Time was about 10.30 pm. A sudden sound of a bullet fire of AK47 broke the silence of a rural village Harta. It is very hard to explain the villager’s movement. Men were running towards the sound with the Stick, Chopper, Sarki (light weapons which villagers use their daily life) and women started hiding their ornaments, money and other valuable items. “Dacoit” “Dacoit” sound covered all around and overall villagers going panic.
In this situation, Rajat and his wife Jaya with three years boy Babu were in a state of perplexity. Rajat came today evening to his sister’s place to enjoy a vacation. All the men of the family finished their dinner and women just started; at that moment, this panic started. Within a minute, Rajat remain the only men in the house others ran towards the sound. Rajat’s sister Chaya rushed towards her room and within a minute came back to the kitchen and told Jaya to remove all of her gold ornaments.
Jaya was doing whatever Chaya told her. Suddenly “ O MA.. MAGO.. TUMI KOTHAY… AAA.. HAAA…. (Mom where are you?) Babu started crying. Jaya and Chaya ran towards Babu as he was sleeping. Jaya took Babu in her lap. Though Babu is only three years kid but he understands that the situation is not normal may be that’s the reason he hides his face in ma’s lap. The sound of villager’s foot-steps was increasing and “DACOIT” “DACOIT” sound was coming from every near and far. Jaya said her little son in her very silent voice “Babu sona tumi ghunao.. “DACOIT” asche.. (my sweet Babu please go sleep DACOIT arrived). Babu kept silent.
In this situation, Rajat and his wife Jaya with three years boy Babu were in a state of perplexity. Rajat came today evening to his sister’s place to enjoy a vacation. All the men of the family finished their dinner and women just started; at that moment, this panic started. Within a minute, Rajat remain the only men in the house others ran towards the sound. Rajat’s sister Chaya rushed towards her room and within a minute came back to the kitchen and told Jaya to remove all of her gold ornaments.
Jaya was doing whatever Chaya told her. Suddenly “ O MA.. MAGO.. TUMI KOTHAY… AAA.. HAAA…. (Mom where are you?) Babu started crying. Jaya and Chaya ran towards Babu as he was sleeping. Jaya took Babu in her lap. Though Babu is only three years kid but he understands that the situation is not normal may be that’s the reason he hides his face in ma’s lap. The sound of villager’s foot-steps was increasing and “DACOIT” “DACOIT” sound was coming from every near and far. Jaya said her little son in her very silent voice “Babu sona tumi ghunao.. “DACOIT” asche.. (my sweet Babu please go sleep DACOIT arrived). Babu kept silent.
This word “DACOIT” was new to Babu.
After sometimes Babu asked his mother “Ma, DACOIT ki kamray?(is DACOIT can bite?)”
Ma said, ”Ha baba. Tumi ghumao(yes my boy it does. Please go sleep”.
Jaya understood what she said to her little boy. But situation left her no choice.
Babu slept in his mother’s lap.
About 2.30pm Rajat’s brother in law Ayan came back with a good news that two Dacoits out of eleven were caught by the villagers and handed over to the police.
Every body hold their breath and the silence returned at Harta.
Rajat could not sleep the whole night. He started thinking of our so called independent country and the reality.
It is true that in this current situation, some phases of every body’s life are still not independent to lead a normal life. But if we fight together like these villagers against the barriers, normal civilized life is still not gone out of our hand.
Next day morning everybody in the village gathered on the edge of the river to see the DACOIT as the DACOIT will be taken to the police custody by boat.
Among the villagers Rajat also gathered with is son Babu in his lap to see DACOIT. After sometimes the boat appeared. There were two half dead bloody faces tide with rope and handcuffs was seen along with three police men.
Babu asked his father, “ Baba DACOIT kothay?(where are the DACOITS)”
Rajat replied, “Ooi je naukay badha(it is right there tide with rope on the boat)”
Babu made attention to his father by holding Rajat’s jaw ana said,”Baba Dacoit kothay?.. Era to manush (father, where are the Dacoit?.. There are human)”
Rajat looked his son’s face and came back from there as he did not have any answer of the complex question for his son to give.
04.01.2007, Bangalore
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