऽ नोरक धार बहाबए लगैत छलैक। उच्च सुनैत छलैक आ तेँ ओकरासँ जे खुलि कऽ गप्पो करैत सेहो नहि होइक। कारण जे ओकर बात कनियाँ सभ सुनबाक हेतु टाट लागल रहैत छलैक। कहबी जे छैक जे गेलहुँ नेपाल आ कर्म गेल संगे। सैह परि ओकरो भेलैक। सासुरमे सासु, ननदि आ दियादिनी तँ नहिरामे ई कनियाँ सभ ओकर जानक जपाल भए गेल छलैक। तैयो माए लऽ कऽ छल। अहिठाम किछु आजादी तँ छलैक।

“सैह की हाल अछि ओकरा सन-सन हजारो कन्याक जकरामे सासुर ने नहिरे- क्यो कतहुँ सहारा नहि होइत छैक?”

सैह सभ सोचैत रहए। सोन दाई सोन दाई, सौंसे गाममे सोर रहैत छलैक। गोर नार दप-दप छल वो। सिलाइ-कढ़ाइ सभ गुण ओकरामे छलैक। मुदा गुणसँ की हो? टाकाक विआह होइत छैक। बाप धनिक तँ छलैक मुदा कंजूस छलखिन। बेटीक भाग नहि देखलखिन आ एकटा साधारण लोकसँ ओकर विआह करा देलखिन सौंसे गाम छिया-छिया कहलकै।

“सैह हौ, लोचनो बाबू, विचार घोरि कऽ पीबि गेलाह। बेटीक भविष्यक कनियोँ विचार नहि केलाह। पाई तँ अबैत जाइत रहैत छैक।”

इत्यादि-इत्यादि। बेटा सबहक भविष्यक चिन्ता जबरस्त छलनि। की होयत की नहि? बेटी तँ दोसर धर चल जाइत छैक। आकरासँ वंशक रक्षा तँ नहि होइत छैक। मुदा बेटा तँ कुलक आधार छैक। सैह सभ हुनकर पुरनका मिजाज सोचैत रहैत छल।

सासुरमे दरिद्रा चरम सीमापर छलैक। सभ दियादिनी मरूआ कूटए। रोटी ठोकए। धनकुट्टी करए। द्विरागमनक पन्द्रह-बीस दिन धरि तँ ओकरा क्यो किछु नहि कहलकै। मुदा कालक्रमे सभक व्यवहार कठोर होइत गेलैक। पटिदारी छलैक किने। चारूकात सभ ओकरे निशाना बनाबए लागल।

“गे मैयो भरि दिन बैसल रहतौ जेना फरफेसरक बहु हो..!”

घरबला जाबत काल रहैक ताधरिक क्यो ओकरा किछु नहि कहितै। ओकरा काजपर जाइते फेर वैह रामा वैह खटोली। ओकरा बासन छुआओल गेल आ क्रमश: ओ पार लगा कऽ चौका-बासनक काज करए लागल। मुदा ओहि घरमे तँ पटिदारी छलैक। जेठकी दियादिनी बड़ क्रूड़ छलैक। ओकर इच्छा जे कुटनी-पिसनीमे सेहो पार लगौक। किछु दिनक बाद ओकरा सन्तान हेबाक सम्भावना भेलैक। मुदा ताहिसँ की? भानस-भात, कुटनी-पिसनी आ ताहिपर सँ सासु ओ ससुर तथा दियादिनी सबहक कटाह गप-सप्प।

सुनैत-सुनैत ओकर दम फुलैत छल। मुदा करए की? ककरा कहितै अपन दुख। चारूकात अन्हारे-अन्हार बुझाइक। जकर घरोबला ओकर पक्षमे नहि होइक ताहि स्त्रीगणक भगबाने मालिक होइत छैक आ सैह परि ओकरो छलैक। ओना, नवमे ओकर घरबला बड़ आव-भाव रखलकै। नव-नव कपड़ा-लत्ता सभ चीज आनि-आनि दैत छलैक।

मुदा ओकरा ध्यान जेना क्रमश: हटैत गेलैक। ओ एसगरे हकासलि-पियासलि भरि दिन आ दुपहर राति धरि काज करैत रहैत छल। क्यो एहन नै भेटलैक जकरा अपन मोनक भाव कहितै, जकरा लग मोन भरि कनितै। नैहरसँ कौओ पर्यन्त नहि अयनिहार।

“उपाय तँ छलैक। मुदा बोराक आम आ बेरोमे मिथिलामे कोनो अन्तर नहि छैक। साँठि देनहि कल्याण। आ जँ एक बेर ककरो गारामे बान्हि देलियन्हि तँ फेर जन्म भरिक लेल निचैन भए जाउ। धन्यवाद कही मिथिलाक समाजकेँ जे एखनो धरि अपन स्त्री समाजकेँ एतेक निरघीन जीबन वितयबाक हेतु मजबूर कऽ दैछ।” 

यैह सभ बात ओकर मोनमे उठैत रहैत छलैक।

ओमहर ओकर  भाए सभ अपनामे भिन्न-भिनाउज कऽ लेलकै आ सभ अपना-अपनीक धन जमा करैत छलैक। सभकेँ कोठा छलैक। जहिया ओ नैहरसँ कनैत विदा भेल छल तहियो ओकर बापकेँ कोठा छलैक। मुदा अखन तँ ओकरा बुझाइत जेना दोसर ठाम आबि गेल हो। चारूकात पोखरिया-पाटन छलैक। सैह, धन एतेक आ मोन कतेक छोट छै। ओकर  भाए सबहक ठीके छै कहबी जे टाक आगू लोक सभ सम्बन्ध बिसरि जाइत अछि।

किछु दिन नैहरमे रहलाक बाद ओकर सासुरक लोक अयलैक। बड़ उपरागा-उपरागी भेलैक। आ ओकरा फेर लोक सासुर लय गेलैक। मुदा एहिबेर तँ ओकर सासु बाढ़निये नेने ओकर स्वागत केलक। एवम्-प्रकारेण आनो-आनो लोकक आचरण ओकरा प्रति कठोर होइत गेलैक। ओकर गहना सभ बेचि देल गेल रहैक आ वो क्रमश: अकान ओ सुन्न भेल जाइत छल।

