Urvashi : heart touching short story

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Urvashi

Urvashi

She was not an ordinary woman. But it was her dream to live an ordinary life. A household lady cooks for her family, takes care of her children, obeys her husband, listens to her elder family members, follows some social rules made for household persons, practices some religious rituals in her everyday life. But Urvashi was not like that. She was not shy just like other ladies. She did not have to work hard like an ordinary lady does for her family. She did not have a family, a husband, a child. She had wealth, a big and well decorated residence, several workers, fame, but she had nobody who was her own. People admired her art, her performance, her beauty, but nobody ever felt that she also had a heart, she had her own emotions. She also needed love instead of just lust.

She was Urvashi. It was not her birth name, she was famous with this name. By profession she was a famous dancer of Lukhnow. People used to contact her in their social occasions to perform amazing art of music. The people from Royal court were her regular audience and there were plenty of rich citizens of Lukhnow who used to visit her regular performance. The kings of several states used to contact her in their recreation rooms. She was only 21 years old, well trained in Indian classical music and dance. There was nobody who could compete with her.

Sometimes, in the lazy hours of day time, she tried to remember her childhood in her village. She was a loving daughter of her father. Her elder brother also loved her very much. She could remember those happy days with her mother. Her father was a poor man. He  only had some crop-field and from that income of farming , he carried on all the expenses of the family. Once his educated brother tried to consume all his properties, but failed. Till then the relation between two brothers was bitter. One day the little girl was playing in the field with her friends. She was 10 years old then. When she was returning home alone from the play ground of the village, some people covered her face with a cloth and after a short struggle, she became unconscious by a sharp smell. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in this big city. She was imprisoned in a house and a middle aged cruel woman was her guardian. She lived there two weeks.

From there, another pretty woman took her along. She was kind-hearted and loved the poor little girl very much like her own daughter. She cried and appealed to be send back to her village. But nobody listened to her. 

One day she tried to escape from there. But she became puzzled into the heavy traffic and complex roads of the city. The cruel woman caught and beat her. She tried it for the second time when she came to the next house, but the pretty woman, called 'Gulabi aunt, didn't even scold her, instead she spoke with softness that, it was impossible to go back home. She too was trapped like her when at her age. Gulabi aunt named her 'Urvashi'.

Gradually Urvashi accepted 'Gulabi aunt' as her guardian and she became habituated in her new circumstance. She started to learn music and dance under Gulabi aunt and at her 18 years of age, she became famous for her perfection and her beauty. 

When she was 20, almost all  men of Lukhnow city was fond of her beauty. Among them, was an 18 year old boy who was blind to her. He was Brajesh. He was even prepared to die for her. It was fun for Urvashi. The boy was younger and was immature. So she treated him like a little boy. Brajesh even used to come at day time. Urvashi liked him. Because he could not even speak in front of her. He told about his feelings for Urvashi to her maids. The maids also took his childish behaviour as fun.

Brajesh wanted to propose his feeling of love to Urvashi everyday, but failed every time to expose his words to her. But Urvashi understood his feelings. But Brajesh was an young boy and he didn't even know  properly what 'love' is. She felt sorry for that boy, but it was not possible for her to encourage him to be a freak. After all she was not an household woman. It was not possible for an young boy like Brajesh to fight against the society.

One night, after her evening performance, Urvashi was taking some rest in her room. She heard some noise on the road. She came to her second storey veranda to see what was going on. But when she came, nobody was there on the road. So she returned to her room and felt a man with a sharp dagger pointed towards her standing beside the door. But when they looked at each other, he lowered the knife.

"Who are you? Why are you here at this time?" Urvashi asked without moving her gaze from the man's beautiful eyes.

"Ratnajit". The man was also lost himself  in her eyes. After sometime he said, "I need to go."

"When will you come again?" Urvashi asked.

"I don't know!" The man replied. "May be tomorrow; may be never."

Ratnajit left that house silently. When he was gone, Urvashi felt a strange feeling deep inside her heart. That night she couldn't sleep. Her consciousness was covered by two beautiful eyes.

Next evening she had to perform in king's palace. But she could not concentrate properly in her art form. The performance was not as usual that evening. After returning home, she waited whole night for Ratnajit. But he did not came.

In the morning Brajesh came with a news. He told, a man was caught by the guards of the king. He was an external merchant in the city market of Lukhnow. The guards caught him near Urvashi’s residence the previous night.

Urvashi became aware. She asked Brajesh, "How does he looks like?"

Brajesh described the man. Urvashi became sure that it was Ratnajit. She asked, "What did he do?"

"Nothing!" Brajesh said. "Actually somebody theft some precious ornaments  of the queen. The king ordered his security guards to find out the thief in four days. Otherwise he will give them death penalty. But the guards failed to find out the original thief, and so, they were seeking a man to represent as the thief. The merchant was new in this city. There is nobody, who can support him in the royal court. So he was their easy target. They chased him before two nights. He was vanished in this area near Urvashi’s residence. Next night they caught him and imprisoned him."

Urvashi was speechless. That afternoon she went to the prison with Brajesh to meet Ratnajit. The man was sitting inside the cell completely depressed. When he looked at Urvashi, his eyes flashed with happiness. But Urvashi was sad. She knew that, he was going to die as per the state's law. Then king would not listen even to her. Yet she asked the guards to leave him free, because he was innocent. One of them gave her a suggestion, "We need a thief to save ourselves. If you can arrange anybody else, then we can let him go. We have no envy to him."

When returning to her home by a horse carriage, she was very upset. Brajesh noticed her emotions for Ratnajit. He asked Urvashi, "Do you love him?" Her tears gave him the answer. It ailed him deeply. They both were silent then. When they reached at Urvashi’s door-step, Brajesh told her, "I never dared to tell you that 'I love you'. I love you more than anything in this world. I love you more than myself. You love that man. It is fine to me. Because I love your emotions too. You will get back that man. But I have a request to you, please don't forget me ever. Good bye my love."

Urvashi did not listened to him properly. Her concentration was in another thought. When Brajesh left, she entered into the house and announced to Gulabi aunt that, she was not feeling well and could not perform that evening. She spent whole evening and night into her room weeping and thinking a way to save Ratnajit's life. But she couldn't solve the problem.

Next morning, she was really ill, a maid came to her bed room and informed that a man came to meet her. She came to the sitting room and with a great surprise saw Ratnajit stood there. She was too surprised to speak anything. Ratnajit said, "Thank you very much madam. You are a kind hearted lady. You have saved my life. But I have to say you something. The boy, whom you sent there in my place, do not deserve death. Rather my death was better to me....."

"What? A boy? I have send a boy?" Urvashi was more astonished.

"Yes! That boy, who was with you the previous day." Ratnajit told her.

Now all the words told by Brajesh became clear to her. "Where is he now?" She asked with panic.

"Probably he is now in Royal court. The king will give him a death sentence today." Ratnajit informed her with a great sorrow.

