This is just not true. Everyone whom I told this story, said to me. But why should I try to prove a truth? Anyone who knows him would agree. Bauku is not his name. But he is known as Bauku. A well-built body. Balding head with salt and pepper beard. His dark purple skin glistens as he picks up a 100 kg bag all by himself and puts it behind his back in one seamless action. The Seth of anaj mandi (grain market) is so happy with him. This one person is equal to two and half times others. Occasionally Sethani (the wife of the Seth) calls him home for some personal work also. He earns enough for his survival. But spends most of it on himself. He treats himself royally. Takes two and a half kg milk daily. For the work he does, this is a basic requirement. Recently, he decided to treat himself with ‘English’. But the reason was very different.
This party of ‘English’ was for his childhood friend Guddu, who is an auto driver. Out of work both Bauku and Guddu had fallen on a new job. Early in the morning Bauku fetches the vegetable from the Azadpur mandi. Guddu goes on selling these on a hired cart.
This evening, Bauku found Guddu weeping inconsolably after he came back from his feri (trip). It is not good to ask for the reason when someone is in trouble. He needs solace. Bauku fished out this bottle of English that Sethani had given him one day. Goddess kali will set things right. Let’s celebrate our new job, said Bauku with a nonchalant laughter.
Yes, celebrate we must that we left our village to come to this city of morons, said Guddu as he poured the peg in the steel glass. ‘Morons’ – you said it right, said Bauku laughing as he gulped down the peg in one go. You are laughing? Do you know what happened today? It is all because of my beard, Guddu gestured towards his face in frustration. What are you saying, I don’t get it. Bauku looked at Guddu picking up his second helping. I went out with my vegetable cart as usual. Suddenly I saw some people with sticks in their hand. I thought they were pilgrims. But they were angry. They came near my thela (cart) and asked my name. I told them – Guddu. They said I was telling a lie. Why should I? I replied. But they came menacingly towards me, pulled my beard and toppled my cart. Had I not run for my life; they would have beaten me badly. Is it unlawful to have beard? No one told me about it earlier. How will we survive now!! We can’t even beg in the prevailing condition…Guddu’s eyes were moist.
Bauku was staring out of the narrow window as Guddu narrated his story. His eyes were lost in the languid darkness spreading lazily around. He wouldn’t wink even once. His bulging eyes became red. Bauku went into a trance. He knows about future. Goddess Kali talks through him. Guddu kept filling his glass till his body fell by the side of the bed. He kept mumbling…. Mahavinash or the great devastation.
It was late into the dusk. Bauku was standing near the old Kali temple outside his village. He was finding it difficult to stand. He tried to pull himself into the temple. The pujari ran towards the village in a swift movement. Bauku fell unconscious in front of the idol.
Next morning, as Bauku emerges from the dilapidated temple he found the whole village gathered outside. You can’t go home, said the Mukhiya, the village head, the moment he stepped out. Why,
Bauku roared. I gave my youth to the Seth in Delhi. He refused to help me out at such a crisis. Now I have come to my village to hear this!! He looked at the people of his village with utter disbelief.
You will need to stay in the school outside the village for 14 days. We can’t put the entire village at risk. Others who came back are also put up there only. This is the verdict of the village, said the Mukhiya as a matter of fact but in a stern voice. If you go to village that will spell the doom. If you don’t follow the dictate, we will call police. Police? But why? Haven’t they wreaked enough havoc with me already on the way back to village? He screamed in a resigned tone – Mahavinash!
The makeshift quarantine centre in the village school bore a festive look. A group was playing cards.
Others loitering around in gay abandon.
How did you come back from Delhi? Asked Abdul grinding the plant of Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrata commonly known as false daisy) on a stone nearby. I had to die for six hours, said Bauku with a blank face. How can one die for six hours? Abdul was startled. If you must live, you need to know how to die, Bauku was staring in the blank. Don’t tell me riddles, I am not in that mood. “How can you get into a corps carrying van without dying? On my way back to village that was the only hope. The van driver took all that I had to put me into the van. Then he left me in the lurch somewhere near Ballia.” Said Bauku.
And, then? How did you come from there? Asked Abdul. “I hitch hiked on the wings of a cheel (vulture)”, said Bauku rubbing tobacco on his palm. You must be joking; Abdul was not amused hearing this outlandish situation. “If Ram ji can ride the Garud (Eagle), why can’t I ride on the wings of a vulture?” Asked Bauku looking meaningfully into the eye of Abdul. Abdul kept putting the paste of the plant on his bruised feet. Blood was still oozing out from from his heels.
Suddenly, people started running helter-skelter. The police had arrived in the school.
Hey, why are you sitting here? Didn’t we ask you to stay away near the toilet? Police asked Abdul who was putting bandage on Bauku’s feet. “Why? Why should he be asked to stay near the toilet?” asked Paltu in his weak but booming voice. “Don’t ask questions. Just follow the instruction. You need to help the government.” While giving orders, police would not come near them.
Ha ha ha …Bauku burst out in a hysteric laughter. Why are you laughing? Asked the police. Government is seeking our help, while they should be doing otherwise. Don’t you find it hilarious? Bauku asked back rubbing the tobacco more vigorously. Brushing aside the question, the SHO pointed his lathi menacingly. Abdul was getting up hurriedly to follow the instruction. Paltu clapped his tobacco. It was followed by a big noise. Suddenly, the contingent of police ran out of school and disappeared into the sugar cane field in no time.
Bauku was rolling on the floor laughing as Abdul wiped his nose with his gamchha. The robust sound of sneeze was caused by the tobacco dust as Bauku had clapped. Laughing incessantly still, Paltu offered tobacco to Abdul. Bauku leaned against the wall of the classroom. Corona Quarantine Centre was written in big bold letter on the blackboard above his head. His eyes were half closed. He was muttering…. Mahaaavinaaash…
Vagish Jha is a historian and educationist – based in Delhi. Follow him on Twitter @vagishkj
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