एक दिन ओकरा ने आगू फुराई आ ने पाछू आ दिमाग बिजलीक करेन्ट जकाँ फेल कऽ गेलैक। ओ फेर भागल नैहर। एहि प्रकारे नैहर-सासुर वो कैबेर केलक। सभठाम ओकरा उपेक्षा भेटैत छलैक। नैहरोसँ ओकर मोन उचटि गेल रहैक। तेँ वो सोचलक जे बरे लग चली। जेना-तेना हराइत-भुतियाइत वो बरक डेरापर पहुँचलतँ जे देखलक से देखि कऽ गुम्मे रहि गेल।

भोरक समय छलैक ओकर घरबला कोनो दोसर स्त्रीक संग एसगर घरमे रहैक। ओ चोट्टे घुमि गेल आ भागल भागल-भागल नहि जानि वो कतए गेल।

एमहर ओकर खोज-पुछारि होमए लगलैक आ कएक दिनक बाद एकटा टीशनपर ओकरा लोक बैसल किछु-किछु रखने फाटल-चिटल कपड़ा पहिरने देखलक। ओ ठहाका भरि कऽ हँसैत छलैक- जेना समस्त समाजपर वो हँसि रहल हो। ओकरा ने कथुक लाज छलैक आ ने धाक। मुदा लोक सभ कहए लगलैक जे वो एकदम सनकि गेल छल। आ ओ एकदम गुम्म भए गेलैक। तकर बाद फेर कहियो ककरोसँ नहि बजलकै।  

The real asset

The real asset

It was an affluent family of the locality. It had lot of agricultural land. I had mango plants spread over several acres. The rooms were packed with mango fruits during the season.   

I was the only child of our parents. I was a welcome child. There were celebrations all-round at the time of my birth. I was liked a lot by me parents and grandparents.

Gradually I grew up. I was very smart and active boy. I was doing well at my studies. I had interest in sports as well. I used to call several children of my age group from my neighbourhood daily in the evening for this purpose. Gradually more and more children joined us. We had wonderful time at the playground. However, my father was not happy with my interest in sports as he wanted me to excel in studies. According to him sports could have caused distraction. But I was not convinced. Sometimes I even quarrelled with him on this issue.

 One day a Swamiji(saint) came to my village. He used to deliver lecture on spirituality. His narrations were quite meaningful. Lot of locals used to attend to his discourses. I, too, developed interest in him. I starting following him. He, too, liked me. He would tell me not to ignore my studies and to care for my aging parents. But I was crazy. I kept following him. In the process I would not care for even my foods and other daily requirements.

This made our parents worried. They married me with a beautiful girl. I was not interested in marrying so early but could not say no to our parents and ultimately married. I was just 20 years old at that time. My wife was educated and beautiful. She came from a respected family. Soon I had a child. The boy was very handsome and we both were quite happy. My parents, too, were very much satisfied.

One day while I was returning after listening to a discourse of the Swamiji, I heard lot of noise on the roadside. Some villagers were quarrelling among themselves over some petty issues. They were abusing each other. After sometimes they started beating each other. My father tried to stop them. Unfortunately, he was hit by a lathi and collapsed. Blood started oozing out of his head. He was rushed to the hospital but it was far away. Lot of blood loss resulted in cardiac arrest. On reaching there, he was declared brought dead.

Untimely death of my father left me clueless. I being the eldest son of the family had to shoulder the family burden. I was, too, young and had little understanding of the village politics. The murder of my father had further increased animosities among the villagers. The police filled criminal case against the persons involved in the murder of my father. It was a fact that he was injured by chance but the injury was quite fatal and took away his life.

The death of my father and consequential increase in my family responsibility disturbed me, too, much. It had adverse impact on my studies as well. I could not do well in the University Examination that year. My entire family were having tough time.

Despite the fact that I was the lone male member in the family, I used to be out most of the time listening discourses of the Swamiji. I would forget everything. My interest in the family started receding. I used to be out most of the time. I was taking more and more interest in religious affairs This worried my family. They tried their best to persuade me to take interest in family affairs but I was unable to change.

One day I left my family. I became follower of the Swamiji and started living with him in his Ashram I took the life of mendicant. I moved from place to place and spent several years that way. In the meantime, my family suffered. My only child always missed me.

Lot many persons used to come to the temple. The daily routine was very harsh. I used to get up at 4AM in the morning. Then spent time in meditation followed by listening bhajans and kirtans. Sometimes I used to talk about my family with the Swamiji. The Swamiji knew my family and inspired to bring my wife and the only child to live in the temple complex which had all the facilities including a school In fact, many other families were already living there.

As desired by Swamiji I called for my wife, and the lone child. She immediately came. I was happy to meet my wife after such a long gap. We had a very happy time for a few days. But like all good things that do not last for long, our good time, too, ended soon. The Swamiji advised me to concentrate on prayers and temple work. According to him giving, too, much time to the family was not in my interest as this would only grow worldly attachments which were all false and need to be discarded for achieving the larger goal of deliverance.

Soon thereafter arrangements were made for our stay separately in different blocks. That followed restrictions on our meeting. My only son was kept with my wife. Initially we could have met once a week, that, too, in presence of some lady disciples of Swamiji. But this period went on increasing with lapse of time and ultimately our meeting was totally stopped.

I was following his directions blindly as questioning or even applying mind on the directions of the Swamiji was not allowed. This tantamounted to deviation from the spiritual path.

Many persons had been living separately from their family, so I was not much worried about the development rather I had the consolation that my family is having good time. After a few months of stay in the temple, my wife, too, got anointed and became an ardent follower of Swamiji. She was a great scholar of Sanskrit and had faith in religion.

Swamiji was very happy with my wife as she was progressing very fast on the spiritual path. Soon arrangements were made for separate stay of my child. He was moved to the boys hostel.

