MANI

There is a small village, called Borhat, along the river Brahmaputra in Assam in India. It is very scarcely populated. As like most of the other small villages in the state, it also dwells on fishing and agriculture. It is covered with dense plantation for as far as eyes could see. Rain seldom makes a way out from the place and so do its people.

Mani lives in this village. He has been living here for as long as he remembers. He can easily recall nine summers from the day he turned two. He lives with his father, grandmother and one younger sister named Maina. His mother died shortly after Maina was born. Though he vaguely remembers his mother's disposition, he has a fair reminiscence of her eyes. He remembers how his mother looked at him from the window, when he called out for her to show her a piece of craft he'd made from bamboo. He was just five when she went.

Mani's grandmother is seventy. And even though she can barely see, she can make some really good craft pieces from bamboo. It is the only thing she can do sitting in her place. Mani cooks food, while his sister, who is now six, sweeps the floor. His father, a fisherman, takes care of the rest after he comes back from the river every evening. He usually comes back by four, but today he is late by about an hour.

Maina is busy with her doll while grandmother, after a hard day, is lying down to rest. Once in a while she gets up and inquires about her son. Mani would not have worried but for the weather which has started to look grave. Bleak clouds in the distant now seem to embrace the whole village.

"I believe it’s going to be a high night", he says to himself. Just then a huge lightening streak on top of the nearest mountain makes him restless. Feeling that he must go, he cries out to his sister," Maina take grandmother inside and don't go anywhere till I return". He then starts toward the riverside where he always finds his father after day's work.

While on the way, he can't help but thinking how rain affects the life of his village. How every year after the village is flooded, they have to start with normal life all over again. He loves his village but the helplessness of it to face nature's whims every year has made him wary. The exercise of building the house every year with little hope of it surviving the next flood makes him wonder whether the things will ever change. The status of basic amenities like electricity, roads, transportation and hospital has been the same since he recalls. And then there is no school.

His thoughts are wavered as he witnesses a group of people approaching him. After a while he can make out the figure of his father among them. He feels relieved.

"Mani, make it fast my son, take this fish, rush home and prepare for machh bhaat. We are going to have company for dinner, your uncle Keshav has come down after 10 years. I will be back along with him in about half an hour. You go on boy and do as I say" says his father hurriedly as soon as he sees him. As directed, Mani rushes back.

Thinking about his uncle he wonders what has brought him back after so many years. They seldom have any visitors, the last one being his grandmother's sister and that too three years back. Mani hasn't had much interaction with lots of people, his sole companion being Shiva, a boy his age, who lives on other side of the village. Both of them see each other at least twice a week and talk out at their hearts content. Shiva always has a lot to tell to Mani. His father, the only shopkeeper in village, visits the nearby town every week to get the required ration. He also visits Dibrugarh often and brings newer things for Shiva every time. Shiva is innocently boastful at times, but Mani is too fond of him to think about that. Besides, he loves to hear Shiva talking about town, its people and their lives, the different activities they engage in, the fairs they have and what not. But most of all, he loves hearing about kids going to schools everyday to learn about things which make them so knowledgeable. He was so surprised when Shiva told him about the different subjects that are taught at school and about beautiful uniforms that kids wear to school! Sometimes he wonders how big the world is, and what all kind of unimaginable things is it made of? While sitting by the riverside sometimes and watching the distant visible piece of land, he marvels at any prospect of his sojourn with it in the future.

Suddenly a gush of strong wind interrupts his thoughts making him to increase his pace by a measure. As he reaches home he finds his grandmother fast asleep while Maina still playing with her doll. "Come here Maina; give me a hand in preparing for the dinner. Uncle Keshav is coming home with Deuta in a short while" he says to Maina and without even noticing the sudden excitement in Maina's expressions, he starts with the provision.

"Dada, will Uncle bring a new doll for me?" asks Maina impeccably.

"See my doll's arm is broken and it won't do me any good now" she adds with a sad note.

Mani replies with a gag," Oh dear sister, let him come first. Aren't you happy that he is coming to meet us?”

Secretly Mani hopes to hear about things back in Guwahati from where he has come. He has heard from Shiva that Guwahati is a big city and has got so many things as they have never ever heard about in the village like big bazaars for shopping where everything is available." How can there be one place for all the things? Won't it be a chaos? When we have a haat in the village on Saturdays, people just keep stumbling upon each other", wonders Mani.

"Dada look who is here", suddenly exclaims an overjoyed Maina. Mani looks up to find that Maina, whom he had not even observed budging, is now standing in the doorway. He rushes to the door, leaving the pan empty on the fire pit, and find himself in front of his uncle.

Keshav, attired in a plain T-shirt and trousers, looks like a God to Mani's eyes, so young and handsome. He did not expect it.

Keshav left the village very young, only at the age of sixteen. He went to Guwahati in search of a job along with a team of military force, which was sent to the village to rescue villagers after that huge flood , touted as the worst ever in the history of Borhat. Keshav was also illiterate, but once in a big city he learned well enough to read and write and also learned driving. Now he is working as a driver with an affluent minister and earning well enough. He is married, has a daughter a year younger than Maina, and is very happy with his life. For a year now he had been feeling an urge to see his old mother, so he just packed his bags one day and without informing anyone, landed in Borhat.

