40

“What were you eating? From your bag?” Ravi hissed at Dhatri pointing at her bag.  She ignored him completely and moved away.  Ravi clenched his fists.  He saw Nanu carrying a basket and went to help her.  He kept the basket of bulbous roots and some leafy vegetables.  He stared at the bulbs… 

“Jimikand..kanda gadda” Nanu said seeing him gazing at the bulbs.  Ravi smiled and looked at the vessel on the stove.  He opened the lid shamelessly and Nanu smiled opening her toothless mouth.  She smacked him on his shoulder fondly and took out a leafy plate.  Ravi sat on the hearth grinning.  He had secured a place in her heart.  She gave him a few leftover chops and rice.  “Hungry gudda!” she said pouring curry on his rice.  He again filled himself to the brim.  Burping satisfyingly, he got up and without even realizing what he was doing, hugged Nanu.  She patted on his back with her shaky hands, ruffling his hair.  

“Nanu…” Pappi had come in and froze looking at Ravi and Nanu.  Ravi went out hurriedly and Pappi asked… “What was that?” Nanu didn’t hear anything.  She gaped blankly at Pappi and Pappi shook her head hopelessly.  She came in, took something out of the container and went out without a word.

Nanu prepared tea and called Bijoy.  Ravi was first to reach.  Nanu grinned and poured a separate cup for Ravi.  He inhaled.  It smacked of lemon grass…!  He sipped happily.  Bijoy carried the container out in the courtyard.  Nanu rummaged in the containers and took out something.  Thrusting it in Ravi’s palm… she said “hum.. lap it up!” Ravi grinned.  He stuffed the slimy sweet in his mouth and went away.  

As the nightfall and darkness engulfed, the torches in the Temple emitted light, people started gathering.  Dhatri was nowhere to be seen.  Ravi’s eyes kept searching for her.  The singing began with a slow rhythm initially.   Men and women joined the circle;  Women inside and men on the outer circle.  Jim was overexcited and was trying the steps out.  Putta was his teacher.  Bijoy grinned sitting at the corner.  The gong reverberated and Muki poured the first mahua in his earthen tumbler.  There was uproar from everywhere and all rushed to fill in their tumblers too. 

 Jim was not sure but was not ready to miss it either.  Soumya had clutched her empty tumbler apprehensively.  Ravi refused to have one for himself.  The guests were given the preference and served with first round of Mahua with fried spicy potatoes and jimikand (Elephant Foot Yam)!  

 Maria sipped on.  Koite took a big gulp and contorted his face.  A strong odor with bitter-sour and tinge of pungent taste burned his pipe sending warmth in his stomach.  He opened his mouth fuming a bit and then the warmth engulfed him.  His ears heating up, he hiccuped a bit and a broad smile spread on his face.  “Not Bad!” he remarked giving it for another filling..and Jim ventured into it.  Ravi still was looking apprehensive, taking a sip although.  Indroneel had already gulped his tumbler down his burning throat and was smacking his lips thinking of filling it up once again.  “Hog…!” Ravi muttered looking at Indroneel.  The rhythm had picked up.  The gong and percussion reverberated everywhere… the atmosphere changed into festivity….The colorful women and white clothed men in dhoti moved in circle….! 

Someone pulled Jim and he jumped into the circle enthusiastically, trying hard to match with the rhythm.  Ravi saw a figure sneaking inside.  He tiptoed towards it and he saw who it was.  “You are the one!” he gripped his neck and Gathiram winced in fright.  He struggled to free himself in vain.  Ravi looked around for Appa and he found him talking to Muki.  He waved at him.

“He is the one.. Dhatri… Umm I mean Baby..!” Ravi felt weird calling her Baby.  Appa dragged Gathiram and roared in rage… “Tiger!” Ravi labeled Appa…! Then a round of bashing Gathiram took place with everyone punching and kicking him… Ravi too had his share of punching Gathiram right in his belly.  

 Gathiram, groaned, winced, cried out loud bearing the pain but didn’t move.  He couldn’t resist mahua.. bloody boozer!! 

“You filth, .. you already have hollowed yourself and still want to booze?” Appa slapped him again.

“Bu..But baby cured me…. I am alright now… see? “ Gathiram tried to stand straight on wobbly knees and had another punch from Appa.  “You filthy hog…. Wish you had died…!You almost had killed her!!”

Muki intervened and drove away Gathiram who was begging for Mahua.  He sat at the entrance of the complex with some hope that someone will pity him and give him a tumbler full of Mahua.  Ravi’s gray eyes fell on Dhatri, his next hunt, who was lurking near the Mahua vessel with Pappi and two other young girls.  Putta was pouring and Ravi appeared behind Dhatri.

“Drinking…?” he said aloud and Dhatri jumped in fright.  Next moment she vanished from the scene and Ravi screamed “Dhatri… come here!” his screams went unheard in reverberations filing the area.  He clenched his fists and dragged Putta.  

“How many she had?” he asked him shouting.  Putta shrugged and said “Don’t know, but Appa is looking after her…!” Ravi looked around for Appa.  Two pints of Mahua had made him Tiger…! He assumed the duty of guarding the Mahua vessels like a soldier, keeping a count on everyone’s drink.

“Where is Nanu?” Ravi asked Putta.  He shrugged and said “At home!” and went away.  “Home? Alone?” Ravi wondered.  Nanu remained at the back of his mind.  After some time, he filled another tumbler.  The rhythm had picked up so was the dance with men and women moving in opposite directions in the circles wrapping their arms around each others’ waists.  The melodious tunes and the percussion made it hypnotizing… the dance was to ward off evil from the village… The aroma of the meal had spread all over making people hungrier and thirsty.  The barbeque of freshly hunt wild boar was receiving rounds of spices sprinkling and charcoal burning….!  Ravi inched towards the barbeque.  Another old woman was looking after the cooking.  He turned, came out of the complex and lighting his torch headed towards Bijoy’s hut…!