"That crazy boy...." She ran toward the entrance door and caught a horse-carriage on the road. She was in her night gown, bare feet, uncombed hair. She told the cart driver, "To the Royal palace! Hurry up!"

When she entered into the royal court, the guards stopped her at the gate. But when they recognised her, let her go inside. There were a crowed of men from different classes. At the middle of the court room floor, Brajesh was standing tied with chain like an animal. The king asked him, "Do you have anything to say in your favour?"

"My Lord! I am the real thief. I have nothing to say anything in favour of me." Brajesh replied the king.

"Anybody want to say anything about him?" The king asked to the crowed. Then Urvashi came beside Brajesh and appealed, "I have to say something My Lord. May I?" The king gave her a sign to tell.

"My Lord! He did nothing." Brajesh surprised with Urvashi’s words. "I am that thief. I theft those jewellery from Honourable Queen's dressing room. He knows it. He loves me. So he is only trying to save me."

"Hmm! Fine! Where is those things now?" The king asked to her.

"I have sold them all in a hidden market." Urvashi lied.

The king now smiled a little and asked her, "Now tell me, what types of jewellery items were there?"

Now Urvashi felt uneasy. She stuttered and named some random items. The king then asked Brajesh. He also stuttered. The king told them, "So, none of you are thieves. Now tell me what's the matter? Why are you pretending so?"

Urvashi told all the story what was really happened. The king ordered the guards to free them and he seized those corrupted guards.

Outside of the Royal court, Brajesh asked Urvashi, "Why is your get-up like this?" Urvashi slapped him all of a sudden, "You crazy boy! Why did you do this? If anything happened to you? I was so scared. But God saved you." 

"It was you who saved me. But why have you came here and took the blame upon you? Were you going to die for me?" Brajesh asked.

"Yes." Urvashi replied with a red face. 

"But you told me, you love that man."

"I was wrong. Actually I love you. I have realized it when I came to know that you are in danger. I felt my world was getting dark. I felt like suffocated. Please don't do it again."

They were walking side by side. Brajesh held her hand softly. Urvashi turned back and saw it was not that 'funny', 'crazy' boy whom she used to know. Rather, he was a perfect lover who could die for her. Who was caring to her. Who was her own man. Brajesh kissed on her soft lips and said, "Promise".

Short Scary Stories

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Short Scart Stories

Sometimes we think it's good to believe in spirituality. But when it turns into an extreme level?

Hasneet was returning home from the rail station. The train was late and it was too much for their sub-urban area. The weather was very hot. When he was going through the local cemetery ground, felt uneasy. He was a very weak hearted person. Even he didn't enjoy horror films or scary stories.

He heard previously that the cemetery is a holy place. Yet he used to avoid this place even in the day time. Now he had to use that way because there was no other choice. The cemetery grounds are lying both side of the road. There is no wall between them. People uses this way everyday. But it was too late at night to get a man. Hasneet became frightened in that lonely place. He started to recite prayers from the Holy book, whatever he was taught. 

When in the middle of the way, he saw a man was sitting on a grave stone and fanning himself with an old hand fan. Hasneet felt some courage inside him. His prayer saved him. At least he was not completely alone there. He went to that man and said, " Hi ! How are you?"

The man replied, "Oh ! I am fine." He continued fanning himself.

Hasneet stopped there to gather enough courage to walk alone the rest way. He asked, "The weather is very hot. Isn't it?" A dry conversation.

The man replied, "Yes. Though not much hot here, but the heat is unbearable inside the grave."

               ***************

Most beautiful sound on this earth is the sound of a child's laughing. But when it turns awful one?

Suzy was not like Hasneet. She was a brave girl. She is 20 now and she lives with her parents. Her elder brother is married and he has two children, the elder is a boy and he is 3 years now, an the younger girl is only one year. Both of them are very sweet. Suzy loves them very much.

When they shifted in a new house, far away from the busy city, she was happy. Because she likes quiet places.

It was a winter night. Suzy was sleeping on her bed. Suddenly she woke up with a sound of laughing. It was loud. She understood that her nephew was playing with her in the middle of the night in the dark room. She also laughed with him. 

But, when her sleepy brain became fully conscious, she felt that it was not her nephew's voice at all. She became more surprised when her memory told that she was all alone at home that night. Her parents, brother, sister-in-law went to a marriage ceremony of their old neighbour at the city. She didn't go because she didn't like them. She stayed at home all alone because she was brave hearted.

Now she still was hearing the sound of a child's laughing in the darkness of the room. The main entrance of the house was locked, and the door of her room was also locked. The keys was on her bedside table. She switch the bed lamp, but it didn't work. The sound was increasing louder and louder every minute.

               ***************

Offspring is most valuable to a man in this earth. But when it turns into an extreme confusion?

Mr. Smith lives with his 7 years old son Peter, in his apartment. His wife gave him divorce two years ago. He didn't married again. He is a physics professor in a college. At the morning he drops his son at his school and goes to his college, and when he returns home, picks his son from school. A maid servant maintains all their house hold works, and when Peter stays at home at day time, she looks after him. After cooking dinner she returns home.

Mr. Smith teaches his son at home. His thoughts are scientific and logical. He nurtures his son in his own way. But Peter likes to read fairy tales, scary stories. Mr. Smith don't protest it. Because Peter is a little boy and he don't want to be rude to him. But he tries to make his son's thoughts logical.

One night Mr. Smith woke up when he heard Peter's scream out of fear. He left his bed and went to Peter's room. He put on the light of that room. Peter was sitting on the bed trembling in fear. 

"What happened?" Mr. Smith asked him in a soft voice.

"Daddy, There is some one under my bed." Peter replied with utter anxiety.

Mr. Smith smiled. He tried to ease his trembling son, "There is nobody in this house instead of us. You may had a nightmare. It's the effect of those ghost stories you read."

"No daddy, there is surely somebody under my bed. I can't sleep here alone."

Mr. Smith understood that he need to show his son the reality. It was impossible for anybody's existence under his bed. So he sat on his knees and lifted the long bed-cover. He saw Peter was sitting there, trembling out of fear. When he saw Mr. Smith, he said weeping, "Daddy, there is some one on my bed. I can't stay alone in this room."

               ***************

Moral Stories - Always Think Positive

Moral story -

Always Think Positive

Sometimes we face some difficulties in our life and start to think, "there is no hope for me." But, when one window gets closed, we should try other windows. Obviously there is a solution of each problem. We do make our future by ourselves.

Once a merchant lived in a locality. He often used to go various places with his goods for business. The merchant had no cart. He only had a donkey. It carried all the goods for it's master silently. As time passed, the donkey grew old. It had not much strength left as young age. Yet it worked hard.

One day, the merchant went in a village marketplace to sell his goods. While returning from there at evening, the donkey fell into an abandoned well. The well was stood just beside a narrow lane of that village. Though the well was dry, but it was deep. The merchant asked the villagers for help. They came and tried whole night, but failed. It was impossible to rescue the donkey from there.