He is surprised that the kids have grown up so fast. Though Mani was only one when he left and Maina born later, he has always felt a strange affection for both the kids. Now when he stands in the doorway looking at them, he can at once sense both the eagerness in their expressions as well as the urgency to be accepted. He looks at them lovingly with a tender smile on his face. Coming inside he makes a gesture to them to come near him. Then he takes Maina in his arms and says, "Maina there is a gift for you in my bag. Would you like to have it now?" Maina leaps with joy at the prospect of having a new toy to play with.

"Deuta, dada look this is such a beautiful doll!" she screams with joy when she looks at the red clad doll replica of a bride. The grandmother, who has still been fast asleep, gets up and scolds Maina for being too loud." How many times do I have to tell you that girls should behave properly?" she says angrily.

"Maa, look who has come?” says Mani's father. Keshav moves and touches the feet of her mother. Their mother, deeply moved, remains speechless for a few moments. Then recollecting herself with tear in her eyes, she says "I would have myself cooked the food had I known that you were coming home." And then she laughs suddenly, a huge hearty laugh as if to confirm what she has just witnessed.

Mani, who has been till now standing silently, moves forward and tries to pacify her grandmother. "Grandmother, please sit down easily. Here, have a glass of water.” he says and makes her sit. Keshav, now sitting too and talking to his brother, observes Mani. "He is just too young to be this silent", he thinks.

When they are finished with their meal, Keshav asks Mani for a glass of water. As Mani hands him a glass, he asks him to sit down with him.

"Have you got any friends Mani?” he asks.

"Yes Uncle, I have a friend named Shiva who lives on the other side of the village" replies Mani.

"So what do you do every day after your father goes out for fishing?” he asks again.

"I collect bamboo, cut them and make them ready for grandmother's use. I also help her in making craft pieces. Every day in the evening I collect all the ready pieces and stack them in one place. I cook food and do any required errand that is required in the house when Deuta is gone", he replies simply.

"Don't you go out and play?” Keshav asks curiously.

"Oh yes I do! Twice every week I go to meet my friend. And then we play a lot along with other boys of his neighborhood", Mani replies briskly.

"We also sit sometimes and talk a lot about many things", he adds with a flair.

"What do you talk about?

"About many things like our village, the weekly haats, about towns, people living there, their lives and yes, also about schools".

Keshav can't help but notice the beaming face of Mani as he tries to open up. To encourage him, Keshav asks again," What about schools?"

"Shiva tells me that there is a school in the nearby village where kids go to learn new things every day. They wear the same clothes and read good books. He says that in Dibrugarh there are a number of schools where they also learn to play games.” Mani replies reflectively. Then, after a brief pause, he adds with a heavy sigh," I wonder what they learn there. Do they only learn to read and write or do they learn about stars?”

Keshav feels the abstruse desire inside Mani when he specifically speaks about school. He looks at him fondly, trying to associate his own inner conflict at the same age, and asks him," Do you know how one can do good in life if one attends school?"

"Why, Shiva says that kids who go to school make out to be as good doctors as Dr. Goswami who visit us every week from the near town." replies a confident Mani

"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"Oh I don't know, I have never thought about it."

Mani goes silent for a while and then speaks up again," I think I'll be a fisherman just like Deuta." His voice is melancholic and seems far.

"Mani, give me my medicine. I want to sleep now.” suddenly asks Mani's grandmother. Mani gets up and goes to the other corner of the room. Keshav looks at Mani's face and feels an impulse to do something.

When Mani and Maina both go to sleep, Keshav engages in conversation with his brother.  “Dada have you thought of sending Mani to school?" Keshav asks his brother.

"Keshav you know that the nearest school is in the other town for which one has to cross the river every day. Besides, I do not make enough money to send him to school.” replies his brother rather tiredly. Keshav doesn't say anything in return. In the yellow light of night lamp, both kids look angelic to him.

As he gets ready to leave next morning, the kids seem sad.

"Uncle can't you stay one more day with us.” Maina asks Keshav imploringly.

"Oh I wish I could kid! Have to go because of an important work, but I will be coming back soon I promise.” says Keshav.

"Will you bring another gift for me?” asks Maina innocently.

"Definitely dear", Keshav replies with a smile.

And then he takes leave from his mother. She doesn't say anything, being too happy that he visited at last; she seems content as if blessed by the fulfillment of a latent desire. Keshav, Mani and his father, three of them, leave for the riverside from where Keshav can get a boat which will take him to the other side.

Mani remains silent during the entire way. As they reach the river side, Keshav asks Mani, "Mani, do you wish to go to school?"

Mani is astonished. He looks at his father at this instant, not sure how to answer. His father, assuming a tender look, nods his head in approval. Eyes filled with tears, he says," Yes Uncle I would love to.”

"Then run back and pack your things. I will be back next week to take you with me to Guwahati. Mani, you will go to school."

Keshav takes the boat. As the boat pulls off, Mani keeps standing in his place, looking at the figure of his uncle till it becomes a dot in the distance. He remembers his grandmother saying once," God will come to you for help when you call Him with a pure heart."

He keeps looking at the other side of the river for long with a profound hope for the future in his heart.