Chapter One: The Massacre

Nikunj Niyogi sat on the cot inside the dilapidated home of Begum Hasina Wahid and wondered how long he will survive. He knew the aggressors are closing in and will barge through the door soon. He checked his gun; fully loaded Heckler & Koch with an extra magazine… he knew it is not a deterrent but would hold them back for a while…he might take few of them down especially in a closed space combat. But it did not matter if he lived or become a martyred for Maa Bharati… having established the coordinates of the terrorist camp he felt relieved. Begum Hasina Wahid, the septuagenarian had taken the small chit to the Army camp some 20 km east of her modest village with express instruction to hand over the same to Col. Debabrat Das. Nikunj and Debabrat were batchmates at the NDA, Khadagvasla, while Debabrat continued with regular army, Nikunj was recruited by the army intelligence and special ops. Both were of the rank of Colonel but in case of Nikunj, the title is seldom used. 

The kaleidoscope of his life played on as Nikunj waited for the inevitable. He had to kill those two lowly terrorists because they had seen him and sounded alarm through their satellite phones. Nikunj belonged to a large family, he was the youngest of nine children and there was a gap of seven years between him and his immediate elder brother. In the younger days in school and academy, he used to joke that he was a perfect example of an accident. His father owned a small grocery shop in the congested locality of Paharganj, New Delhi. The residence, if one can call it such, was the 2.5 rooms atop the shop. His father would open the shop around 8 am and close at 9 pm, every single day as even one day closure meant less food on the plates of eleven hungry souls besides loss in the business. When Nikunj joined Raisina Bengali School in Class-I along with a bunch of bubbling kids, his eldest brother cleared Civil Services exam and was poised to join the Foreign Service while his second brother completed his Master’s program and hoped to join his elder sibling into the civil services the next year.

Nikunj liked his school, it allowed him abundant space to run around and make friends and learn new things every day. He became particularly pally with a kid named Rudro Prashad Chatterjee aka Rudro. They became inseparable as the years passed, sharing the same bench at the back of the class. Rudro belonged to a well-to-do illustrious Bengali family, his uncle was a famous character actor in both Bengali and Hindi film industry, but he was very down to earth person and took care of Nikunj, bringing extra lunch everyday to feed him knowing the economic conditions of Niyogi family.

One day, when Nikunj was in the 8^th grade, he got a call from the principal’s office, visibly shaken, he went there to find his second brother Bikash Niyogi, who was now an IPS officer, sitting with the principal discussing something somberly. The principal, instead of admonishing him, put his hand on Nikunj’s head in a manner of blessings and told him to gather his school bag and go home with his brother. Later he got to know that his father while managing the shop had a massive cardiac stroke and succumbed before any medical help could reach him. During the 10-day mourning period, Rudro would drop in every day after school bringing food for the entire family. Nikunj found an anchor in Rudro to overcome the irreversible loss of father.

Graduating from school, Rudro joined St. Stephen’s College where he met Aniket Mathur while Nikunj was selected for National Defence Academy where he met Debabrat Das… both found new best friend but Rudro and Nikunj remained in touch through regular communication. In time both sets of friends graduated with flying colors. Rudro went on to become an IPS Officer while Aniket continued with his master’s program followed by a PhD in Economics & Current Affairs. Debabrat showed all round prowess both academic as well as on field, particularly as a marksman. Nikunj, though was not as perfect as Debabrat on field activities, he was far ahead in academics especially in mathematics and coding. Another god gifted talent of Nikunj was his ability to grasp languages, he was already fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, all 4 south Indian languages besides English, Hindi and his mother tongue Bengali. He had picked up the southern languages from his fellow cadets, Punjabi and Urdu from the streets of Paharganj becoming a multilingual at a very young age.

After the graduation from NDA, Nikunj was asked to report at the Army HQ in New Delhi and seek out certain Colonel Diwakar Pandey. The Army HQ was huge with hundreds of people working in the building, both uniformed and in civilian dress. It took some effort to locate Col. Pandey but one look at him and you can’t miss the “fauji” written on his face with a handlebar moustache adorning the large face and it matched his booming voice as well.

Col. Pandey asked Nikunj to follow him and they ended up in a room or rather a hall full of electronic gadgets and computers, the temperature of the room was closed to freezing point, at least that’s what Nikunj felt entering it. Col took him to a console and asked him to sit before moving on to another person at the corner. Nikunj was startled as the computer screen came alive and a south Indian gentleman started asking him questions about him. After a bit of initial hesitation, Nikunj spoke fluently in Malayalam first and as the interviewer changed languages he followed him with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. After almost 45 minutes, the person on the screen seemed satisfied and bade him goodbye. The process wasn’t over, a Sardarji came on the screen and spoke to him Punjabi followed by a Maulvi in Urdu. Both seemed satisfied with his prowess of the languages.

Meanwhile, Col. Pandey has been observing the facial reactions of Nikunj on a large screen along with psychiatrist Dr. Geetika Sharma and both were very impressed with Nikunj who showed no discomfort while rapidly switching languages as if they were his mother tongue.

The next day, Nikunj joined a special school of languages to learn Arabic including all variations spoken through the middle-east followed by Russian, French and German. At the end of the year, he was fluent in all four and expressed his desire to learn Mandarin as well. His request was neither turned down nor accepted but he was put through a fast-track course in Spanish. At the end of the language school, Col. Diwakar Pandey reappeared and told Nikunj that he has earned a well-deserved furlough of three days to meet his family but he must report at Col’s home at Delhi Cantt. at 6 am the following Monday for a visit to the countryside.

Sharp at 6 am, Colonel, Nikunj and Sergent Bakshi set out for the countryside trip. After driving for almost 3.5 hours through the villages and mufassil towns of Haryana, Colonel stopped his Maruti Gypsy in front of an abandoned warehouse near the Punjab border. He honked thrice and couple of sepoys opened the huge gate of the warehouse and saluted… he drove inside the compound. The place had a spooky feeling with abandoned rusted machineries, delivery trucks in dilapidated conditions lying on the foreground. They went inside the building which could collapse any time, but the Col moved confidently ahead followed by his Sergent and Nikunj. He stopped in front of a sliding door and scanned a card which resembled an ATM card, in fact it worked as an ATM card as well. The doors slid open to reveal an elevator on the other side… it took them down to the basement, Nikunj had a quick look at the buttons when they illuminated as Colonel used his card to scan and press the button, it showed 4 floors below the ground level. As the elevator door opened, they were greeted by a person who looked like twin brother of Colonel Diwakar Pandey. In fact, Colonel Sudhakar Pandey was the twin brother of Colonel Diwakar Pandey but excelled in a rarified field of counter intelligence. After the pleasantries, Col. Diwakar formally handed over Lieutenant Nikunj Niyogi to his brother to train him in counter intelligence. It would take at least a year for him to master the craft, the brothers assumed. They were mistaken, in three months’ time, Nikunj could easily dodge and escape his tails and one occasion caught an agent unaware. By the end of the month six, he had become a pro and an excellent marksman. Colonel Sudhakar Pandey or EssPee as he was affectionately called, was very happy and informed his brother that their asset is ready for commissioning.

Nikunj was brought back to reality with gunshot sounds, he readied himself for the inevitable. He looked through the tiny hole of the window and selected his prey.   

It took Begum Hasina almost the whole day to walk through the valley and hillocks avoiding the main serpentine road to reach the army camp. It took a long chat with the sentry at the gate with her broken Pashtu-Urdu mixed Hindi to explain her urgent need to meet the colonel. Unfortunately, Col. Das had gone to meet the Lt. General at the local HQ and is expected to reach by sundown. The sentry allowed Hasina Begum to sit inside the hutment and offered water and biscuits.

The Colonel came back to the camp just before the sunset and was informed of the old lady waiting for him. He immediately sent for her and ushered her inside his office. He called a soldier who knew Pashtu to interpret her narration. Col. Debabrat Das asked Major Ramprasad and Lt. Joginder to form a small troupe of 4 soldiers each and go with the lady to the village while he consulted with the Lt. General to plan out the strike at the terror camp as per the coordinates sent by Nikunj Niyogi.

The team of Major Ramprasad and Lt. Joginder along with Hasina Begum reached the hamlet in about an hour’s time when the dusk was settling in the hills… in the faint light, they witnessed a horrifying scene. The entire hamlet was completely flattened and bodies were strewn all over the small clearing. On closer look, there were at least six bodies which were clearly that of the terrorists still holding their AK-47 guns and a headless body. Hasina begum was inconsolable but still identified the bodies of the villagers and from the attire of the headless body she identified it to be of Nikunj Niyogi. The body did not have any identity papers except a bundle of cash and firmly held Heckler & Koch handgun. There were bullet marks on the body which indicated he must have died before the ghastly beheading happened.

Major Ramprasad called the camp through radio and was instructed to stay put at the hamlet and be vigilant as the extremists are likely to return to retrieve the bodies of their fallen brethren’s. The Colonel assured that reinforcement will reach early in the morning.

The next day, two things happened; first the dead bodies were buried with full religious customs and Begum Hasina Wahid was taken to a safe house in the city under the care of the army. She had no relatives…her only son had died in the Kargil War. The second instance happened after sundown; a squadron of Sukhoi flew in and flattened the extremist training camp hidden in the jungles. A squadron of highly trained commandos took care of the fleeing terrorists. No prisoners were taken in because that was their instructions.

Later intelligence report confirmed over 100 dead terrorists but their leader Mukhtar Abbas Pathan had escaped the camp along with few of his close aids long before the commando operation started.  

Dr. Pralay Sarkar, IFS, having retired from the Foreign Services, decided to settled down in his home town of Kolkata although his wife Shibani was reluctant having heard of the decadence of the city. Their both children, son Indrajit and daughter Indrani are married and settled in Sydney and Dublin respectively. So far, the family hadn’t had a reunion for over 5 years…the last they all were together was during the wedding of their son in Sydney. Therefore, Pralay was insistent on settling down at their ancestral bunglow in Alipore which is currently under lease to a renowned corporate house. He was currently residing at his Type VII government quarters in Kaka Nagar, New Delhi but will have to vacate in 6 months time, so he sent out a notice to the Corporate House to vacate the bunglow giving them 3 months of notice as per the agreement. After a few to and fro emails, the tenant agreed to vacate the place within 3 months.

A month had passed and using his contacts in Kolkata, Pralay engaged the services of a contractor to do the renovation work immediately upon the vacation of the premises. So far so good but out of the blue, he received a call from a man who identified as Trilok Chand, a city property broker and asked Pralay if he would be interested in outright sell or collaboration for his house in Alipore. Pralay refused upfront telling Trilok Chand that he has decided to relocate to Kolkata and set up his residence at his ancestral home. The broker was insistent and finally hung up asking him to reconsider his decision.

Unknown to Dr. Pralay Sarkar, the bustling city of joy, Kolkata, with its vibrant rich culture and heritage, had a poisonous snake lurking beneath the surface ready to show its fangs. Deep within its alleyways and hidden corners, a silent war was raging between rival factions of the city’s mafia. These criminal organizations had thrived for decades exploiting the city’s underbelly under the patronage of corrupt politicians and police. Trilok Chand was very much part of this commanding his own gang and he has the blessings of the cabinet minister Joydeep Banerjee.

Joydeep Banerjee, a charismatic politician with a seemingly clean image was actually The Don having built an intricate network of connections that extended to the darkest corners of the underworld. He provided protection and immunity to the burgeoning mafia syndicates in return for their loyalty and financial support. It was no wonder that while the common men remain ignorant and slept peacefully, the Don’s empire grew stronger. Years ago, Trilok Chand as a young ambitious gangster had taken refuge under the patronage of Don Joydeep Banerjee who hadn’t then stepped on the political stage. Within a short span of time, Trilok Chand through his cunning and violence expanded his network. He was suspected behind two dozen murders but was never caught thanks to the Don…together they were a formidable pair that controlled the seedy underbelly of Kolkata, where drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling thrived; but their biggest game was grabbing prime properties from the unsuspecting individuals and depending on the size and location refurbish or rebuild and sell at a profit. The police and law enforcement agencies seemed powerless against their growing influence, often turning a blind eye due to political pressure.

Dr. Pralay Sarkar reached Kolkata and took up residence with his cousin at Ballygaunge. He was scheduled to take possession of his ancestral home and reached the spot sharp at 10 am as per appointment. There were few vehicles inside the compound and a gentleman came forward as he alighted from the taxi. The person introduced himself as the legal officer of the firm and were there to handover the keys to Mr. Sarkar after surveying the bunglow. As the reached the steps of the bunglow another person joined them introducing himself as Manoranjan Dasgupta, the contractor recommended by Dr. Pralay’s friend. The three of them surveyed the house and Pralay pointed out the renovation and changes that he wants to be done to Manoranjan who noted down the details and took photographs with his phone. It took almost two hours to complete the survey and the keys were handed over to Pralay and documents signed off.

Manoranjan and Pralay decided to go to Flurry’s for lunch and discuss the project work in details. However, their plan got disrupted when a black Scorpio blocked their car and three muscled guys alighted from it. The shorter of them approached Manoranjan’s car and said, “Namaskar Pralay Babu, I am Trilok Chand… I had called you the other day. Have you decided your price for selling this crap of a house? I am offering you a very good price, we will develop this as a multistoried luxury apartments, you will ofcourse get an apartment plus cash.” Dr. Pralay Sarkar had been a lifelong diplomat, doesn’t lose his cool easily. He stepped out smiling at Trilok and said, “Trilok Chand Ji, the very reason that you called my beautiful ancestral home ‘a crap’, I will never do business with you. Now if you will excuse us and move your truck from my premises… I have other businesses to focus on.” Trilok was livid with anger and said, “You are making a mistake Mr. Sarkar, nobody refuses Trilok Chand’s offer. We will see how you carry on with your plan.”