In the morning the merchant told them, "Let it go. It is an old donkey. After a few days it will become useless. I was thinking to buy a new donkey instead it. Now let it die there."

The villagers said, "Though it's rude for that poor animal, we have to fill this well. Because it is dangerous for the children of the village too."

Then they started to fill the well with soil.

When the first pile of soil fell on it's back, the poor animal understood what was happening. At first it started crying with fear and shook it's back. The soils went down it's legs and the donkey climbed on that heap. In this way, it used the soil, supplied by the villagers, used to build a solid platform on the ground, layer by layer. The villagers noticed that and they became happy. At last the donkey came out of the well alive.

There are so many deep wells waiting for us beside the way of life. Sometimes we fall there. But positive thought and ability to use the unfavourable conditions as favourable, help us to overcome all the difficulties.

Just think positive. Everything has a solution.
                     ________________

Deserted Land : Short scary story

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Desarted Land

When Mohan get out of the train, the railway platform was empty. This place is his in-law's home. He works in army as a soldier. Recently his wife is living here with her parents since he was posted at the border of the country. He got a letter from his wife to come and take her along somewhere else. The village was attacked by cholera. After receiving her letter Mohan applied for a leave. It took some time and his application was granted. Then he started his journey from a corner of the country to another. After a long journey, at last he reached at Sonapur rail station, his in-law's village.

It was afternoon. Only the station master was working in his chamber. There was no other person. Last time when he came here, the picture of the station was not same. However, he cam outside the station premises. He expected some vehicles to go to his in-law's house as usual, but he became dishearten when he saw the place was empty too. After that long journey, he had to walk two and half miles with luggage. Daylight was proceeding to the end gradually. He had to hurry. Otherwise it would be difficult to find out the way in darkness.

The village paths were also soulless. Not a single man or an animal was there. Both side of the narrow lane were covered with jungle. The ponds were covered with scum. The farmlands were barren. Some village huts were stood here and there lonely and broken. The village was surrounded by an uncomfortable silence and bad smells of rotten flesh.

Soon the day were at it's end. Mohan stopped in a mid point of three paths. They went in three different directions. He was tired. He had not much energy for a walk in a wrong way. He needed to ask someone about the right direction of his in-law's house. But there was nobody. He was thinking about what to do and looking all around. The daylight was being erased very fast. He had a torch light. But it would not be helpful for him in a unfamiliar area. He was feeling like every living object in this world had demolished except him.

Suddenly he saw a man in twilight, sitting on a broken branch of a tree just beside a pond, facing to it. Probably he was watching something in the dirty water of the  pond. Mohan became happy. At least one person who can give him proper direction of the way. He went near him and asked, "Excuse me! I have to go Ramen Acharya's house. Can you tell me the way?" The man didn't response him. But the response came from another side of the road. "Who is that?" An very old man holding a curved stick approached to him in that twilight. Mohan was surprised. Even a few minutes ago the village was totally abandoned, from where these people are coming? But he asked his in-law's address. The old man gave him direction with his shaking voice.

Mohan was walking on a path among those three and entered in a village. He had to cross two more villages to arrive his in-law's house. On the way he saw the place was not abandoned as he thought. Some women with long veil, were busy to  sweep and clean their surroundings. Some women were walking to the nearby pond with some kitchenware to wash them. On the steps of the pond some men were brushing their teeth. Over all the picture was  just like a beginning of a day. The evening scattered thin darkness everywhere. A slice of moon appeared on the eastern sky. There were many people in the next village. They were busy in their work. But they all were silent.

Mohan noticed a strange thing, when he was passing through the village path, the villagers stopped their work and stared to him astonishingly. He was feeling uneasy. Their gaze were not normal. He paced up to reach his destination as quick as possible.

When he came out of two villages, he expected that he was about to reach his in-law's house. But the path was so long. Suddenly he heard a very light sound of smiling behind him. He turned and saw some of the villagers were following him silently. When he turned to them, they hide themselves from his torch light's focus behind the roadside trees and bushes. Now Mohan became really panicked. What was happening around him? He started walking very fast.

He reached in a village which was familiar to him previously. But this village was entirely lifeless. But when he was passing by a jungle of bamboo trees, he was face to face with three ferocious village dogs roaring at him. When he stepped back, he saw those villagers. He was surrounded by them. Suddenly he heard a very familiar voice. His wife Shyama was there. He came back out of his panic attack situation. Shyama was holding an oil lamp in her hand and smiled at him. Mohan saw, there was neither any villager nor the dogs. Shyama said, "Come with me." Mohan followed her obediently.

When they entered into Shyama's room Mohan's watch was showing it was 8 pm. Shyama placed the lamp into the room and went out in the darkness. After a few minutes she returned and said, "Go to the bathroom and take a bath." Mohan was tired and sweaty. He wanted to take a bath.

After being fresh he entered the bed room. Shyama was sitting there waiting for him. She gave him some dry foods as snack. Mohan was hungry. He started to eat and asked, "Where is others?"

"They are sleeping." Shyama replied.

Mohan asked, "So early?"

"They all are weak after suffering from cholera."

"What was outside there? I mean those people?"

"I'll tell you later about it. Now I have to cook dinner for you. Lie down and take some rest here. I am going to kitchen." Shyama left the room with an another lamp.

Mohan was lying on the bed, probably was sleeping. He was tired but at the same time anxious. Shyama said that others in this house are sleeping. But he was hearing whispers around the room. The windows were closed. He felt some presence at other side and inside the room. Faint sounds of somebody's movements, sound of cloths and bangles, whispering, puzzled him. When the shadows on the wall took human shapes, he decided to go and spend time with Shyama in the kitchen. He felt uneasy in that room.

He took the lamp and went to the kitchen. But when he reached there, he saw through the kitchen door, Shyama was cooking something on oven. She stretched her legs inside the oven. Her legs were burning there as firewood.

It was enough for one evening. He collapsed down there with a loud wail.

When he opened his eyes and became conscious, he was lying on the bed of Shyama. An oil lamp on an upper shelf of wall was creating twists of light and shadow in the room. He sat on the bed. The upper portion of the room was enlighten by the lamp, but the lower portion was covered with thin darkness. He saw Shyama sitting at the door of the room. It seemed she was weeping. Mohan said with fear, "Let me go."

Shyama stopped her weeping and told him, "I can't do this."

Mohan felt sweat on his forehead. "I was your husband. Please don't kill me. Let me go."

Shyama replied, "You were my husband. And that is why I can't let you go now in this night. They are waiting for you outside this house. Me and my other family members are protecting you here. Once go outside, you will be in great danger. Wait for dawn."

Mohan got her point. He remembered what happened at evening. Shyama saved him from that danger. If her intention was to harm him, she could do it easily. But she didn't. He became eased with this thought. He asked, "What happened to you?"

