Oct 30, 2008
Oct 23, 2008
Oct 21, 2008
Oct 18, 2008
LOST IN MAN'S WORLD
Water started overflowing the washbasin. Ruma felt a piercing chill run through her bare flesh as the water meandered down to her. In a state of semi consciousness she realized that she was alive. She turned her head towards the washbasin. As the water kissed her cheeks she could see the steadily accumulating puddle of water sharing the red colour which her sari, otherwise snow white, acquired, maybe an hour or two back. She tried to sit up, but failed. An aching body, collapsing strength and an unbearably killing pain between her legs was making a mockery of her effort. She closed her eyes trying to recollect. In the solitude of her artificial darkness she saw a cyclone walked over her that shredded her life with a razor sharp accuracy. She was raped.
“So where did he first hold you and tell me in details what happened? asked the officer on duty of the Ratan Nagar police station. This was the first time Ruma was in a police station and that too to lodge an FIR and the very first feeling she had of being disrobed. In the next half an hour she lost count of the number of times she was repeatedly disrobed. As she left the police station a feeling of nakedness followed her as if everyone was staring at her with an X-ray eyes.
It was late in the afternoon. The sun was planting its last rays on her garden. Ruma was sitting on her rocking chair in her balcony, veiled by the elongating shadows of the old 'money plant' leaves. What should she be doing? Cry? Even tears had dried up. Should she kill herself? As she was contemplating, a helpless emptiness gripped her. A vehicle drawing up in front of Shankar Yadav's bungalow broke her trance. Till then she was unaware of the soft drizzle she loved so much till the other day. It was a police van. About fifteen minutes later she saw the policemen returning to the van with Santanu with them.
“Everything would be fine,” she said to herself as she eased herself in to the sofa straining her eyes towards the wooden gate some 50 metres away from the window. She was expecting her husband, Nishant, Who was rushing back to her side, cutting short his much important official tour.
A year later Santanu was acquitted. In between his father, Shankar Yadav won the assembly elections. She got the news from her lawyer. The judgment advised Ruma to take psychiatric help. With her eyes opening its floodgates, she reached Nishant's office. Munching the last bite of a burger he was busy dropping sugar cubes into the secretary's coffee mug. As she dropped in the secretary left. Lowering herself into a chair she looked at Nishant for a few seconds and said, “We lost the case”. “I know,” he coldly replied as he browsed through a file. She felt as if her heart skipped a beat or two. Placing herself in front of the window she stared down. Construction work was in progress in the opposite building. She saw a few women carrying bricks on their head and depositing it on the fourth floor. A worker was feeding her child under the shade of the grinding machine. The supervisor went to her and shouted, “You bitch, feed her later on. She won't die. Go to work”. The woman laid a thin cloth on the stones and placed her crying baby there and left for work. Ruma left the office without saying anything. Nishant was too busy talking to his lawyer.
Ruma was in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring. It was only 8pm. It could not be Nishant, as now a days he was returning very late. She opened the door trying to make a guess and saw Nishant entering and sitting down on the sofa. As she was making her way into the kitchen to fetch a glass of water for him he stopped her and held out his hand. He was holding out a few pieces of paper. She took them while leaving for the kitchen. As she poured her eyes over them she felt a numbness creeping into her. She finds her world under her slipping away. She was reading her divorce papers.
Ruma boarded the train bound for her maternal town. The driver came to see her off. Before leaving the driver said, “Madam, next week is my daughter's wedding. Can you give me something?” She fished out whatever was there in her purse and placed it in his hand as the train started its journey. “Ruma was supposed to arrive today, wasn't she?” asked her mother. Her father, who was engrossed in the newspaper, said “Yes, but I hope she doesn't”. And Ruma didn't.
“So where did he first hold you and tell me in details what happened? asked the officer on duty of the Ratan Nagar police station. This was the first time Ruma was in a police station and that too to lodge an FIR and the very first feeling she had of being disrobed. In the next half an hour she lost count of the number of times she was repeatedly disrobed. As she left the police station a feeling of nakedness followed her as if everyone was staring at her with an X-ray eyes.
It was late in the afternoon. The sun was planting its last rays on her garden. Ruma was sitting on her rocking chair in her balcony, veiled by the elongating shadows of the old 'money plant' leaves. What should she be doing? Cry? Even tears had dried up. Should she kill herself? As she was contemplating, a helpless emptiness gripped her. A vehicle drawing up in front of Shankar Yadav's bungalow broke her trance. Till then she was unaware of the soft drizzle she loved so much till the other day. It was a police van. About fifteen minutes later she saw the policemen returning to the van with Santanu with them.