Once at the restaurant, Manoranjan asked Pralay what deal Trilok had offered him and hearing the details, laughed out saying that he was being duped royally as the price of the Alipore property would be 10-20 times more. Then on a serious note asked Pralay if he has any political clouts in the city or at least has any connect at the higher levels in police force because the Trilok character is shady one and go at any length to disrupt work at the bunglow. Pralay confirmed that he doesn’t know either of the categories of people in the state but has few contacts at the central govt. and would find out through them the right person to approach. Thereafter, they finalized the work schedule; Manoranjan promised to finish the work well before the festival season, so that Pralay can do the grihapravesh in the auspicious days of Navratri and celebrate the Durga Puja at his new home. That very evening, Pralay called his junior, also a close friend in the EAM, Tapas Mukherjee and narrated his encounter with Trilok Chand. Tapas assured him that he will find a solution and revert at the earliest.

Early in the morning, Pralay received the coveted call from Tapas who gave him the contact number and said that he has already spoken to him and the person is waiting for Pralay’s call. He called the number provided by Tapas and a deep voice answered, “DCP Rudro speaking” Pralay told him briefly about his encounter with Trilok and the advice/ caution he got from Manoranjan. They decided to meet later in the day to discuss in details the steps to be taken going forward.

The meeting took place in a non-descript café… Rudro took notes of key points and asked few pertinent questions and assured Pralay that he will set things right. From the café, Rudro went straight to meet the Commissioner and narrated verbatim his discussions with Dr. Pralay Sarkar. At the end he told the Commissioner, “Sir, this is our golden opportunity to finish both the Don and Trilok… with your permission, I can start the internal fued…there may be few bodies floating on the Ganga as a result”. The Commissioner thought for while and with cryptic smile said, “You need to keep 2 people in the loop and you know who they are”!! Rudro knew whom he has to call next so he saluted and left. Time was short and need to act swiftly. His first call was to Satyabrata Mukherjee, the leader of the opposition, a strong proponent for corruption free politics and close to the think tank of the central govt.; then he called up the home minister of the state, Tapas Roy Chowdhury and told him in details the plan to destroy the Don and his puppet Trilok Chand. The home minister TRC was no friend of the Don and wanted him out of his, so he gave his blessings to Rudra.

Rudra started his game plan immediately and through his trusted contacts in the underworld, he released a set of misinformation that soon reached the ears of Trilok Chand. He was livid with anger and somewhat fearful too… he, for some time now had become ambitious and wanted to break the shackle of the Don…aspiring to contest the next election on party ticket. His ambition and thirst for power led him to play a dangerous game of double-crossing the Don. He formed alliances with rival factions of the party alongside the corrupt police and judiciary to entangle the Don into a series of corruption cases leading to his downfall. However, betrayal is a double-edged sword and soon Trilok himself got entangled in a web of deceit and treachery. It was expected because Rudra had revealed the true intent and purpose to the Don through his trusted aides. The Don was not only prepared but ready with counter offensive.  

The city’s landscape became a battleground with each faction consolidating their gangs and unleashing terror and violently attacking each other. The media got its juicy headlines and few diligent journalists got into the act finding the depth of the allegations and counter allegations. In the fierce battle of supremacy, both side opted for no-holds bar tactic and in the process innocent bystanders became victim of bloodshed. There were uproars not just in the state assembly but even the parliament was perturbed by the intensity of the violence.

Rudra was playing his game of Devil’s Advocate well by feeding the rival factions with measured misinformation and letting them eliminate each other. The final moment has not yet arrived…

Battered and bruised, Trilok Chand managed to escape the onslaught and went underground determind to exact revenge on the Don, Joydeep Banerjee. He started gathering a new group of loyal followers and plan for counter offensive. The tables were about to turn and the city would witness an unprecedented clash between the mafia and the politician’s henchmen.

But only when Rudra plays his trump card… he arranged for a double barrel raid on the Don Joydeep Banerjee through a series of raid by the IT and ED and ensured that the Don is convinced that it was the handiwork of Trilok Chand, the betrayer. Huge unaccounted cash, jewelry and documents of illegal or benami properties were hauled from both his home and office. On the other side, police raided the dens of the gang leaders and arrested a few and eliminated more. As the tension reached the boiling point, battle lines were drawn… Trilok with his loyal gang members took on the henchmen of the Don in a fierce and relentless battle for control. The city once again became a war zone and the authorities asked the citizen to observe caution and avoid going out at certain time of the day. In this high-stake war game, survival was not guaranteed for anyone involved…

Trilok Chand succumbed to the gun wound on the third day of the battle putting an end to the resistance of the gangs who fearing being eliminated, surrendered to the police.

On the advice of Rudra, IT and ED spokesperson released selected but damaging piece of information regarding the raids conducted at Joydeep Banerjee’s premises. The media, which had long been suppressed by the Don, finally broke its silence, exposing the intricate web of connections between the politicians and the mafia. Media, as the voice of people demanded justice, demanded action from the authorities.  

Kolkata, as ever, started healing, the once thriving mafia families were dismantled, their leaders’ dead or arrested… Joydeep Banerjee’s political career came crashing down and his arrest was imminent.

DCP Rudra, finally got his go-ahead to arrest the Don named Joydeep Banerjee but in his book of law elimination is always better than arrest. He purposely leaked the information of Don’s imminent arrest. When the arresting party from Lal Bazaar reached the premises of Joydeep Banerjee, there were a posse of local police personnel. The Inspector came forward and saluted DCP Rudra, “Sir, Joydeep Banerjee has committed suicide early this morning. The guards at the gate heard gunshot and informed us…we found his body in the study which was locked from inside… we had to break in…” Rudra went inside to check on the scene, it was gruesome with his head in tatters and blood spilling all over the carpet. Rudra told the Inspector to send the body for postmortem and called up the Commissioner to inform of the situation. The Commissioner said, “Rudro, you wanted this end, didn’t you?”

All this while, as advised by Rudro, Dr. Pralay Sarkar and Manoranjan Dasgupta had concentrated in transforming the “Sarkar Villa” into a masterpiece where the old Victorian architecture mingles with the modern amenities. It was ready to move in and Sarkar’s decided to move in on the sixth day (Shashti) of Navratri and hold a grand party on the tenth day (Dashami) evening after the immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga. His Son & Daughter along with their family were coming for the great family reunion at their ancestral home. Rudra and Sravani were invited to the party as well…

Note: The above storyline is a work of fiction and created for entertainment purposes. Any resemblance to any real life person is purely coincidental.     

Just after the Durga Puja, we were having our G2G (short for Get-together) of school buddies. This was a special one for few of our overseas and outstation buddies have graciously joined the Bijoya Sammelani. The Group Captain SC benignly obliged us by arranging the party hall at AFGC, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. The party scene was typical with groups of 4-5 people gathered in huddle and talking animatedly. The prime topic of discussion was haunted stories and it seemed each one of us have sometime in our life experienced some incidents which defies logic and can’t be defined by intellect. The next thing we know, it was being planned to visit a haunted house or palace and try to figure out the mystery. Indro & I were sitting at a corner enjoying our Single Malts with succulent Chicken Malai Tikkas, hearing the planning we laughed because many such plans had been made in the past which never worked. I told Indro about Bhangarh Fort on Delhi-Jaipur Highway about 4 hours from Delhi. He said, “Let’s two us go there on my way back from Ranchi, I will come a bit early and we can go straight from the airport and you can drop me back at the airport for my flight to Baghdad”. I agreed because I had been planning to visit the place for a long time but wasn’t finding a brave partner to go along.

A bit about the legends of Bhangarh Fort…  

The ancient and eerie Bhangarh Fort lies deep within the arid landscape of Rajasthan at distance of 282 km from Delhi. The fort renowned for its paranormal activity and has developed a reputation as the most haunted place in India. The fort’s shadowy walls hold secrets that have terrified generations of people residing outside the fort.

Legend has it that in the 16^th century, Raja Bhagwant Das built this fort as a gift for his beloved son, Madho Singh. It stood tall against the backdrop of the rugged Aravalli Range, its imposing presence commanding respect from all who beheld it. But the whispering winds told of a curse, a story of a dark shadow that clung on to every stone, every wall of the fort…

One fateful day, a sorcerer named Singhia entered the fort with evil intentions. He was drawn to a beautiful princess named Ratnavati, whose beauty was said to rival the mythological angel, Urvashi. Singhia was captivated by her elegance and longed to marry her at any cost. However, Ratnavati, spurned all his advances which infuriated the Sorcerer and he resorted to black magic to achieve his wicked desires.

Singhia after carefully observing the movement of Ratnavati, realized that she frequently visited the market place to buy beauty herbs and jewelry. He concocted a plan to ensnare her and accordingly placed a cursed love potion in a cosmetic item meant for the princess. However, an admirer of the princess alerted her about the nefarious scheme of the sorcerer. Fearful of Singhia’s dark intentions, Ratnavati threw the potion onto a nearby boulder unknowingly causing it to transform into a gigantic stone and caused a powerful explosion engulfing the entire area and killing Singhia instantly. In his dying moments, he cursed the fort…declaring that no one would ever find happiness within its walls. The curse took hold, spreading its malevolence throughout the Bhangarh Fort. Locals claimed to hear anguished cries echoing through the corridors and strange lights flickered in the night sky. Those who dared to enter the fort after sunset were never seen again.

Centuries passed, and the fort became a crumbling edifice of its former glory…whispers of the curse spread throughout the region like wildfire deterring anyone from venturing into its forbidden confines. The once thriving marketplace outside the fort turned into a ghost town, haunted by the tales of the princess and sorcerer.

On the appointed day, I picked up Indro from IGIA T-2 around 10 am and had a quick breakfast at the Sagar Ratna situated at World One complex in Aerocity. We proceeded to towards Bhangarh following the Google Map which indicated 4 hours 38 minutes to the destination. We had picked up enough water, beverages, munchies and sandwiches from another shop in the same complex knowing that we won’t find anything on our route. We took the NH8 (Delhi-Jaipur) and decided to turn left at Manoharpur for the NH11 that will take us to our destination.

The drive was smooth despite a bit of congestion at the Rajiv Chowk/Sohna Road because of construction activities. We were soon cruising towards Sahjanpur-Neemrana when we realized that the vehicles ahead of us are slowing down. We came to a halt at a point from where we could see the Neemrana Fort at a distance. We came to know that further, about 2/2.5 km ahead a trailer truck carrying a 40ft container has overturned blocking the entire road towards Jaipur… efforts are on to clear the road at the earliest. We had no choice but to wait as the traffic had built up very quickly all around us. We opened the coke cans and started chitchatting but soon Indro dozed off… he had an early morning flight from Ranchi and was tired from the exhaustion. I concentrated on playing my favourite game of Solitaire on my phone.

Indro & I reached the entrance of the fort around 4:30 pm and saw a group of locals deep in conversation. When we told them about our desire to enter the fort, they, in unison protested saying it is not safe to go in at that time… one of them said there have been strange noises coming out of the fort since last night with weird shape of lights emanating on the night sky. We assured them that we will take a quick look around and come out before the dusk settles in.

Unfazed by the warnings of the villagers, we entered the fort accompanied by intrigue and curiosity and a resolve to capture the paranormal activities in my Canon D60 camera. Inside the fort was unusually dark even when outside the sun shone brightly. A chilling wind swept through the crumbling walls of the fort as we moved forward…we shivered, feeling a heavy weight on our chest…as if unseen eyes watched our every move. I held my camera tightly and Indro was holding a 6-cell Maglight Torch that I had borrowed from our dear friend Ashish, it was heavy and very powerful…also can be used as weapon for self defense, if need arose.

Suddenly, Indro grabbed my arm restraining me and asked, “Did you hear what I heard?” In fact both of us heard a whispering distant voice beckoning us deeper into the labyrinthine corridors. We felt it was impossible to ignore the voice and almost hypnotized we followed the distant ethereal voice… hearts pounding in our chest. The narrow passageway seemed to shift and warp, at times disorienting us as we ventured further into the heart of darkness and the whispering voice. We reached a chamber where a dim light was emanating from the skylight. Indro used his powerful torch to look around the chamber and his torchlight rested upon an ancient mirror with ornate carvings. We looked into the reflective surface and were startled by the apparition of a beautiful woman dressed in royal regalia… Indro whispered in my ears, “Princess Ratnavati”… her eyes were filled with sorrow and longing for love. “Her lips moved a bit and we could her say, “Leave this place immediately before the curse of Singhia consumes you guys”. Her voice had a otherworldly resonance and we were captivated by her beauty.

We could feel the air getting heavy making our breathing labored but we were hesitant to move, then we heard a chilling ungodly laughter in the distant which made the apparition on the mirror dissolve as if some unseen hand wiped the surface. With great effort Indro & I turned our gaze towards the corridor from which we had entered the chamber and rushed towards it, the fort’s malevolent energy grew stronger threatening to ensnare us into its cavity. We started running towards the exit… the fort seemed to come alive, its walls pulsating with menacing energy…the air turned frigid while shadows danced and swirled, whispering secrets of the fort in a language unheard before. Despite our resolve and courage, we were scared and ran for our life and stumbled out of the fort gasping for breath…

The villagers were waiting outside with baited breath and immediately came forward with water and splashed some on our face. We drank the water and looked back at the fort with mixed feelings of relief and sadness. The Bhangarh Fort stands a testament to the enduring power of the supernatural, a place where the veil between the living and the dead is thin; the echoes of a tragic love story continue to resonate through the time.

