A boy with a gift: part V
Please read the parts I to IV of the short story first, before starting with the fifth. You will find them right below part V.
It was an important day for Jaunpur. The government was deploying electrical poles and wires. Jaunpur was moving a step closer to the future. Electricity was a luxury they had only heard of but never saw. Everybody was excited, so was nana. Jaunpur post office was one of the first few infrastructures to see light after dark, free of cost. Rumours said the post office might get fans too. Nana worked at the post office since last 38 years and never in his entire carrier did the building receive such a major overhaul. So by no means was nana going to stay at home today in spite of Sumitra's confession about chottu's nightmare. All the vendors of the market had also applied for connections.
The installment was done. Pundit was called to worship the new system. After cracking a coconut, the lever was pulled by nana himself. The lights glowed and chased away darkness from every single corner of the post office and before people could believe their eyes, it shut off with a loud thunderous boom nearby. The system had failed. Too many connections melted the fuse and the transformer installed in the midst of the market blew, creating enough heat to start a fire. Alas! chottu's nightmare was coming to life. The fire grew with every passing second, torching everyone who tried to save anything other than himself. People ran like it was doomsday, several dying in the stampede itself. Nana tried to save some, but got caught in the stampede himself. If only Ahmed mama didn't knew chottu, he wouldn't have stopped by, pull nana out of the ruckus risking his own life. Nana was severely injured.
Now that it was confirmed that chottu could predict the future, the story spread like a wildfire. Pardon the irony! Chottu became burning hot topic of the town. People began pouring in. First the locals, then the town's people. Several newspapers interviewed him. Poor child had no idea of what was happening. Some called him Krishna, some called him sai, and a few thought he was downright a fraud managed by his greedy corrupt guardians. Whatever anyone thought, he sure was the talk of the town.
As days passed by Chottu made more predictions, They were mostly true some way or the other. His popularity knew no boundaries. Money started pouring in. The family was no longer poor, they could afford good food, clothes and had a lot of respect in the society. Sumitra was often compared to Yashodha, mother of Krishna, no one dared to call her a murderer any more nay his son burn down the village or cause draught. People became sworn disciples and chottu had jalebis for breakfast and kachaudis for dinner. Funny how things had changed him and everyone else.
The new year came, followed by spring and then by summer. It didn't rain for several weeks. Every one was anxious. If the crops failed there wont be any food. The last time Jaunpur saw such weather, it was several decades ago and many died in the famine. It was one horrible nightmare for jaunpur to relive. People ran towards temples and mosques to pray to the lord for rain, when somebody had the idea of the century. Why worship in temples when the lord lives amongst us, the saviour of jaunpur will sure have answers. Everyone agreed. The whole community marched to chottu's verandah.
Chottu perspired head to toe seeing so many people sitting before him. They wanted answers to their questions and chottu had no idea what to say. He didn't dream anything about draughts or floods. But the people didn't understand that. A old man wept before chottu and said:
"malik! mere bachon ka kya hoga? Agar barish nahi hoga to fasal khatam ho jayega. Agar nahi hoga to wo hi bata dijiye, kam se kam hum yahan se bahar chale jaingey jahan khana pani ki killat na ho!"
If only chottu knew what to say. Somebody yelled:
"Inko kuch nahi maloom lagta hai. Inko bas apne doodh aur dahi se matlab hai, yahan sar patak ke kuch nahi milane wala hai lagta hai"
The loss of the followers was last thing the family needed, they have been rewarded for the first time in their lives by the almighty for all the good they did or did not do. Sumitra secretly whispered something in chottu's ear without anyone noticing and chottu finally spoke:
"Eis baar barish nahi hoga. Khud Indradev ki marzi hai, koi unka mann nahi badal sakta. Aap sabhi ko apna apna khud dekhna padega, aur fasal ki ummeed chod do"
Everyone left in utter despair but at least they knew what awaits them in the coming days. Families started to plan to move away for the season to their relatives somewhere else. But even before 24 hours would pass by, it rained! It rained heavily, quenching the thirsts of the dried lands of Jaunpur to the fullest. It was after all Sumitra's fake words that Chottu had spoken, falsehood and greed was punished by lord himself. People celebrated, and ate and drank and realised Chottu was no god after all. Overstatement is a habit that hurts as much as it entertains. News spread that Chottu is a fraud after all. Followers drastically reduced in number over time as the crops became healthy and Jaunpur had a good enough harvest. The family was ashamed. Nobody blamed Chottu, Sumitra was responsible for the fiasco. Chottu felt disgraced and humiliated, he realised his family was using his talents for lifestyle and power. He stopped talking to his mother in anger and frustration.
The village was planning the annual "Bhadra mela" to celebrate the harvest. Fields beside the river were cleared, families setup tents to sell heir goods, from beautiful garments to bangles, flutes and sweets. Puppet shows, folk singing and dance competition was planned on the opening day to encourage more visitors. The decorations were all done a night before, late night everyone returned homes tired and excited for the grand opening next morning. Chottu was excited too, he slept early.
but Alas!!! He woke up at the midnight for he dreamt something so terrible, he lost his mind. Should he tell others? Would anyone believe him? What if he speaks and it turns out to be a false alarm, he will become a joke forever but if he didn't it might be the last night of Jaunpur!!!!!
