Super Cyclone, part II.

Aftermath of Super cyclone 1999.

(Memoir)

Those thirty-six hours of Super cyclone came to an end on thirtieth October morning. The local people who took shelter with us went back to take care of their damaged houses. Sarita, could come back. She came with whatever food packets she could collect from hostel and from only store opened on her way. Soham and I were relieved. Soon I left to enquire about my duty in Labour room, to collect more food and petrol anywhere.

Outside the scene looked devastated. The trees old or young were broken or uprooted. Small shops, poles, hoardings and all signboards looked like their own ghosts. Our place, closer to ring road area was relatively dry. Cuttack, for the ring road, no more suffered from invading flood, thanks to Baimundi, Markata Keshari and Basanta Biswal, all historical persons. Stagnant water with poor drainage makes Cuttack, "Benga mutile banya ( It floods when a frog urinated)". The central areas of Cuttack were submerged up to first floor. Amount of rainfall was unimaginable. And beyond Cuttack, what would have been the condition in the vast Odisha coast!!

Soon, news through radios poured in, multiplied with the usual rumors. Those were bigger things for our concern than our immediate tasks.

I reached the labour room. Those who were on evening/night shift duty on 28th of October were still inside, waiting their relievers. There was no power supply. The generators were out of fuel running long hours. Torch lights somehow collected new batteries. The emergency duty protocol was modified to combat the war like situations. We the in-service students were expected to be sent to highly affected areas. On that day, my duty was from two pm. I hurriedly left the department and soon found me on a long queue of bikes at Palamandap filling station to collect only two litres of rationed petrol given by hand operation. Not a single hotel opened on that day. I reached home with some more packets, those started catching price and going out of stocks. We had no cookware at Cuttack. Hostel messes dependent on daily marketing remained closed. Sarita collected potable water in between.

We managed with food packets. I exactly do not recollect how she managed her duty.

I reported at my duty in time. One new patient I received as a student. Her example would be a prototype of the overall situation. She was a sister in law of a staff nurse, came from the interior of Jagatsinghpur, which district was the center of the super cyclone, when it touched the coast. She went to Labour on 28th evening. She had to come through chest deep water for some hours. She was later carried on shoulder of people. She almost travelled fifty odd kilometers that said how human struggle is the most extreme amongst species although it is more tender and luxurious than other mammals. She was faintly breathing in a condition of shock. Needless to say, the fetus was dead and the uterus was quiet as it ruptured with its own efforts to expel the baby that was not possible with the abnormal fetal presentation. We started resuscitating her. They arranged three litres of kerosene, two units of blood. We cannot imagined how difficult the task was. And for a common public having no acquaintance! The woman survived. Our professor, in cooperation of a senior anaesthetist did her operation. (Later on when I returned from my Cyclone duty for a week, she had developed serious complication and subsequently died after 28th days.)

I came back in the night. The ground floor tenet served cooked food only for Soham as they too had problems.

We still were unable to get the information from my home or that from in laws. Before the cellphone age people presumed everyone safe till a definite news came.

Next day Ajanta hotel at the Kathagola square opened. They prepared; rice, dal and potato fry. The owner a long known person begged excuse that they cooked with a little amount of water and improper washing of rice, dal and potato.

They did not keep any supernatant to decant. The fry and the dal looked visibly dirty, as did the rice. He gave enough amounts of all considering the hunger and craving for cooked food. He felt sorry to charge high. We could not throw away the food even if these were sandy to chew and looked bad. We doctors told ourselves, cooking must have killed germs.

In the evening, I tried the only second opened restaurant at Mangalabag, named after the three deities of our culture, whose popularity among students was powered with alcohol. Obviously alcohol or Tandoori Nan was not on his menu. He also served Rice, dal an Chana masala as the only items. The decently dressed well-presented plump owner with a decorative tilak was at his best to talk Godly things, about cyclone, suffering, duty, help and conscience. He cursed the other eateries who hiked their price and was happy to serve at his usual price. His prices in normal days were higher than ordinary hotels, still then his words gained my appreciation. I ordered four plates of rice even if we were two and a four-year kid and there was no storing option. With pleasure, I reached home. The amount of rice and other items wrapped in nice packs was too less than normal. As usual, the woman suffered the worst. We father and son left her in casualty. She was to do her duty in half-filled stomach.

That was a lesson to me, "The wrapper may be deceptive."... To be continued ... Cyclone duty in Borikina area of Jagatsinghpur....

Super Cyclone 1999.