Thus, all the three family members were separated from one another. This was done because we had to achieve deliverance from the worldly affairs. We had to realise that the world was illusion and only Swamiji could have led us to the Truth.

Swamiji was very intelligent person and had solution for everything. He would repeatedly advice his followers to forget the world. According to him everything on the earth was an illusion and had no permanent existence. It is changing every moment. So, one need not run after them. They are bound to vanish and cannot give real happiness.

 I accepted every advice of Swamiji but I was unable to forget my son with whom I was very much attached. it was becoming increasingly difficult to forget him. I often talked about this to Swamiji. That followed stricter dose of meditation and lecturing.

Sometimes I would see my wife moving here and there in the temple complex. I would stop for a while but my mind would at once go back to the words of Swamiji: This world is illusion. Forget it”

But my wife would not even for a while look at me. She had completely immersed herself in the temple activities. She had grown faster than me and was given high position among the lady disciples.

One day the police cracked on the temple complex. Swamiji was informed immediately about this. But nobody was able to stop the police from entering the temple complex which was like a fort as they had orders from the court to make a detailed search for an inmate who was missing for last several months. The parents of the missing girl had tried to contact Swamiji several times but was unable to meet him. He could not give any satisfactory answer about the sudden disappearance of the girl inmate who was studying in the residential school inside the temple complex.

Several incriminating documents, videos CDs and computer Laptops were seized by the police. Based on the investigation and proofs unearthed by the police, there was a strong case made out against the Swamiji about his involvement not only in disappearance of the girl rather in several criminal activities including money laundering. In fact, Swamiji was a great instrument in converting black money into white for which he used to charge heavely.

 Leaders of various political parties had developed close association with Swmiji They used to gather in his Ashram from time to time. These activities never surfaced mainly because it was considered to be part of the religious activities and Swamiji had developed very high reputation as a religious person.

TV channels were flooded with the news of the police raid on the temple complex and the possible involvement of Swamiji in criminal activities. Several clinching evidences against Swamiji were in possession of the police. Although some influential persons tried to hush up the matter but that could not materialise because the court had taken a very strong view in the matter and was monitoring day to day progress for the case. Ultimately Swamiji was arrested.

Once Swamiji was arrested, several persons came out with similar stories. Inmates had started deserting the temple. The goons hired by Swamiji tried to stop them but the local administration came to their rescue.

I heard about these developments through a newspaper report. Initially I could not believe it. But I was surprised to see flood of news reports against Swamiji on TV channels.

There was lot of hue and cry within the temple complex. Everybody was trying to get out of it along with their nears and dears. Some of them were unable to locate their family members who were residing separately in the temple complex. I was too much worried to see all this and started searching for my wife and the only son. Luckily, they were safe. I decided to leave the temple complex at once. I did not have money even for the travel from the temple to my village. I was helped by an inmate. He came from a nearby place and had developed affinity for me.

I left the place with my family. Next day, I reached my village home. It was locked for a very long time. My villagers came running and helped me a lot to settle down once again in my village.

I am now living happy and peaceful life with my wife and child. I have learnt a lot from the past mistakes. I have developed real understanding of life. Any talk of Spirituality without character is only a fraud. Peace of mind is the real asset of life. Any achievement without it is meaningless and can bring only trouble. I often used to think about the duplicate life of persons like Swamiji who were cheating everybody in the name of religion.

Escape from the gallows

Escape from the gallows

I am now 85. The village boys and girls call me the storyteller. They would gather around me every evening and insist for storytelling. I too was happy as it gave me inner peace.  It continued for long. One day they asked me to tell the story of my own life. I agreed. The incidents of the past at once flashed before my eyes.

I was travelling from Patna to Delhi along with my mother It was a crowded sleeper compartment. There were many passengers without reservation. Naturally, those with the confirmed tickets were finding tough to get their births. Even those who got it were having so many persons around. I tried my best to protect my birth from encroachment but ultimately had to give in. A police man with gun in his hand sat near my head. I gazed at him but could not do anything. After a while I saw an army man sitting near my feet, so my quota was full.

The train as usual was late. The crowd inside the train was getting restive. Essential requirements like water, refreshments were becoming unavailable. The passengers had blocked the toilets and the corridor making life miserable with every passing moment. The passengers were unable to move even when their destination arrived. That used to be followed by lot of hue and cry. The stranded passengers would pull the chain of the train to stop its movement so that they could get down.

Somehow the train reached Mugalsarai station. Huge crowd were waiting on the railway platform to get into the train which already was overcrowded. Not finding any space some of the passengers moved to the roof of the compartment. There were repeated announcements by the railway authorities requesting the passengers to come down but nothing was happening. The train remained static on the platform for more than an hour. There was huge contingent of the police force on the platform to clear the rush but that was not effective. The train could not move ahead.

Suddenly there was huge sound followed by exodus of the passengers. The train started burning. Many passengers sitting on the roof of the train jumped. Persons waiting on the platform ran away. Nobody was knowing as to what had happened. Soon the platform was packed with injured persons. The train was burning non-stop. Many passengers were left burning inside the train. The actual numbers of the dead were beyond anybody’s guess.

TV channels started flashing breaking news about the accident. Every channel had its own version. VIP’s starting making comments expressing sympathy with the dead and the injured. But assistance to the injured arrived quite late. Many injured persons died of over bleeding.

A VIP had come to inspect the sight of the accident. The platform was cornered by the police force. An old lady with an injured hand was repeatedly crying. She was unable to locate his 10-year-old son who was travelling with her but there was hardly anybody to listen. The VIP was busy taking rounds on the platform, giving instructions. But the old lady kept crying. She was thrown out ruthlessly as she had crossed the VIP security cordon.

 The lost child was none but me.  That is how I was separated from my grand mother while travelling in the crowded train. Luckily, I had no injury. I was totally safe but the incident made me speechless. I could not say anything. I could not react at all. There was confusion all-round.

I kept moving here and there on the railway platform for the whole day. I tried my best to locate my mother. But she was traceless. I wanted to return to my village but I did not have any idea of the return route. I also did not have money to buy tickets. So, I kept wandering here and there. In the meantime, a few persons dressed like army men saw me wandering. They took me along in a car. They gave me something to eat following which I became unconscious. I got up only to find myself in a forest.

