Murmur of the Lonely Brook (14 page)

“You are going to give me a treat today,” Sonu said.

“Why not? We will have dinner at a good restaurant.”

“Not only dinner, I want some good English drinks.”

“Okay, but you know I don’t drink.”

“That’s okay, you just keep me company.”

Shevak nodded and they went to the main market. Shevak deposited most of the money at the bank and kept a few thousand rupees with him. They roamed around the market and Shevak browsed the hardware stores for tools and gadgets. He also bought medicines and pesticides for the orchard and seeds for farming. Later they had dinner and Sonu took him to a dance place. Sonu drank while Shevak smoked cigarettes and watched the bar girls dance to the beat of popular songs. He even gave a few ten-rupee notes to the girls on Sonu’s advice. He soon pulled Sonu up from the table, as they needed to leave early the next morning.

***

It was a sunny morning and the brothers decided to get firewood from the higher reaches, where there were many dead trees and branches. Dried wood burned better and gave off fewer fumes. Diwakar was excited; it had been a long time since he had gone anywhere with his aaté. He remembered his childhood trips when aaté showed him how to trek, what to look for to avoid danger, how to find hidden herbs and much more. He took nuts and apples in his pocket and also his mobile. The brothers picked up axes and ropes and made for the door.

“Don’t carry too heavy a load, or else you will have back pain,” Parvati said.

“We won’t,” Pravin said.

“And be careful about the bears.”

“They will be scared of us, Aama,” Diwakar said and smiled.

“Be back early,” Nisha said and waved at them.

She watched the two of them leave and went back inside. Parvati was much better today but still weak. She sat near the fire and watched Nisha. A thousand thoughts crossed her mind.

“Aama, do you want to say something to me?”

“No, just make some rice and rajma dal today,” Parvati said and went back to her knitting.

The brothers walked through the village and climbed up the path parallel to the stream. Then they went diagonally right and up toward the ridge. This was a route the shepherds used. The shepherds operated in groups of three or four. Each group took care of four herds, totaling about forty to forty-five sheep. They took the sheep to plateaus in the higher altitudes for grazing and stayed with them all summer. The owners gave them money, food, and liquor. Before winter they came down with the sheep and the owner accompanied them for a short while before they migrated to warmer pastures toward Dehradun. Diwakar had a great respect for these shepherds as they endured all kinds of weather and lived in tents year round. Pravin walked in steady steps a bit ahead of his brother. Diwakar remembered his first trip when aaté often had to hold his hand to cross the boulders and climb up. He felt scared at that time but aaté was always by his side. He looked over at Pravin, who seemed to be lost in thought.

They reached the forest and found a clearing. The bhujpatra outnumbered the oaks and deodars and stood with their golden barks shining in the shafts of sunlight. Like papyrus in Egypt, saints in India wrote hymns and made drawings in astrology and astronomy on the bhujpatra bark. The bark formed in layers in golden yellow and was smooth to the touch. It was considered sacred and used in rituals. The villagers believed this tree protected them from lightning strikes and many of them carried a small piece with them. Pravin found a huge dead branch and started cutting pieces out of it. Diwakar started off with another large branch. They collected the pieces and piled them in one place. By late afternoon they had accumulated enough for two bundles. Pravin felt tired. He sat down on a rock and Diwakar took out the apples.

“I want to discuss something with you,” Pravin said.

Diwakar looked at his aaté and saw him gazing toward the ground. He seemed serious.

“I don’t want our land to be divided. I want the family to stay together.” He paused.

“That is my wish too.”

“But if you marry, things will change.”

“Then I won’t marry, Aaté,” Diwakar said promptly.

“That’s not a solution. I would never be at peace that way. And a man is never complete unless he marries and has children.”

Diwakar looked at his aaté. He had known him all his life and was sure he would come up with a solution.

“Nisha will be our common wife. It is okay with me to share her with you. You will take care of the farming and I will earn from outside. We will always remain together.” He looked at his baya.

It was too much for Diwakar. He was unable to think or speak; he could scarcely breathe. The forest moved in front of him, changing colors from fall to autumn to spring. The birds sang; his dreams moved in front of his eyes, the horse, the house, and the river. He could listen to distant drums and his heart thumped loudly.

“Of course it depends on you. I don’t want you to agree just because I told you. I know you love me but you might have your own dreams.”

Diwakar half opened his mouth to say that this was his dream. Instead, he hid his excitement and simply asked, “Is Nisha aware of this idea?”

“Not yet. If this arrangement is acceptable to you, only then will I tell Nisha. But are you okay?”

