41

A dim bulb was burning.  The door was ajar.  He pushed it lightly.  The bulb flickered.  He stepped in.  Nanu was sleeping under the worn out sheet.  He came in and stood looking at Nanu under the sheet.  “Humm…!” he sighed and turned to leave.

“Who is it? Haan?” Nanu screamed getting up and picking up the sickle kept at her bed.  She raised it alarmed and Ravi turned.  “Its me!” he blurted knowing that she couldn’t hear him.  She looked at him narrowing her weak eyes and lowered the sickle.  Recognition appeared on her shriveled face turning into a smile.  “Come!” she said.

“Why didn’t you come?” he asked animatedly gesturing towards the temple.  She shook her head.  “No!” she said and Ravi sat on a nearby wobbly chair.  She beckoned him thumping her hand on the sheet.  He sat down by her side. 

“Why are you here?” she asked him.  He had no answer.  He felt homesick. He had not called home in weeks! He looked away.  She ruffled his hair fondly. “Want something to eat?” she joined her fingers and taking it to her mouth asked gesturing.  He shook his head. “No!” he said.  She grinned gummy.  

 “Humm…!” she took his hand in her wrinkled hand, stroking it! He inched nearer.  She pulled his head and he buried it in her laps.  She ran her shaky fingers in his hair.  “So ja! Sleep my child” she murmured.  She kept stroking his head and wiping his wet cheeks for a long time till his breath stabilized.  

 He had fallen asleep wrapping his arms around her.  She sat there patting his head, humming some unknown soothing tune.  “He is a big kid..!” she glanced at his near six feet body and closed her eyes resting her frail back on the wall.

In the temple complex all were freaking out dancing, eating and drinking.  Ravi’s absence went unnoticed except Dhatri.  “Where is your friend?” she asked Putta quite a few times.  “Why are you asking me.  Go, find yourself!” he was irritated.  She went away stomping.  

Someone called her… “Baby!” she jumped startled.  Muki approached.  “Come… Everyone is waiting…!” he gripped her wrist.  She came to the center trying to hide herself behind Muki, shyly.  “Muki spoke for a few minutes gripping her shoulder tightly, not to let her run away…! He ordered her to open the lid of the vessel.  She slid the heavy lid, ladled herself rice and curry.  There was again uproar.  People sat in lines and waited patiently for the food.   A few started serving the food.

“This dance is in honor of Baby! And this feast too!” Bijoy said proudly.  Maria nodded… “Indeed! She is a darling…!” 

But her darling had devoured the food in no time and was in search of her team mate.  “That Bhukkad has vanished somewhere!” she kept saying… “Now he will come from nowhere and Raid the food!” but he didn’t.  She grew restless.  “Where is he?” she didn’t know.  No one knew either. 

“Hey Dhatri…. It was great!” Jim came to her.  She nodded looking down.  “You know… I learnt those steps.. Great dance and this one too!” He raised the Mahua tumbler and grinned.

“Now have food, else you will get headache tomorrow!” she said and turned to leave.  “Hey, where is Ray?” Jim asked from behind.  “How do I know?” Her mood changed suddenly.  She was angry with everyone.  Bhukkad had not turned up!

Slowly the younger ones started pairing up and vanishing in the darkness.  The tempo lost its rhythm.  “Where are they going?” Maria asked Bijoy.  He grinned.  “To spend the night with each other” Maria was taken by surprise.  “Oh!” she wondered the freedom these people had.  People were gifting something to Dhatri and she was returning them shyly.  Elder ones were hugging and kissing her fondly and she was struggling to free herself from their grip.  

“I am going home…!” she whispered and Pappi nodded.  “I will come with you!” They both sneaked out from there waving at Bijoy.  Putta had already latched on to a young girl, ignoring everyone else.  

“Wait… I will take some food for Nanu!” Dhatri turned.  She filled quite a few leaf bowls with meat, fried chops, rice and curry and carried them home with the help of Pappi!  

“She must be sleeping..!” Pappi pushed the door and there she was sitting, with Ravi fast asleep under the worn out blanket resting his head on her lap.

“Shuu! He is sleeping…!” Nanu warned them.  Dhatri gaped…! Ravi was in his deep slumber with his mouth slightly open.  “What is he doing here?” Dhatri wondered.  She kept the leaf bowls…

“I will have tomorrow!” Nanu was not ready to disturb Ravi’s sleep.  “Poor Gudda, he is sleeping..!” she said stroking his hair fondly.  “You eat now! Else your poor Gudda will eat everything…!” Dhatri muttered.  Nanu didn’t hear anything.  She simply grinned.  Dhatri stared at the sleeping Gudda with her jaw dropped.  Nanu kept caressing his face… he smiled in his sleep…!! Dhatri frowned for no reason laying a sheet for herself..!