Rukhsana
was sitting near the gnarled tree stump. There were other trees
around,
others that would provide shadow but this was Rukhsana’s favourite place in the world. The twisted
branches, the knobby, contorted remains of the tree reminded her of the fondest
memories of her childhood. Unlike others, she found the tree stump to be beautiful,
just like life is with its many favourable and unfavourable turns. Not very far
from where her home used to be, it was this very tree under which she used to sit
with her grandma and listen to stories ; Or memories of how she came to be
called Pyaari because she was so plump and beautiful when a kid.
It was
during one such blissful afternoon when Pyaari was reminiscing her childhood antics
with her granny that she watched horror unfold before her eyes.
Those
men had weapons in their hand and were on a killing spree. Pyaari saw them targeting
people who did not look like them, who wore different clothes or anyone who
came in their way. They dragged their neighbour’s wife out of her home.
Pyaari’s Granny rushed to her help. They killed both of them and set their
house on fire. Pyaari was a helpless witness to this as she hid behind the tree.
The
rain drenched the burnt remains of the village. The water which ran down the
pond was blackish red due to the ash and blood mixed in it. The stench of burnt
flesh filled the air.
******************************************************************
Motilal
watched the sun set in the horizon, the harvest in his field looking golden
in the rays of the setting sun. He was happy, that this year his harvest would
be good; he would be able to pay off his debts. His family would not starve. He
got up and started walking back home, content and happy that his dream would
finally come true.
As he
approached his village, he saw it burning. People were screaming, running helter-skelter. Confused, Motilal
rushed to his home. He could not find any. There lay a broken, burnt heap of
stones where once stood his haven of happiness. He looked frantically for his
wife. Nothing. Somebody hit on his head, Motilal was unconscious.
Motilal
gained consciousness as he saw Pyaari trying to make him drink water. He barely
managed to stand on his feet when he found his wife’s charred body lying
nearby. He pushed Pyaari aside with hatred. He shouted in rage :
“Why are you crying Rukhsana, they killed our people, not your family?” He
tried to hit Pyaari when he noticed her Grandma lying dead on the other side of the
now broken fence.
This
time the reality struck him really hard. He let out a cry of anguish as he felt
the loss of his family, his home; like the few other left alive in that village
on that fateful day.
People
were soon moved to the refugee camp by the authorities. Most of them took up
jobs in the construction sites nearby, to earn a living.
******************************************************************
Pyaari
removed the boiling pot of rice from the clay oven and kept it aside. She
looked for some water to put the fire off. She realized there is none. She went
outside to collect water and found some left in the bucket. By the time she returned, the corner of the
house which was used as a kitchen was swallowed by black smoke. The hay near
the oven caught fire. She threw the water to put off the fire. It did not help.
There was a heap of sand in the nearby construction site. She rushed to the place
and got some. As she heaped the sand on the oven to put off the fire, she
realized that the rice was also burnt in this mayhem.
Pyaari
now panicked. What will she provide to Motilal when he returned from the
construction site? He would beat her to
death. Twelve year old Pyaari could not think of anything logical. It was the only
food they were left with. It seemed to her that this demon called fire has
always swallowed the peace of her life with its black smoke.
There was
sound of footsteps outside. Motilal called out for Pyaari, to serve him dinner.
Pyaari
froze with fear in the kitchen.
She
lied helplessly as the sharp cane slashed her skin every time it hit her.
Motilal was like a beast when he lost his temper. He kept on hitting till
Pyaari was unconscious. In fit of his anger, he threw the cane on Pyaari and
stormed out of the room. Pyaari did not move.
*******************************************************************
As
Motilal rushed to the doctor with Pyaari on his lap, scenes from the past
rushed back before his eyes. Life has made a beast out of him, the proof of his
atrocities lying on his lap. Losing his family, leaving his village, working in construction
sites to make ends meet, he felt he lost the ability to love in his struggle for survival . The only known face
around him was Rukhsana. But for him the child was just another labourer in the camp, who cooked food
for him. He never felt akin to her. She reminded him of his loss.
As
Pyaari gained consciousness, she squirmed with pain. She saw Motilal looking at
her with eager eyes. Pyaari was back and it relieved Motilal. He could hear
Pyaari speaking feebly, that she was sorry for burning the food. It stung his
heart, he felt hurt and guilty than ever.
Motilal mustered all the courage he had within him and asked Pyaari, “I can only forgive you when you promise to call me Baba from now
on Pyaari, will you?”
Tears
rolled down her cheeks when she heard Motilal addressing her as Pyaari, for the
first time. She felt she got her family back, finally. “Yes Baba”, said Pyaari.
Two
people sat together, crying their heart out, as they were united as a family by fate’s conspiracy, just like they
lost everything due to fate’s conspiracy.
Motilal
promised to himself as he held Pyaari’s hand, he would forget the fateful day
of riot and live his dream again, because he has a family now which has given him a reason to love again.