He wanted to shout “yes” at the top of his voice and make it echo across the peaks that surrounded them. He felt grateful and looked at his aaté. Nobody understood him better. He nodded in both respect and affirmation.

“I am okay and I also think this is best for the family.”

Pravin felt relieved and hugged him. “If we stand together there will be no harm or trouble for the family. I will come back next month again. If you change your mind let me know, but until then don’t discuss this with anyone, especially Nisha.”

Diwakar nodded and then both went off to pick up their loads. It would take more time to go down, as they had to be careful with every step.

In the valley a strong wind blew from the southeast and gathered speed. A storm built up and blew across the peaks threatening the trees and chasing the pigeons. The wind carried dust and whirled it across the tin roofs. The dark clouds put an accent on the mighty peaks that stood in solemn isolation braving the winds as they had stood over the past million years. The dead leaves rolled and circled with the wild swirling wind until the storm picked them up and carried them far away.

***

Pravin left for Rampur early the next morning. He went with Balbir to Sangla and from there took a bus. He had mixed feelings as the bus left the town behind. On the one hand, he felt happy and content with his decision to share his wife with his brother; on the other hand, he had a feeling that Nisha might not like the idea. He truly loved Nisha but his sense of possession of her was never strong enough to cloud his sense of responsibility for the family. After all, he thought, if he and his baya could sacrifice so much then she should not stand against them. She was very much part of the family. And since both he and his baya were in agreement, she had no other choice but to agree. He assumed that even if she did not like the arrangement initially, she would adjust with time.

He let his thoughts about the matter drop and started making plans for the upcoming Dewali festival (festival of lights) when sales were expected to be high.

Chapter 14

It was the day of the picnic at school. Ria glanced in the mirror. That morning she had washed her hair and applied the fairness cream three times. She first used her hairclips but then decided she preferred the red scarf aaté had given her. Nisha came into the room and smiled at her.

“Can I borrow your lipstick?” Ria asked.

Nisha had one but she rarely used it. She helped her put on the lipstick and applied some kajal on her eyes.

“You look very pretty.”

Ria smiled, looked at the mirror one last time, and left. It was a bright day with just a few streaks of clouds running across the eastern sky.

Diwakar helped Parvati make a list of goods she wanted for the winter rations. It had rice, onions, cooking oil, turmeric, salt, red chilies, matchboxes, soap, and other things, mainly items that were not produced locally. The food distribution system run by the state provided rations in one lot for all four months of winter but the quantity was not enough and did not cover all the items. Moreover, it was average quality but still everyone took it.

“Aama, you forgot molasses.”

“No, I did not. We will get it from Chandigarh. The white molasses is better for brewing.” White molasses was used with apples and apricots to brew liquor while dark molasses added a sweet flavor but also gave a hangover.

“Add a pruning saw for the orchard. Your Aau did not get a good one at Shimla.”

“Can we add some noodles?” Diwakar asked, smiling at Nisha.

“No, Aama, we can always get the noodles from Lalaji,” Nisha said quickly.

“You need to check with Balbir about his next trip to Rampur. We also need to get ready for moving to the other house. We cannot leave the rations unattended at the Dongri. The rats will have a feast,” Parvati said.

The move to Dongri was a not a major issue for the family. Over the years Shevak has built the second home and made it self-sufficient for winter. Only the blankets, clothing, and a few other things had to be carried.

Shevak sat at Lalaji’s shop with a few men. The next day was Dewali, the festival of lights, which signaled the beginning of the financial year for the traders. Lalaji had a display of firecrackers outside the shop. He was also selling new calendars with pictures of gods and goddesses, oil lamps, candles, gift sets of cups and glasses, dry fruits, sweetmeats, bangles, hairclips, and more. The shop looked colorful and Dayawanti was in high spirits. She nagged everyone to buy before the stock ran out. Everyone knew the prices were high but buying there saved a trip to Sangla. Being poor, the villagers did not indulge much except for the children and the drunk who burned a few firecrackers.

***

In Rampur, the market was in full swing; people had been flooding the streets since early morning. Pravin had a hard time keeping up with sales of the decorative lights and the various fittings for them. By afternoon, his stock ran out and he asked Gangaram for fresh lots. Then he left the shop with Raju to fix chain lights at the local temple. Dewali was celebrated in all temples and every road was decorated with lights. After he finished fixing the lights, Pravin took Raju to a shop and bought him some firecrackers. Raju was overjoyed. He was staying with Pravin in a room at one corner in Gangaram’s house. The room was small but had a bed and blankets.

“Tomorrow the shop is closed,” Pravin said. “We will visit all the temples.”

