THE CONFLICT
[In Kali-yuga men will develop a hatred for each other even over a few coins. Giving up all friendly relations, they will be ready to lose their own lives and kill even their own relatives.] -Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.41
“Everybody, listen,” Bhupati says but nobody listens until he slams his hand on the metal table, “all right, listen.”
I realize what he has said was completely true: Satya yuga means man has hundred percent mind in his control, treat yuga means man has seventy-five percent mind in his control, Dvapara yuga means man has fifty percent mind in his control, Kaliyuga means man has twenty percent mind in his control but with this yuga mind power decrease, at the end of the Kaliyuga man has zero percent mind in his control.
I see this truth in the behavior of the folk – they are behaving like half-mad.
“I and this cute looking kid have a deal,” Bhupati says, almost in a shout.
Cute looking kid – I think and smile in my mind.
The folk still stand like a fool, their weapons gripped tightly in their hands.
“What deal?” one of the folk asks, shaking his blade. The guy seems mentally whacked and I feel he is dangerous.
“The deal makes us like partners. They will co-operate us and we will co-operate them.” He comes in the center of the hall, “they will come with us like tame goats without any resistance and in exchange for their good behavior we won’t kill them.” Bhupati says, frustration raising the volume of his voice. Perhaps he knew the folk wouldn’t accept his decision.
“Not any of them?” Nitin asks, he is still in anger and looking incredulous.
“Not any of them.” Bhupati glances up at him, shakes his head and says in a sharp voice.
“What about the boy who beat our leader and insulted our people?” another one shouts, slamming his stick on the ground. He looks unsatisfied.
I realize my hands were squeezed up into fists on my lap. I relax them and wipe sweaty palms on my shirt.
“Dhiraj,” Bhupati shouts, “don’t you know the rules?
“I know.” The man who has slammed the stick answers.
“Don’t you know the aggressive behavior isn’t allowed in the folk?”
“Yes, but with time we should change the rules,” he shouts back with dual anger, “this boy has insulted the folk calling them dog and he should be punished.”
“He should be punished.” Another one shouts.
“They can’t be our partners.”
“They aren’t friends.”
The comments hurt me. I feel they would kill him. I look to Bhupati for his reaction but he doesn’t look at me.
“We should kill them,” Nitin says after other falls silent, “at least half of them.” He shrugs.
“For what?” Bhupati asks, the tone of his voice only heightens my concern.
“For what the Creator kills our children?” Nitin asks, instead of answering the leader.
“I don’t know,” Bhupati admits.
“But I know,” Nitin laughs like a giant, an evil grin, “he kills them for enjoy.”
“So?” Bhupati asks.
“We should follow the god.”
“Are you mad?” Bhupati asks, “We are good people.”
“And miserable too,” Nitin says, “haven’t you seen Nirbhayas enjoying the life after they start to follow the god?”
“Nitin is right.” A fierce looking folk steps ahead, “we should be cruel like them and we will live happily.”
“Kartik, I’m the leader and I said these kids are our partners now,” Bhupathi’s voice is sharp, “now listen, they will co-operate us and we will co-operate them. That’s the deal or otherwise, there’s going to be a lot of death.” He draws out a blade, “I’ve contracted with these kids.”
“Okay,” Kartik says, “Okay, but what about that boy?” he points at Akash, “our law says he should be punished.”
“Just keep your mouth-hole shut and let me bring us a place in the PATANAGAR,” Bhupati shouts, “now anyone won’t dare say a word.”
His men nod, half-heartedly.
“First, we need to let them eat their food….”
“This seems crazy?” Nitin cuts him off, “why should we allow them food?”
“Just shut your hole or I will cut your bloody tongue,” Bhupathi says, “you stupid, can’t you understand they need the energy to walk?” he kicks the ground with anger, “are we going to carry them over our back?”
“And the boy’s punishment?” I don’t see which one spoke.
“I’ll kill him if he dares again.”
I hear a disappointed murmur from the folk.