"Not only me. Ours and our neighbour villages have emptied by cholera. When I died, there was nobody to give some water into my thirst. Who were alive, escaped from here. Nobody remained to burn the dead bodies." She stopped for a few seconds. "When I sent you a mail, still then our village was ok. But cholera spread out very fast and ended all of us. My body is still lying where they surrounded you under a bamboo tree."

Mohan was silent. His heart sank into deep sorrow. He loved his wife. But now, she no more belonged in this world. Who was sitting on the doorstep, had teared all the bindings with this world.

"Didn't the station master tell you anything?" Shyama asked.

"He was working on his table. Didn't notice me." Mohan replied.

"If you talked to him, you had not to suffer here. At least you could went back by the next down train." She paused and spoke again, "Now sleep a little. You have to do a long journey again tomorrow. We are here to protect you. Don't worry."

Mohan believed his wife, but the panic was not leaving him. He wanted not to sleep, but his tired and exhausted body was unable to be awake. So he slept there.

When he woke up, it was morning. The daylight was entering into the room through the gaps of the closed windows. Shyama was not there. He opened the window. A fine morning was welcoming him outside. He saw a portrait of Shyama and him hanging on the wall of that room. He took that picture and packed into his luggage. Then came outside and went to that bamboo tree. A half rotten body was lying there. Though it was half eaten by dogs or something, but still he could identify the body. He brought a cutter from inside the house and gathered some dry woods. Beside the pond he prepared a funeral and placed Shyama's dead body on it and flamed the furnace.

When he returned at the station leaving the abandoned villages behind, the station master was watching him with wonder gaping his mouth. He asked him, "Where did you spend the night young man?"
                  _______________________

Unintentional : Humorous short story

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Unintentional

Mr. Praveen Sharma is 35 years old handsome man. His wife is 30 years old beautiful woman. They have no child still now. Mr. Sharma is fun-loving person. Always he is happy in any circumstance. He attends all the parties wherever he is invited, and enjoys the party with other women. His wife Mrs. Sharma does not like this type of enjoyment of her husband with other women. She loves her husband very much. This love leads her envious to those woman. Mr. Sharma knows it. So he goes to meet more other women in front of his wife to prank her.

Mrs. Sharma thought that her husband is going to be perverted. Se wanted to control over him, but there was no such strong evidence against his perversion. He did nothing in her presence what could be judged in this way. She wanted to see his activities in absence of hers. Se was seeking a way to bring him into the line.

Once Mr. Sharma’s best friend invited them in his marriage anniversary. He and his wife told Sharma couple not to miss that date. That party was a musk party which was only for friends.

On the evening of the party Mrs. Sharma announced that she was not going to the party. Because she was not feeling well. Mr. Sharma tried with his best to convince her. He knew what was the problem with her. But she did not came with him. He became upset. But he had to go to his best friend's party. So he took his Spiderman dress and mask, and went there alone, awkward.

After one hour he left home, Mrs. Sharma took her new wearing and mask of a fairy including a pair of fine wings and went to that party.

Into the party she found her Spiderman in the middle of a number of masked women as usual. High volume music was obstructing their conversation to be heard. She went to the Spiderman and started flirting with him. The Spiderman soon was with her seeking a proper place to enjoy intimately. They went to the upper floor and pushed a closed door. Some men was playing cards there. At last they found a suitable place in another room. At last Mr. Sharma had strong evidence.

Mrs. Sharma returned home at 10 pm. She packed her fairy dress into her bag. She opened the main door with her key and found Mr. Sharma watching T.V in the drawing room.

Mrs. Sharma went into the bedroom and placed her bag in place. Then she returned in the drawing room. Sat on the sofa opposite to Mr. Sharma. Then calmly asked him, "How was party Mr. Spiderman?"

"It was boring." Replied Mr. Sharma.

"Really?" Asked Mrs. Sharma. "Then what did you do there."

"I was playing cards with some of my old friends in a room. Then left early. It was boring without you."

Mrs. Sharma felt uneasy. Her nerves were running fast. Suddenly Mr. Sharma's phone started to ring loudly. He took his phone and looked at the caller's name. It was his friend Rahul. He handed the phone to her wife and told her, "Receive the phone and tell him that I have left my phone at home. I am not at home."

Mrs. Sharma received the phone. Before she could say anything, a voice from another side entered into her ear, "Hey bro, thanks a lot for your Spiderman costume. It's very lucky costume. I had a lot of fun here. I got a fairy. She was wonderful. Thanks a lot again bro."

Mrs. Sharma blushed. Her face changed into red like tomato. She replied, "I am his wife. He is not at home and left his phone here."

"Oh! I am sorry. I thought it was Praveen, so I told those to you. “He was regretting. "By the way, Praveen told that you were not feeling well. How are you now?"

Death Trap : Short scary story

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Death Trap

Short Scary Story : Death Trap

Sankar was a village boy. He had completed school in his village. His father was a rich farmer. Besides farming, he had some other businesses like cold storage for vegetables, poultry farm, fishery. So when Sankar passed higher secondary exam, his father told him to join in his business. Though his elder brother Bhaskar also joined with his father after finishing school, but it was not enough. His father needed more help from family members. Because only two person can't manage all of these entirely. But Sankar was not eager to stop his education so early. He wanted to read more. He told his father about it. At first his father was reluctant but when Sankar's mother and Bhaskar supported Sankar's will then his father became agreed with it.

Now Sankar faced another problem. There was no college in their village. So he had to go nearest town and admitted there. This town was 10 km away from their village. So it was not possible for him to do up and down journey in regular basis. Obviously he needed a shelter in that town. Their college had no hostel facility. So he had to arrange an accommodation in that town.

His father knew it very well. For this reason he was not willing to send him college. Sankar was youngest boy in their family. So everybody loved him. Even his elder brother Bhaskar had no  feeling of sibling rivalry to him. Sankar was a soft hearted, introvert boy just opposite of his brother. Bhaskar was daredevil boy and he was famous for this in their village. He had a lot of friends and he used to spend all the time with them outdoor. Sankar was very much dependent on him in external world. Bhaskar was over protective to him. Nobody in their village had gut to misbehave with Sankar. Though Sankar was not that type of boy who deserve misconduct. He was brilliant, intelligent, gentle and sober. He had not much friends. He spent all the spare time indoor with books. Bhaskar started to take him along to the playground at afternoon and tried to teach him how to play football. At first some boys made fun of Sankar's introversion. But they had to face hard time with Bhaskar for that. After that, they accepted Sankar as their unskilful playmate, but soon the started to like him for his pleasant attitude.

Bhaskar was not studious. He had not much interest for higher education. So he joined his father in the business after passing school final. But he respected his younger brother's interest for higher education. So when he saw Sankar was willing to continue his study and his father was not giving him permission, he and his mother talked to his father and succeeded to win over him. With his parents Bhaskar went with Sankar to that town and tried hard to find out an accommodation. It was not an easy task. People of a small town don't want a stranger person as paying guest in their family, on the other hand usually they don't have a spare room to let it rent.