“Yes, and have some Chinese food too.”

“In the evening we will burn the firecrackers at home.”

“There is a puja at home. Remind me tomorrow to buy some sweets.” Pravin was very pleased about working for Gangaram. He allowed him to run the shop freely and also took care of both of them, joining them whenever he got a break from his farm. They had their meals outside, but every now and then, Ganga’s mother sent them dinner when she cooked something special.

***

Ria came back home floating on air. After she reached school, they had all gone near the waterfall a little way from the village. Two of the teachers cooked rice, dal, poltu and some vegetables. In the past, they had meat in their picnics, but the new principal was a strict vegetarian and did not permit meat anymore. The students scattered all across the field. While a few sang, some danced in groups and most of them got into games like kabaddi, cricket, and volleyball in makeshift courts. Ria and Lila found an isolated, quiet corner with a big rock beyond the waterfall. Ria decided to wait there while Lila went to find Jeet. When Jeet reached the spot, Lila stood guard on the other side.

“I like the card you sent me. And I have something for you.” He took out a chocolate bar and smiled at her.

Ria prepared to ask her questions. But Jeet took her hand and before she could say anything, he pulled her close and kissed her. She felt goose bumps all over her and a strange wave passed through her, stirring her to the very core. She had seen a few kisses on TV, but she never knew it felt like this. She closed her eyes but she could still see the trees, the birds, and the sky with a giant rainbow. After a few seconds, he moved back and smiled at her. Ria could not find her words. She simply smiled back. Jeet soon left and Lila joined her.

“What did he say? Did you ask him everything you wanted to ask?”

Ria said nothing; she just stood there with a foolish smile on her lips. She was on cloud nine.

***

Diwakar took a few tin sheets and carried them on his head to dongri. His aau told him to make a shade for the firewood to protect it from the snow. He hoped for a Jeep so he could hop in but none came by so he walked the entire way. At the dongri, he selected a few straight logs and dug holes to put them in. Once the four logs were placed in four corners he tied the others as beams and placed the sheets on top of them; then he moved the firewood inside. He sat on a broken chair and looked around. The kid and the lamb, now big enough, stayed at the dongri. Tied with long ropes, they munched on the orchard grass and slept in the shade. The house stood at the back and looked shabby with bundles of grasses, twigs, hay, and dried leaves all around it. A part of the courtyard was filled with cow droppings while large vessels and cans for brewing lay strewn near another corner. Ropes, shovels, axes, and sickles cluttered the entrance. He decided to clean up the place. After all, this would be the place where he and Nisha and the others would be staying for the next few months. Though it was far removed from his dream house by the river, he would try and make it as fresh and neat as possible.

The Dongri only had two rooms. He knew he had to sleep on the floor with aau and aama in one room while Nisha and Ria slept in the other. He wished that the marriage had happened earlier and then both could share one room while Ria moved to the other room. He smiled at himself and got up. He was full of energy and in high spirits. He started with the courtyard and by evening had cleaned almost all of it. He cleaned a portion of the courtyard where he decided to make a seat for both of them. It was close to the apple orchard and had a good view of the valley below. Next, he pruned the bushes growing around the boundary, keeping the cuttings for the cattle. He glanced around and felt happy with his work. He decided to put another bukhari in the other room and to put the rest of the house in order later.

***

It was Dewali morning and Parvati left early for the temple to offer puja. Nearly everyone in the village offered puja during Dewali. Nisha made pancakes and a dish of mustard leaves for all. Ria had her breakfast and nudged Diwakar. “Take us to Sangla today.”

Sangla had a small fair during Dewali and people from nearby villages flocked there. Diwakar looked at Shevak for his opinion. Shevak glanced at Ria and smiled. “Take this money.” He gave two hundred rupee notes, first to one and then to the others.

“Get some meat when you come back.”

“But Aama is not back yet,” Nisha said.

“I will tell her,” Shevak said and the three got up to get ready.

Ria made a mental list of things she wanted to buy. It was a rare opportunity and she wanted to make the most of it. Nisha was also happy. She had not been outside the village since she came here. And she had some money that Pravin gave her when he left.

The three went to Lalaji’s shop and found Balbir’s Jeep, which was literally filled to overflowing. Even the carrier in back was full. He shifted two boys to the back in the carrier and asked them to fit in. Diwakar sat in the small seat in the middle while Nisha sat next to the window. Ria sat half on her and half on her brother. The back seat had five people who adjusted between them. Balbir was in a good mood and promised a discount for everyone. Diwakar played local folk songs on his mobile all the way.

