The light of life
The sky, like fortune, is beautifully smiling with its stars on the face of Nasim. Particularly in a secret place close to the "Mathkotha" of their hut, that night, he secretly managed to find a place on the tiled roof of their hut inside of which his mother, Parvati and his four-year-old sister, Naurin, are supposed to have a sleep. Inside there is also a newly married framed photo of Parvati and Rahamat, husband of hers, hung over one of the wall. It is a cold night in December but eight years old Nasim has no other options left but to take a shelter to hide himself to avoid getting beaten by his mother. He missed his classes in school, then lunch, ( mid-day meals) again tuitions he would have attended but he roamed around outside all day leaving his mother anxious each second spent. For Parvati, life has been an ordeal she is still having to undergo. She has always been a mixture of both brave and romantic throughout her life as of now. Her love, Rahamat, made her lonely as well as alone. The man who once made a promise of always being stood behind, beside in all the odds and goods as well couldn't but to succumb to Covid. Now she is following her way on her own with her two kids to lead her life and making them learn how to sail life boat in spite of a victim of intercaste marriage, and of loosing identity in so-called society. Having found no community kind enough to impart them place as well as space in the village she left home as her own parents too shut the doors on her face. The thought of her suicidal attempt sometimes prevails but falls often weaker than the sweet smiling faces and the stumbling words from the two unfortunates she is mothering. She has a dream she dreams anew. She wants her kids to get formal education from schools and to make it true she works restlessly as a maidservant in some houses. In course of their daily routine most of the time of a day she has to spend outside of their house leaving her daughter, Naurin sitting outside of the house inside of which she is engaged at the moment. But Nasim takes due advantages of his mother's absence through out the day. He runs cycle, jumps into the pond, gets drenched, bunks classes and tuitions, plays with friends and sometimes even remains unbathed all day. Today he spent all day with his friends cycling on road and it was only when the sun got red in the west and the sky partially dark that he returned home like a haunting cat. Parvati was awaiting the situation and prepared for his coming. Nasim already had an idea of what he might face just after his entry into the house, so he too took some lies as precausions to get saved from thrashing by her Mother. By the way he is sure to not have dinner tonight. And having been not allowed inside he is having to find out a secret and suitable place for spending the night on the tiles of their hut itself. Sometimes he fakes injuries in his own chosen body parts and bunks school. Today he has laboured to climb the tiles if only because he knows there often roam jackels around their house. Otherwise he could have spent the night in " the Daoa". Outskirts of the village is their house around which there is no road to get an easy access to it. It centers some bushes that make it completely separate as well as hidden from the eyes of the villagers. An area outside of which being used as landfills, better to say, the dustbin of the village. Their house comes not within but adjacent to it and that is why sometimes, those left carcasses invite jackles outside their house. With all their daily struggle, footmarks have been left to ensure to the passerbys that a family is there. Water is often clogged whenever there is raining leaving this poor family in more distress to reach out to their home. It provides an opportunity for Nasim to float paper-made boats on it.
Next day Parvati is to go through her daily duty and Nasim is to do his as well. But it is 5 O'clock and he is still asleep on the tiles. Parvati wakes up, takes bath and completes their cooking too. Now, She has to go out leaving the hut under Nasim who is, by this time, to be woken up and be seated and keep noticing her mother's each and every foot there. Parvati, without giving even a call for Nasim left the hut under him. The boy is now all set to do whatever he wants to once again. Study doesn't attract him that much, rather he likes spending fishing for hours. So, he does the same. But today is not his as no fish gets attracted to the bait given to the fishing pole he was fishing with. He enters the hut and lays for some time. But as he feels hungry he decides to go to school today. He has nothing to do with the classes going on but the Mead day meals provided to the students. There is a notice on the notice board today and that is the school will remain closed for 24 days for Durga Puja ahead. So, from now on he has much time to spend with friends. From his friends among other stories he has also listened that Goddess Durga, known as Parvati got married to God Shiva. At night before going to bed when he asks his mother, Parvati, " Who is The GOD Shiva?" Pointing towards the frame hung on the wall he says, " Parvati and Shiva..." He smiles... At midnight when both brother and sister fall asleep a drop of silent tears from Parvati falls... She leaves a long sigh behind the fringe of her Shari...