There was a persistent knock on my window which woke me up… a police officer was saying something, I pulled down my window… “Sir, the traffic jam has been cleared but now you are holding up the traffic”. Indro also stirred up and we looked at the watch, it was 4:30pm, we have been stuck in a traffic jam for over 3 hours and had dozed off in the coolness of the air condition. It was too late for us to go to Bhangarh now as the Google Map showed more than 2 hours to the destination which meant it would be dark when we reach…the authorities have deployed a picket to stop anyone from going inside the fort after 6pm/ darkness. We decided to turn back for Delhi… about a kilometer ahead we found a u-turn for our return journey and a kiosk selling tea and other beverages. We stopped for a cup of tea and took out our sandwiches. While there, I narrated to Indro what I saw apparently in my dream… to which Indro’s jaws dropped and he simply said, “You too saw the same?” He told me his side of the events which matched mine completely. How’s that even possible, I don’t know… we debated if we should tell others and after much deliberations, Indro suggested that we should tell the story through Aranyascope and let the readers reach their own conclusion.

Traversing through the thick traffic on NH8, we reached Delhi around 9:30 pm and went over to Anand Niketan Club for a drink (cheaper than the restaurants/ pubs) and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, a vast improvement since my last visit. Later, I dropped Indro at IGIA T-3 around midnight, well in time for his flight to the Middle East.

Kolkata, a crumpling metropolis filled with a mix of ancient heritage buildings and skyscrapers vying to capture the skylines, held within its depths the stories of both dreams fulfilled as well as shattered. It was in this city of contrasts that DCP Rudra, recently relocated to Lalbajar, Kolkata on promotion from Bhubaneshwar, found himself at the centre of an intriguing case.

It all began with the disappearance of renowned business tycoon, Arindam Banerjee. The news sent shockwaves through the city, leaving the public, media and the police force alike scrambling for answers. Arindam Banerjee was a man of immense wealth and power, his influence reaching every corner of the city’s political and business class. It was rumored that he was particularly close to some relative of the Chief Minister and therefore enjoyed immunity from the laws of the land.

Rudra, a seasoned investigator with sharp intuition and analytical bent of mind, was immediately assigned to lead the case. As he delved into Arindam Banerjee’s life, he discovered a web of secrets and hidden agendas…the tycoon had built his empire through questionable means often using political clouts, leaving a trail of disgruntled associates and bitter rivals who would love to see him dead.

Rudra engrossed in thoughts was driven back to his home in Salt Lake City, a sprawling 3000 sqft apartment on the 10^th floor of newly constructed building. He had bought the apartment when the construction started 4 years ago purely as an investment and now lived here for past 5 months since being transferred to the city of joy. Sravani opened the door and said, “Look who’s here”. Rudra was pleasantly surprised to see his friend Aniket Mathur, the banker turned author. He was in the city on assignment to do a coffee table book on Kolkata’s changing skyline. He had checked into ITC Sonar and called Sravani who had very vocally insisted that he check-out from there and live with them at their new apartment. It had 4 bedrooms and enough manpower to look after his needs and comfort.

Over dinner, Rudro told them about the new case he has been assigned and informed his intent of visiting Arindam Banerjee’s home in South Kolkata the following morning. Aniket asked if could join him as he had planned to visit that particular house for research for his assignment.

Arindam Banerjee’s mansion was an opulent palace nestled in the heart of South Kolkata. The house oozed luxury right from the electrically operated ornate gate and the lush green lawns that wrapped the main building. However, as you enter the hallway, the tales of treachery and deceit whispered in the air. Rudra met Arindam’s wife Sunanda, a woman whose beauty hid a steely determination. She insisted that Arindam’s disappearance was not a mere vanishing act but a carefully chalked out plan, a sinister design.

Rudra started questioning the household staff to dig out any hint of foul play or clues. It was during his conversation with the butler, Sukhdev that he learnt about the existence of Priya Chauhan, national beauty pageant finalist, also the personal secretary of Banerjee and their clandestine affair. A few days ago Priya had suddenly turned up at the house late evening and Anirban had a heated argument with her in his study after which she was summarily sacked from the job. He could not elaborate as to the conversation which was in (English) language beyond his comprehension.

Rudro’s investigation led him to the humble abode of Priya in the residential block of Kasba. The apartment was ransacked, suggesting that someone or a bunch of people had been searching for something important but it was not clear if they were successful. There was no sign of Priya, either she had fled before the thugs arrived or have been kidnapped by them. The latter possibility became evident when Rudro discovered a stack of confidential files from a hidden compartment of Priya’s wardrobe. The files unveiled a sinister network of corruption and illicit dealings with Banerjee at the centre besides revealing the names of few ministers and officials in the state government. It was very hot property; he needed to see the commissioner urgently.

Mr. Arjun Singh, the commissioner with vast experience at the top level understood the gravity of the information and told Rudro to keep it under the wraps before more evidence is available, especially from the media. Both officers had had forgettable encounters with the media and had developed pathological dislike for them, so the media waiting outside simply got a “No comments” from Rudro as he emerged from the commissioner’s office.

As he was getting into the car, he received an anonymous call asking him to meet the caller at a seedy bar in China Town. He told the driver to take him there but drop him few blocks beyond of the spot. He wanted to check out the place from a distance before approaching.

As he entered the dimly lit bar which was thinly occupied at that hour, a plumpish guy from the corner table rose to wave at him and introduced himself as Ashim Kundu, former employee of Galaxy Enterprises, the flagship venture of Arindam Banerjee. After assurances from Rudro that his identity will remain a secret, Kundu revealed that there exists a powerful organization simply known as “The Syndicate”, a very shadowy group of influential people operating in the city’s underbelly, manipulating events from behind the scenes. The Syndicate was not only involved in betting rackets but every other kind of criminal activity, they are the modern day mafia, fearsome and more powerful than the govt.

Rudro’s pursuit of the truth took him deeper into the city’s criminal underbelly using his trusted informers. He discovered that as Kundu said, The Syndicate had its fingers in every major illegal operation from drug trafficking to money laundering as well as human trafficking. Their influence extended beyond the city limits, reaching into the highest echelons of power. As Rudro connected the dots, he realized that Arindam Banerjee had been involved in a grand scheme to topple The Syndicate, using his own resources to gather evidence against them. But his plan had backfired, may be because of treachery within his own team and he had become the target. Rudro concluded that either Banerjee has been eliminated without trace by The Syndicate or his disappearance is a self induced elaborate ploy to throw The Syndicate off his trail.

Rudro, armed with his newfound knowledge, met the Commissioner once again. Both agreed that they have to move swiftly and decided to form a team of trusted officers to infiltrate The Syndicate to find their secret headquarters and storm the place at an opportune time. The showdown was inevitable… Justice must prevail. It took the officers a week to successfully infiltrate the organization called The Syndicate and they received confirmed information that a large consignment of drugs are due to arrive at the warehouse situated near Madhyamgram which is also the headquarters of The Syndicate. There would be an auction of the drugs on the appointed day and most of the leaders of the gang are expected to be present for the auction.

Rudro, in consultation with the Commissioner, set up a team of Special Forces Commandos to storm the warehouse when it was full house. His instruction was clear, “No Prisoners”, he knew that with the clout that The Syndicate has, arresting the criminals was meaningless, all of them would be out in the society and continue to thrive in their illegal activities.

At around 5:30 pm, at the signal from his point’s man inside the warehouse, Rudro along with Special Forces Commandos stormed the warehouse. It was not clear who fired first but soon the place witnessed fierce gun battle. Rudro’s team was outnumbered by 10:1 but they were more skilled and they systematically eliminated most of the criminals and others laid down their arms and surrendered. The Supreme Leader of The Syndicate, simply known as DC was still missing but information received suggested that he was there within the warehouse. Rudro, gathered a handful of commandos and kept searching for the elusive DC. At last he found him hiding inside a toilet… as Rudro kicked open the door of the toilet, DC fired in the open gap but missed Rudro who had skillfully side stepped immediately after breaking the door. Now, Rudro fired a burst of 3 rounds which instantly killed the infamous DC who was none other than a senior minister of the state government, Durlabh Chatterjee.

The news of DC’s death in police encounter and arrest of the Syndicate members besides the large haul of drugs sent shockwaves through the city, exposing the deep-rooted corruption that had plagued the system. The opposition promptly demanded resignation of the CM and imposition of President’s Rule in the state.

Three days later, once the dust had settled, an informal meeting happened at Rudro’s home, present there were the Commissioner himself with his wife, Sunanda Banerjee, Aniket Mathur and Sravani. After a sumptuous dinner consisting of Biriyani and Korma from the famed Arsalan, Rudro began his monologue…

“Interrogating Subhan Khan, the right hand man of DC revealed that Arindam Banerjee was abducted and killed while he was going to meet a certain govt. official, the body was cremated inside the warehouse which was in derelict condition in an isolated location, and no one noticed the act.

As regards, Priya Chauhan, she was the mole planted by The Syndicate. Three days before his brutal murder, Arindam had found out about her and confronted her… she of course denied it but was sacked from her job. It was Arindam’s goons who went to her apartment to look for the confidential files and ransacked it. However, Priya sensing the onslaught fled in a hurry without the files…she was last seen at the Dubai Airport immigration counter…a look out notice has been issued against her and Dubai police is hunting her down as at this moment.

The Kingpin DC or Durlabh Chatterjee had to die for his death sentence was written at a very high office. Arresting him could have toppled the government and that was not the wish of the high command at the centre as well.”

Sunanda took a deep breath and said, “Rudro da, I would like you to assist me in dismantling the tainted businesses of Arindam in a manner that doesn’t hurt or tarnish the image of the family”.

Rudra sighed and said, “Well, I am not very good at that kind of job but I can definitely recommend someone present in this room who is both qualified and capable to do what you want. May I present Mr. Aniket Mathur, Chartered Accountant, ex-banker with creative bent of mind. I guess the only compensation he would demand is to study the architecture of Banerjee Mansion for his current project”.

Sunanda looked at Aniket expectantly who nodded his head in affirmation and smiled. Sunanda smiled back. Somewhere, someone wrote, “Perhaps it is going to be a new beginning for both”.

Months passed, Rudro’s relentless pursuit  brought the end of The Syndicate…the case became a turning point, a symbol of hope that justice could prevail even in the face of overwhelming darkness. As the City of Joy, healed from the wounds of betrayal and treachery, DCP Rudro continued on his mission to cleanse the city of its deep-rooted corruption. The battle was far from over but armed with the truth, he vowed to protect the innocent and eliminate the criminals.

Kolkata won the battle but the war is still on…     

Part 1: An Unsettling Arrival

In the quiet town of Lansdowne, nestled deep within the heart of a dense forest, an old mansion stood as a mysterious monument of the past. The mansion, known as Charles Sahib ka Bunglow, had been abandoned for decades, shrouded in dark tales and whispers of its haunting past. Its eerie silhouette cast a long shadow over the pine trees, invoking an unsettling feeling in anyone who dared to glance its way.

On a cold winter’s night, a young couple, Shreya and Mukul, decided to embark on an adventure, fueled by their curiosity and a desire for thrills. They had heard countless legends about Charles Sahib ka Bunglow but dismissed them as mere superstition. Determined to unravel the truth behind the rumors, they gathered their courage and set foot upon the overgrown path that led to the foreboding mansion.

As they approached the front door, creaking and groaning with each step, a sense of foreboding washed over them. The rusty doorknob yielded reluctantly, as if reluctant to grant them entry. The moment the door swung open, a chilling draft of air enveloped them, carrying a whisper that echoed through the empty halls.

Part 2: Whispering Shadows

The interior of Charles Sahib ka Bunglow was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the pale moonlight filtering through the broken windows. Every step Shreya and Mukul took echoed through the vast emptiness, amplifying their apprehension. The oppressive silence seemed to have a life of its own, as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting to exhale.

As they ventured further, strange phenomena began to unfold. Shadows danced upon the walls, seemingly alive, casting eerie silhouettes that twisted and contorted with each passing moment. Shreya and Mukul exchanged nervous glances, their breath catching in their throats.

In the grand library, the couple stumbled upon a collection of old books, covered in a thick layer of dust. Intrigued, Shreya reached out to touch one, and as her finger brushed against the aged pages, a faint whisper echoed through the room. The words were indistinguishable, but the feeling of melancholy lingered in the air.

Time seemed to warp within the walls of Charles Sahib ka Bunglow. Minutes turned into hours, and hours into an eternity. Shreya and Mukul lost track of their whereabouts as the mansion played tricks on their senses. The rooms shifted and rearranged themselves, leading them in endless circles through corridors that seemed to stretch into infinity.

Part 3: Faces in the Dark

In their desperate attempt to find an exit, Shreya and Mukul stumbled upon a hidden chamber concealed behind a crumbling wall. The air grew heavy with anticipation as they stepped into the secret room, adorned with faded tapestries and cobweb-covered portraits.

As the couple’s eyes fell upon the portraits, they froze in terror. The faces depicted were distorted and twisted, bearing expressions of anguish and despair. The eyes of the paintings seemed to follow them, their gaze penetrating their very souls. A cold shiver ran down their spines as they realized they were not alone.

From the depths of the chamber, whispers grew louder, mingling with guttural moans that sent chills down their spines. Shreya and Mukul could feel a malevolent presence surrounding them, tightening its grip on their fragile sanity.

Part 4: Unraveling the Curse

Driven to madness by the ceaseless torment, Shreya and Mukul clung to each other, their hearts pounding in their chests. They knew they had to uncover the truth behind the curse that bound Charles Sahib ka Bunglow, for their own survival and the sake of those who had met their demise within its walls.