(Those 36 hours and it's after math)

36 hours

Sarita and me were pursuing our PG courses in SCB medical college, Cuttack. We were about to stay in a rented house. Soham was four year old and Sayam seven. We had made a temporary arrangement to keep them in our native place. On 28th October the weather although was dull and windy we did not bother to come with Soham from Jajpur Road to Cuttack at the dusk. My 100 cc Bajaj Kawasaki Champion was not at the best of its health, with dim head light and bore piston malfunction. People used to ignore cyclone warning, we too. With the specialization of TV channels, if not on news warnings were easier to miss. We didn't care the wind. I was about to dash on a stationary truck on the highway. I thought problem was with the bike, not the climactic change.
 Sarita had to dine and collect packs for us, from women's hostel. Leaving her there, we went to our new rented house in Kathagola, at seven minutes walking distance, to utilize the time in house keeping. Most of our belongings including the kitchen logistics were still in our previous work place Khariar, in Nuapada district. Suddenly the situation changed to never seen before strong cyclone. The chance of her coming from the hostel was zero. I hoped to bring her back once the condition permitted. Mobile phones were used only by celebrities at that time.(Within a year or two it became common). There was no sign of any change and was difficult to guess if it's magnitude was increasing or decreasing. From the sky light on the east the rain water was pouring down indicating the direction of wind. We moved to the West facing relatively dry room.
My son repeated again, "Bapa, voka( father I am hungry)". There was nothing in the house, whatever we brought from home was in Sarita's hand bag. After a point it was not possible to keep him quite. The maternal instinct silent in the father came to the forefront. Just across the corridor, the tenant was another doctor, Aliva, alone at her late stage of pregnancy. I wanted to beg some food. I could open the door against the force of the wind and rain on my third and determined attempt. Knocked her door. She had some constraints too, being a busy student and dependent on hostel meals. She shared one of the only two packets of biscuits, she had. Both of us doctors looked suggestively at her protruding belly as I received it. I felt guilty at the same time relieved. Soham went on, one by one. Just before he finished I sensed, I too was very hungry and hoped he left a piece. He was too young to do that. I managed.                                                                                                                             There was no sign of weakening of the cyclone. I hoped my wife in the hostel and all of my family members with my elder son were safe, so also the public. Well past midnight the caretaker of the building, a constable in the fire brigade office came from the ground floor to beg a room for the local people whose houses got damaged. There were no casualties of course. Permission ought to be a formality only.
The whole night passed but neither the darkness in the closed house nor the terrible sound of devastation had any sign to recede. My son was hungry again, "Bapa voka". But he didn't demand. He could sense there was no possibility of his mother coming back soon. At about eleven AM all people went amidst the dangerous storm to find out their damaged houses.                                       The man from the ground floor knocked again. This time he brought a temple size rice on a big plate with a fried whole tomato and Dal. He had already served Aliva. I ensured my son should be taking his stomach full before I started. Stomach is an elastic container and hunger is the best curry. Any mother would be happy to know, Soham went on eating without any story or rhyme or pushing through. He of course could not finish all, leaving manageable amount for me, one of the best offer received ever.                                                                                                                                       How the parents share food with children in famine like scarcity! Did the mother and father respond differently! Too uncomfortable a question! I tried to impress my son again and again that the cyclone would calm down very soon.                                                                                                                  In 1971 I was of his age when a big cyclone devastated Odisha. I faintly recollected, it was over by this time duration.                                                                                                                                     In the afternoon the cyclone returned from west. Those people returned back. They had not gone anywhere beyond the ground floor. Change of wind direction did not allow their stay there, that opened towards west. I didn't not raise the topic of their house or what did they eat. Had not the guts.

 There was no sign of any deceleration. Now the Western room was wet and windy. We moved back to the other room. I felt hungry again but Soham no more pleaded his fruitless demand to eat. It was evening. He didn't sleep for last one day.                                                                                        Would it be the ultimate Pralaya or Quamat!                                                                                            I had night medical emergency duty in labour room. I got concerned without common sense that the last night's emergency group were trapped in their respective duty places and chances of patients coming to Labour room was remote. Probably I might not have imagined that whatever may be the situation mothers anywhere must be labouring to bring out the new, no cyclone had the power to stop that.
 The night arrived, none uttered a word to interfere the roar of the nature.
There was no chance of anymore food coming from ground floor. The full force of the cyclone now might be knocking their door in the ground floor.
 A never felt before calmness without concern of anything or any responsibility, any ability or capability prevailed. Helplessness became helpless and went away. Soham was quite. With this situation the night passed.
 Next morning it seemed the velocity is decreasing. We still had doubt. No it really started decelerating on 30th October morning. Almost after 36 hours, it was possible on part of Sarita to come with several packs of first to collect food items to combat the uncertainty.
 The local people went back to knit their threads of revival. We were no different. I moved outside, to report in Labour Room, to collect petrol, to collect further food and to collect news. There was no news from my home or from any relations. .. After effects to be continued ....