Nisha glanced out the window. It had been a long time since she had gone this route. Diwakar showed her the bridge with the brook flowing under it and the place where a flood came and washed out some of the orchards. When the car reached Batseri, he showed her the temple with red and yellow flags. They rode along the river and watched its blue-green water undulating across the valley. Next, they came across the peak that held the meadow for grazing goats and sheep. He told her about the shepherds who stayed there braving the weather in all seasons. Balbir stopped the car at the next bend. He lit two incense sticks and went down to place them at the Shiva temple on the corner. He returned and drove the Jeep down the slope where they saw apricots and apples in full bloom. Finally, they crossed the orchards and were inside the market.

Sangla looked festive with women flooding the streets in colorful dresses. Stalls with firecrackers, toys, snacks, shawls, garments, gifts stood on both sides of the road.

“Both of you can walk around and have a look. I will get the meat and join you later,” Diwakar said.

Ria pulled Nisha over to one of the stalls selling bangles, earrings, clips and other items. She started checking one after the other and was soon confused. Nisha smiled and helped her choose a few. Nisha bought two sets of earrings, one for her, and one for Parvati. They next moved to the garments stall and Nisha bought two scarves, one for her, and one for Ria. She also bought a packet of sweetmeat before they set off to roam around the rest of the market. Soon they came across a stall with a peephole slide show and stood in a queue to see it. The slides ran inside an illuminated box while a popular song played on a tape-recorder. It showed images of famous places and gods and goddesses. The show lasted for five minutes and both came out happy, having seen a world they would never see for real.

They saw Diwakar coming toward them with a pack of firecrackers and a big smile.

“Let’s go and have something to eat,” he said.

“Chowmein!” Ria said.

“And momo!” added Diwakar.

The three went to a restaurant and had their fill. Nisha was enjoying every moment, as this was a different day for her and a break from the routine work. The three went around again and checked all the stalls. Diwakar suggested they buy a set of cups for the family and everyone agreed. Nisha went back to one of the stalls and got a big pack of diyas (small earthen oil lamps). They then checked out the robot-like contraption with blinking red lights forecasting the future in a mechanical voice. Except for Ria, none of them were interested in knowing their future but listened to the device as it told others of their futures. Ria decided to save it for some other time when no one was around; she did not want the robot device to make her plans public.

It took some time and some honking for Balbir to collect his passengers. Finally, he got most of them and started back. Everyone was happy and cheerful. Diwakar again played the songs on his mobile but the battery went dead after a few minutes.

***

Shevak sat at Lalaji’s shop in the village and had a cup of tea. A few children burned firecrackers and every now and then, a loud bang went off that scared the pigeons and sent them flying from one corner of the valley to the other. The sounds echoed across the peaks and broke the serenity of the otherwise peaceful place. Half of the men who sat there were already high on liquor while the others were well on their way. Lalaji sold most of his wares and for the rest he offered a big discount. The goods had a shelf life of only a few days and then it would be dead stock for him. Dayawanti distributed a few free firecrackers to the children. She also distributed sweets and biscuits to Shevak and others sitting there. She kept on shouting at all who planned to burn firecrackers near her shop. “Everyone be careful! Dry grass and hay are stacked everywhere and could catch fire at any moment,” she said.

Shevak nodded in agreement and asked the children to move toward the barren fields to burn their firecrackers.

“Don’t worry, the Devta will save us all,” remarked Ravi, tapping his feet to the music that came from Lalaji’s shop. He was drunk as usual.

“Devta never saves the fool,” Shevak said and got up to leave.

***

Ria and Nisha placed diyas across the balcony and the windowsills. They also placed two bigger ones at the gate. When they ran short of diyas, they placed candles in patterns across the courtyard. Parvati set a plate of dry coconut pieces, biscuit, nuts, and toffee in front of a picture of Lord Ganesha and Laxmi (the god of wisdom and the goddess of prosperity and wealth) and then lit two incense sticks. She prayed for a few moments for peace and prosperity for the family. She then offered the prasad to Nisha and Ria and kept the rest for others. Shevak came back and changed. He stood in silence in front of the images and folded his hands in prayer. He had prasad from Parvati after which he placed a spare bukhari in the courtyard in which he laid some logs.

“Let’s sit outside,” he called to everyone.

Diwakar was out with the firecrackers that made loud noises. He promised to be back early and asked everyone to keep an eye on the field toward the eastern peak, near the waterfall. He and his friends made a ten-headed Ravana (the demon god) with dead branches and twigs. Each head was fitted with firecrackers and the body wrapped in coils of cloth soaked with kerosene.