There I saw many persons dressed in army suite and equipped with arms and ammunitions. They used to talk among themselves in the local language. They treated me well. I was given good diet to eat. They also gave me necessary clothes and deputed three armed men to guard me day and night.

After two three days I found another boy of my age being brought by same group of persons. However, he was not allowed to meet me. Gradually I saw many such boys who were all kept in separate cells in the forest. I was scared to see the plight of the children who were brought to the forest by these persons and kept confined. The dacoits started training me along with other children. I learnt so many things necessary to carry out robbery. After a few years we were taken out along with the gang and given small tasks. My role in the gang increased with the lapse of time. I used to accompany the gang leader as his most trusted man. I carried several dangerous missions which included bank robbery etc.

13 years have passed away since then. I am a dreaded dacoit. The government has notified reward of twenty lacs over my head. But nobody could catch me so far. In between the gang leader died during an encounter with the police. I was the unanimous choice to take over as the gang leader.

One day while travelling along the road I saw a beautiful girl moving on the road. She belonged to a moderate family of local farmers and did not have much idea about the worldly affairs. She was simple, attractive and talkative. Her body features were remarkable. All this made her an ideal choice for me.

I developed liking for the girl. I followed till her home located in a nearby village, arrived. I gazed at her again and again and returned. I kept visiting her place secretly. She told me that she was Ragini the only daughter of her father who was a Judicial Officer in the nearby court.  She developed some affinity towards me with the lapse of time but was scared to learn that I was a robber. I told her the story of my life. She was pained to know that I had been pushed into this life only by circumstances. She wanted me to get out of the present life but that was not easy. I could have been killed by other members of the gang even when they had the faintest idea of my leaving them. Even if I leave the gang the police would have arrested me or even killed me in a fake encounter. I told her about the situation but she would not buzz.

I myself was not happy with my life. I was further motivated by the girl to change and return to the mainstream. Her sweet words had left lasting impact upon me. I always used to think about her. I continued to meet her from time to time. I wanted to give up the life of robber and to return to the mainstream but that was not an easy choice. The police had registered so many criminal cases against me and my gang members. Surrendering to the police too was a complicated affair. I was not the lone person involved in the gang. I had approached the police through some trusted interlocutor but they wanted the entire gang to surrender which was a difficult proposition. Besides they wanted hefty money as well. Many of my gang members were not interested in surrendering. This situation kept me perplexed.

One day while I was returning from a nearby place I saw an old lady sitting near a temple. A police constable was standing nearby so I could not move further. But I kept looking at her again and again as she resembled my mother. I kept waiting till the police went out of sight. I came near the old lady and was immensely surprised to find that she actually was my mother who was lost in the melee that followed the train accident. I was separated from her unceremoniously and was brought me to the present situation.

I started shouting, Mother, Mother. She recognized my voice and stood up. It was a wonderful scene as she kept weeping out of joy derived from the happy reunion with me after such a long gap. For a moment I forgot everything. I also forgot that that I was a dreaded robber whom police were searching day and night. People started gathering around so I wanted to leave the place along with my mother. I had moved just a few steps when some police personnel arrived there.

The police ran after me. I could not run fast as I had to carry my mother along. I was scared and trembling as I was more concerned about the safety of my mother.  After a while they started firing indiscriminately. A bullet injured my right leg and I fell down.  I become unconscious. I do not remember what transpired thereafter. I got up next day only to find myself in a hospital with the police around. I immediately enquired about my mother but nobody could give any clue.

Because she was the mother of the dreaded robber, the police caught my mother also while she was lying half dead on the road near the temple. She was, however, remanded to the senior citizen home by the court as she was innocent and the police had no ground for keeping her in their confinement. I kept enquiring about my mother from the police but they did not tell me anything rather they would rebuke me and shouted at me harshly

Next day I was the headline of many morning newspapers. They had printed the news with catchy headlines. I was shown lying wounded in the hospital. The news was also being telecast on television channels as breaking news. Many people were talking about me and bravery of the police.

  Hardly anybody was willing to hear my story of life. Hardly anybody had interest in learning that I was only a victim of circumstances and that whatever had happened was done by me under compulsion. But Ragini   was too much disappointed to know all this. The judge was her father. The girl told her father about story of my life. He was really disappointed to hear my pathetic story.

I was not getting even a lawyer to place my version in the court. In that situation the Honourable judge ordered appointment of an advocate to present my case in the court. The advocate presenting my case agreed to fight my case even without charging anything. I had a strong case in as much I was only a victim of circumstances but I was an accused with sever criminal charges. As the matter proceeded in the court, the prosecution could not bring about any clinching evidence against me rather they were basing their accusations all on hearsay and imaginary gossips. The judge asked so many clarificatory questions during the argument from the public prosecutor but he could not satisfy him. After hearing the matter for about a year the judge ordered my release from all charges mainly because the police could not produce any iota of evidence of my involvement.

My escape from the gallows was only a miracle. Only God could have done this[p1] . So, I decided to spend rest of my life serving the poor and orphaned of my village. I brought back my mother from the senior citizen home and devoted my entire time and energy in serving her. My mother was very happy to see me back. We had a happy and peaceful time in our simple village home.

Ragini had played a major role in my life. It was because of her help that I could get justice. I had lot of respect for her. Ragini kept enquiring about me. On hearing that I have settled in my village home and was living with my old mother she came to my village home. She was very happy to see me .

One day she was coming to see me. Her car met with an accident near the village. I heard about it. Before I could have done anything Ragini was dead on the spot. Her body was too much mutilated and difficult to be identified. But I immediately recognised her from the car which she was travelling. I was too much heart by this incident. Ragini had done a lot for me. I wanted to repay but she did not give me a chance. Everything finished unceremoniously. Unable to bear with this unprecedented loss I became speechless. I kept gazing at the sky. I could not say anything to anybody.