Through relentless research, they discovered that the mansion had once belonged to a wealthy family with a dark secret. The patriarch, Charles Ravenshaw, had dabbled in forbidden arts, seeking immortality. As a consequence of his unholy experiments, the mansion became a gateway to the spirit realm, trapping lost souls within its walls.

Armed with this knowledge, Shreya and Mukul embarked on a perilous journey to break the curse. They gathered talismans and performed rituals, channeling their courage and determination into each action. With each passing trial, the presence of the spirits intensified, manifesting in violent poltergeist activity that threatened to tear them apart.

Part 5: The Final Stand

As the couple reached the climax of their quest, they stood before an ancient artifact—an ornate silver amulet believed to possess the power to sever the ties between the spirit realm and Charles Sahib ka Bunglow. With trembling hands, they recited incantations passed down through generations, their voices blending into a harmonious plea.

The mansion shook violently as the ritual took effect, walls cracking and ceiling fixtures crashing to the ground. The spirits, once trapped in eternal torment, let out piercing wails, their ethereal forms dissipating into the air like smoke. The curse was finally broken, and peace was restored to Charles Sahib ka Bunglow.

Shreya and Mukul stood in the aftermath, their bodies exhausted but hearts filled with relief. The once-ominous mansion now stood as a testament to their bravery, a monument to the triumph of light over darkness.

Epilogue: The Lingering Mystery

Years passed, the legend of Charles Sahib ka Bunglow slowly faded into memory. The town of Lansdowne thrived, and its residents moved on, ignorant of the horrors that once consumed the forsaken mansion.

But whispers carried on the wind, tales of shadowy figures glimpsed in the corners of one’s vision and distant echoes of haunting melodies. Some believed that remnants of the curse still lingered, a reminder of the price paid for tampering with the supernatural.

And so, Charles Sahib ka Bunglow remained, a silent sentinel, keeping its secrets locked within its ancient walls, waiting for the next brave souls to uncover its mysteries and awaken the spirits that lay dormant within.

A decade ago I was doing a lecture tour on marketing and market research for the employees of a company that was trying to foray into e-commerce when the segment was in its nascent stage. Sometimes, the schedule used to be too hectic, completing a lecture in one city and moving on to another by overnight trains. The following story was told to me on one such evening when I was waiting at a station to catch a late night train to reach my next destination.

I was in the first class waiting room reading a book after having my dinner and coffee at the cafeteria of the station. I was engrossed in the book when I heard someone cough to get my attention. I looked up and saw a middle-aged person in priest’s attire with a large cross hanging from his neck. He smiled and introduced himself, “I am Father Xavier. Can I sit here?” I introduced myself and affirmed him to sit across on the sofa. It was a welcome break from my solitary situation. I was afraid I might doze off reading the book and miss the train although I had asked the stationmaster to inform me when the train approaches.

After few pleasantries, Father Xavier asked me what book I was reading. It was Jeffrey Archer’s Kane & Abel. He took the book and turned a few pages and was thoughtful for few moments before saying, “Let me tell you a true story from my own experience that is if you are inclined.” I was all ears to listen to someone’s life experience, so nodded in affirmation.

Father Xavier began after some thought, probably composing the words in his mind…

Besides being a priest, I am also a Clinical Psychologist with practice in the city. One evening as I was wrapping for the day, Lobo Fernandez stormed into my chamber panting and sweating. I offered him a glass of water and asked him to calm down.

“You know Father that I take private tuition, every evening after the school finishes I take that narrow road right next to the newly built graveyard. It is a shortcut to the house I go every evening to take tuition classes.” Lobo stopped momentarily.

“So, what happened?” Father probed.

“You also know, two months ago my uncle Francis was buried there… out of courtesy, when I cross the graveyard I raise my voice and say GOOD EVENING UNCLE FRANCIS. This has been going on for over a month now but today…” Lobo’s voice trailed off and he shivered as if remembering some horrible thing.

“But” interjected Father but waited for Lobo to continue…   

“Four days ago something strange is happening, someone from the grave is returning my salutation. Initially I thought the local boys, the ones that go there for substance abuse is making fun of me but day before yesterday I searched the area with my torch but couldn’t see a soul around. I dismissed it thinking maybe that mind was playing games with me. Then the very next day same thing happened, this time I could hear the voice clearly and it was of my uncle Francis’s. I went to the gate of the graveyard and searched with the help of the torch… I could see all the graves except that of my uncle. It was in complete darkness as if someone has painted it black with tar. I got scared and ran off to the tuition. While coming back, I took an autorickshaw to reach home.”

Father Xavier waited for Lobo to continue… He was visibly shaken by the events.

“The following day I didn’t venture out from home… kept thinking about it… couldn’t share my experience anyone lest they think I am a coward or have gone insane. Then, yesterday, I gathered courage and went for the tuition… thought of taking an autorickshaw but as it was getting late, decided to walk… the alternate route is closed due to repair work so I had to take the graveyard road. I decided, today I won’t wish uncle and simply walk past the graveyard.” Lobo paused to take a sip of water.

“As I reached near the gate of the graveyard, I realized I can’t move… all my body has become heavy like a stone… in the middle of the road I was standing like a statue unable to move an inch even. I was horribly scared… I thought I will lose my senses…”

Father Xavier did not interrupt but waited for Lobo to continue.

“Just as I was about to faint, I turned the light of my torch towards the graves… like earlier I could see all the graves clearly except that of my uncle… it was in pitch darkness, in fact it seemed that the blackness was growing in size and rushing towards me. With all the strength I shouted GOOD EVENING UNCLE FRANCIS. This time the reply came from very close… the voice said WHY DID YOU TURN BACK? GO AWAY, QUICKLY. Suddenly, that blackness from my uncle’s grave rushed and wrapped my leg in tight embrace.”

Lobo drank up the water from the glass… his face was ashen gray… eyes popping out in fear.

Father Xavier got up and filled up Lobo’s empty glass. He put his hand gently on Lobo’s shoulder and said, “Sometimes hallucination can play…”

“Father, if it was hallucination, then how will you explain these marks?” Lobo had lifted his trouser upto the knee… there were clear marks of tightly wrapped ropes on his legs. The marks are so strong that in some places the skin has opened up to rawness of the bone.

Father Xavier looked at the wound with concern and asked, “What happened next? What did you do?”

“I don’t remember anything. I probably lost consciousness due to the fear that was gripping me at that moment. When I came to my senses, I found myself lying at the tea stall bench… couple of passerby’s found me unconscious near the graveyard gate and had brought me there.”

Father Xavier was thoughtful for few minutes then asked, “Your uncle Francis, how did he die? I mean was it natural or accidental?”

“Uncle Francis was old nearing 80 and not keeping a good health. Two months ago, one night after dinner he complained of pain in the stomach and chest. We thought it was a gastric pain and wanted to take him to the hospital but he refused. Instead, he went and lied down on his bed took some antacid as well. Next morning when he did not get up we called the doctor who said that uncle probably had a heart attack and died in the sleep. He was then buried at the new graveyard on the same evening.”

“You lived with your uncle Francis, who else is there in the family?” Father Xavier probed.

“Well, my father and another uncle had died when I was very young. Uncle Francis brought me up as his own kid along with his only son Robin. Now, I live with Robin and his wife.”

“Who referred you to me?” Father Xavier probed further.

Lobo seemed a bit surprised but said, “My cousin Robin, of course… he said you have a good reputation in solving paranormal activities and that you can probably help solving mine as well.”

“You do one thing Lobo, take leave from your tuition for week and rest at home. Your brain needs to relax and calm down. And forget the incidents as a nightmare. Also show your injury to a physician and apply medicine. I am sure in a week’s time you will feel good.”

Lobo did not seem to be to be wholly satisfied with Father Xavier’s advise but agreed to follow the instructions.

Father Xavier thought about those marks on Lobo’s leg and decided some miscreant may have used nylon cord to tie his leg tightly probably to rob him but seeing those passersby may have run away. Anyway, he decided to check out the graveyard area in the morning.

Next morning Father Xavier visited the graveyard and thoroughly inspected the place, everything seemed absolutely normal including the grave of Francis. He called up Lobo from there only and tried to explain that the so-called events are nothing but hallucination caused by the tiredness of overworked brain and probably because of his love and affection towards his uncle has been playing games on his mind. He should relax and let his mind calm down.

That night around 11/ 11:30, there was a loud banging on Father Xavier’s door. Thinking who could it be he opened the door to find a disheveled and scared to death Lobo standing.

“What happened? Everything is alright?”Father asked with concern.

“Nothing is right… nothing is right Father.” Blabbered Lobo and pushed Father to a side to enter the room. He picked up the water bottle and gulped down the water in a single action.

Father took him to his chamber asked again to explain what has happened. What Lobo said in a haphazard manner is …

Earlier in the evening, he was getting ready for the bed when he saw a blackened face staring at him from the window. It’s mouth was open and from it some snake like creatures were trying to come into the room through the grill. Lobo was shit scared and tried to away from the window when he realized someone was sitting on his bed smelling of burning flesh and like a stuck record kept on saying, “Why didn’t you come to wish me today? … Why didn’t you come to wish me today?” Lobo scared to the bone had ran out of the room and came straight to Father Xavier.    

“What about your cousin and his wife?”

“They had gone out for the evening. I was alone at home. Do you think I should see a tantric or peerbaba to find solution to these paranormal things?” Cried Lobo.

“Look Lobo, I feel you are hiding something. If you don’t come out with truth then no tantric, peerbaba or fakir can help you. I think it’s time you come clean with whatever you have suppressed so far.”

Lobo was looking at the floor and shivering at the thoughts that crossed his mind. He looked up and narrated…

“I may have done a grievous crime, yes definitely a crime. You know Father, my uncle never treated me with amount of love or affection. I was treated like a slave, had to slog like a labourer at home. I always tried to please him but failed every time. He would at the slightest chance hit me, abuse me. He often used to call me a bastard and son of a whore. For twenty years I suffered a lot and couldn’t take it anymore. In fact, I thought uncle was behind the death of my parents to usurp the property. I thought getting rid of him will bring back my lost self esteem besides I will get the rightful share of the property as well. The thought of revenge was playing on my mind so, that night when I got the opportunity, I put poison in his food and by morning he was dead. But the rascal is still after me, he won’t leave me alive… What do I do Father?” Lobo confessed.

There was a thin smile on Father Xavier’s face. When Robin, son of Francis first suspected Lobo’s involvement in his father’s death he had met with Father Xavier and together they had planned to expose Lobo and his misdeeds. It was easy to trap a weak hearted Lobo with hallucination and graveyard tricks and he fell for it.

Father Xavier’s phone started ringing… it was Robin calling. He had already recorded the confession of Lobo in his recorder. He picked up the call…

“Hello Robin, the job is done, Lobo has confessed to his crime. He poisoned your father on that fateful night. He is with me right now and I will keep him here only. You call the police to take him away.”

“Father Xavier but there’s slight problem. And frankly I don’t understand what you are saying” Robin said hesitantly.

“What? What is the problem?” Father asked anxiously.

“As planned I was sitting on his bed in disguise with a piece of burnt meat. Lobo got so scared that he ran for the door and probably had a heart attack and fell on the floor hitting on the glass table. A piece of the glass gorged his left eye. I am sitting here with his corps.” Robin blurted out in a huff.

Father Xavier slowly put down the phone and looked up at the figure of Lobo. He was staring at Father Xavier in a cold stern look and a stream of blood was flowing out from his left eye.

The Operation Theatre of the swanky hospital in Gurgaon was reverberating with the cries of just born infant. Outside the OT, the anxious father, Sudhir Roy paced the short corridor, clearly stressed out for this was his first baby. The nurses came out with bundle from which the cries still emanated. Sudhir rushed to the nurses and looked at them enquiringly. The nurses looked at each other and the senior matron announced, “Sorry, Mr. Roy, your wife has delivered a transgender.”

Sudhir looked at the infant and face crinkled with hatred. The parents of Sudhir and Swapna were all present but none ventured to have a look at the baby. In fact both sets of parents excused themselves and left the hospital immediately. The little life was discarded within minutes of its birth.

Swapna has been moved to a single bed room. Sudhir quietly entered and stood by the bed. Swapna was looking at the sky through the room but could sense Sudhir’s presence. She turned towards him and said, “The kid must be feeling hungry, why aren’t they bringing him to me?” Sudhir pressed Swapna’s hand and said, “You will have to forget him. We can’t give the kid our name and that’s final.”

“But what’s his fault? He is still our child.” Swapna persisted.

“May be but we don’t want the child anywhere near us. We shall wait and by God’s grace we will be proud parents to a healthy child.” Sudhir replied with straight face and left to meet Dr. Anjali Bhatnagar, the head of Gynecology in her chamber.

“You are unnecessarily accusing us Mr. Roy. This is a genetic disorder” said Dr. Anjali Bhatnagar as Sudhir sat down.

“So many Ultra Sounds were done and none of the technicians or the doctors could make out?” Sudhir blurted out in frustration.

“I am sorry but it really did not show up.” Dr. Bhatnagar defended.

“Do you realize doctor how humiliated the whole family is feeling? How will we say that we are blessed with a eunuch, sorry transgender?” asked an aggrieved Sudhir.

 “I can understand your discomfort Mr. Roy but we are helpless in the matter.” Dr. Bhatnagar replied.

“No, doctor, you don’t understand. Please don’t get the child anywhere near my wife and as soon as possible send child to its community.” Sudhir stormed out the chamber.

