A Village Fair
‘Amma Ji! O, Amma Ji!’
‘What is the matter, my son? Why are you calling so loud again and again?’ Mother panicked, came out running in the street, and said.
‘Amma Ji! I will also go to see the fair. All the boys and girls in our street are going to see the fair today.’
‘No my son, you will not go anywhere.’
‘Why it is so Amma Ji? Why won't I go?’
‘Look, you are still a small boy. Anything can happen by going to such a crowded place. Secondly, your father is also not at home today. If he comes to know on his arrival, he will be angry with me. And my son, I don’t even have money. What will you do there without money?’
‘I don't want money. Can fair not be seen without money? All children are going. They will laugh at me and tease me by saying foolish things. What shall I say then? After all, it will hurt you. Let me go Amma Ji. I will never be stubborn like this ever again.’ Little Himanshu begged earnestly with tears in his eyes.
After all, the mother's tender heart became compassionate. She said:
‘Son, I have only eight aannas (fifty paise). Eat something at the fair. I say to Nathu. He is older in age, will take care of you. Be careful; don't take anything from a stranger over there.’
‘I will do as you have advised me, Amma Ji.’ Himanshu said, giving assurance to the mother.
Himanshu's happiness was now out of bound. Whoever found in the street, he used to say to everyone-‘I’m also going to the fair.’
The wait was finally over. A group of boys and girls from the village set out to see the fair. There was joy on everyone's face and fun in the gait. Himanshu was the youngest in age, but still walking step by step with them. Every year on the third Sunday of the 3rd month of the Hindu year, this fair was held as the worship of Goddess Chandi Mata. There was a garden of mango trees at some distance from the temple, so shops were installed there to avoid the scorching heat of this month. The distance from the village to this place will be about seven miles. But this distance was negligible in moments of joy and merriment. Upon reaching the destination, everyone gathered together in one place. It was unanimously decided that after splitting up in the fair, everyone should gather at this place so that no one is left behind at the time of return. After that, they all split up by forming teams with their partners. Because Nathu was made a Caretaker of Himanshu, he too started to move ahead, staring at the goods in the shops with Himanshu to enjoy the fair. There was a Hawker in front of them who was selling ice cream. Nathu asked:
‘Will you eat ice cream?’
‘No, I don't like ice cream.’ Himanshu replied with a dejected mood.
It was Himanshu’s helplessness in saying so, because, he knew that there were only eight aannas in his pocket. Nathu took two ice-creams and handed him one ice cream even after his refusal. The Poor fellow, though he was young, yet it was a blow to his dignity. He started feeling guilty about his helplessness. After eating ice cream, they started moving forward. Just then, Himanshu secretly hid behind a mango tree. Failing to listen to his words, Nathu looked back and saw Himanshu was missing. Nathu became perplexed. He started looking around in confusion, but Himanshu didn’t appear anywhere. Finally being upset, he went ahead looking for him. When he went away, Himanshu came out of the hiding and joined the innumerable crowd of people. At one place, many people were stood in a circle. He could not see what was happening there? Somehow, he managed to get ahead and saw that boys of his age were swinging and their parents laughing and shaking their hands and cheering them. It came to his mind that if his mother and father were also with him, he too would enjoy swinging like these children. The clever eyes of the swing’s owner had seen him. So, he came close to him and asked:
‘Son, will you sit on the swing?’
‘How much will it cost?’ He asked.
‘It will cost eight aannas only.’ He replied.
He didn’t want to lose the mother's money under any circumstances. So he said, ‘No, I’m afraid to sit on the swing.’ He left from there and went ahead. There was a confectionery in front. The scent of hot Jalebi was wooing everyone. Himanshu was now hungry. He felt that he should eat Jalebi of those eight aannas. But he again put the money from his hand in his pocket. My Amma has no money. No-no, I will not spend them.
It had been a long time wandering here and there. His throat was getting dry due to thirst. He started wandering in search of water. Finally, he saw a well. The two servants were moving around the well holding water-wheels pole from the front, causing water to come out through the small cans fixed on a strip of metal and deposited in a cemented tank. There were some taps fixed at a little distance in this tank. Himanshu tried to drink water but due to empty stomach water was not coming down the throat. Along with hunger, tiredness was now beginning to weigh heavily on the body. Staggering he came to the place where everyone was asked to gather. After seeing the child sitting alone for quite some time, a middle-aged man came to him and asked:
‘What is your name, son?’
‘My name is Himanshu.’ He replied.
‘What place are you from?’ He asked again.
Himanshu told him all the things by coming into his influence due to his affectionate talking. After that, he laughed and said:
‘Wow, my son! You forgot your maternal uncle. You do not recognize me. How will you recognize me? Your uncle has not yet gone to the sister's house. Actually, the thing is this, son; I have remained outside for the last many years. I mean to say that I went out even before your birth. My work is such that once I get out of the house, it becomes difficult for me to come back shortly. Hey son! Tell me why are you so sad? Have you eaten or drank anything so far or not?’
In reply, Himanshu shook his neck slowly.
‘I had understood the son even before you said. You sit here; I bring you something to eat.’
In an envelope, he brought some food items and took Himanshu along, and started walking outside the perimeter of the fair.
‘Uncle, where are you going?’ Himanshu asked.
‘We are going to your house and where else. My jeep has parked this side. You sit therein and eat it comfortably. Then both, maternal uncle and nephew will proceed from here comfortably. I will meet my sister and will also leave you at home. Both the work will be done simultaneously. Why, is it okay?’