At last they found one room in a old house in a quiet area of that town. That house was old and only an old couple lived on the second storey of that house. They had a son and he lived in foreign country. So they lived alone there. The let Sankar a room for rent on the ground floor. Their maid servant will cook for him and will clean his room for some money. Sankar liked the atmosphere of that house. It was situated in the middle of a large garden. Though the garden was a jungle for lack of maintenance. Different types of fruit trees and flower trees were there. The atmosphere was unique for a serious student. Sankar lodged there within two days. Bhaskar promised him, he will visit Sankar as frequently as possible. His mother kissed his forehead while returning home and wiped her eyes with the edge of her cloth. Sankar promised her he will go back home every Saturday evening.

The college days were going well. Sankar made some new friends there. He was actually enjoying the college. One day the head of their department gave all of them a project. Sankar worked hard on it. At the previous night of the paper submission day, he had to work till late night to complete the papers. When he finished his job, he felt relaxed. It was 12 at night. He opened the door of his room and came outside veranda for fresh air. The July sky was dull and the weather was hot.

When he came into the veranda, it was dark all around the garden. Only fireflies were visible with their sparkling lightning. Sankar was fond of nature's beauty. He was enjoying the night time grace of earth.

He was feeling a strange light fragrance of something. At first he thought it may be an unknown flower, but when the light fragrance became sharp, he felt dizziness in his brain. He turned back to go inside the room. Before any movement he heard a sweet voice behind him. She was telling him, "May I have some time with you?"

Sankar was astonished. A good looking woman, may be 25 years old, pretty, fair, a decent appearance standing by him face to face. The fragrance was coming from her. When she smiled, her teeth was glistening like pearls by the deem light of veranda. The dizziness was collapsing his brain's work. But still he stood there face to face. A sharp feeling of pleasure was touching his 18 year's old heart. The woman introduced herself, "I am Nayana. I live here. But I didn't see you before. Are you newcomer in this town?"

Sankar was not thinking straight, though he told his name and the reason why hi is here. The woman Nayana said, "I haven't any friend. Though you are younger than me, but we may be good friends, if you want. I have nobody to talk."

Several questions were roaming into his mind, 'who is she?' 'what is he doing here at the middle of the night?' 'why is he feeling so strange at her presence?' But none of those questions he asked her. Instead he told, "Sure! You are welcome here any time."

"I can't come here anytime. My parents are very strict. The sleep at 12. I can come only then. And don't tell anybody about me. If my parents come to know about it, I'll be in great danger." Nayana said in melodious tone

They talked there in veranda till 1 pm at night. Then Nayana went back to her home. Sankar returned on his bed and slept instantly. He was not feeling well.

Nayana came next night and this night meeting was became into a routine. She used to come exactly at 12 and returned at 1 am. Sankar had observed, her movements were as silent as a cat and that strange dizzy feeling was obvious at her presence and after she left. Day by day his physical and mental health was going worse. He became weak and impatient. He started to do rude behaviour with his friends. He lost his interest on study. Even he stopped to go home at Saturday. When his parents came to meet him, he pretended everything was ok. Nayana became a great problem to him. He felt that he was not going at right direction. But he could not control himself. He had many questions, but never he asked her those.

One night he planned to avoid Nayana. He locked his room from inside and pretended to sleep deeply. But when it was12, he felt Nayana inside the room shaking him to wake up. What was only a doubt about her, it became quite certain to him. Nayana was sitting on his bed and the door was still then locked from inside. He asked her, " How did you came inside?"

Nayana laughed sweetly and replied, "I know some tricks. Nothing is impossible for me."

Sankar did not ask another question on this matter. He started to talk with her in some random matter and waited for 1am. After she gone, he felt himself more weak than previous hour. He lost some more energy with the dizziness and the pleasure. Soon he fell asleep.

Next day he did not go to the college and called Bhaskar with his mobile. Bhaskar came at the noon and when he saw his face, instantly he understood something was wrong with his little brother. Sankar was not same as last time he saw him. He became worried about Sankar's health.

He asked Sankar about it. At first Sankar hesitated to tell Bhaskar about the truth. But Bhaskar started to question him and thus the truth revealed. If it was told by another person, Bhaskar thought that it was an effect of weeds addiction. But he had a trust on Sankar. So he decided to stay at night there.

That night two brothers were awake till 12. But just then Bhaskar felt strong dizziness and soon fell asleep. He woke up 1:30 at night after a deep sleep and found Sankar was lying on the bed motionless. It seemed that all the energy were drained from his body.

Next day Sankar returned home with Bhaskar. Bhaskar did not dare to let him stay there any more. They told their parents everything. His mother became anxious about it. His father told him to stay at home some day and after a rest and treatment he will join college again. In between this time he will arrange other place for Sankar to stay in that town.

They thought that the danger was gone. But that night Sankar became to know that they were wrong. When it was 12 at night, he woke up with the same smell and dizziness. Nayana was there in his room. But she was not as pleasant as in that home. She told with fire in eyes, "Why have you came here without telling me? Don't think that it is easy to fool me. You know me since a long time. Do you really not understand what I am? I'll not allow you to be apart from me. If anybody try to interfere between us, I'll kill them. I want you."

"Why are you saying me these? I was not feeling well. I became sick. So my brother take me with him at home for treatment. I couldn't say him anything about you because you warned me. So I had to come with him. Don't you understand my physical condition?" Sankar told in a weak voice. Actually he was very weak.

Nayana became soft to him, " Ok! But come there yesterday. I'll bring you some medicine. You will be fine."

Sankar said, "I don't think that I can go there yesterday. I have not much energy left for a journey. Give me some time to gather strength."

"Ok! But if you don't go there, nobody will be able to save you from me. Remember it."

When Nayana left, Sankar woke his parents and told them everything. His mother started to cry. For the first time Bhaskar felt helpless to protect his little brother. Next day Bhaskar and his father went out to find out a spiritual help. At first they went to the priest of their village temple. He sent them to a experienced 'tantrik' who lived in burning ghat(samsan) in a remote village.

The appearance of that tantrik was not like a traditional one. He was an old man, lived in a temporary hut inside the burning ghat area. Sankar's father entered inside the hut while Bhaskar was standing outside. His father told him everything and requested him to go with him. But that old man was not willing to go with him. He told him, "May be your son is wrong. May be it is his imagination which is a common factor with a weak body."

Sankar's father said, "But my son never tells a lie."

"I didn't mean that." The tantrik replied calmly. "Previously in many cases I saw that it was not a genuine haunting. Fear, physical weakness, imagination, loneliness sometimes drive people in this way. Instead of me, you should visit a doctor........" He stopped when he saw Bhaskar outside his hut's door. He noticed something and called him inside. When Bhaskar came inside, the old man watched him for a long time then told his father, "You are right. I can see this boy is also in her shadow. Have you experienced something my child?" Bhaskar told him what happened that night while he was with Sankar." The old man took some equipment in his bag and told, "Let's go. I think your son is in a great danger."

