Recently wrote a short piece basis certain random words found while browsing. Here it goes……
Lalu had been very worried since the past few days. Durga Puja was fast approaching in Daihari and the entire village had been decked up in anticipation of the goddess’s arrival. This also meant the time for festivities, sacrifices and feasts. He had been a goat slayer at the temple since he was 13, when his father had become too old to strike the goat’s head with 1 blow. Now, as he neared 50, he realized that this year, it might become too difficult for him. The time to pass the baton had come and he realized that his would be the year when his son Kaamu would have to carry out his duties. He shuddered at the thought. He had never really been fond of the boy; even more since he day their village astrologer Phatik had done the horoscope for him.
“Beware of this child,” he had warned. “He has a missing tooth. People with missing teeth end up killing their fathers.”
“But will he also be like that? There are exceptions everywhere, right?” Lalu asked hesitantly, knowing fully well the answer Phatik was about to give.
Phatik relished such situations. He knew people with limited means were always scared of the unknown and untoward events that could happen while the rich cared two hoots. He then went on to explain some complicated rituals one of which involved staying close to cows during the Amavasya days and praying to the Sun gods, capping all of this with a substantial Dakshina which would be the first of a series of installments which Lalu would go on to pay him in the subsequent years. Lalu also had great faith in Phatik’s prowess. He had not only advised him against all evils that would have lurked in his family’s lives, even his son Kaamu was a result of his blessings. The villagers believed Phatik had unique powers and his blessings could even cure women who could not give birth to children. Even Kaamu was born after Phatik had performed some long rituals which included Lalu’s wife fasting for 3 days while staying at the village temple. Lalu would forever be indebted to Phatik.
However, the boy had turned out differently. He was odd in various ways. Lalu would have tolerated disobedience and naughtiness in his child, and would have even loved ranting about him to other villagers, but the child tuned out very obedient and to the shock and surprise of everybody, extremely studious. To someone who had grown up disobeying his father and had seen people do only that around him, bewildered Lalu. Add to the fact that Kaamu disliked non vegetarian food. Lalu had him checked even for spirits and exorcisms by Phatik, but all of this changed nothing.
As he sat by the verandah of his house and waited for Kaamu to return from school, he felt very nervous. He had to train the boy as theirs was a task carried out by their ancestors since decades who had been entrusted by Gods because of their immense faith and righteousness. It was because of this task that no harm had befallen on their families ever. If Kaamu refused to continue this, there would be a huge uproar in the village and might lead to their expulsion also. Worse than that, he feared that the wrath of gods would fall on his family. He was afraid no one would be willing to marry his daughter while his wife would die of shame.
“Did you know father every action has an equal and opposite reaction,” Kaamu’s words broke Lalu out of his stupor who just realized that his son had returned. Disappointed as he was always, he could not help but feel a wave of sympathy for the boy who was only 16. The slaying of goats required immense physical strength and if the head was not detached in 1 blow, it would result in a hugely inauspicious moment for the family.
“Kaamu, I need to discuss something with you. You will have to carry out the Boli from this year’s Durga Puja onwards and you will need to start practicing for it as it is just a month away,” Lalu braved and decided to tell him at one go.
Lalu’s wife was standing in the other room and hearing Lalu speak, came slowly up to her son, afraid of the expected outburst that was going to follow.
“Thank you, baba. I had been waiting for this opportunity since years,” Kaamu said, much to the astonishment of the Mukherjee family who could not believe their ears. Maybe the prayers and Phatik’s efforts had changed his heart and he had transformed into a more responsible son who knew his duties towards his family, village and Maa Durga.
Kaamu started training for the big day. Lalu was sympathetic and started out with vegetables like cucumbers, guards. The boy was a quick learner. Perhaps his strong intellect had increased the way he understood things. Lalu could help notice however that there was an immaculate and a steely resolution look in Kaamu’ eyes as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Beware of the missing tooth”
These words kept on ringing in Lalu’s head. What if the boy turned around during the ceremony and beheaded Lalu instead? That would make Phatik’s prophecy come true. This seemed all so good to be true, but he still trusted his son. Meanwhile the boy had turned stronger that he would have thought. He was able to slay sugarcane with one blow and Lalu had brought a test wild goat which Kaamu did not even flinch before beheading. This greatly enhanced his confidence.
On the morning of the Boli, Lalu and Kaamu bathed and dressed up. Lalu said he had to perform the Pujas and left for the temple earlier than usual. After all, he wanted to bask in the proud moment of his son carrying out the family’s traditions. The whole village was abuzz with chants of Maa while the goats bleated haplessly as if they knew what awaited their fates. The village astrologer and priest Phatik had started chanting the mantras. He signaled Lalu to call in Kaamu as the sacrifice process would have to begin. It was the Thakur’s family turn and their goat would be first one. The 2 temple helpers dragged the goat who was reluctant to leave its master, towards the center where the fork shaped stand made up of wood and hay was kept. As they help the goat, Kaamu emerged from the side. As sonn as they saw him, they panicked and let the goat run back to Amarnath Thakur who stood there transfixed. Lalu, Phatik and all the other villagers were too stunned. The drummers stopped beating their drums as they witnessed Kaamu dressed up in a strangest makeup of that of Goddess Durga while wearing a saree and carrying the huge sword. As Kaamu opened his mouth, the village trembled.
“I am Maa Durga. Yesterday, I came to Kaamu’s dream and told him that I had enough of goats. Now, starting this year, I would be wanting the heads of men of Daihari.” Kaamu spoke in a voice which even Lalu could not recognize, but the words were causing him immense fear and shock.
“Now, as your goddess, I want you to carry out this tradition every year and I start with someone all of you love and someone who has been with this Boli ceremony from the last so many years.”
Lalu trembled as he realized his son was talking about him. Perhaps Phatik’s prophecy was about to come true. Phatik came running towards Lalu and both of them rushed towards Kaamu.
“Not one step more”, Kaamu shouted. “I have made the decision and may this continue for the rest of the years.”
Saying this, he swung the sword towards them and Phatik’s head came resting down on the ground.
The Twelfth Man 