“Everything would be fine,” she said to herself as she eased herself in to the sofa straining her eyes towards the wooden gate some 50 metres away from the window. She was expecting her husband, Nishant, Who was rushing back to her side, cutting short his much important official tour.
A year later Santanu was acquitted. In between his father, Shankar Yadav won the assembly elections. She got the news from her lawyer. The judgment advised Ruma to take psychiatric help. With her eyes opening its floodgates, she reached Nishant's office. Munching the last bite of a burger he was busy dropping sugar cubes into the secretary's coffee mug. As she dropped in the secretary left. Lowering herself into a chair she looked at Nishant for a few seconds and said, “We lost the case”. “I know,” he coldly replied as he browsed through a file. She felt as if her heart skipped a beat or two. Placing herself in front of the window she stared down. Construction work was in progress in the opposite building. She saw a few women carrying bricks on their head and depositing it on the fourth floor. A worker was feeding her child under the shade of the grinding machine. The supervisor went to her and shouted, “You bitch, feed her later on. She won't die. Go to work”. The woman laid a thin cloth on the stones and placed her crying baby there and left for work. Ruma left the office without saying anything. Nishant was too busy talking to his lawyer.
Ruma was in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring. It was only 8pm. It could not be Nishant, as now a days he was returning very late. She opened the door trying to make a guess and saw Nishant entering and sitting down on the sofa. As she was making her way into the kitchen to fetch a glass of water for him he stopped her and held out his hand. He was holding out a few pieces of paper. She took them while leaving for the kitchen. As she poured her eyes over them she felt a numbness creeping into her. She finds her world under her slipping away. She was reading her divorce papers.
Ruma boarded the train bound for her maternal town. The driver came to see her off. Before leaving the driver said, “Madam, next week is my daughter's wedding. Can you give me something?” She fished out whatever was there in her purse and placed it in his hand as the train started its journey. “Ruma was supposed to arrive today, wasn't she?” asked her mother. Her father, who was engrossed in the newspaper, said “Yes, but I hope she doesn't”. And Ruma didn't.
IN HUMAN LOVE
John's life has suddenly changed. From an uncertain nomadic life to a routine one is much to his liking. This transition from wilderness to domesticity for him is like the easy flow of water downstream. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a cozy corner: who said life is a bed of thorns.
John owes everything to Rupam. He was lying shivering in front of Mother Mariam's church in a desolate wintry dawn. With an empty stomach in a severe winter he was virtually counting his last seconds when Rupam rescued him and from that day his world revolves around Rupam. He was christened John as he was found at the doorsteps of a church and he likes the name.
Initially he was rebuked and punished whenever he used to play in the mud or dwell in his wild instincts. But gradually as he began to adapt to the suave civilized world he was welcomed warmly within the close circles of Rupam. He too liked the new ways of life and his new companions.
John's day began at 4 am. He wakes up Rupam and both of them goes for a walk. This walk is the best part of the day as it gives him about an hour with Rupam in full privacy with no one to disturb. They used to jog down to the foothill of a nearby hillock and then walk down breathing the sweet misty air of the morning, thus recharging their lungs for the day. In between they used to sit down at the footsteps of Mother Mariam's church for ten minutes. Rupam used to be very silent at these times, deep in his thoughts, of what John has no idea. But for John, it was that fateful day when Rupam rescued him. Everyday the same thoughts overflow his mind and it seemed to him that his gratitude and love for Rupam grows manifold.
For the rest of the day John used to be all by himself, enriching himself with the geography of the area. Rupam used to go for his classes, but this privilege was never meant for the likes of John. But even John doesn't complain, for he sees no greatness engraved in those dry papers, which only the cows seem to relish.
A handsome fellow with a shiny skin, deep black eyes, and an enviably muscular constitution was what John grew up to be as time rolled by. He knew fair sex of his neighbourhood dreams of him and craves for him, but he couldn't degrade Rupam's status by indulging with these.
Rupam is a Naga boy, from a remote village of Thongboi, in Mao district in Nagaland. At present he was in a boarding school for the last four years. This was his last year.
Of late John was seeing very less of Rupam. But no complain, as John knew that this was the time when everyone virtually forgets everything except those dry books. But a different kind of change pained John. Now a days Rupam reacts very coldly to John's presence. But still John thought this might be due to the hard work.
It was the last day of the exam and John observed that Rupam's friends were packing their belongings. When Rupam was back he too started packing. John instantly knew that they were leaving. So he too went out to bid bye to few of his acquaintances.