‘Yes, it's okay.’
The alleged maternal uncle reached near the jeep and got Himanshu to sit backside in the jeep and started driving the jeep himself. Seeing the jeep going in the opposite direction, Himanshu shouted:
‘Uncle, where are you going? The path to our house leads from that side.’
He turned around looking at Himanshu without uttering a word and then proceeded in the same direction. Himanshu got nervous seeing this rude behaviour of his maternal uncle. He repeatedly insisted on stopping the jeep. He didn’t like this action of Himanshu. He stopped the jeep and then bent down and took out a big knife from the bottom of his seat. Then he turned back and opened it and threatened Himanshu:
‘You the puppy’s offspring, will you stop your barking or not, or do I have to take some action to set you right?’
He can not be my maternal uncle. Himanshu's voice got stuck in his throat due to fear. Thick tears dripped from his eyes. He started cursing in his mind the moment he didn’t listen to what his mother had said and stubbornly came to the fair. In the state of semi-unconsciousness, darkness had started appearing in his eyes. He felt that he should weep bitterly. But his voice was choked due to fear. The courage to think or do something was over. Anyway, what could he do in front of that picaroon? Both his present and future were in darkness. At the same time, the vehicle stopped suddenly. The rogue tried hard to start the engine but was unsuccessful. Finally, he looked at Himanshu with a sharp look and then opened the door and got down. He looked around, there was no one nearby. Relieved, he lifted the bonnet of the jeep up and began to carefully examine the engine parts. After examining, he raised the loose dynamo upside with his left hand and then turning his neck from the side of the bonnet said:
‘O boy! Screw opening keys and screwdriver are lying under my seat. Bring them to me.’
With trembling hands, he picked up the tools and pushed the door to one side with his elbow. But in this act, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. The tools scattered from his hand and fell away.
‘You scoundrel, a donkey’s baby, if you have two punches on your cheek, then your senses will come. Pick up them, immediately.’ He started abusing Himanshu.
The helpless, trembling with fear, began to pick up the scattered tools. In this action, coins fell out of his pocket.
‘My money has fallen.’ These words came out of his mouth spontaneously.
‘Shut up; pick up your small coins later on.’ He said threateningly.
Fearing, Himanshu gave him the screw opening keys and the screwdriver and then started looking for the coins. Then he saw some sand under his feet. It is said that ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ He looked towards the jeep stealthily. That rogue was busy in correcting the fault of the engine stooping over it. Himanshu took a handful of sand with his right hand and went near the jeep stealthily and threw the sand in the eyes of that rogue. Hi! With the voice of, he left the tools and covered his eyes with both hands. There was no time to run away. Himanshu looked around. A little away there was a large heap of paddy straw in the farmer’s fields. He ran away and hid under that heap. The man, fumbling with his hands, picked up the water bottle from the jeep and cleaned his eyes. Then he looked around. He could not see Himanshu anywhere. He suspected that the boy might not reveal this incident to anyone. So he wanted to run away from that place immediately. After fixing the malfunction in the engine, he disappeared from there. Fearing being caught by the man again, Himanshu stayed in that chaff for a long time. It was getting dark and that innocent boy was lying in a lonely place hungry and thirsty to bear the brunt of his small mistake.
On the other hand, when the boys and girls of the village gathered to return home, they were very worried about not finding Himanshu in their midst. What should be done now? How will we answer his family members? Everyone was being worried about this. All the joy of the fair had vanished from everyone's faces. Nathu was cursed by all for his negligence. After all, it was decided to make groups and find him in the fair. It was evening; crowds of people also started returning to their homes. Exhausted, all gathered again in the same place. An elderly-looking man was passing near them with the help of his stick. He too was probably going back to his house after seeing the fair. Luckily a girl asked the man:
‘Baba Ji, have you seen any lonely, young boy?’
Hearing this question of the girl, the elder stopped and started asking about the appearance of the child. Listening to the description given by them, he said:
‘Maybe I saw this boy. A man was sitting in the same place talking to him and then both of them got up and left. I saw both of them in a jeep going on that muddy road.’
‘What was the time?’
‘I don’t know the exact time my son, but it is too late.’
After thanking Baba they thought for a long time as to what to do next. On the way back home, it was natural to be beaten up at the hands of their family members. Therefore, it was decided that an attempt should be made to find him even on the road indicated by Baba. It was getting dark, so they bought a torch to light it. Two boys were left behind to take care of the girls and the other boys approached the paddy straw’s heap while talking to each other on that road. Himanshu was terrified after hearing their voices. Due to fear, he started to move further in that heap, and in this action; he went to the other side and fell down. When he realized his mistake, he immediately got up and started entering that heap again. In the light of the torch, a boy's eyesight fell on that figure. All the boys ran towards him. Even before they reached there, Himanshu had hidden in that heap of straw. Everyone had seen him while hiding himself under the heap, but who is he and how to get him out, this was a problem. After thinking carefully, they started calling-‘Himanshu! Himanshu!! Come out. This is us. There is no need to panic.’
Finally, they succeeded. Their voices were recognized by Himanshu. Creeping, he came out of the heap and started crying. Everyone started encouraging him. Hearing the incident, they got frightened. After thanking God, they vowed that no one would mention this incident at home and also advised Himanshu that in the future he would never repeat such a mistake again. When they reached home late at night, their family members were relieved of worry. But the real story was still far from their understanding.
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