When they returned home with the old man, it was evening. Sankar was lying on his bed. Tiredness was clear on his face. The tantrik sat beside him and asked him some questions after examining him. He was not sure what type of thing was that. At the night after meal he placed a handful rice in a piece of clothe and an uncut fresh lemon on it. Then he placed it inside the pillow of Sankar. He told others to leave the room. Sankar had to face her alone one night more. Though Sankar's mother was not willing to leave him alone anymore, but she obeyed that old man.

When it was 12 at night, all the members in that house fell asleep suddenly, only the tantrik was conscious. He also felt the fragrance from another room. After 1am at night, he woke other members of that family and came into Sankar's room. He was watching on the ceiling lying on bed. He became pale and more weak. Bhaskar wept watching his loving brother in that condition. His mother was crying. His father felt helpless and looked at the tantrik with hope. The old man pulled out the piece of cloth from where it was placed and opened it. The rice changed into the red dusts and when he cut the lemon, it was rotten from inside. The tantrik became serious. Sankar's father asked him, "What's the matter?"

Everybody in that room looked at the old man. He could not encourage them. Instead he told, "I can't handle this case. It is beyond my limitation. This object is too much powerful. No living mind can fight with it."

"Why is it after my son?" Asked Sankar's mother stopping her cry.

"He had welcomed it. So it is sucking all his energies to be more powerful. It is a type of parasite. A very cruel destructive force of nature. They can't do anything until you are not giving it an invitation. This child had invited it. So it is impossible to do them apart. Whoever will try to do it, will die in a very cruel way."

"Then what can we do?" Asked Bhaskar impatiently.

"There is no living mind who can fight with this type of parasite." Said the old man. He seemed thoughtful.

"If there is any trick to use it's power against it?" Asked Bhaskar.

The old man smiled widely. "That's a good idea. I like it my child. give me some time to think overnight. We will talk about it tomorrow morning.

Next morning the tantrik called them all in Sankar's room and told about his plan. It was a dangerous plan with high risk. But there was no substitute way. It was totally on Sankar's mental strength.

That night when Nayana came to his room, Sankar was awake. He told Nayana, "Forgot something?"

"Forgot?" Nayana was surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"Why are you joking? Today you came at 11 and returned a few minutes ago and you are again here now." Sankar said very calmly.

"Are you kidding me? I came just now." Nayana was still surprised.

"No you are playing with me." Sankar continued. "You came at 11 and asked, 'may I come'? I welcomed you as usual. Though you behaved strangely. Then you returned a few minutes ago. And again you are here. I have not much energy left today. Please Nayana, let me sleep. I am very tired."

"Are you sure I was here tonight at 11?" Nayana was serious.

"Forgot so soon?" Sankar pranked her lying on the bed.

"It was not me!" Nayana said.

"What do you mean?" Sankar rose up on his bed with tension.

"I mean it was another person. It was not me. It may kill you." There was fire in her eyes.

"Please save me. I am your friend, not other's. Please Nayana! I can't undergo any more. Please save me!" There was terror in his eyes.

Nayana thought for sometime. Then she told, " There is a way to get rid of it. But you have to go with me."

"Where?" Sankar asked.

"In a jungle outside of your village." Nayana replied.

"But it is a long distance. I can't go by myself." Sankar told.

"I can help you to reach there. But you have to return by yourself." She told him.

"Why are we going there?" Sankar asked. He was really terrorized now by fear. What she want to do with him?

"There is a herb in the broken wall of an old abandoned temple. You have to collect that herb. We can't go even near that herb. So You have to return alone with that. You have to make an amulet with it and hold wear it all time. But you have to keep it in another room 12 at night and when I will return, you have wear it again. Understand it?" Nayana gave him the instruction.

"Yes. Let's go." Sankar was ready.

Once they came outside the house, Sankar felt he was floating into the air. When they reached there, Nayana let him go and told him to collect that herb. Sankar did as per her direction. Then he returned home walking slowly. He heard Nayana was giving him the reminder how to use it, from a long distance.

The plan of that old man was successful. Next morning he made some amulets for Sankar and his other family members and gave them to wear those all time. Then he performed some rituals around their house with the rest of that herb.

After that night the way to Sankar was closed for Nayana. After realizing her stupidity, she tried some more days to persuade Sankar, but failed and gone from there seeking another prey.
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The Hinduism(Article)

The Hinduism

Culture is the dignity of a nation. The term 'culture' covers all the aspects of people of a certain country or a nation, e.g. religion, tradition, art, wearing, rituals, social practices, food habits and so on. Culture of each nation is distinct from another in this world. Indian sub-continental culture is also unique by it's aspects as well.

Indian culture has flourished at the dawn of mankind. It is older than eight thousand years. Various hindrances came to obstruct it's flow in times, but they failed to do so, rather they joined with the main stream. People from every part of the world came here, live here and adapted the sub-continental culture, just like different streams join together to the ocean. They live together, observe their own rituals with other people who belong to different cultures and religions. It is true that they do fight  among themselves for some religious(provoked by mean politics) issues, but there is also a string of unity, that holds them together and never let them apart. It is an Important side of Indian culture. Thus the main flow continues it's journey from past to present and present to future.

But, what is the source of this string of unity?

The meaning of the term "religion" is different here than other parts of the world. The term "dharma" is derived from a Sanskrit verb "dhṛ" which means "to hold". In Indian context, dharma or religion is not apart from the society. Etymological meaning of the term "dharma" is "duties of an individual towards the society". Each and every member of the society has distinct duties towards the society according his competence. When he keeps it up, it means he is obeying his "dharma". In some classical texts like Vedas, Puranas, Manusmriti, different duties are included as dharma. But all of them admitted some common duties, everybody must have to obey. They are : ☆ Abstain from injury to all living creatures(non-violence), ☆ abstain from falsehood, ☆Abstain from unauthorised appropriation of things-of-value from another, ☆Abstain from coveting or sexually cheating on your partner, ☆ Abstain from expecting or accepting gifts from others, ☆ Compassion and faith in others, ☆ Charity to the helpless, ☆ Rendering service to others, ☆ Succour of the distressed, ☆ gather knowledge, etc.. So, dharma here is not controlled by God, rather it is a way to reach to God.

I am not going to use a common pronoun "He" or "Him" to mention "God". Because this notion is different here too.

In general Hinduism is known as polytheism. But it is not true properly. There are 33 types (Koti) of Deities, but they are not "God". From the Rig-Vedic age people worshiped several natural powers for well being. These natural powers like Indra (the king), Chandra (moon), Surya (sun), Varun (water), Vayu (air), Agni (fire) etc. are directly related to our earthly life. But they are not God. God is one and unique. So Hinduism is monotheist.