Will return with Finale next, stay tuned...
It was an important day for Jaunpur. The government was deploying electrical poles and wires. Jaunpur was moving a step closer to the future. Electricity was a luxury they had only heard of but never saw. Everybody was excited, so was nana. Jaunpur post office was one of the first few infrastructures to see light after dark, free of cost. Rumours said the post office might get fans too. Nana worked at the post office since last 38 years and never in his entire carrier did the building receive such a major overhaul. So by no means was nana going to stay at home today in spite of Sumitra's confession about chottu's nightmare. All the vendors of the market had also applied for connections.
The installment was done. Pundit was called to worship the new system. After cracking a coconut, the lever was pulled by nana himself. The lights glowed and chased away darkness from every single corner of the post office and before people could believe their eyes, it shut off with a loud thunderous boom nearby. The system had failed. Too many connections melted the fuse and the transformer installed in the midst of the market blew, creating enough heat to start a fire. Alas! chottu's nightmare was coming to life. The fire grew with every passing second, torching everyone who tried to save anything other than himself. People ran like it was doomsday, several dying in the stampede itself. Nana tried to save some, but got caught in the stampede himself. If only Ahmed mama didn't knew chottu, he wouldn't have stopped by, pull nana out of the ruckus risking his own life. Nana was severely injured.
Now that it was confirmed that chottu could predict the future, the story spread like a wildfire. Pardon the irony! Chottu became burning hot topic of the town. People began pouring in. First the locals, then the town's people. Several newspapers interviewed him. Poor child had no idea of what was happening. Some called him Krishna, some called him sai, and a few thought he was downright a fraud managed by his greedy corrupt guardians. Whatever anyone thought, he sure was the talk of the town.
As days passed by Chottu made more predictions, They were mostly true some way or the other. His popularity knew no boundaries. Money started pouring in. The family was no longer poor, they could afford good food, clothes and had a lot of respect in the society. Sumitra was often compared to Yashodha, mother of Krishna, no one dared to call her a murderer any more nay his son burn down the village or cause draught. People became sworn disciples and chottu had jalebis for breakfast and kachaudis for dinner. Funny how things had changed him and everyone else.
The new year came, followed by spring and then by summer. It didn't rain for several weeks. Every one was anxious. If the crops failed there wont be any food. The last time Jaunpur saw such weather, it was several decades ago and many died in the famine. It was one horrible nightmare for jaunpur to relive. People ran towards temples and mosques to pray to the lord for rain, when somebody had the idea of the century. Why worship in temples when the lord lives amongst us, the saviour of jaunpur will sure have answers. Everyone agreed. The whole community marched to chottu's verandah.
Chottu perspired head to toe seeing so many people sitting before him. They wanted answers to their questions and chottu had no idea what to say. He didn't dream anything about draughts or floods. But the people didn't understand that. A old man wept before chottu and said:
"malik! mere bachon ka kya hoga? Agar barish nahi hoga to fasal khatam ho jayega. Agar nahi hoga to wo hi bata dijiye, kam se kam hum yahan se bahar chale jaingey jahan khana pani ki killat na ho!"
If only chottu knew what to say. Somebody yelled:
"Inko kuch nahi maloom lagta hai. Inko bas apne doodh aur dahi se matlab hai, yahan sar patak ke kuch nahi milane wala hai lagta hai"
The loss of the followers was last thing the family needed, they have been rewarded for the first time in their lives by the almighty for all the good they did or did not do. Sumitra secretly whispered something in chottu's ear without anyone noticing and chottu finally spoke:
"Eis baar barish nahi hoga. Khud Indradev ki marzi hai, koi unka mann nahi badal sakta. Aap sabhi ko apna apna khud dekhna padega, aur fasal ki ummeed chod do"
Everyone left in utter despair but at least they knew what awaits them in the coming days. Families started to plan to move away for the season to their relatives somewhere else. But even before 24 hours would pass by, it rained! It rained heavily, quenching the thirsts of the dried lands of Jaunpur to the fullest. It was after all Sumitra's fake words that Chottu had spoken, falsehood and greed was punished by lord himself. People celebrated, and ate and drank and realised Chottu was no god after all. Overstatement is a habit that hurts as much as it entertains. News spread that Chottu is a fraud after all. Followers drastically reduced in number over time as the crops became healthy and Jaunpur had a good enough harvest. The family was ashamed. Nobody blamed Chottu, Sumitra was responsible for the fiasco. Chottu felt disgraced and humiliated, he realised his family was using his talents for lifestyle and power. He stopped talking to his mother in anger and frustration.
The village was planning the annual "Bhadra mela" to celebrate the harvest. Fields beside the river were cleared, families setup tents to sell heir goods, from beautiful garments to bangles, flutes and sweets. Puppet shows, folk singing and dance competition was planned on the opening day to encourage more visitors. The decorations were all done a night before, late night everyone returned homes tired and excited for the grand opening next morning. Chottu was excited too, he slept early.
but Alas!!! He woke up at the midnight for he dreamt something so terrible, he lost his mind. Should he tell others? Would anyone believe him? What if he speaks and it turns out to be a false alarm, he will become a joke forever but if he didn't it might be the last night of Jaunpur!!!!!
Will return with Finale next, stay tuned...
Comments
Post a Comment