“Most deadly screams are often unheard”
Sun was setting down, with its own pace and the air was getting more and more damper. The light was getting dimmer and dimmer. The river bank which was full of people some time back has started to be vacant. The liveliness and colors of the nature, was getting over powered with the black color of the night. It might be the time for the predators to wake up and search for their prey. Their hungry eyes look around to see any trace of their prey.
Deep into the dampness of the forest, the noise of the nearby river was very prominent. The river was getting slower in its pace with widening of its breadth. There was fog everywhere and its definitely not the place for anyone to visit at this point of time. This was the time of silence to take over, leaving a feeling of death full eyes. It’s the time for the death to come out from the creeps and make a choice. Between the sadness and gloomy face of the swamp, suddenly there was a scream of a girl. The helpless scream of the girl, hits the trees and dissolves in the dense fog floating over the swamp.
Who is she and what happened to her?, Was she was someone or just an illusion? Answers to all the questions will be found in the later parts of this story.
The story starts from a small village called Kishanpur, planned in the lap of nature. Kishanpur is around 161 Kms far from Mumbai. People passing by this place get fascinated by its beauty and simplicity. This place has all the qualities for becoming a tourist attraction in near future.
Tejas was happy to go to this place for work, his dream is to work in such remote places because of this dream, he got himself educated in rural development and worked as a development officer from past five years. This is the fourth village, where he was being transferred. Although he has visited this village quite often, but he feels the beauty of this place keeps on increasing day by day. Now, since he will be staying here, he is very much excited about this.
The journey this place from Mumbai, was a pleasant one, thanks to the new roads. He comfortably reached the bus stop of Kishanpur. He looked at the surroundings first and then on his watch. It was 12:00 AM and not much people were there at the bus stop. He was confused weather, anyone his come to receive him or not. Although he was having the address, of the head man, but he was expecting some kind of welcome. After waiting for almost an hour, he picked up his luggage and started walking towards the headman’s house. Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulders from behind. He at once looked behind and saw a mid aged man looking at him with concerned eyes.
Tejas asked him in utter surprise, “Are you looking for someone? And how can I help you?”
The man was silent and looking at him at the stretch.
Tejas asked him again, “What is your name? and Whom are you looking ?”
With a confused stare, he hands over a small chit to him and asked him “I am looking for this person, have you seem him”
Tejas opened the chit and found his name written on it. At first place he was relieved that at least some one has come to receive him but then he was equally concerned as to whether this man will be able to carry my luggage.
He gave a confirming smile to the man. The man was also relieved to see him, he at once asked, “Please allow me to carry these bags sir”. Tejas was surprised to see, such humbleness in people living in such a small place, he at once asked his name, hearing this question, the man proudly responded , “Veera”.
While going to the headman’s house, he was keeping a mental note of the population and the number of houses built there. He also wanted to get more information about this place. He wanted to analyze this information more as this was a Sunday and most of the families might have left the village to enjoy the weekend.
Headman’s house was built massively on a small height from the other houses. The architecture of the house defined the prosperity of the family living there. There were decorated and clean stairs leading to a open courtyard. The courtyard was well designed with chosen artifacts and plants of various species, to the inside of the courtyard, there were many cushions covered with white sheets kept parallel to the wall.
Veera told Tejas to wait in the courtyard and he will call the headman. He gently kept the luggage at one corner and went inside to call the headman. The view of the whole village from there was breath taking, although it was an hour they took to reach here, but then also he was not tired. He thought, “Comparing to the time, the climate is not so much hot here. It is indeed pleasant. He was very happy that he will be staying here and will be able to enjoy the beautiful weather.”
Headman came out to the courtyard with open hands. He greeted Tejas, as if he was waiting for him from a long time. He told Veera to accompany him and Tejas to show his place to live. Veera went forward with the keys of the house and opened the house for them. It was a decent place to live, not used by anyone in near future. It had a small cot placed in the middle of the front room; inner side of the house was a small kitchen and an attached bathroom.
Headman instructed Veera to properly clean the whole house and fill the water bottles with fresh water. He also advised Tejas to have a shower, till the time his room is getting cleaned. Veera quickly filled provided necessary quantities of water to him. Tejas enjoyed the shower and it made him looked fresh. He took out clean clothes from his bag and wore them. He combed his hair and became ready to go with the headman to his house for lunch.
Lunch was served in a large room connecting to the kitchen. They had to sit on the floor for that, but it was elegantly managed. The room was made a some degrees colder than the outer temperature and Tejas felt a sudden urge to sleep. Tejas enjoyed the traditional touch in the meal served hot. After completing it, headman requested Tejas to have a nap and then he can move to is house after evening tea. Tejas readily agreed to this.
Find out what happens with tejas on his first night in the village? In my next blog.
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