There are four Vedas, they are Rig, Sham, Yaju(Sukla and Krishna) and Atharva. They have four sections -- Samhita/Mantra, Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanisada. Rig-Veda Samhita is the oldest text in the world. Among these four sections, Upanisadas described about the ultimate reality of the world. This reality is one and unique. It is pure existence. They named it as "Brahman". Everything, which exist in the world is manifestation of Brahman.

Each and every object of the perceptual world has two faces. One is appearance and other is existence. Appearance is subject of change. The appearance of this world is not stable. Whatever we perceive at present time, were not same in past and will be changed in future. But the existence is stable. The same entity remains in past, present and future. This eternal entity is Brahman. This Brahman is not something apart from us as well as the other objects of world.

To illustrate it simply just think about yourself. We all have two faces --- one is appearance and another is existence. At present we have a distinct appearance which was not same in the childhood and it will be changed in future. But we can feel that our existence has not changed. From origin to decay every object changes entirely by it's appearance, but nothing loses the existence. Same object reveals in another form. So, over all existence is eternal and unique. Upanisadas have mentioned this unique entity as "Brahman". Brahman covers all the objects of universe, including us.

According to Upanisadas, we are nothing but Brahman. Brahman is not apart from us. But we don't feel so. Why? Upanisadas answered it too. Ignorance blocks our thoughts. When ever we look at the world, we think, "it is the creation of God. God is perfect being, almighty and is superior. God is apart from us."

There is a question. If God is a perfect being, then how could be apart from us? If my existence is not included to God, then how we can tell it a "perfect being"?

Ignorance diverts our reasoning and intuition. We assume that pure existence 'Brahman' as 'God' and impose some imaginary powers on that. But Upanisadas said, "You Are That"(tat-tvam-asi). So everything in this world is Brahman (or God). The Upanisadas teach us to serve all the creatures. The Upanisadas teach us to love all and everything as our soul is unique. This is the culture and heritage of India. All the Indians born in this culture, grow up with it and sow it into the thoughts of the next generation.

Here is the main source of the string of unity.

"Hindu" is not a name of a religion. It is the name of a nation. People who live and follow the culture of Hindustan is known as "Hindu". "Dharma" is not mere specific rituals here, but it is other name of "faith", "integrity", "morality" and "devotion". It is a point of view. If you accept the meaning of "Hinduism" in narrow sense, you can find out several domestic walls among the separate religious rituals. But when you accept it in wider sense, you can find out, the people of  separate religious views are performing their duties (dharma) differently with the help of other people of different religious views to maintain the general well being of the nation.
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Mistaken : Humorous short story

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Mistaken

One night, two mischievous boys thieved two bags full apples from their neighbour's garden. When they finished their job, the owner of that garden suspected about their operation in the darkness of the garden. He came out of his room and chased after them with a torch light and a stick. When he saw the thieves climbed his boundary wall, then jumped and vanished, he started shouting, "Thief!" "Thief!" Soon other houses of the locality became animated at the middle of the night hearing that shouting.

Those boys ran and came near the church of that town. This place was not much populated like other parts of the town. There was a graveyard beside the church. One of the boys said, "Let's go inside the graveyard and divide these apples into two portion for us."

"It's a good idea. Nobody will come there." The other boy said.

So they entered into the graveyard. While crossing over the fence, two apples from their bags fell on the ground outside the graveyard. But they let them go. Because they had enough apples in their bags to count. They decided to pick them up later.

They sat upon a grave stone nearest from the fence and started to count those fruits loudly.

In the meantime a drunk man was returning home by the lane between the church and the graveyard. He heard two voices coming from the graveyard. He became curious about it and went near the fence. He couldn't see anything inside for the bushes of the graveyard boundary and it was too dark to see anything. He just heard two voices busy to divide something, "This is yours and this is mine", "This is yours and this is mine".

After hearing these, his intoxication vanished instantly. He ran to the church and started banging the door of father, " Father ! wake up ! Father !"

Father woke up and opened the door, "What happened? Why are you making noise at the middle of the night?"

"Father, come with me! I heard Holy God and Satan are dividing the souls into the graveyard!" The man was impatient.

The man was familiar to father. Father knew that, he was not a liar. Something really happened. He went with that man to the fence of graveyard. When they reached there, the boys were near the end of their job. Father also heard the counting, "This is yours and this is mine." He became spellbound. Suddenly he became anxious when he heard the next conversation.

The boys finished their counting and one of them told, "What about those two, outside the fence?"

Father started running inside the church along with that drunk man, shouting, "Oh God! Please let us go! We are still alive!"
                          ______________________

An Eternal Song : short story

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An Eternal Song

Santali festival of Spring

The Santals are an ethnic group, native to Nepal and the Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. Santals are the largest indigenous tribe in India in terms of population. Their life-style is very simple. They struggle against poverty and sometimes this struggle lead them to starvation. They worship 'Marang buru' or 'Bonga' as the Supreme Deity. 'Sohrai' is the principal festival of Santali community. Besides that Baha, Karam, Dansai, Sakrat, Mahmore, Rundo, Magsim etc. are important.
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Santali woman with her children

Spring comes with the presentation of colour in hills and the jungles of Jharkhand. The buds of flowers woke up after winter and bloom themselves to welcome the Spring. Butterflies also leave the shelter of caterpillar (God knows who informs them) and come to join in nature's festival of colour. Trees wear green dresses of new leaves. Various birds come to fill the air with chirping.

The Santals, who live in the lap of nature, also join in this festival. The Santali villages inside and outside of the jungle start their festival of flower "Baha". Men and women attire in their tradition clothes and celebrates the festival in joyous mood.

The naikey (the priest) performs a ritual in this festival. A kula(a flat container made by bamboo skin) with flowers and leaves of the shaal tree is offered to a Jaherthan (the altar) and devotees pray to "Jaher Ara", the god. After performing the rituals, the naikey along with others goes from door to door with the kula to bless everyone. People in the household, in particular young girls or women, offer food to the naikey. The naikey's feet are washed with water as he is welcomed by a family. After performing the rituals, the second part of programme start with dances, songs and archery practice.

The shaal forest was ringing that afternoon with the bass sound of beating 'dhamsa'. It was sending message "Everybody come into the festival ground". Mungri, a 16 years old girl was preparing herself with flower ornaments to go to the dance floor of festival ground. Her mother was helping her. Other girls, who were her friends, came to call her. When they were leaving, Mungri's mother reminded them to go and offer flowers to Bonga. The girls agreed with her and continued walking.

When they reached at Bonga's sacred place, a group of boys were also there offering flowers to the Holy Deity. They were carrying madals with them. They were from their neighbourhood village. When they became face to face, Mungri's eyes stuck upon a boy among them. He was probably 17 or 18. Dark skin, sharp physique, wearing a green cloth, a garland and a cloth-belt around head with flowers and green leaves. The boy was also gazing at her while going with his companions. Other girls watched it and laughed in unison. Mungri became embarrassed and then joined with her friends to Bonga.