                (This write up is meaningful, the author wrote it while spending time at the proximity of his Guruji Sri Manoj Das)

Own and outsider, Two tales of Uma.

 Ashokvai, the army man turned ascetic, left 120 battalion on his permitted morning walk to Chitrakut Ashram as the dawn settled down.He found a new born almost red and frozen on the side of the road. Not frozen exactly, it was moving its tail or may be the rather windy breeze was doing the same, he could not decide.

               He knew a mother and a midwife never dropped the baby, if done the first is called a witch and the other is sued heavily. But in the ape world the rules reversed as told by his village elders that the onus to stay on the breasts or to fall down was on the babe. If fell down was discarded,unfit to the species standard. He didn't believe it until now, but how else this tiny creature was dropped here!

                He picked it up, having no other choice and found it to be a female.The first question came to his mind, would it be so, the monkey species, Rhesus Macaques in this case, started discriminating gender! Unknowingly he uttered in compassionate disgust, uummaa how tender! And the name of the baby christened.

                'Uma' the divine consort of Lord Siva.

                He returned to his barrack, the entry of the pet was hassle free as per the need of the situation and for Ashokvai’s growing regards for his knowledge in Tulasi Das' Ramayana.

                 His defense skills of survival, came in handy. He made all arrangements for its warmth by hanging an electric bulb nearer to its bed made up of a blanket. As it turned warm it suckled from the nozzle of a hospital syringe loaded with milk. Within a day it almost normalized, made playful alien noises never ever heard in an army barrack. As soon as he availed leave Uma was brought to our home.

                  It was almost healthy and hearty, started eating varieties of fruits available in our village. The elders without hesitation guided us the do's and don’t do's churning their wisdom of ape rearing.

I doubted the wisdom without experience and so I ran to the Ojhajeje's house who once upon a time used a langur as an assistant to wind his blacksmith's furnace. But it happened before I was born. I too rushed to the Singh sahi where Vikari Singh had one exact Uma’s type who amused people, playing several tricks. Tips of both of them was same and to be discarded. They used graded doses of opium to make them obedient. Recent news of a baby somewhere succumbed to opium overdose created fear for any such practice. That didn’t reduce our care and belief that Uma had every chance to be domesticated.

                  Many times she was set free to taste the joy of freedom and to test the level of humanization. (To be continued till Uma’s long life journey……). 

The second part to be inserted here. Without the second part even the third part below, is made as a independent short story with negligible repeat.


Own and outsider.
It was a cool dawn of a late spring in 1990s. Everyone got surprised; Uma was not there, neither her chain. A decade ago, Tipu, our pet dog had vanished in a similar manner. We panicked as Uma always remained wild and attacked humans; specially the women of my family and those of the village. Everyone woke up and went in a search mission. Soon we became aware of the absence of another member, my father's age-old bicycle. Nobody gave importance to the absence of my elder brother Kartikchandra, who had recently retired from Indian army, as it was his drill time. However, we presumed that he might have deviated off his plan and went with Uma for a stroll. Normal activity went on till breakfast. Yet, my brother did not appear. No one, including my Bhaauja(his wife) had a clue. Villagers had not seen them. Mobile phones was not imagined in that period of time.

The day progressed. There was no reason to be worried. He was the second person, after my father, with whom Uma behaved as a pet. All trials to unchain and domesticate her had failed in the past fifteen years. The herd had abandoned her on road as a new-born for some mysterious reason. A human discarding a daughter did not surprise; but monkeys! How a monkey could have behaved so humanly! Some self-claimed experts opined that any newborn not capable of holding her mother, when falls down, is considered unfit and rejected by the species. Another brother, late Sri Ashok, a Rama-bhakta, working in 120 battalion, Bhubaneswar, had saved her life. She had, since then, always remained wild. And chained; that made her more furious.