The infant did not realize that it’s birth has created such a discord and confusion but the nurse could sense and in the short duration her motherly instinct had developed a special bond with the baby. She knew what needs to be done. She called up her husband Aabir Chatterjee, professor at prestigious business school in the city.

“Hi, are you free to talk now? I have something important to ask you.” Ankita spoke on the phone.

“I was just getting into the class but tell me what it is” Aabir said from the other end.

“Okay, tell me, do you hate transgender kids?”

“No, why should I hate them? In fact I love all children irrespective of their color, race, and religion.”

“Well, if one such kid calls you Dad, how will you feel?

“Can you elaborate please, Ankita?”

Nurse Ankita Chatterjee briefly explained to her husband. Prof. Aabir Chatterjee said “This is a very bold step, Ankita. I am very much with you. Let’s figure out the legal formalities quickly.”

Prof. Aabir Chatterjee was known as a liberal and forward looking teacher and his students simply adored him. Ankita and Aabir had been trying for long time to have a baby on their own but the tests have proved conclusively that they cannot. Ankita’s love for her husband just went up by few notches as she became the proud mother of the little infant. Within days the legal formalities were completed and little Rishi came home to make Ankita and Aabir’s family complete.

Aabir’s mom from Siliguri called up agitatingly “Babu, what have you guys done? You didn’t think of our status even for once?”

“Ma, I don’t think we have done anything wrong.” Aabir had replied calmly.

Ankita’s parents had come down from Kolkata to put sense in their daughter and son-in-law but the proud parents of Rishi had been adamant. “You could have adopted a healthy child from any of the orphanages. What will you do with it?” exasperated mother of Ankita had reasoned with them.

“Will nurture him and make him a good human being. And who told you that Rishi is not a healthy baby?” retorted an irritated Ankita.

Naturally, both set of parents decided to keep their distance to maintain their dignity in society.

The maid working at their house was excited to take care of the infant but the moment she tried to change the nappy she couldn’t help yelling out “Oh my god, what is this?” And that was enough for Ankita to sack her then and there.

Ankita had seen few transgender at the traffic signal begging, she decided to approach the friendly one. She explained the situation and requested her to find one among them to take care of Rishi. She warned that if other transgender(s) get to know, they will take away Rishi as per the prevailing custom. She promised to look around and within days brought another middle aged transgender named Shanti to Anika who appointed her immediately to look after Rishi. Shanti not only took extreme good care of Rishi while the parents were away at work but protected him from all possible threat from the transgender community.

With time Rishi grew up to be a cute boy with curly hair and bright eyes and spoke in a melodious voice. Ankita took him to the local kindergarten school for admission and was surprised to note that there is no “other” option under the Sex column. After much hassle and threat of legal action, the school admitted Rishi. Thus began the journey of Rishi. In time, he joined the regular school, it wasn’t easy but Ankita was adamant and ensured that the authorities are convinced with her logical arguments. Many a times in her struggle to provide Rishi a loving and secured life, Aabir could not be with her because of academic commitments but Ankita had been relentless in her endeavor. She would never back out from her responsibility towards her son, Rishi. With passage of time Rishi had shown his brilliance in both studies and sports. He is now in the seventh grade.

I am Rishi…

I am now in class ten of a all boys school. I understand that I am different from my classmates, even from other students in the school as well. My father is the Dean of a prestigious business school and my mother is the Chief of Nursing Staff in a big multi specialty hospital. I am very sincere in my studies because I have realized that that’s my only option. Still, I do not have any friends in the class or in the school. In every exam I am always second with difference of just 1 or 2 numbers from the first boy. I don’t understand where and how I lost those numbers. My mother always tell me that it doesn’t matter if you are first or second but one should learn the core of the subject with complete sincereity.

I love playing football. MY performance as a striker in the school team is very impressive but still I am not the captain of the team. I don’t know why but I have been consistently scoring goals to win matches and championship for school.

There is a girl’s school across the road and many of my classmates regularly ‘date’ some of the girls. I too liked one of the girl and told my mother so. My parents looked at each other then my mom said, “Rishi, this is not the time for such frivolous things. You must concentrate on your studies and grow up to be man loved and respected by all, not just one girl.”

I was moved by mom’s words and felt the urge to make her happy… make her proud. In the high school board exams, I did very well. My result was fantastic… I ranked first in the school and third in the NCR region. The first boy of the school was much behind me for a change. Mom was thrilled and so was Dad.

One day, when I was in 12^th, while returning from the tuition class, alone, as I never had any friends for company, I suddenly saw the girl I had a crush. She waived at me and I stood still. She came over and said “Aren’t you Rishi? I am Neera.”

“Yes. Do you know me?” I blurted out.

“Yes, how can I not know the brilliant boy that you are?”

“What do you know about me?”

Neera was stumped. She stammered “I don’t know much but have heard few rumors.”

I crossed my hand across my chest and said “All those rumors are actually true. Are you doing the right thing by talking to me in public space?”

“Why are you saying that?” Neera asked in all innocence.

“Neera, in the last 12 years, I have not made a single friend in the school. Every year, I miss out the first position by 1 or 2 numbers. I score goals consistently for my school football team but still I am not the captain. There must be something wrong with me. Isn’t it so?”

“But you are brilliant. And that’s the truth.” Neera persisted.

“May be, but the bigger truth is incomprehensible and unacceptable to the masses. My mom and dad had adopted me. My biological parents had rejected me within minutes of my birth and I don’t know them and have no desire to know as well. I don’t know my grandparents from either side. They have never bothered to see their only grandchild. In fact my parents have been disowned by their parents for the crime of adopting me. Now tell me.. is there any bigger truth that you know of me?”

“But look wise you are no different from other boys.”

“Goodbye Neera. I know the truth. And this truth is irreversible. No one can change it. Yes, I like you but I am not inclined to pursue the matter which is not possible. Still, you talked to me… I will always remember this evening. Take care.”

I had hastily come back home and locked myself in my room. I was choking with emotions. My teenaged heart was aching. I had to strangle my love for Neera forever.

Every day on my way to the hospital, I see couple of transgender at the traffic signal. They are just like with the difference that they were not lucky enough to find Ankita-Aabir in their life. I took out a hundred rupees currency note and gave it the one and she blessed me saying “God bless you son.” Just like my mom.

Today, I have a surgery to perform. I am neither a man nor a woman but I help give birth to children of man and woman. I am a gynecologist of repute now but today’s surgery is different. The patient is middle-aged woman with a tumor in her uterus. It has been there for some time and now when it has become unbearable, she has come for the surgery. The uterus has to be removed. She doesn’t have any children.

I entered the OT… anesthesia has been administered… I asked for the forceps.

Surgery has been successful. The patient will move to the room for recuperation. The husband of the patient came to my chamber to discuss and understand the post-surgery precautions. As he was leaving, he suddenly stopped and said “You know doctor, when Swapna and I became parent for the first time, I could not accept the little one and forced Swapna to accept my decision. I had thought we will again become parents but look at the nature’s justice… we are childless now.”

“Why couldn’t you accept your first born?”

“I thought the next one will be a healthy baby.”

“What was the problem with your first born?”

“Actually… I mean… he… it was a transgender child. It was born in this hospital only. I don’t know if it is now in some shelter home or may be one of the beggar at the traffic signals.”

“Or perhaps, he has conquered the life’s struggle and reached the pinnacle of his career. That too is possible, isn’t it?”

“How’s that possible?”

“How can I say, Mr.Roy? I am just talking about the possibility. Anyways, it is time for my visiting the patient wards. You can visit your wife once she is shifted to the room but please do not talk much, she needs to take rest. Take care.”

Walking down the corridor of the hospital wearing the doctor’s white apron and stethoscope hanging from my neck… I am Dr. Rishi Chatterjee, the only son of my proud parents – Ankita and Aabir Chatterjee. My life could have been just like what Mr. Sudhir Roy expected but no, I have or rather the life did not allow me to succumb but conquer the adversity and be successful…

Note: I don’t know the author of the Bengali version that I received in WhatsApp Group but it touched a chord in my heart. I hope I have been able to do justice to the nuances of the original story telling.

Rajul, after a rather hectic and stressful day in office and having spent an hour on the waterlogged road through snail paced traffic was in foul mood when he reached home. His temper went through the roof seeing his teenage son, Sidhu, short for Shidhartha, playing games on his laptop. How can Sidhu, a class 12 student with final board exams in few months time while away his time like that?  Rajul threw his office bag on the sofa and stood in front of Sidhu expecting some reactions from him but Sidhu just looked up once and concentrated on his game. What arrogance! Rajul thought.

“What are you doing, Sidhu?” Rajul asked without hiding his irritation.

“Playing game, Dad” Sidhu replied calmly.

“Is it time to play games?” Rajul continued in the same tone.

“I can’t keep studying the whole day, Dad.” Sidhu too replied calmly.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot you are a bookworm and study 18 hours a day.” Rajul said sarcastically and the continued “Then why doesn’t your result reflect your intellect?”

“Is there any rule that all exam results should be good?” Sidhu folded his laptop and got up from the sofa. He then asked in a plain voice, “Did you score good marks in all your life exams?”

Rajul was getting angrier by the demeanor of Sidhu, this new generation has no respect for the elders, he thought to himself.

“Sidhu, you argue too much. You have no sense of respect for the elders.” He said sharply.

Without waiting for a reply, Rajul started walking towards the bedroom and realized Ishita, his wife hasn’t come home as yet.

“You didn’t answer my question Dad.” Sidhu said in even tone.

Rajul turned back and came face to face with Sidhu. Putting his hand on son’s shoulder he said, “No, I couldn’t and that is the reason I dream for you to achieve all that I missed out.”

“Don’t you think that you are putting me under some unrealistic, perhaps impossible to carry out load on me?” Sidhu asked.

“Load, what are you saying?”

“Yes Dad. You want me to achieve what you couldn’t, is that fair? Can two individuals have the same goals in life?” Sidhu persisted with his line of argument.

“No, Sidhu, it is not like that, we want you to be a good human being.” Ishita is back from office and probably had heard part of the Son-Dad conversation and could not help interjecting.

“Good point, Mom, what or who is a good human? I simply do not understand this concept of good human being!” Sidhu now directed his query to his mother.

Ishita stopped by the dining table to have water and then lowered the temperature of the air conditioner and said, “Good human being means, a person who has humanity in the core of his/ her heart.”

“Are you guys’ good human?” Sidhu asked with a half smile on his face.

“What do you mean?” Ishita asked irritatingly.

“Now, please don’t take it otherwise, some time back, Dad had sold off the land in our village and given the money Debashish uncle who was economically a poor relations of ours. At that time, if you would recall Mom, you had created a ruckus. I was in class 9 at that time and I remember how many times you have since made sarcastic remarks about Dad being a fool.” Sidhu said a little agitated.

Rajul looked at Ishita who had gone pale at Sidhu’s outburst.

“Sidhu!” Ishita shouted at her son, “Don’t speak nonsense. Why are you bringing them in the conversation? Did Debashish or his wife Priyanka called up today? Why do they want to create rift in my family?”

“Relax Mom, I just remembered the incidence when you said about being good human. No one called today or any other day. I also remember, few days after that, you had taken me to some function of a charitable organization where you had donated a large some. At the function, you were photographed with a leading film actress as well.” Sidhu was all guns blazing.

“Yes, I did get clicked with the actress and the money that I donated was mine, why should anyone have any problem with that?” Ishita was unrelenting too.

A few years back Ishita had donated a large sum of money to a charitable trust hoping to get into limelight without informing Rajul and when he confronted her, she had given somewhat similar reply to Rajul who had kept quiet to maintain family peace.

“No, Mom, no one can object to your donating your own money to anyone but I was little surprised that day. I thought how come you could donate such large amount for the benefit of some unknown people but have so much resistance when it comes to your own relations?” Sidhu said calmly.

“Don’t talk rubbish, Sidhu. Your Debashish uncle is not a poor guy and you don’t understand family politics. They made a fool of your Dad and usurped the money. But, I see you have a very good memory, you will do well if you use this memory in studies.” Ishita replied, last words being sarcastic.

“Is it necessary to do well in studies to be a good human being?” Sidhu was hell bent in having an upper hand over his parents. He thought for while and continued “There is politics and competition involved too in getting a good result. You have been telling me since my childhood days how to get things done at the cost of others. There was this First Boy Tuhin in my class (5) whom I never liked as a person because of his strong ego. I liked Sujoy, an average boy with average result. You used tell me to shun the average boys and be friends with the toppers of the class. You became friends with Tuhin’s Mom just to get to know the secret formula of his success. On my birthdays, you would invite the toppers of my class and ignore the likes of Sujoys’. Only once you allowed Sujoy to come over to our home and that was when I moved from the earlier school to this elite English Medium Public School.” Sidhu stopped having spoken his mind.

“I think, changing your school was the biggest mistake. I thought, you will learn manners and will respect the elders but you have become a rebel and undisciplined. At your age, we couldn’t even think of speaking like this with our parents.” Ishita retorted.

“You are unnecessarily getting angry Mom. This is nothing but generation gap. We, youngsters speak our mind; we talk straight without any complexity. Your generation can’t.” Sidhu laughed and continued “You know Mom, we are very straight forward generation. You guys are a confused lot, neither you could leave the old theories and concepts nor could embrace the newer concepts wholeheartedly. You have been carrying on the load of mix-n-match based on your likings.”

Ishita was really boiling now and shouted “Who filled your brain with such rubbish?”

“This is not rubbish Mom, but hard reality. And for your information, Arush Agarwal of my class said this very rightly.” Sidhu was calm in his response.

