Friday, March 23, 2012

"The Fate Father"

He was the seventh or the eighth child in the mondol family. But he was special. From the very childhood Swamiji had told Vimla, 'this is the one beti, be sure of my words...."sab ko mithai khilao"(greet everyone with sweets)', Vimla only had ten rupees in her hand, among which 5/- was for the bus fare. But still she bought 'nokuldana'; small sugar balls and offered it to the nearby Hanumanji temple. Mani always said ,"if swamiji had said then the lad will surely bring fortune to us unlike the other unwanted daughters" .

Every saturday after Mani left for work alongwith his 'dabba' full of puffed rice and a torch, Vimla would take Shambhu in her lap and hold Malti's hand and pay a visit to Swamiji. Malti was only 8 and shambhu was now 2. Swamiji told Vimla,"She is big old girl now, when she attains puberty she would handle my ashram and you would attain moksha". Tears rolled down from Vimla's eyes and she waited for that day which would provide them nourishment and moksha from all their suffering and dreadful miseries. Vimla sold away her gold plated silver nose ring, her one and only treasure and all the bronze utensils as an offering to Swamiji's 'charan' (feet)


Ten years have passed, vimla is no more and Mani has become a frustrated soul, she doesnot care if his son or daughters have had their meals....He doesnot bother to think that six malnourished mouths are waiting. It was Sunday the 13th and Sheetal had gone to the well to get water and didnot return, Rajjo her immediate next eloped with her lover to the city the following month. Mani was relieved. But he wanted to be relieved completely and so poisoned the rest two. The villagers thought it was just a case of malnourishment that both of them died the same day. Malti gave up all her inhibitions. She forgot whatever she saw as a kid the night when Mani didnot return home and Vimla rushed to the great soul, 'the fate father' for help, only to return as a helpless women, whose desperate cry barely reached anyone's ears. Malti had become resilient and silent from then, she became a mistress to the Swamiji out of desperation , but what to do of  Shambhu???

Mani had nothing left. He had sold out everything, Villagers doubt that Vimla didnot die of snake bite rather it was Mani....His only posession was Shambhu!!!!
Shambhu, the one whom the entire police of Shantinagar is searching for. Have you seen him?? Here are his details-

Tall, dark, a mole in his right face........fiery red eyes ......

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