When they reached on the festival ground, the elder women already started the 'sereng' (song) of Baha parab. The girls placed brass container with leaves and flowers on their head and started their traditional dance. Mungri saw that boy beating madal and looking at her frequently. The whole community was enjoying the festival with their traditional music, food and mahua (an intoxicating liquor made from flowers of mahua tree). A wave of pure bliss overflowed the shaal forest.

When Mungri was returning home that night from the festival ground with her friends, thrilling tunes of cuckoo were echoing the nocturnal atmosphere in shaal forest. Though the full moon enlightened the world with it's silvery moonlight, they were carrying some flared sticks to walk through the jungle at night. The girls heard a footstep behind them. When they turned round to see what was it, they found that boy from the festival ground appeared to them and slowly handed Mungri some spring flower silently with demur. She accepted those flowers from him. They both were speechless, looking at each other. He had love in his eyes. She had shyness in her gesture. The cuckoo was thrilling them. Her friends were silent. It seemed that the earth had stopped it's movement.

The boy was returning to his village. Other boys of his group were standing in a distance with patience. Then one of them called him, "Sagun! Let's go! We are already late!" The boy returned to this world and unwillingly followed his companions and disappeared into the shaal forest.

Mungri returned into her consciousness when a friend pulled her with them. They were also late.

Mungri's father works in a coal mine as a labour. After the hard work of whole day, he use to drink 'haria'(a native alcohol

Santali village

famous among the tribes) and usually spend whole night under a tree. Sometimes he spends all his daily income to buy haria.

She had two elder brothers. They don't work and spend the whole day wandering into the forest and playing wild tunes in flute.

So her mother works hard to feed the family. But her works are not stable. Where they live, there is not much facility of jobs for an illiterate Santali woman. Sometimes she works in the crop fields of the farmers, but it is a seasonal work. Sometimes she works in local timber factories. She works hard, but the remuneration is very low. She can't manage to fulfil the daily necessities. Permanent insufficiency is one of her inseparable companions, it never leaves her. Poverty drives her from morning to night outside home in hard works. So, Mungri manages all the household works by herself at home. She maintains the room, cooks, serves food to her brothers, and when her mother returns home she takes meal with her. Then her mother carries lunch for her father and goes to work from there.

Santali old women

Festive season means no more hard work and only enjoy the contiguity of the community. But when the festival arrives to it's end, the daily routine pulls them into the harsh track of the monotonous life. Again they work hard to live. But Mungri's life was no more monotonous. A new episode of life was opened for her. Sagun started to come and meet her daily into the shaal forest and on the hillocks. He played his tunes with his flute for her. Her days became colourful with him.

After the spring, summer came with fire into the air. All the water tanks dried including the small streams. It seemed the sun became mad. There were no job for Mungri's mother. The timber mill were closed for uncertain time. The crop fields were dried as well. She tried hard to get a job, but failed. Then hard the days of starvation began.

When the family was suffering the hard days, an agent from Assam Tea Estate came to their village with a proposal of a job in the tea garden. Mungri's mother accepted that proposal. Though Mungri's father opposed it, but she didn't listen to him. At least she can feed her children there. Instead of that, some other families from their village were also accepted that opportunity.

One afternoon Mungri met Sagun to say 'good bye'. They both were speechless, holding hands. There were tears in Mungri's eyes. Sagun's eyes was filled with pain. An inflammatory sensation was burning his eyes and was obstructing his breath. When she was returning home at evening, Sagun was no more able to hold on his tears. He told Mungri, "We shall meet again. Don't forget me." Mungri wept and came back to home to be prepared for long journey.

Soon they started their new life in Assam Tea Estate. Mungri and her mother got job in the tea garden. They plucked tea leaves there with other women of various tribes. Her father got job in the tea factory where they processed the tea leaves. Her two brothers had no job there instead of roaming around. They got a hut to live just beside the tea garden. But the remuneration was also very low.

Life was very restricted here. The garden manager had recruited some people, who were known as 'Sardar', to watch over the labours. The workers had lost their freedom. A little delay was punished by whips of the Sardar. Even the women was not out of the whip's range. They had to work like animals tied with chain.

After whole day's hard work, they returned to their hut. Some people of their ghetto  sang their tradition songs. They missed their community life of the natural habitation. But they tried to keep their social practices by heart. They came from different places and different tribes, but here they lived like a single community. They sang together the wild music of the jungle. When they did so, they felt the jungle God 'Bonga' there, pleased on them. Sometimes the music continued till midnight. The spirit of jungle changed the atmosphere of the tea estate.

When a Santali or Munda boy piped his flute at the night, Mungri found herself back into the shaal jungle with Sagun. She could not able to concentrate on any house hold work that night. The memory of those days with Sagun compelled her to spend a sleepless night. Memory of swinging together into the jungle swing, laughing and running together on the rocks and hillocks attracted her back to their native land. Though there was no way to go back.

In this way, they spent there three years. Then suddenly the tea estate collapsed by a huge loss in market and closed for an uncertain period. The workers waited some day, but when they saw no sign of open it, they got prepared to return home.

It was the end of winter. After returning in home land Jharkhand, Mungri became very happy. She met with her friends and went to Sagun's village to give him the good

Santali village

news, but saw some of the huts of that village was empty. Sagun's hut was one of them. She became upset. She returned and asked her friends about Sagun. They didn't know anything about him. But they heard that some families from that village went to the city for job as labours of construction site. May be he went with them.

That year the festival of spring was colourless to Mungri. Though the beats of madal and dhamsa, fine tune of flute, traditional songs of Baha, flowers of shaal trees, thrilling notes of cuckoo were as usual into the jungle and hills, but Mungri found no spirit in it. Festival of pure bliss made her cry.

The first day of festival started with the colourful flowers of spring and the rituals. Mungri's mother prepared her for the festival ground as usual with flower ornaments. When her friends came to call her, her mother reminded them to offer Bonga some flowers.

All the girls were walking silently. They were sympathetic with Mungri. Arriving at Bonga's place, they offered some flowers and prayed for her. The southerly wind of spring carrying the fragrance of flowers. A tune of flute was ringing the air. Mungri kneeled down in the front of Bonga and started to cry loudly. Her friends were trying to ease her. But her eyes was overflowing with tears continuously.

Suddenly she felt a gentle familiar touch on her shoulder. Instantly she stopped crying. She thought that it was a dream. But when she turned back, it was reality. It was Sagun himself. She jumped on him and clung him tightly. She started again to cry louder.

Sagun brought some flowers for her. When he returned home that day of festival, he heard from his friends that Mungri came back and she was searching for him. He did not wait. He was impatient to meet her. Without taking any rest, he went to Mungri's home. There he met her mother and came to know that Mungri went for Bonga's sacred place. He came here and met her.

When Mungri became easy with her repressed emotions, Sagun handed her the flowers which he brought and kissed gently on her forehead. Mungri's face changed into purple  as she became shy. The girls laughed in their natural way. Mungri turned round from them to Bonga, and saw the God was also smiling.

She felt the festival of spring was no more colourless.
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