“These Baniya good-for-nothing kids are vitiating the school atmosphere. They know, irrespective of their result, a readymade business awaits them at the end of graduation. They have no culture other than business and corruption” Ishita said with full of guile.

Sidhu laughed out loudly. “Why are you laughing?” Ishita retorted.

“A while ago you were talking about respecting others, look at yourself Mom! Without knowing about Arush’s background, you commented not just on his family but the whole lot of them. His father is a chartered accountant and mother is a doctor. And aren’t Bongs corrupt? Please think it over, Mom.” Sidhu replied.

“Oh, then it is settled. Both the parents are making money handsomely!!” Ishita was again sarcastic. She then continued “Listen Sidhu, his parents have enough money to put him through any university but your Dad & I are not so rich, so concentrate in your studies if you want good grades.”

“My Dad and you too earn pretty decent amount, we live in a plush apartment in an upscale locality, we have two cars and we have made 2-3 foreign trips as well. If we were not rich, how could we afford all these? Whatever you may say Mom, I know very well that you will definitely enroll me in some good university after my schooling.” Sidhu started laughing and walking towards his room.

Ishita shouted at Sidhu’s back “So, you already are assuming so much? Please be aware, we are not going to spend every penny that we have saved on your education and furthering your career. You have to work hard and be on your own. The ways you are talking now, don’t know how you will behave once you become an Engineer or an MBA? We can’t really depend on you.”

Sidhu came out of his room and spoke very calmly, “Why can’t you speak the truth, Mom? Actually, you have too many shattered dream yourself and that is why, you are afraid to trust me, my generation. A while ago you were talking of becoming a good human being, forget it Mom, I don’t know, if I will remain even a human being! All because, we are a robot generation and you have made us robots.”

Without waiting for any answer, Sidhu went back to his room and shut the door firmly. Rajul kept looking at the now closed door of Sidhu and thought, how time flies, the little one has grown up to be a mature and self-assured youth. But soon his thoughts were broken by Ishita’s voice, “It is all because of your pampering that the boy could lecture me in front you. You just stood there like a wooden statue, I can’t believe this!”

“There’s no point blaming him or his generation” Rajul spoke up “We have failed to instill values in our children. I remember my childhood; we were living in a joint family – my grandfather and his brother staying together with respective family under the same roof. My mother rebelled saying she cannot live in a joint family with so much interference from so many people. My Dad moved to Kolkata along with grandpa-grandma ensuring I get to grow up playing with them and listening stories from them. Then, one day I too got married, by which time grandpa & grandma have passed away, you came in to my life and surprisingly you too repeated the same and said you cannot stay in such claustrophobic place, there’s no unanimity of thoughts. Wasn’t that a generation gap, Ishita? Two years down the line Sidhu was born and we shifted to this plush south Kolkata apartment leaving my parents at the old house. But did we achieve peace? On the contrary, instead of a cohesive family, you and I became rivals in an invisible game of one-upmanship. Our egos are more pronounced than ever before. Sidhu have grown up in this scenario, how can you even expect that he would have the values of a bygone era. We have provided him with the best of all amenities except a value system. Today, the concept of being good human is a clichéd middle class mentality.” Rajul sat down on the sofa having spoken at length.

“So, what it is going to be, an unfulfilled, frustrated life to live?” Ishita cried.

Rajul had no answer for Ishita but he knew there are many like them – frustrated parents of a frustrated generation looking at the ticking clock for a miracle to happen.

Who was Gopal Bhand, any way?

Gopal Bhand was not just another name for a person but was very much part of the everyday life of a by-gone era. Whenever, one looks at the history of Bengal with special reference to the rule of Maharaja Krishna Chandra, they will come across the character of Gopal Bhand, the jester at his majesty’s court.

Gopal was born in the village of Ghurni, north of Krishna Nagar. He lost his father at a very young age and because of economic reasons could not continue with his education. Still, whatever he had learnt in the early days along with his in-born intelligence, he became an intellectual.

Gopal belonged to the clan of barbers, famous for their quick wit. There is a saying that crows among the bird and barbers among the humans are the cleverest species in the whole world. Gopal lived up to this saying; from the very beginning he showed signs of cleverness and cunning. He grew up entertaining people all around him and soon people started calling him Gopal Bhand or Gopal the Jester.

His reputation slowly but steadily spread across the country and soon reached the Maharaja Krishna Chandra. The Maharaja called him and tested his talents with inquisitive and difficult questions, but Gopal was at ease with all kinds queries and answered fluently. At last, satisfied, Maharaja Krishna Chandra appointed him as Court Jester.

Soon, his reputation as court jester spread across the length and breadth of the country like wild fire and Gopal Bhand was being compared with the antics of Birbal, one of the jewels in the court of Emperor Akbar.

It has been over three centuries from the times of Gopal Bhand, but his stories and innocent jibes still tickle us and lighten our otherwise stressful life.

The stories of Gopal Bhand are quite similar to the ones of Birbal in the north and Tenali Rama in down south which makes one wonder if really these characters actually existed or the stories are just figment of imagination of some unknown author!!!

I have read these stories in the original language – Bengali and decided to translate them for my son when he was a kid. Now posting them here for all the kids and the ones who are young at heart, still, just like me…

ONE: CEREMONIAL BULL

Gopal, the Jester a.k.a. GOPAL BHAND, was a great entertainer at the courts of Maharaja Krishna Chandra, the ruler of Krishna Nagar in Bengal. His famous stories and escapades were not only discussed within the town of Krishna Nagar but reached across the length and breadth of the sub-continent of India.

Once long ago, Mirzaffar, the Nawab of Bengal on his way back home from a campaign stopped near the town of Krishna Nagar and camped on the outskirts of the town along with his sizable army.

Incidentally around this time, the Maharaja Krishna Chandra was performing the last rites of his father and offered a healthy bull to the God as appeasement so that his father can achieve eternal peace in heaven. After the ceremony, the bull was set free to roam around.

The bull roamed the streets of Krishna Nagar and passing by the camp of Nawab Mirzaffar when the Nawab caught the sight of the bull. The Nawab felt that the healthy bull will make a nice and elaborate meal for the whole group. He ordered his men to catch the bull immediately. He told his chef, ”This is a healthy bull, tomorrow make a curry and kebabs with its meat for all of us.”

Meanwhile the news of capture of the bull reached the Maharaja and he became worried for the fact that if the ceremonial bull is killed then his father will not enjoy the eternal bliss. He realized that he is no match to the mighty army of the Nawab. Also any request to set free the ceremonial bull will fall in deaf ears as the Nawab has already decided to kill the bull for sumptuous banquet. A pall of gloom set on the courts of the Maharaja. The ministers at the court were all at loss for any plausible advice. Everybody hoped for a miracle to happen that will set free the ceremonial bull.

Gopal the Jester, who was away on some work, reached the court to find everyone including the Maharaja very serious and worried. He asked “Oh Maharaja, what happened? You look so worried.”

The Maharaja narrated the whole incident to him and said in despair “Gopal, I really don’t know what to do. My father will now not go to the heaven if the bull is killed.”

“Oh Maharaja, this is not so serious a matter. Don’t you worry, I will go to the Nawab and get the bull for you just now.” Gopal said enthusiastically.

“It is not so simple Gopal” said the Prime Minister. “The Nawab has set his eyes on the bull and he is not going to let it go free so easily” said another courtier.

“If the Nawab is smart, then I am smarter than him” said Gopal and set off for the camp of Nawab Mirzaffar.

“If you bring back the bull, there will be a handsome award of gold coins for you” announced the Maharaja. “So be it Maharaja, keep it ready for me” replied Gopal.

Gopal reached the encampment of the Nawab and met the minister who took him to the Nawab and said “Jahanpanah, this is Gopal Bhand, the great entertainer at the courts of Maharaja Krishna Chandra.” Everybody present there including the Nawab was well aware of Gopal’s reputation, so he was warmly welcomed by the Nawab “What brings you here, noble man?” inquired the Nawab.

Gopal bowed before the Nawab and said ”Sir, I passing by and could not let go the chance of meeting you. You lordship has done wonderful things for his subjects and everyone is pleased with your firm but judicious governance.”

The Nawab felt very pleased with Gopal’s kind words as he liked to hear good things about himself. Gopal kept the flattery on to boost the ego of the Nawab. Suddenly looking out, he said, “What is this bull doing here?”

“Do you know this bull?” inquired the Nawab. “Oh yes, very much and that’s why I am little astonished” replied Gopal.

“Oh, this is a very healthy bull, tomorrow we are all going to feast on its meat. You too can join us” said the Nawab greedily.

“What, you will be eating this dirty bull? Sir, this is no ordinary bull, it does not eat grass or foliage like other normal bulls but scavenges through the dirt of the city” said Gopal disgustingly.

The Nawab, hearing this felt nauseating and immediately ordered his men to release the bull. “Gopal, you are great, you have saved me from eating meat of such a dirty bull” the Nawab thanked Gopal profusely and gave him three gold coins as reward.

Gopal bowed again and with a large grin on his face reached the courts of Maharaja. Meanwhile the Maharaja had heard about the release of the ceremonial bull and was very pleased with Gopal Bhand.

Gopal narrated his escapades with the Nawab and everybody at the court had a hearty laugh and cheered him. The Maharaja gave him the five gold coins as promised.

TWO: STRANGER AT THE COURT

Once a stranger came to the court of the Maharaja Krishna Chandra and announced that he is a leaned intellectual and knows various languages. The Maharaja had a soft place for intellectuals and immediately appointed him as a minister.

As the days went by, it was amply clear that the stranger actually is very intelligent and a linguist. He could fluently speak English, French, Spanish and German and it was difficult to judge his nationality by the way he dressed or spoke. In all his mannerism was quite cosmopolitan.

Everybody at the court was intrigued and tried their best to guess the region where the stranger belonged. One day while they were discussing this issue, the Maharaja said jokingly, “Gopal, if you could find out the whereabouts of the stranger, I will reward you with two gold coins.”

“As you say Maharaja” replied Gopal. “In two days I will tell you the native of the stranger” Gopal said confidently.

Gopal set out to find the whereabouts of the stranger. He got to know that the stranger was to make an appearance at the court next day. Gopal reached the gates of the kings palace and hid behind a pillar. Soon the stranger came to the gates and was about enter the palace when Gopal came out of his hiding rushed towards the stranger, colliding and fell him to the ground. The stranger badly hurt himself in the fall and abused Gopal, “Are you blind, can’t you see where you are going?”

Gopal smiled at the stranger and said, “I only wanted to know your native and do so now. You are Oriya. A person will definitely speak his mother tongue at trying time.” He went inside the palace and announced, “Maharaja, the stranger is from the kingdom of Orissa.” Then he narrated how he came to know about the truth.

The Maharaja was very proud of Gopal’s quick wit and rewarded him with the promised gold coins.

THREE: WHAT DO YOU EAT FIRST?

Gopal was the most favored courtier of Maharaja Krishna Chandra and he knew that Gopal liked good food. Therefore he would invite Gopal for a meal with him time and again without waiting for any occasion.

One day after the court was adjourned in the afternoon, the Maharaja asked Gopal to join him for the lunch. “I am at your command Maharaja. I can lay down my life for you any time. You are only asking me to join you for a meal and that I cannot refuse” said Gopal jovially.

There were variety of food at the lunch menu and they sat down to eat, the Maharaja jokingly asked, “So Gopal, what shall we eat first?”

“Maharaja, you should eat the fried eggplant first. After that everything will taste wonderful and tasty.” Gopal replied laughing at his own joke. The Maharaja also joined in the joke and they enjoyed the well cooked food.

FOUR: MAHARAJA’S AUNT

Maharaja Krishna Chandra had a aunt who was very rich and without encumbrances. She also happened to be the greatest miser in whole of Krishna Nagar. It was considered to be great achievement if one could even manage a nickel from her. She was against all kinds of wasteful expenses and shunned extravagance. She ate only vegetarian foods and wore simple cotton clothes. The only exception was the maid who looked after her. Even there she only offered her the two square meals in a day; Maharaja paid the salary without informing his aunt.

One day, Maharaja in a relaxed mood said, “Gopal with all your cleverness and quick wits you won’t be able to wriggle out a penny out my aunt.” Gopal not to be out done replied “I can, with your blessings Maharaja. You want to bet?”

Maharaja agreed to a bet of five gold coins if Gopal could even manage a meal out his aunt.

Gopal went home to think about a plan to win the bet. Next day he went to the aunt’s house visibly shaken and tears in his eyes. The aunt knew Gopal and was quite fond of him actually. Looking at the state of Gopal, she inquired “Gopal what happened? You look so disheveled.” Gopal with tears in his eyes replied, “You know Janak Pandit, the fortune teller?” “Oh yes very much. His predictions always come true” replied aunt.

“Well he had a look at my stars yesterday and predicted that I have only six months to live” Gopal cried aloud. He continued, “Now all I want is to have Prasad from you, before I die. I am sure that you will not refuse a dying man his last wishes.”

Aunt was visibly shaken but composed herself and said “That’s okay, but you know I only have very simple vegetarian food and you may not like that.” “Aunt, I just want the Prasad of yours whether it is simple vegetarian does not matter” replied Gopal. “Okay then you come back tomorrow afternoon the meal” aunt said little reluctantly.

Next day Gopal got ready to go to aunt’s house and hid a few shrimps in his pocket. He reached the house of aunt and announced himself. The aunt welcomed him and offered him food but Gopal refused and said “I want your Prasad aunt. You must eat first and leave a small portion of everything in the plate and I will have that only.” The aunt did not like the idea but agreed knowing that it was Gopal’s last wish. She started eating a little of everything and left the rest for Gopal to eat. Then she offered the food to Gopal. Meanwhile Gopal had taken out the shrimps from his pocket and when aunt was looking, mixed the shrimps in the yogurt. Then he started eating the food with great relish. After sometime, the aunt asked, “Gopal, how do you like the simple food? You are quite habitual to the rich food of the palace.”