Brother did not return for lunch. Silence prevailed till the evening, when he came back with the chain and the cycle. He looked very tired and concerned; did not speak anything to anyone.He refreshed and after taking a little bit of dinner, confined himself in his room.Where did he leave Uma? And where did Uma go? The silence prevailed again. I do not remember what exactly was the conversation amongst the family members, the agricultural helps and the neighbors but it looked more ominous than silence. A hostile animal could be as dear as a wicked family member. One of the most significant day in my family. Somehow the night passed!

Next day I woke up late, to know that my brother had gone out with the cycle and Uma's chain. We did not bother; rather became really happy that the menace might be coming back. They returned in the late afternoon, Uma sitting on my brother's head, still as steel. She gulped down, probably, a litre of water before grasping a guava. My brother too was seen eating a happy lunch. The story unpacked.

May be his retirement, from defense service, inspired him with the sense to gift the animal her birth-right; Freedom. He wanted to release Uma in her natural habitat at Mahavinayak, about thirty-five kilometers away from my home. The mission boomeranged. Nearer to the place, hundreds of unfriendly monkeys came attacking. The prudence of mind of a Jawan saved both of their lives. He went in to a nearby water body. Later, a truck driver entered his vehicle to a safe depth of water and helped them inside the driver's cabin. They moved a good distance, to a no ape greenery. He was determined to make her free. He adapted some tricks to leave her and come back alone. But as he came back closer and closer to our home, his worries surged up, and up. What should happen to this unfortunate animal, once abandoned by her mother, when she galloped from tree to tree to reach the danger area? And what if she did attack the locals or vice versa?

All these questions made him sleepless.
 Cycling back to the place, he searched village after village; taking tips from people until he found Uma in the fourth. He was surprised as Uma came and sat on his head without any difficulties. All his attempts to feed her failed. Only after seeing her foster home, the creature could acknowledge her safety to drink and eat.

Her nature did not change and neither we could free her. She lived for several years and went to her heavenly abode in an uneventful death. Her savior, Baba Charushila Saran(late Sri Ashok) also left for his heavenly abode five years back.

Own and outsider.

Own and outsider.
(The third part of Memoir story: UMA)
It was a cool dawn of a late spring in 1990s. Everyone got surprised; Uma was not there, neither her chain. A decade ago, Tipu, our pet dog had vanished in a similar manner. We panicked as Uma always remained wild and attacked humans; specially the women of my family and those of the village. Everyone woke up and went in a search mission. Soon we became aware of the absence of another member, my father's age-old bicycle. Nobody gave importance to the absence of my elder brother Kartikchandra, who had recently retired from Indian army, as it was his drill time. However, we presumed that he might have deviated off his plan and went with Uma for a stroll. Normal activity went on till breakfast. Yet, my brother did not appear. No one, including my Bhaauja(his wife) had a clue. Villagers had not seen them. Mobile phones was not imagined in that period of time.

The day progressed. There was no reason to be worried. He was the second person, after my father, with whom Uma behaved as a pet. All trials to unchain and domesticate her had failed in the past fifteen years. The herd had abandoned her on road as a new-born for some mysterious reason. A human discarding a daughter did not surprise; but monkeys! How a monkey could have behaved so humanly! Some self-claimed experts opined that any newborn not capable of holding her mother, when falls down, is considered unfit and rejected by the herd. Another brother, late Sri Ashok, a Rama-bhakta, working in 120 battalion, Bhubaneswar, had saved her life. She had, since then, always remained wild. And chained; that made her more furious.

Brother did not return for lunch. Silence prevailed till the evening, when he came back with the chain and the cycle. He looked very tired and concerned; did not speak anything to anyone and refreshed himself. After taking a little bit of dinner, he confined himself in his room. But where did he leave Uma? And where did Uma go? The silence prevailed again. I do not remember what exactly was the conversation amongst the family members, the agricultural helps and the neighbors but it looked more ominous than silence. A hostile animal could be as dear as a wicked family member. One of the most significant day in my family. Somehow the night passed!

Next day I woke up late, to know that my brother had gone out with the cycle and Uma's chain. We did not bother; rather became really happy that the menace might be coming back. They returned in the late afternoon, Uma sitting on my brother's head, still as steel. She gulped down, probably, two litres of water before grasping a guava. My brother too was seen eating a happy lunch. The story unpacked.

