22. Durga refuses to burn

CHAPTER 22

Durga refuses to burn

This man whom the villagers had tied to a tree was not Jaidev. He was Jamir, a terrorist. Krishna had seen him when he had removed the cloth over this face. Jamir was the leader of the terrorist gang that had visited Dodda Naik’s hut that night. And it was Jamir who had killed Dodda Naik and also his wife Jhansi. When Krishna had told the villagers about the real face of Jaidev, they had become very angry. Now they were ready to burn Jamir to death. And they had given the task to Durga who had become an orphan because of the act of Jaidev alias Jamir.

Durga was approaching the Jamir with the burning torch in her hand staring at him.

Behind her, the villagers shouted loudly, “Jai Durga jai Durga.”

Durga was behaving as if she was possessed. The drummer was also beating the drum as if he was possessed. One man was blowing the shell. Jaidev was shivering with fear. Durga was moving ahead alone. All were behaving as if they were affected with mass hysteria. All were waiting for the Jamir to burn to ashes. Durga was moving ahead with red eyes.

Crying loudly, Jamir said, “Mother dear, no one can hear my words. No one has ears, hearts. You are of the age of my daughter. At least you listen to words before burning me.”

But Durga was not ready to listen. She was moving ahead as if she did not hear anything.

Jamir pleaded, “Oh my daughter.”

Now Durga started feeling some how. She was now becoming a bit more conscious.

Jamir pleaded, “Oh my daughter. I have four girls of your age.”

Durga stared at Jaidev.

Jamir said, “Motherless children.”

Durga stopped moving ahead and looked at soldier.

Jamir cried, “Not only that, my child, they don’t have anyone other than me. My dear, if you burn me, they will also become orphans like you.”

Durga’s face fell. She stood and stared at him. Her hand shivered. Jamir’s trick was working.

Jamir said, “Mother, they have tied me otherwise I would have fallen at your feet and pleaded with you to save my life. You can hand me over to the police instead of taking my life. You can break my hands and legs if you want, I will not stop you.”

Durga was excited. She had tears in her eyes.

Villagers shouted, “Jai Durga, jai Durga.”

All stared at Durga as if they were possessed. They were waiting eagerly to see Jawan burn to ashes.

Jamir cried, “Daughter, by taking my life, please don’t make my children orphans. As a mother, please excuse the mistake I have done. Please do not make them helpless as orphans.”

Durga’s shivering hands tightened.

Behind her, villagers shouted, “Jai Durga, Jai Durga.”

Durga lifted her head crying. She ran away from Jaidev and threw the torch away. Jawan stared at her. She cried. She put her head on the ground and hammered her head.

Durga cried, “Amma.”

Villagers stopped shouting. The drummer stopped drumming. It was completely silent. Everyone was shocked.

Chikka Naik approached Durga. He made her sit up. She stared at him crying bitterly. 

Chikka Naik said angrily, “Durga, what is wrong with you? Why did you do that?”

Moving a bit back, Chikka said, “There is fire in your stomach.”

Pointing to the villagers and huts, Chikka said, “There is a huge mountain of fire in the stomachs of these villagers.”

Pointing to the forest, Chikka said, “There is fire in the forest. If that this has to cool down”

Going near the Jamir, Chikka said, “We have to burn this demon, this anti-national to ashes.”

Picking up the burning torch from the ground and moving near Durga, giving the torch to Durga, Chikka said, “Take, burn him to ashes.”

Durga cried, “Uncle, I cannot burn him.”

Villagers were all watching.

Chikka said angrily, “If you cannot, than I myself will burn him.”

Chikka Naik went near the Jamir.

Villagers shouted, “Jai forest goddess.”

Looking at the sky shocked, Jamir cried, “Oh god, save me. My life is now getting over.”

Villagers were shouting. Durga ran and fell at Chikka Naik’s feet. “Please don’t burn him.”

Chikka Naik was shocked. “Why? The fire in your stomach has to go. Why are you stopping me? The fire in the forest will cool down only if he is burnt to ashes.”

Standing in front of him and shaking her head, Durga pleaded, “No. Please don’t burn him. I am begging with folded hands.”

All were shocked. Chikka asked, “Why are you stopping me from burning this fellow who put fire to this forest?”

Durga said, “He had four daughters of my age.”

Chikka said angrily, “If he has daughters, so what?”

Durga said, “Daughters without mother.” 

All were silent. Pointing to Jamir, Durga said, “If you burn him, those children will become orphans. They should not become orphans like me, uncle.”

All were shocked. Jamir was also shocked.

Durga said, “What mistake have those children done? Those innocent children must not become orphans because of me, uncle.”

All were watching in great shock.

Durga said, “Please save those children, uncle. Don’t make them orphans, uncle.”

Naik was shocked to see Durga clutching to his legs and pleading. He threw the torch away and lifted to her feet and hugged her.

With tears in his eyes, Chikka Naik said, “Daughter, you have such a golden heart. You are not a child but a mother. You have become a mother. You have become forest goddess.”

Leaving Durga and going to Jamir, Chikka said, “Look, look at this girl’s heart.”

Pointing to the villagers, Chikka said, “Look at the hearts of these villagers.”

Pointing to the forest, Chikka said, “Look at the heart of this forest, the heart of Indians. They all have golden hearts.”