Festival Of Dusshera came. There used to gather a fair 1 km east from the village. All boys of village went to see the fair. Panna also got ready to go with the boys; but from where would money come?? The keys were with Muliya.
Raghu came and said to Muliya-” Boys are going to fair, give everyone 2-2 rupees.”
While raising eyebrows Muliya said-” There is no money in the house.”
Raghu-” Just now we sold oil, it got spent so fast??”
Muliya-” Yeah, were spent.”
Raghu-” Where did we spend them?? Just listen, will boys not got to the fair on the day of the festival??”
Muliya-” Ask you kaki, to take out of the money, burying won’t do any good??”
On hanger, keys were hanging. Raghu took down the keys and tried to open the chest but Muliya gradded his hands and said-” give me the keys, otherwise it won’t be good. They need for food-clothes, for paper-book, and now even for going to a fair. Our earnings are not for others to eat and show pride in their moustache. ”
Panna said to Raghu-” Sweety, whats there to care so much. Boys will just not go to fair.”
Raghu ruffled and said-” Why won’t they go to fair?? The entire village is going. Just our boys won’t go??”
Raghu freed his hand after saying this and took out the money and gave it to the boys; But when tried to return keys to Muliya, she threw them in the courtyard and laid while wrapping her head! Boys didn’t go to fair.
Two days passed after that. Muliya didn’t eat anything and Panna also remained without food. Raghu tried to make amends with both; But neither she got up, nor the other. After getting tired Raghu asked Muliya-” Say something from mouth, want do you want??”
Muliya said while addressing the earth-” I don’t want anything, just get me to my house.”
Raghu-” Okay, get up, make something to eat, will leave you there.”
Muliya raised her eyes towards Raghu. Raghu got scared after looking at her face. That melody, that seetness, that elegance had disappeared. Teeth came out, eyes were torn and nostrils were fluttering. She looked with coal red eyes-” Good, so kaki gave you this advice, she taught you this mantra?? I ain’t that raw. I will plough seeds on you two’s chests. Don’t get any wrong ideas?? ”
Raghu-” Good, plough all you want. But eat or drink something before that, you will need energy for ploughing.”
Muliya-” I will drink water only when the house gets separated. I have tolerated enough, I can’t tolerate anymore.”
Silence came over Raghu. For a minute single voice din’t escape his mouth. He didn’t think about getting separated even in dreams. He had seen 2-4 families getting separated. He knew very well, with bread even hearts get separated. Ours become others forever. Then they remain connected just like other people of the village. Raghu had decided in his heart that he wouldn’t let this tragedy come to his home; but he was helpless before the incoming. Ahh! my face would get stained, world would say that after father’s death they couldn’t remain as one even for 10 years. But from whom get separated?? From those who played in my lap, those who I raised as my children, for whom I faced various kinds of pains, get separated from them?? his throat got stuck. In a shaking voice he said-” Do you want me get separated from my brothers?? At-least think again, I won’t be able to show my face anywhere??”
Muliya-” But I can’t live with them.”
Raghu-” So get separated. Why are you dragging me along??”
Muliya-” So I get sweets in your house?? Is there no other place for me in this world??”
Raghu-” As you wish, live where ever you want. I can’t get separated from my family. The day when two stove will lit in this house my hearts will get broken in two too. I won’t be able to bear that wound. The pain that comes to me, I can deflect it. You are the queen of money-goods, food-water are under your hands too, what is left now?? If you don’t want to do any work, then don’t do it. If GOD had given me enough, then I won’t have let you lift even a straw. Your soft hands aren’t made for hard work or labour; but what can I do I don’t have that kind of power. Even then if your heart don’t want to do any work then don’t do it; but don’t ask me to get separated, I beg in your foot. ”
Muliya shifted the aanchal(draping segment of saree generally used as veil or over head in India) from her head and came near & said- ” I am not afraid of work, neither I want to just while sitting; but I can’t tolerate anybody bossing me around. Your kaki do all of household work, but she do it for herself, for her children. She don’t do it for me, then is she bossing upon me?? She might love her children, but I only depend on you. I can’t see this my eyes that whole house live in peace, these small-small children drink milk, and those who work for sustaining the household, scrounge for even butter. Nobody is there to care for them. Just look at your own face, just what has become of your face. Others will have there own children in four years. You will be on bed in next ten years. Sit down, why are you standing?? Want to run after killing?? I won’t tie you down by force, or there’s no queen’s order?? ‘May I say the truth, you have a stone heart. If I knew, I will get such a non-loving guy, I would have never come to this house. Even if had come then would have never connected heart, but now my heart is connected to yours. If I went to my house, even then my heart will always be here and there you are, who don’t even ask of me. ”
But Muliya’s sweet words had no effect on Raghu. He said with same roughness-” Muliya, I can’t do this. My heart gets down every-time I think of getting separated. I won’t be able to handle this wound.”
Muliya said while making fun-” Then just sit inside wearing bangles! Give me the moustache I will wear them from now on. I used to think that even you have some might. Now when I see you, you are just a wet sand ball.”
Panna was listening to both of their conversations from the hallway. Now she couldn’t control herself. She stood before Raghu and said-” If she is so stuck on getting separated then why are you forcing her to be together?? You live with her, God is their for us. When Mehto died, and there was no shade of even a leaf, if God took care of us at that time, then what is there to fear now?? From God’s mercy all three boys have grown, there is no need concern now.”
Raghu looked toward Panna with tears filled eyes and said-” Kaki, have you gone mad too?? Don’t you know, two separated breads means two separated hearts.”
Panna-” If she can’t understand, then what can you do?? If this is God’s wish then what can anyone do?? If this is his wish, then its okay. You have done so much for my children, I won’t forget it ever. If you haven’t keep hands over them, then I don’t want would have happened of them, don’t know on whom doors they would have been struggling, don’t know where they would be begging. I will sing your praises till my life ends. If my skin can be used to make your shoes, I will give it away happily. Even if we get separated, if you call for me, I will come immediately like a dog. Don’t even think in your dreams that after getting separated I will think bad of you. The day I think ill of you, I will eat poison that day and die. May God, give you prosperity, and children! Till I die every particle of my being will wish for you and if boys are of their own father then they will ever be grateful of you.”
After saying this Panna went away from there weeping. Raghu just sat there like a sculpture, staring at the sky, tears were flowing out from his eyes.
Now this was big
And a lot happened in this one
First Panna did bad but turned good later, but at the cost of Mehto life
now Muliya is in sameway doing wrong but what will God take away for changing her heart
We will see it in the next episode……
Regards
Harshit