I spent some time in despondency. Mother was only consolation but she, too, was not keeping well. Her condition was deteriorating fast. She could not survive long and left me all alone. Thereafter I used to spend my time at the village temple. Years have passed since then. I keep gazing at the sky for solace…………

---

 [p1]

An unknown destination

An unknown destination

I was just 9 years old. I had just returned from my school. Many boys and girls from my village were playing cricket. I also joined them. After sometime children started quarrelling over some issue. I attacked a boy with the cricket stick. He got injured. Blood started oozing out from his forehead. This followed lot of hue and cry. I was scared and ran away from the scene.

I kept running as I felt as if some people are following me. After a while I was, too, much tired. I did not had energy left to move even an inch further. It was a railway platform and a train going to Kolkata had reached there. I managed just to get into it and slept.

Next day when I got up, I found myself surrounded by lot of Bengali speaking people. I could not speak anything as I did not know Bengali. I just kept watching. In fact, co-travellers had helped me to get out of the train when it reached Howrah junction. They were trying to locate my destination which in fact was none.

One of the travellers named Shrikant, offered to take me along. I had no option. I came out of the platform along with him. Shrikant was a known business man of Kolkata. He owned several shops in the city.  He had many servants working at his household. His family was small, comprising only his wife and a daughter.

As I was just 9 years old, they were finding it difficult to provide suitable work for me. The language, too, was a barrier in my rehabilitation. However, they continued to bear with me. I was unable to speak for a few days So, Shrikant asked one of his staff to teach me basic Bengali. I started learning it gradually. I started understanding Bengali in a couple of months. I could now speak a few words which made my mixing with the family of Shrikant convenient.

Shrikant had only one daughter aged 12. Her name was Shrishti. She was handsome. She had great interest in singing but was, too, much talkative and did not like her studies. So, her academic performance in the school was hardly good.

Gradually I was given simple tasks which included helping the only daughter of Shrikant. Gradually she developed affection for me and started paying personal attention for my daily requirements. That made my life sustainable.

Shrishti used to call me Ramu. She would engage me in lengthy talks. I liked this also because it gave me an escape from boredom. But Shrikant was worried due to her poor academic performance. As my association with Shrishti was growing with time, Shrikant shifted me to his factory where other workers were residing. Shrishti did not like this and made lot of arguments with his father and requested him to bring me back in the family residence. Shrikant agreed with the condition that she would take interest in her studies and will not fritter away her time in gossiping.

Shrishti was happy to see me back in the family house. She continued gossiping and playing. She will hardly study. This annoyed her father. He would now take me to the factory along with him where I used to stay whole day. I used to help Shrikant in his office work. However, I felt absence of Shrishti very much. I used to wait for evening when I would return to the  family home of Shrikant. On seeing me back Shrishti also used to be happy. She would gossip with me endlessly.

As the school performance of Shrishti was deteriorating, Shrikant put her in the school hostel. I was permanently shifted to the factory sight where the labourers were my next-door neighbours. I had no choice. I started passing my time with them.

One day there was lot of fight among the labourers. I was, too, much scared at the sight of the police which had just arrived. I thought they have come from my village and are following me. So, I ran away from that place.

I stopped only to find myself in a tricky situation. I could not find anybody around. It was a vacant land near a temple. I was too much hungry. After a while I saw an old couple going to the temple. On seeing me all alone they stopped. They enquired about me. I could only say that I was hungry and needed something to eat urgently. They were kind people. They gave me food to eat and also some money and went away.

I gathered some strength and went up to the temple. I stood there for a while. People used to come, pray God, and go out but nobody had time to listen to me. Finding no other solution, I used to stand near the temple every day .I used to spend night on the nearby road.

One day a mendicant came to the temple. He saw me standing on the temple gate. I do not know what attracted him. He immediately called me by name and started asking so many questions. I could barely say a few words in Bengali. He was a kind man and took me along.

From that date my daily routine changed. The mendicant will make me get up early morning. I used to complete my daily chorus followed by prayer to God. Everybody in the Ashram used to guide me with love and affection. The mendicant was head of the Math and was popularly called as   Swamiji by inmates. He admitted to the nearby Sanskrit school where I started learning. Gradually my interest in learning Sanskrit grew. I started paying full attention to the daily teachings. The environment was so much pious that it transformed my life entirely.

Swamyji used to say that I was a great saint in my past life and died due to an accident near this temple. He would tell a lot about my past life and inspired me to be a mendicant. Gradually I developed affection for Swamiji and got anointed. I became his disciple.

Ten years have passed since then. I continue to serve at the temple. I had acquired good knowledge of scriptures. I often used to deliver lectures on religious topics and had developed respect among the devotees. Swamyji liked me very much. This made my fellow mendicant zealous. They would create scenes against me but Swamiji understood everything. He had often cautioned me against these persons.

One day I got up to know that Swamiji has been killed. I could not believe this. I ran towards his room. His body was lying on the floor. He was actually dead. He was strangulated by someone. Large number of his devotees came to know about this incident and rushed towards the temple. The police arrived after a short while. They took away his dead body for autopsy. They also took away CCTV footage from the temple area.

Nobody was arrested till late evening. Soon there was a breaking news. My name was being flashed as a suspect. Soon thereafter the police arrived at the temple and arrested me and took away in the police van. I was totally nervous and could not say anything. That made them more suspicious. They locked me in the custody room in the police station and kept threatening the whole night. They also used third degree methods. I was absolutely innocent but they would not listen.

Next day I was produced before the Magistrate. The public prosecutor was a lady of my age. She stared towards me again and again. Initially I could not understand this. My dress of a mendicant had confused her but as soon as I opened my mouth, she recognised me and shouted: Ramu,Ramu…?How did this happen? You cannot do all this…. The judge was totally perplexed. He asked her to cool down and to let the court function. The court directed me to be kept in the police custody till next day and was adjourned.

While in the temple I had gathered lot of respect among the devotees. My lectures were heard with pin drop silence. When these devotees heard about the news of my arrest, they could not believe. They started protesting. Shrishthi who was the public prosecutor also did not believe this. She supported the agitators and requested the Government to hand over the matter to the CBI for investigation. The public protest was so strong that the Government had no choice. The case was transferred to the CBI.