“All the dishes are excellent, especially the yogurt with shrimps is wonderful” replied Gopal nonchalantly. Aunt was horrified. She said “What shrimp? I am a strict vegetarian and you know I don’t eat any fish, meat etc.”

“Yes I know and that’s why I was little surprised to find the shrimps in the yogurt. But it is really very tasty” replied Gopal.

The aunt was aghast now and scared that Gopal being a trumpeter will announce this to the whole world and bring shame to her. She stammered, “Go-go-Gopal, you are a nice person and I am sure you will not tell this to anyone and bring shame to this old aunt of yours!”

“In ordinary times I would not but now that I am going to die soon, I will not lie and be sinner. If the Maharaja asks me what I had for lunch, I will have to tell him about the shrimps in yogurt” Gopal said innocently. Then he added, “But of course, you can buy my words with money. If you pay me five gold coins, I will keep mum about this dish.”

Now the aunt was in a fix, five gold coins is a large amount but at the same time, if she did not pay and Gopal speaks out, it would be a big face loss. But all the same she bargained with Gopal, “Five gold coins is too much, I can give you three and you keep your mouth shut.”

Gopal realized that even three gold coins is a good value to extract from the miserly lady and agreed, albeit showing a little resistance “Oh aunt, you want me to sin for you in my last days and still bargaining for mere two gold coins. What will my family do after I am gone? I am sure you will take care of my family in my absence.”

Then he took the three gold coins left for the palace of Maharaja Krishna Chandra to show him the gold coins and tell the whole story.

Maharaja was aware of what transpired at his aunts’ house as he had kept a vigil there to know first hand how Gopal was faring in his mission. As soon as Gopal reached the court, Maharaja congratulated Gopal and offered him the five gold coins. Gopal was very happy as in a single day he had managed to earn eight gold coins and he decided to distribute a part of this to the poor of the town.

FIVE: THE UNLUCKY FACE

Once the Maharaja was celebrating the birth of his grandson and the party went well into the night. As a result, Gopal could not go back home and had to spent the night at the guest house of the palace.

In the morning, the Maharaja went for a walk through the garden and reached the guest house where most people were still sleeping after a late night. Gopal who was also there, got up first and saw the Maharaja. “Good Morning sir” he said. The Maharaja acknowledging the same asked him if he had a good sleep and thereafter went on his way.

A little later, the royal barber came to give Maharaja his daily shave. While shaving, the barber accidentally nicked the cheek of the Maharaja and the blood came out from the cut. The barber got scared that the Maharaja will now punish him severely. But generally the barbers are a clever clan and this one was no exception.

Composing himself the barber said “Maharaja, I have been shaving you for years and never before had caused any injury to your highness. I feel you must have seen some unlucky face this morning which is responsible for this mishap.”

The Maharaja felt what the barber said made sense and he thought whom he had seen early in the morning. He realized it was Gopal Bhand and he called him at once.

“Gopal, you are the unlucky one and I sentence you to death” announced the Maharaja. Gopal remained calm and answered “Your highness that is it. When you saw my face first in the morning you got a nick in your cheek but I also saw your face first thing this morning and I got the death sentence! Tell me whose face is more unlucky?”

The Maharaja realized his folly and immediately withdrew the order and rewarded Gopal for his wits.

SIX: THE FLEA

Once Gopal was going to a distant town and passing through a village when he felt hungry and thirsty. He thought of buying some food from the food stall and then realized that he was not carrying any money on him. He did not know anyone in the village so getting a loan from somebody was not possible. Dejected he kept walking. Then he came across a food stall where a kid was manning the stall and there was freshly made sweets on display. Looking at them, Gopal’s hunger increased many fold and he asked the kid “Where is your father?”

“He is inside having his food” replied the kid.

“My name is flea. Tell him that the flea had come and eating the sweets” said Gopal picking up the tray full of sweets. As he started to eat, the kid shouted “Father the flea has come and eating away the sweets.” The father without bother said from inside the house, “Let it be, he comes everyday.”

Gopal satisfied left the stall went on his way. After sometime, the father came out and was horrified to find the empty tray of sweets. He cried “Who has eaten away all my sweets?” The kid said “I told you the flea, really a man was eating the sweets and you said its okay as he is your regular customer.”

The father realized somebody has made a fool of him and thought who it could be.

The following day Gopal was again passing through the same area and stopped by the food. He told the kid “Tell your father that same flea that came yesterday had come again today.” The kid went inside to tell his father who this time rushed out to catch the thief.

“Who are you and why did you rob a poor man like me?” asked the father. “Well, my name is Gopal Bhand and yesterday when I was passing this way, I was very hungry and not carrying any money. So I had to use the ploy to fool you. I am sorry to have caused inconvenience to you. Here, please keep this money for the sweets.” Gopal offered him the money.

“Sir, I have heard so much about you and I am pleased that you have come to my stall. It is an honor to serve you. I cannot take the money from you” replied the shop owner.

Gopal with much persuasion made the shop owner accept the money as did not like to have free food at the expense of poor villagers.

SEVEN: THE OTHER JESTER

Maharaja Krishna Chandra liked to honor the talented people and many such persons were given a place of honor in his court. Once another Jester by the name Hasiram came to his court and displayed his talents. The Maharaja was pleased by his talent and immediately appointed him his court jester. Now there was another jester besides Gopal.

Hasiram, from the very beginning started entertaining the courtiers with his quick wit and soon became very popular with everybody around. It seemed that he was always one-upping on Gopal and people thought Gopal would be jealous of this new person. However, Gopal was nonchalant about the whole issue and often said “One will get what is due to him.”

One day Maharaja called Gopal aside and said “I find that your quick wits are fading. You seemed to have given up. Hasiram is always one-upping on you. I think you should pull-up your socks and show everybody that you are more talented in matter of wits.”

“I will definitely show you, who the boss is, Maharaja” replied Gopal. Then he thought of the means to achieve the task.

Now, Hasiram’s home was some ten miles away from Krishna Nagar where his old mother used to stay alone. Gopal found out that Hasiram was planning to visit his mother the next day. He had ordered sweets from the sweetmeat shop and two big fish from the fishmonger to take back home.

Next day before anyone could know, Gopal started off and reached the home of Hasiram. His mother knew Gopal and liked him as her son. She said “Oh Gopal, what brings you here, this early morning?”

“I was passing by and heard that you are not keeping well, therefore came to visit you” replied Gopal innocently.

“Its true, I was not well, but in old age such problems keep recurring. I know my time is getting over and soon I may die. But since you have come have lunch with me today” the old woman said.

“No mother, some other day perhaps. I have some urgent work and need to rush to Krishna Nagar and reach there before noon” replied Gopal with urgency in his voice.

The old woman would have none of it and forced Gopal to have some snacks before he left for Krishna Nagar.

Half way on the way back, he met Hasiram quite happy and contended carrying a big container full of sweets and two big fishes. Hasiram said “Brother, where have you been?”

Sounding sad, Gopal replied, “I’ve gone to meet a relation of mine but en route went to your home as well.” Then showing some urgency said “Brother I suggest you rush to your home immediately”

“Why, what happened at my home” asked Hasiram worriedly. “Nothing much, but still you should go fast” replied Gopal. “No-no, you must tell me what the matter is” Hasiram insisted.

Gopal, almost at the brink of crying said “One has to go at some point of time in life, but you know very well that mother is the biggest support to us all. Even if she is old, she still is our mother.”

“What, my mother is no more. She has left for the heaven!” Hasiram cried out loudly. Gopal said something as if to console him but Hasiram was inconsolable. He handed over the sweets and the two big fishes to Gopal and said “I have no use for these now, you take them home and enjoy with your family.” Then he rushed to his home, crying all the way.

On reaching home, he found his mother quite healthy and immediately realized that Gopal had made a fool of him. In fact, Gopal never said his mother passed away but he only imagined things in his anxiety and he saluted Gopal for his wits.

Meanwhile, Maharaja had a hearty laugh when he got to know what happened with Hasiram. He realized that Hasiram was no match to Gopal in matter of wits.

EIGHT: THE ROYAL DOCTOR

There was a vacancy for the position of Royal Doctor at the court of Maharaja Krishna Chandra. The announcement to this regard was made across the kingdom and also at the neighboring states.

Soon, large number of applicants reached the palace and spoke of their experience and expertise in the field of medicine. It became quite impossible to shortlist the candidates, let alone choose one among them. The Maharaja called Gopal and said “I think only you can choose the right person among all these candidates. I am entrusting you the task of choosing the Royal Doctor.”

“Its easy Maharaja, you will soon get your man” replied Gopal confidently.

Then he turned towards the candidates and said “You all have given the accounts of your achievements which all of us here at the court have heard and understood. But the position of Royal Doctor is quite different and important too. It can only go to the person who is responsible for the death of at least one thousand patients that he had attended to in his professional life so far.”

One of the candidate said “Out of ten thousand patients that I have treated, two thousand have died and I am responsible for that.”

The second candidate said “Of the thirty odd thousand patient that came to me for treatment, four thousand have lost their life.”

“Half of my two thousand patients are no longer in this world” said another candidate.

So, one after another, everyone started saying how many persons they have killed in their professional life.

There was, however, one exception. One candidate, who was sitting quietly all this while got up and started leave the court. Gopal caught the site and said “Doctor, you are leaving without telling us your achievements. Don’t you aspire to be the Royal Doctor?”

“I would very much like to be the Royal Doctor otherwise I would not have come this far from home, but the conditions are too steep. I have seen about forty thousand patients so far in my life but only five have died. I do not think I can achieve the figure of one thousand even if I tried the rest of my life. That is why I am leaving now” said the man dejectedly.

Gopal turned towards the Maharaja and said “Highness this man is fit to become the Royal Doctor.” Maharaja happily agreed to the suggestion and appointed him.

NINE: SWEET TOOTH

One day Gopal Bhand along with his uncle Nilesh was going to the town of Vishnupur on the opposite banks of Ganges. They were traveling in a typical boat of Bengal where in the middle of the boat is a canopy where the boatman used to keep their belongings. In the boat, besides Gopal his uncle and the boatman, there were two other persons traveling to another town further to Vishnupur.

One of the gentlemen was carrying a large container of sweets and told his companion “The prices of sweets at the market have sky-rocketed but I couldn’t resist the temptation of picking up these sweets from Felu the sweet maker. He is quite famous around here for the variety as well as the quality of his sweets.”

“True” said his companion and added “Our destination quite far, how long you will hold this container? Why don’t you keep it inside the canopy? We will take it when we disembark.”

The man liked the idea and kept the container safely inside the canopy. Gopal and his uncle had heard the gentlemen but did not say anything. They seemed to enjoy the cool breeze of the Ganges. After sometime, Gopal suddenly started shivering and told his uncle “I think I have fever and feeling cold.” Nilesh touching his forehead said “Oh yes you have quite high temperature. Don’t stay out. I suggest you go and rest inside the canopy. I will call you when we reach Vishnupur.”

The other two gentlemen on the boat too suggested that he go inside the canopy to rest and said “We have to go further than Vishnupur, we will let you know when the boat reaches there.”

Reluctantly, Gopal went inside the canopy to rest. After an hour or so the boat reached the shores of Vishnupur and uncle Nilesh called out Gopal. Together they disembarked and the boat went its way to the next destination.

Getting down, Gopal said “I am already feeling fine. The fever is gone and I no longer feel the shivering.”

“Why not, after all the sweets of Felu are supposed to do wonders!” replied Nilesh. “Yes uncle, I could not resist myself when I heard the gentleman” said Gopal sheepishly. “I hope you have saved some for me too” said Nilesh greedily.

Gopal took out some of the sweets from his pocket and offered them to his uncle. Together they enjoyed the sweets of Felu but felt sorry for the poor man on the boat who had paid for the sweets.

TEN: WHAT LIES BENEATH THE GROUND

Adjacent to Krishna Nagar was the town of Begampur which was under the rule of the Nawab Mirzaffar. The Nawab was eccentric and whimsical. One day, he called his courtiers and said “I wonder what is there under the ground. Is there another kingdom below the earth surface?” The courtiers had no ready answer for this query of the Nawab. After much deliberation they said “Jahanpanah, only experts in astrology can tell us what is there beneath the ground.”

The Nawab liked the idea and announced “If any one can tell me what is there beneath the ground, he will be awarded with hundred gold coins and if he fails then he will spend the rest of his life in the dungeons”

One hundred gold coins were very lucrative reward and many a Pundit went to Begampur to try their luck. Even Maharaja sent a group of royal pundits to try and win the reward. But none of them could satisfy the Nawab with an answer to his query and were thrown in the dungeons.

Maharaja, when he heard the fate of his court pundits and others felt sorry and thought of means and ways to free them. He could not think of any means to end their misery and became very depressed.

Gopal who was visiting his grandmother at Vishnupur returned to Krishna Nagar to find the whole town in a state of mourning. He reached the court and was even more surprised to see similar situation there too. He asked the Maharaja “What is wrong, your highness?” The Maharaja narrated the events that took place while he was away to Vishnupur. “Poor innocent pundits are rotting in the dungeons and unable to do anything for them” the Maharaja said in despair.

“Not to worry Maharaja, I will go to Begampur and not only satisfy the Nawab but will also ensure that all the pundits are set free” said Gopal cheering the Maharaja. “Do you know astrology? How you will be able to tell what is beneath the ground?” enquired Maharaja apprehensively. “Have trust in me, I will not let you down” said Gopal and left the palace to plan for coup.