“Now let we go out and enjoy marijuana,” Bhupathi brings a Chilam out from his trouser pocket, “we should enjoy the coming future in the PATANAGAR.”
All cheers, half of them shouts, “we should enjoy.”
“Who will watch over them?” Kartik asks as the voices fall silent.
“My kids,” Bhupati says and looks at the teenage boy and girl standing silent, “you two keep watch over them while we enjoy outside.”
“But…” the teenage girls seems me scared of staying alone with us, “what if they attack us?”
“We will grow two more trees.” One of the folk says and all laughs.
“Your father won’t need to look after you.” I don't see who at first, then realized a man has said it―probably the ugliest person in the building. His face is terrible and his left cheek has an old scare.
I’m sure they have gone mad. They are laughing at the mention of the remembrance of their lost kids.
I feel the folk has gone made with it something inside my stomach clenches and unclenches. I understand how hard it would be to escape from these mad folk. My heart begins to shout something terrible would happen.
“Amish, just shut your dirty hole before I cut your head,” Bhupati can’t stop anger on these comments, “ain’t I bloody the leader?”
“Don’t ask me such stupid questions,” The man Amish who has commented last says, “what do you expect us to do as a fucking leader? Do we serve you?”
“Do what you’re told to do,” Bhupati’s anger rises, “and I think I said you to shut your dirty mouth.” He slams first on the wall, “that’s what I expect.”
I look anger burning at both side, the tension in the room is palpable.
“Bhupati, now you have to know what we expect from you,” another one steps ahead, he walks near him; a knife is in hand and anger in his eyes.
“Just keep your mouth shut.” Bhupati shouts, “Now everyone keeps their mouth shut if anyone argues I’ll split his throat.”
“I don’t think you can,” Kirit shouts and then two more folks speak, one standing near Kartik and one standing behind Amish.
“Do you want to check it over?”
Bhupati pauses; no one says a word for several seconds, and I feel panic rising inside my chest.
“Why not?” Amish yells, making a couple of teenagers jump in from the ground, “I want to check it.”
I feel the last drop of hope drain from my body. I see the fear in eyes of every teenager in the hall.
“Then bloody check it,” Bhupati says and I feel my heart pumping faster than normal.
Amish circles his hand and I see knife flashing in the light. I don’t notice when but Bhupathi has taken a step back and the blade had missed its target. I don’t remember seeing him taking back step but one moment before his body was in the range of knife but next moment his body is out of the range.
He blocks backhand blow of knife with the left hand and raised the palm of another hand. I see him shoving Amish in the face.
Amish crashes down on the floor, backward, his back hits the ground with a loud sound.
Two other from the folk steps towards Bhupati but before they reach him they see Bhupati stepping near Amish and stomping the bottom of his foot down on back of Amish, pinning him to the floor.
“One more will come and that is exactly what I do with him.” Bhupati says, fuming, “you all are nothing but the folk and I’m the bloody leader and I’ll break your bones, right here if you dare to say a world more.”
“Now get up you idiot and let’s have Marijuana,” Bhupati takes away his leg from the back of Amish and offers him a hand, “Don’t even dare to fight me. Ever. If you do, I’ll break your bones.”
Amish get on his feet by his support, “I swear, Bhupathi.”
He doesn’t say a world more; he is on his heel, towards the exits.
Then everybody follows him, one by one.
The last one is Bhupathi, he steps out the door but next moment he pops his head back in the hall, “Kids,” he says, glaring at his teenage children, “get them something to eat if they don’t have enough and listen to that girl whatever she says.”
He pauses and looks at every teenager in the hall, “get ready for the journey.” And then slams the door behind him.
Everyone looks at me, all teenagers are curious to know what the real deal is. They have understood I have played something.
I give them assurance- look.
Bhupathi’s son moves toward another door. It leads inside the building. And his daughter moves towards us, a genial smile on her face I don’t know for what she is smiling.
*
To be continue.....