The court was informed about the decision of the Government to hand over investigation into this to the CBI.  The court, therefore, adjourned after sending me to the judicial custody for three days.

The CBI moved very fast. It reviewed CCTV footages of the locality. It also questioned some inmates. They were able to locate some inmates entering the room of Swamiji from the CCTV footage. But they had fled away after the incident. The CBI made exhaustive search for them and was able to trace one of the killers. He was disciple of Swamiji and was expected to take over as Head priest after the death of Swamiji but he got annoyed on hearing that Swamiji was thinking to make me the Head priest. It enraged him too much and conspired to kill him.

Other two culprits too were arrested by the CBI. All the three accuseds were produced in the court next day. The judge went through the records produced by the CBI and also heard the public prosecutor. There was not an iota of evidence favouring my involvement in the case. The public prosecutor strongly pleaded my case and requested for my release. The judge agreed, deleted my name from the case and ordered my release. The three accuseds were remanded to the police custody.

Shrishti was jubilant. The court adjourned for the next hearing to be held after a week. I was set free from the jail. Shrishti had come to the jail to receive me. Many followers of Swamiji were also present. At the outset people could not believe that the killer was from inside the temple. He had hired two contract killers to execute the plan.

Shrishti had lot of affection for me. She could not forget me even for a moment since we had separated. She was surprised to see so much change in me. However, she did not like my mendicant rob and wanted to accompany her to her office. I, however, could not agree. I returned to the temple.

 I was immensely sad due to absence of Swamiji .I had no peace of mind. Temple was a place of worship. People come here to pray. They are supposed to sacrifice everything before adopting the life of mendicant. But here, too, I saw them involved in adopting dirty tricks for worldly gains. Great scholar and saint like Swamiji was killed by his own disciple due to material ambitions. This made me sad.

I, therefore left the temple for an unknown destination. I had just moved a few steps. I saw Shrishti shouting from her car. She came out of it and started asking so many questions. I could not understand what to tell her but she was intelligent enough to understand my predicament.

I had left the temple but had no destination. She offered one. She requested me to marry her. I was astonished at this but she will not buzz. She put forth very strong arguments in favour of my leaving the life of mendicant which had so much troubled me.

In the backdrop the radio was playing the music..Sansaar se bhaage firate ho...Bhagawaan ko tum kya paaoge..(You are escaping from the world. How can you see God?....)

It influenced me. The contents of the music were not only soothing but also answered so many questions in my mind. I ultimately agreed. I decided to leave the garb of mendicant. I accompanied Shrishti to her household. She introduced me to her father, Shrikant. He could not believe so much change in me but was actually impressed by my behaviour and knowledge. Shrishti was his only daughter. He could not disagree with her proposal to marry me.

Soon thereafter the entire household started preparing for the marriage.

Lot of preparations were made. The date of marriage came soon. I could not believe the things which I was seeing. Thousands of guests had participated in the function organized by Shrikant and his family. However, there only a few from my side.  I was married with lots of pomp and show. They had also arranged for our travel to London.  Next day we left for the honeymoon…….

फसाद

 

फसाद

भोरसँ साँझ धरि ओ टीशनपर प्रतीक्षा करैत रहल। जए बेर गाड़ी अबैक वो सचेष्ट भए जाइत छल। आबय बला लोक सभ दिस टकटकी लगौने रहैत छल। मुदा सभ बेर ओकरा निराशे  होमए लगलैक। अन्तो-अन्त साँझमे ओ थाकल-झमारल गाम लौटल तँ देखलक जे पलटनमाक घरवाली ओ पलटनाक माएमे मचल छलैक।लगैक जेना गंभीर विवाद भए गेलैक अछि। आँगन आयल। मुदा दुनूमे सँ क्यो सुनए लेल तैयार नहि छलैक। मामला बढ़ैत देखि वो गरजल। मुदा बेकार। दुनू मौगी आपसमे एक-दोसरक गड़ा गाटि देबाक निश्चय कए चूकल छल। खवासकेँ नहि रहि भेलैक। ओ उठौलक लाठी आ पलटनमा माएकेँ लगलैक सटाक, सटाक। पलटनमाक माए गरियबैत भागल।

मामला शान्त भेलैक। आइ तीन साँझसँ घरमे क्यो नहि खेने छलैक। पलटनमाक अबाइ छलैक आ तेँ ओ गेल छल टीशन। एमहर पलटनमा घरवाली मालिकक आँगनमे काज कऽ कऽ आयल छलैक। अबैत काल मालकिनी किछु देने छलखिन तकरे बटवारा करैत-करैत सासु-पुतोहुमे विवाद पसरि गेल छलैक।

साल भरिसँ पलटनमा बाहर कमाइ कऽ रहल छलैक। जहियासँ गाम छोड़लकै तहियासँ आइ धरि कोनो खोज-खबरि नहि आयल छलैक। गामक बहुत लोक कलान्तरमे भोज करैत छलैक आ ओहिठामसँ सभ मास क्यो ने क्यो अबिते रहैत छलैक। ओकरे सभसँ पलटनमाक समाचार गाममे पहुँचैत रहैक।

पुबाहि टोलक कए गोटा पछिला मास आयल छलैक आ ओकरा दिया पलटनमा समाद देने रहैक जे आगा मास पुर्णिमा दिन गाम आयत। मुदा नहि अयलैक। एहि बातक अंदेशा रहैक खवासकेँ। टीशनसँ घुरैतकाल ओ बड़ अछता-पछता रहल छलाह। एही गुन-धुनमे गाम आयले छल। खवास कि घरक गरम वातावरणमे आर गरमा गेलाह। पलटनमा माएकेँ तामसपर नीक मारि पड़ि गेल छलैक आ ओ मारि खा कऽ पता नहि कतए निपत्ता भए गेल।