As he was returning it got quite late. An eerie feeling gripped him. When he entered Rupam's room he saw Rupam staring at the floor with blood shot eyes. For the first time in his life he didn't like something of Rupam. Yet he went to his place and sat down. Suddenly Rupam stood up and said, “Come John, lets go out for a walk”. John was taken aback. “At this hour”, he didn't liked the idea. But he doesn't want to hurt Rupam. Also since next morning they are leaving so Rupam might want to have his last walk. John Obliged.
They were sitting at the footstep of Mother Mariam's church. It was dark. Only the candlelights peeping out of the church door makes one see the shadows of each other. Apart from that John could feel the heavy breathing of Rupam. Rupam came close to him and carressed his head and neck. John felt good at the touch and closed his eyes to feel the ecstasy of the soothing touch.
Suddenly a deep pang hit his neck and he fell with a thud at Rupam's feet. With unparallel strength he opened his eyes and saw his body lying on the step where Rupam was sitting. The legs, which were under his control a few seconds before, were stretching to reach no where. He looked at Rupam in the dark. He could see nothing but the red shot eyes and a shiny 'dao'. And slowly the vision blurred.
That day during dinner Rupam and his friends feasted on dog's meat. [Manash Pratim Gohain, INDOLINK]
John owes everything to Rupam. He was lying shivering in front of Mother Mariam's church in a desolate wintry dawn. With an empty stomach in a severe winter he was virtually counting his last seconds when Rupam rescued him and from that day his world revolves around Rupam. He was christened John as he was found at the doorsteps of a church and he likes the name.
Initially he was rebuked and punished whenever he used to play in the mud or dwell in his wild instincts. But gradually as he began to adapt to the suave civilized world he was welcomed warmly within the close circles of Rupam. He too liked the new ways of life and his new companions.
John's day began at 4 am. He wakes up Rupam and both of them goes for a walk. This walk is the best part of the day as it gives him about an hour with Rupam in full privacy with no one to disturb. They used to jog down to the foothill of a nearby hillock and then walk down breathing the sweet misty air of the morning, thus recharging their lungs for the day. In between they used to sit down at the footsteps of Mother Mariam's church for ten minutes. Rupam used to be very silent at these times, deep in his thoughts, of what John has no idea. But for John, it was that fateful day when Rupam rescued him. Everyday the same thoughts overflow his mind and it seemed to him that his gratitude and love for Rupam grows manifold.
For the rest of the day John used to be all by himself, enriching himself with the geography of the area. Rupam used to go for his classes, but this privilege was never meant for the likes of John. But even John doesn't complain, for he sees no greatness engraved in those dry papers, which only the cows seem to relish.
A handsome fellow with a shiny skin, deep black eyes, and an enviably muscular constitution was what John grew up to be as time rolled by. He knew fair sex of his neighbourhood dreams of him and craves for him, but he couldn't degrade Rupam's status by indulging with these.
Rupam is a Naga boy, from a remote village of Thongboi, in Mao district in Nagaland. At present he was in a boarding school for the last four years. This was his last year.
Of late John was seeing very less of Rupam. But no complain, as John knew that this was the time when everyone virtually forgets everything except those dry books. But a different kind of change pained John. Now a days Rupam reacts very coldly to John's presence. But still John thought this might be due to the hard work.
It was the last day of the exam and John observed that Rupam's friends were packing their belongings. When Rupam was back he too started packing. John instantly knew that they were leaving. So he too went out to bid bye to few of his acquaintances.
As he was returning it got quite late. An eerie feeling gripped him. When he entered Rupam's room he saw Rupam staring at the floor with blood shot eyes. For the first time in his life he didn't like something of Rupam. Yet he went to his place and sat down. Suddenly Rupam stood up and said, “Come John, lets go out for a walk”. John was taken aback. “At this hour”, he didn't liked the idea. But he doesn't want to hurt Rupam. Also since next morning they are leaving so Rupam might want to have his last walk. John Obliged.
They were sitting at the footstep of Mother Mariam's church. It was dark. Only the candlelights peeping out of the church door makes one see the shadows of each other. Apart from that John could feel the heavy breathing of Rupam. Rupam came close to him and carressed his head and neck. John felt good at the touch and closed his eyes to feel the ecstasy of the soothing touch.
Suddenly a deep pang hit his neck and he fell with a thud at Rupam's feet. With unparallel strength he opened his eyes and saw his body lying on the step where Rupam was sitting. The legs, which were under his control a few seconds before, were stretching to reach no where. He looked at Rupam in the dark. He could see nothing but the red shot eyes and a shiny 'dao'. And slowly the vision blurred.
That day during dinner Rupam and his friends feasted on dog's meat. [Manash Pratim Gohain, INDOLINK]
Oct 16, 2008
Oct 4, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)