Gopal went straight to his home and took a piece of wooden block and wrapped it in layer of silk cloth of different shades. Then he himself dressed up in a silk suit and a jazzy head gear with silk shawl to go with it. He now looked like a pundit and started off for Begampur. He also took with him thick books with red cloth covers.

He reached the courts of the Nawab and bowing to him said “Sir, I have heard your announcement and wish to satisfy your highness.”

The Nawab was impressed with Gopal’s attire and appearance and felt confident that this person can actually tell him what is there beneath the ground. He said “Your personality tells me that you are a learned pundit and can give us the right answers to our query. But since you have come from far and tired, please have some food and rest a while” said the Nawab sounding pleased.

When the court resumed after lunch, Gopal sat down at the appointed seat and took out his thick books and the silk wrapped wooden block. He made gestures as if he was calculating some very complicated mathematical problems. After some time he said something in Sanskrit which no body could make any meaning. The Nawab asked “Please explain what does this mean, Pundit Ji?”

Gopal smiled and said “Your highness, my calculations say that no Hindu pundit can tell you what is beneath the ground.”

“Then who can tell me?” asked the Nawab. “Your highness, my calculations do tell me who can satisfy your query” replied Gopal humbly. After some more calculations, Gopal said “Sir, only Muslims and Christians are buried whereas the Hindus are cremated, therefore only a Christian priest or a Muslim clergy can tell you what lies beneath the ground. So please call either of them to get your answer.”

Nawab was satisfied with Gopal’s argument and rewarded him with 50 gold coins, half the prize money and also released all the pundits that were sent to the dungeon. He also sent for the Muslim clergies to tell him what lies beneath the ground.

Upon reaching the Krishna Nagar, Gopal narrated the events that took place at the Nawab’s court to Maharaja amidst the cheering of the courtiers. The Maharaja gave fifty more gold coins to Gopal as a reward asked him “What are you hiding inside that colorful silk cloth?”

“Oh, this is what saved me and the pundits from the clutches of the Nawab” Gopal said laughingly and unwrapped the wooden block. Everybody laughed out and praised the wits of Gopal.

ELEVEN: EXILE FROM KRISHNA NAGAR

Gopal as a jester was at times little irritating as he would say whatever came to his mind without realizing or bothering about the surroundings and situations. This was the complaint of most of the courtiers but they could not say anything as Gopal was the most favored person of the Maharaja.

However, One day Maharaja himself got very annoyed with Gopal for his certain comments. He called his royal guards and said “This fellow has become very arrogant and disrespectful, throw him out of my palace and see to it that he is not allowed inside, ever again.”

“You don’t have to throw me out, I am going away on my own. I will also leave the country too within next three days” said Gopal indignantly.

Gopal left the palace and on his way back home told everyone that he is leaving the country for good. He reached home and told his wife “Pack-up everything; we will be leaving this country for ever.”

“Why on earth will we be leaving this nice and peaceful place?” pleaded his wife. “The world is a big place and surely we can find the patronage of some other kind king. The Maharaja does not seem to care about me anymore” said Gopal. His wife started crying and all the neighbors also gathered around and pleaded with Gopal to reconsider his decision. Gopal was determined and told everyone “Since I have lost the job at the palace, I have no other means to make a living. I have to go to another kingdom to search for job and living.” He urged his wife to start packing immediately.

The news of Gopal leaving the country reached the Maharaja and he felt sorry for him. Actually the Maharaja was very fond of Gopal and that day out irritation had exiled him from the palace. Now, he ordered his men to go and get Gopal immediately.

Upon getting the message of Maharaja, Gopal went to the palace and presented himself to the Maharaja. “Are you seriously leaving the country?” inquired the Maharaja. “Yes Sir” replied Gopal without looking up.

“But I had only exiled you from the palace and not from the country” said the Maharaja perplexed.

“That’s true Maharaja, you never exiled me from the country but only from the palace. However, I earn my living by entertaining you and others at this court and if I am not allowed here, how can I make my ends meet?” replied Gopal.

“Tell me Gopal, what do I do? I cannot let you go neither I can ignore my ministers who are angry with your behavior. Tell me Gopal how do I treat you” said the Maharaja with anguish.

“This is love, Maharaja. You are in love with me and that is the reason of your anguish” said Gopal with a smile.

This comment from Gopal broke the ice and all the courtiers clapped and cheered Gopal. They urged Maharaja to pardon Gopal and reappoint him as the Court Jester once again.

Maharaja said “There is no question of reappointment as he was never thrown out. He had merely left the palace as he does everyday to go home. Gopal is very much part of my court and shall remain so as long as he lives.”

Then Maharaja gave some money to Gopal and said “You are not to leave this country without my permission. Now go home, your wife must be getting worried.”

Gopal pocketed the money and left for home happy and at peace.

TWELVE: MAHARAJA’S DREAM

Once with the idea of embarrassing Gopal, the Maharaja announced in the court ‘Last night I had a very weird dream.”

“Tell us about your dream, Maharaja” Gopal asked eagerly. “Let it be. You may not appreciate, Gopal” replied Maharaja smiling at his own joke.

Gopal was now insistent and urged the Maharaja to narrate his dream. As if with great reluctance, the Maharaja said “Okay since you are insisting, but remember, it is just a dream.”

Maharaja continued “Last night I saw that you and I have reached a far away country. It was very dark there and very creepy; there were two ponds, one was filthy and the other was filled with milk. Then in the darkness, you slipped and fell into the filthy pond. You tried get out but more you tried, you got more entangled in the thick filthy mud. And then I also slipped but fell into the pond filled with milk. After some effort, I got out of the milk pond and was trying to help you out from the filthy pond, when I woke up.”

Everyone present at the court looked at Gopal and started teasing him “So Gopal you ate the filth!”

Gopal did not react to the teasing and kept quite. After sometime, he said “Maharaja, what a coincidence! I also happened to see something similar in my dream last night. But let it be, it’s not very welcoming for you.”

“So you also saw that you are swimming in a filthy pond” Maharaja asked jokingly. “Yes, your highness, there is no point denying the truth. You couldn’t see the end as you woke up but I saw till the end” replied Gopal.

“What did you see Gopal” asked the Maharaja. “It is better, if you don’t hear the end bit. It won’t do well to your reputation” Gopal said quietly.

Now the Maharaja was eager to know what happened at the end and insisted, “You must tell me what happened at the end. It doesn’t matter how I may feel.”

“Okay” Gopal said reluctantly and continued “After sometime, I also came out from the filthy pond. We were wet, I with filthy water and you with butter milk. We both wanted to wash ourselves clean before we reached Krishna Nagar, but there was no sign of any clean water around. We searched for sometime and then you suggested that we clean us by licking each other. Maharaja, it was at your suggestion that I started licking the butter milk from your body and you the filth from my body.”

The courtiers went wild with laughter as soon as Gopal had narrated his dream. But the Maharaja went pale and kept quite. He realized that Gopal had an upper hand using the joke that he had created to embarrass Gopal. He had started it and now he can’t say anything to Gopal. Maharaja vowed never again to embarrass Gopal publicly.

 

 

This is the story of Sunny’s father.

When I joined the school in Jamalpur, one of the first guys I befriended was Sunny. He was a bit unusual from the others; he had a thick beard and mustache, very unlike the other students of class nine. So I called him Uncle Sunny and in reply he landed a uppercut precisely on my nose sending me to the floor five feet away, senseless.

I regained consciousness after a good half hour and saw Sunny sprinkling water on me to bring me back to my senses. The moment I opened my eyes he started apologizing profusely. Thereafter we became very good friends.

One day Sunny confessed that he really likes a girl called Ruksana and if I could help him write a romantic love letter to Ruksana. I asked Sunny to get nice writing paper, the ones that girls usually liked and come over to my uncle’s home in the evening. When Sunny came over to my uncle’s home, my cousin Rubina called me aside and asked, “Where did you find this sample piece?” I said, “What do you mean? He is my classmate and good friend.”

“He was in the same class with my elder brother, then with me and now he is in your class.” Rubina said in a matter of fact manner.

I was shocked because my cousin brother was in the final years of college and Rubina in her first year of college. Any ways, I did not tell Sunny or any of my other friends about my new found knowledge about Sunny. In fact our friendship became stronger over the months in school. However, I noticed that he never invited me or any of his classmates to his home.

Many of my classmates used call him Bastard’s Son behind his back. I did not like it and one day confronted Saiful, “Why do you people call him Bastard’s Son?”

“His father looks like a drunkard, chews tobacco all the time and drinks local wines in the evening. He can always be found in the red light area of the town. Not only that, he is a habitual molester of women” replied Saiful in disgust.

“Doesn’t anybody complain against him?” I asked.

Saiful spat out before answering, “Those who are sitting in judges’ bench are all scoundrels and bribe takers. Every time the guy was caught and brought to the court, he would bribe them and the matter is dusted under the carpet.”

“What about Sunny’s mother? How is she tolerating all these nonsense?” I asked again.

“Sunny doesn’t have a mother. She passed away many years ago” replied Saiful.

Now, I could understand why Sunny avoided calling his friends over to his home.

One day we got the news that Sunny’s father has got into trouble once more. This time he had misbehaved with Magistrate’s wife and his men have tied him up with a tree in their bunglow lawn. Deep inside me, I was happy that the bribe taking magistrate has become the victim now but knew that the old man needs to be rescued too. So, went to the magistrate’s home to plead with him and after much plodding he agreed to let him go against transfer of ten acres of land in his name.

Next day, I found Sunny sitting in the school lawns under the mango tree, all alone. He seemed depressed for some reason. I asked him, “What happened, what’s bothering you?”

“I am worried about the old bastard” replied Sunny.

“Who is the old bastard?” I wanted him to clarify.

“Who else but my father” replied an agitated Sunny.

“You too call him a bastard?” I asked in shock.

“I only have given him that title” shouted Sunny.

“Why don’t you get him married again?” I asked him. Sunny seemed to like the idea and calmed down.

The following day after school, I along with Sunny and Saiful presented our proposal to Sunny’s father. The old bastard seemed to like the idea and blushed like a teenager.

After much searching around, we found a woman marriage counselor who agreed to search for a suitable bride for the old bastard in exchange of five hundred rupees as her fees. She confirmed the following Friday for meeting with the would-be bride and her family.

The household seemed well-to-do but the bride to be was just 15 years old and had 7 more siblings, perhaps, all a year younger to the previous ones. It seemed that man of the house has no other job but procreation as per God’s will and in the process the health of the mother has become miserable. The four of us along with the marriage counselor sat on one side of the room while the bride-to-be all decked up sat on the other side along with her mother and siblings. The marriage counselor introduced me and Saiful as groom’s nephew but kept quiet about Sunny. She actually stopped Sunny when he started to say something and instead asked his father, if he liked the girl.

The shy smile of the bastard confirmed that he liked the girl. The bride’s family too was willing for the match. While paying the bride’s money, Sunny said to the bride “You are going to be my mother, please don’t treat me as a stepson and consider me as your own son.”

The bride’s mother flared up hearing that and said “What do you mean by stepson? Is this guy your father? We were not told that he has a grown up son?” then she attacked the marriage counselor. We came out running and did not stop till we reached the safety of Sunny’s home.

We were indomitable in our endeavor to find a bride for the bastard and soon found another marriage counselor. This time we gave her clear instructions that she should not hide the fact that the bastard has a grown up son. Two days later the counselor got back with a proposal and we decided to check it out.

Once again, the four of us went to see the bride-to-be along with the marriage counselor. We were seated in the long verandah of the house, the bride-to-be sat opposite to us with her parents on either side. The bride’s father looked handsome with toned up body that was all muscle while the mother though a little plump, still exuded beauty.

“Do you like the girl, Abba? Sunny asked his father.

“I liked the one standing by the little girl” replied Sunny’s father with a shy smile.

Everyone around was shocked that the bastard liked the mother of the bride. “Let’s get out of here before anything goes wrong.” I told Sunny. But before we could do anything, the bastard had caught hold of the woman’s hand and pleading her to marry him. We tried pulling him away but the husband of the woman started beating him up and as the commotion reached the neighbors,they too joined in the beating, even we were not spared and got beaten up badly.

Somehow in tattered clothes and injured body, we reached Sunny’s home. Sunny was most affected and warned his father “If you do not get married in one week, I will never set foot in this house.” Saying this he came out with me to my uncle’s home.

Though the guy was a confirmed bastard in his behavior, he really loved his son, so this time, he on his own found a marriage counselor and actually got married within the week. He sent Saiful to give the good news to Sunny and me and asked us to join him.

Sunny and I were sitting in my room with some books on poetry to copy the lines for the love letter to Ruksana when Saiful burst into the room and said excitedly, “Sunny, I have two surprises for you.”

Sunny and I asked in unison, “What?”

“First one is that your father has got married finally.” Saiful said with a mystic smile on his face.

Sunny and I jumped up in joy and asked “What’s the second one?”

“You need to go to your home to see the second surprise.” Saiful started laughing as he said this.

We hurried towards Sunny’s home without wasting further time. We found the couple in the kitchen where Sunny’s new mother was making Rice Pudding and his father was standing next her chewing betel leaf with tobacco. Seeing us he said, “Darling, serve up the pudding, your son and his friends have come.”

Sunny’s new mother turned towards us and immediately Sunny blurted out, “Ruksana, it is you!”

“I am your mother now, don’t call me by name. You can call me Ammu.” Ruksana reprimanded her son.

Suiful started laughing aloud and said, “How did you like the Second Surprise?”