खवासक कतेको पुस्त ओही गाममे गुजर केने छल। मुदा पलटनमा गामक सीमान नांघि देलकै। पलटनमाक एहि काजसँ मालिक सभ बड़ अप्रशन्न भेल रहैक। मुदा ओ ककरो नहि सुनलक। माए जायकाल बड़ कनैत रहैक। मुदा की कऽ सकैत छलैक। पलटनमा कलकत्ता पहुँचते देरी काज शुरू कऽ देलक। आमदनी नीक होइक। मुदा रखबाक लूरि नहि रहैक। संगी-साथी सभ आगत-भागत कए ओकरासँ सभटा पैसा खर्च करा लैक।

एक दिन ओहि मीलमे आन्दोलन भेलैक। मजदूर सभ मालिकक अत्याचारक खिलाफ अवाज उठौलक। ओहि आवाजक पलटनमाक मोनपर बेस प्रतिकृया भेल रहैक। पलटनमा लोककेँ नारा लगबैत देखि चिकरि उठल-

“नहीं चलेगी, नहीं चलेगी, यह बैमानी नहीं चलेगी।”  

पूरा मीलमे तालाबन्दी भऽ गेलैक। मजदूर सभ मील मालिकक घरक घेरा कए देलक। मीलक मालिक लाख कोशिश केलक मुदा पलटनमा टससँ मस नहि भेलैक। मीलक गेटपर एक सौसँ अधिक मजदूरक संग अनशनपर बैस गेलैक। आन्दोलन तीव्रतर होइत गेलैक। अन्ततोगत्वा पलटनमा गिरफ्तार भए गेल। ओकर संगी सभ सेहो जहल गेल। नारा लगैत रहलैक-

“नहीं चलेगी, नहीं चलेगी...।”

ई सभ घटना अनायास भए गेल छलैक। पलटनमा तेँ अपन रोजी-रोटीक कमाइमे लागल छल। मुदा ओकर सोनित कहि नहि कियैक एकाएक खौल उठलैक।

पलटनमा जहल गेल मुदा जेना एहि घटनासँ ओकर संस्कारमे अप्रत्याशित परिवर्तन आबि गेल छलैक। गामक दमघुटाउ वो दब्बू वातावरणमे रहैत रहैत ओ मौन सभ प्रकारक प्रतारणा ओ अन्याय सहैत रहल। मुदा एहि घटनासँ जेना ओकर अन्तरात्माक ज्वालामुखी फुटि पड़ल छलैक। ज्वालामुखी जे संघर्षक आगिसँ अन्यायकेँ जरा देबय चाहैत छल।

जाहि दिन ओकरा जयबाक प्रोग्राम छलैक ओहि दिन ओ पकड़ल गेल। जहलमे एकान्तमे ओकरा कहि नहि की की फुराइत रहलैक। खवासक टुटल खोपरी आ चारूकात गामक मालिक सभहक बड़का-बड़का दलान। पण्डितजीक बड़का दलान। दनानक अगवासमे बैसार होइक। साँझक साँझ गामक सभ प्रतिष्ठित व्यक्ति सभ अबैत छलाह आ अपन-अपन विचार व्यक्त करैत छलाह। लहना-तकादाक हिसाव-किताब सेहो ओतहि होइत छलैक।

बुधदिन छलैक गाममे हाट लागल छलैक। पण्डितजीक ओहिठाम बेस बैसार भेल। पूरा गामक लोक जमा भेल छल। खवास ओतए बुधन बाबूक किछु कर्ज छलन्हि। ओही कर्जकेँ सधयबाक हेतु बैसार छलैक। पँच लोकनि ई फैसला केलन्हि जे खवास अपन घराड़ी बुधन बाबूक नामे कऽ देथि आ पलटनमा हुनका ओहिठाम चरबाही करय। कारण जे घराड़ीक मुल्यसँ मात्र मूर सधैत छलैक आ सूरक तरीमे ओ चरवाही करत। एहि निर्णयक संग ओहि दिन बैसार खतम भए गेल।

खवास आँगन पहुँचले हेताह कि पलटनमाक माए देहरियेपर भेटलन्हि आ समाचार पुछि गरजय लागल-

“नहि जानि ई वभना सभ की की करत। गे दाइ गे दाइ हमर घराड़ी एकरा सभ नहि देखल जाइत छैक।”  

मुदा किछु ने चललैक। दोसर दिन खवास बेनीपट्टी जा कऽ अपन घराड़ी बुधन बाबूक नामे रजिष्ट्री कए देलखिन। रजिष्ट्री घरसँ निकलैत हुनका होन्हि जेना आँखिक डिम्मा क्यो बहार कऽ लेने हो। सगतरि अन्हारे अन्हार।

साँझ पड़ैत-पड़ैत खवास गाम पहुँचल। मुदा एतबेसँ बुधन बाबूक मोन नहि भरलन्हि। पलटनमाकेँ खबरि देमय लगलखिन जे तोरा हमरा ओतय काज करय पड़तौक। हँसि कऽ कर आ कि कानि कऽ कर।

पलटनमाक मोनकेँ ई सभ असहज लगलैक ओ दोसर दिन दुपहर रातिमे चुप्पे-चाप गामसँ पड़ाएल। पलटनमा जहलमे पड़ल-पड़ल ई सभ सोचैत रहल मोन कहैक-

“छोड़ पलटनमा ई रास्ता। कमो खो। की राखल छैक फसादमे। आखिर हमरा लोकनिक कै पुस्त तँ एहिना बीति गेल। सभ अपन चैनसँ जिनगी कटलक। फेर ई आफद कियैक।”

दोसर मोन कहैक-

“नहि, नहि लड़ पलटनमा लड़। संघर्ष केनहिसँ परिवर्तन हेतैक। आखिर अपने लेल लोक नहि जीबैत अछि। भविष्यक हेतु भावी पीढ़ीक हेतु आधारशिला तँ वर्तमाने पीढ़ी तैयार करैत अछि किने।”

यैह सभ सोचैत रहय कि जेलर साहेब आबि गेलखिन आ ओकर चिंतन क्रम टुटि गेलैक....।

जेलमे सात दिन बिता चूकल छल पलटनमा। मीलक मालिक मीलमे ताबन्दी कऽ देलक आ संगे मीलमे काज केनिहार नवका कर्मचारी सभकेँ छँटनी सेहो कए देलक। ई सभ समाचार पलटनमाकेँ जेलेमे भेटैत रहैत छलैक।

ओहि दिन रातुक बारह बाजि रहल छलैक। जेलर पहरेदार फोंफ काटि रहल छल। पलटनमा आ ओकर दूटा संगी जेलक चाहरदीवारी फानि गेल। जेलमे खतराक घण्टी बाजए लागल आ चारूकात विजली जरि गेल। मुदा पलटनमा ओ ओकर संगी नदारद। कतहुँ ओकर थाह पता नहि चललैक। पलटनमा दौड़ैत गेल। दौड़ैत गेल आ बहुत दूर एकटा अज्ञात जगहमे जा कऽ अचेत भए गेल। ओकर दुनू संगी ओकर पछोर देने ओतय पहुँचलैक। 

दुपहर दिन छलैक। बारह घन्टा लगातार दौड़ैत रहलाक बाद तीनू गोटे असोथकित भए गेल छल। पलटनमा अचेत छल आ ओकर दुनूटा संगी गमछीसँ ओकरा हवा करैत छलैक।

संघर्ष, संघर्ष, संघर्ष। पलटनमा अपढ़ छल। गरीब छल। मुदा हालतसँ लड़ए चाहैत छल। ओकर सभसँ बड़का अपराध यैह छलैक। गाममे ओकरा सन-सन सैकड़ो मजदूर ओहि हालातसँ गुजरिकए नियतिसँ सामंजस्य कऽ चूकल छल। मुदा ओ नहि सहि सकल। तेँ गाम छोड़ए पड़लैक। शहरमे पुनश्च ओकरा असह भए गेलैक। यातना, शोषण ओ प्रतारणाक खिलाफ नारा लगा देलकैक। मुदा आब कतए जायत! गाम छुटलैक, तँ शहर आयल। शहरसँ पड़ा कऽ जंगल आयल। आब कतए जाय। की करय। खैर अखन तँ ई सभ सोचबाक समय नहि छलैक। चेतनतासँ कष्ट अनुभूति होइत छैक। तकरो अखन ओकरामे अभाव भए गेल छलैक। ओ  अचेत पड़ल छल ।ओकर दुनू संगी ओकरा गमछासँ हवा करैत रहलैक।

दिन लुक-झुक कऽ रहल छलैक। सूर्यास्तक समय करीब छलैक। पलटनमा सुगबुगेलै। पलटनमाक संगी सभ खुशी भेल। कनी-मनी कछमछ कयलाक बाद पलटनमा फुरफुरा कऽ उठि गेल जेना किछु भेबे नहि कयल रहैक।

पलटनमा ओहि राति जंगलेमे बितौलक। चारूकात जंगलक भयानक जानवर सभक आवाज अबैत रहल। भोर  होमए पड़ छलैक। पलटनमा गंभीर चिन्तनमे लीन छल। की गरीबक हार-काठ पाथरक बनल होइत छैक? नहि, तखन ओकरापर जनमिते समाज एहन कठोरतासँ किएक पेश होइत छैक। एक-एक पल जीवनक हेतु संघर्षमे बीत जाइत छैक। की संसारक सौन्दर्यक आनन्द लेबाक ओकरा कोनो अधिकार नहि होइत छैक? जीबाक हेतु प्रयत्न करैत-करैत वो मृत्यु दिश अग्रसर भए जाइत अछि। यैह छिऐक गरीबक जीवनवृत..?

यैह सभ सोच-विचारमे ओ छल कि कनेक दूरपर पुलिसक जीप अबैत ओकरा नजरि अयलैक। एकबेर पुन: पलटनमा अपन संगी सभक संगे भागल।

मील मालिक पलटनमाक पकड़बाक हेतु पुलिसकेँ जेब गरम कए देने छलैक आ पुलिस ओकरा पाछू हाथ धो कऽ पड़ि गेल छल। पलटनमा भागिते जा रहल छल। मुदा जंगलकेँ चारूकातसँ घेर लेल गेल छलैक।

पलटनमा ओ ओकर संगी पकड़ल गेल। पकड़लाक बाद ओकर हाथ पाछू कए बान्हि देल गेलैक ।

थानामे पलटनमाकेँ एकटा घरमे एसगर बन्द कए देल गेलैक। प्रात भेने ओहि घरसँ पलटनमाक लाश निकललैक। कहि नहि राति भरि ओकरा की की यातना देल गेलैक। पलटनमा आब एकटा मुर्दा छल। पोस्टमार्टम रिपोर्टक अनुसार ओकर मृत्यु जंगलमे कोनो जहरीला जानवर द्वारा काटि लेने भेलैक। प्रात:काल अखबारमे छपि गेलैक-

“भगोरा कैदीक लाश जंगलसँ आनल गेल।”

पलटनमाक बाप ओहि राति बेस पेशोपेशमे सूतल छल। प्रात: काल ओकरा एकटा तार भेटलैक।

“पलटनमा जंगलमे जानवरक प्रकोपसँ मरि गेल। लाश लऽ जाउ।”  

पलटनमाक बाप सुन्न पड़ि गेल। शून्यतामे ओकर आँखि देखैत रहि गेलैक। पलटनमाक माए एकबेर फेर चिचिआ उठलैक आ तुरन्त शान्त भऽ गेलैक। एक दिस पलटनमाक माए आ दोसर दिस पलटनमाक बाप निस्तब्ध, चुप, चेतना विहीन पड़ल रहल। गामक लोक कनीकाल तमासा देखलक आ अपन-अपन काजमे लागि गेल। क्यो-क्यो कहैत रहैक-

“पलटनमा अनेरे फसाद केलक। गाममे एतेक गोटे गुजर करैत अछि, मरि जाइत अछि। गरीबो बहुत अछि मुदा एना उजाहटि तँ ओकरे ने छलैक आ तकर फलो तँ वैह भोगत।”