May be his retirement, from defense service, inspired him with the sense to gift the animal her birth-right; Freedom. He wanted to release Uma in her natural habitat at Mahavinayak, about thirty-five kilometers away from my home. The mission boomeranged. Nearer to the place, hundreds of unfriendly monkeys came attacking. The prudence of mind of a Jawan saved both of their lives. He went in to a nearby water body. Later, a truck driver entered to a safe depth of water and helped them inside the driver's cabin. They moved till a good distance, to a no ape greenery. He was determined to make her free. He adapted some tricks to leave her and come back alone. But as he came back closer and closer to our home, his worries surged up, and up. What should happen to this unfortunate animal, once abandoned by her mother, when she galloped from tree to tree to reach the danger area? And what if she did attack the locals or vice versa?

All these questions made him sleepless. Cycling back to the place, he searched village after village; taking tips from people until he found Uma in the fourth. He was surprised as Uma came and sat on his head without any difficulties. All his attempts to feed her failed. Only after seeing her foster home, the creature could acknowledge her safety to drink and eat.

Her nature did not change and neither we could free her. She lived for several years and went to her heavenly abode in an uneventful death. Her savior, Baba Charushila Saran(late Sri Ashok) also left for his heavenly abode five years back.

SANCHITA SWABHIMANA, a short story in Odia.

Mm

Ziel and her savior

The following paragraph I posted two weeks back with the photos.

He brought street puppy in school bag, injured crow, pigeon, kitten and any such thing to home. When he gets a chance, befriend a wandering cow or bull, goat or anything. He kept interest on many pet owners, their pets, and street animals. We cannot check it. The unfortunate animals come to his sight. Recently on his walk on the roads of Bangalore, he found four abandoned puppies with a feeding bottle with milk in it. The boy could not resist and brought them all to his single room. Two had congenital malformations having leak in their food pipe. That may be the reason of their abandonment. The other two are ok and growing up. The boy finished his semester but unable to come home because of the invited responsibility. A pigeon visited him yesterday to acknowledge his good work. We as parents feel overwhelmed in both positive and negative emotions. The boy Soham has twentieth birthday on second June but he has to do it with dogs only.

                                                                                                                                                                         Thank you baba.

This heart touching message was from him exactly two months after he brought these puppies.

From Soham Samprit Senapati,

I have been a person who likes a company of animal more than a human. The world is full of mean people and I have understood it. 2 months prior to this date I had found four puppies who were in dying condition and had brought them home to take care of them. 2 died. Other 2 were very playful and enjoyed staying with me. It was difficult for me to take care of two at this point of my living. I had to give one to my friend and I'm happy that she is in great care at Wayanad. The other one is very dear to me. I kept it until today. It used sleep on my pillow underneath my blanket and used to lick my beard every morning. That was the sign to wake up and take her for walk. I loved her a lot. She used to bark. I gave her a name, Ziel. It meant Soul in Dutch language. She used to trouble me a lot too. But today for my house owner's convenience, I had to send her off to another friend's place. I know she will be in good care too and I can visit her at times. But the love the affection she bestowed on me is the most important thing that I will miss. I went in the morning and gave her off. While going in the car she was way too silent then she used to be. She was only licking my beard. She didn't want to see what's outside the window. She was confused about what was happening or she knew that I was giving her off. After giving her off I come home to find it deserted even though I played music I was crying. I felt lonely. I go out of the house and do my normal stuff. Attend my tuition and come back home to find back the same feeling, a deserted house. I miss her. I know she is in good care. I'm writing this as a human pleading to everyone as to be more affectionate to pets and animals than humans. My owner had no trouble with Ziel but just because I have. Someone else will keep too and that is what bothered him. I hope he realizes the pain in some way someday of how it feels to give away something that you took great walking to every corner of this room and doing some mischief.

18th April was when I had got them.

I do need to shift to another house in order to have Ziel and that would cost me huge money, which I do not have.

I tried persuading him in all means. He is just money loving creature.care of. I miss her since morning. My room is silent and all I can see is her visuals 

There was another puppy opposite to my house. As the tenants are working, they are shifting to a new place in order to keep the puppy.

Money loving humans are more in number than animal loving ones. And it's a shame. A small number of people think about animals. I'm blessed for having parents who value animals. I will someday make a change somehow. if not now.

 My journey with Ziel was till this day. I gave her life and I am sure my friend is gonna take very good care. I believe in whatever happens is for good. I will take that into consideration and lead ahead.

Yes  dear son your journey with ziel was up to this point. We parents are very proud of you. But we need not be judgmental on others. The whole story says you saved the lives of two little babies thrown to die. May be similar responsibility is again waiting you. We are very happy that you are so considerate even if a street dog has bitten you this week for and you are on vaccine. Sure money is an important factor and you and all young people reading this must build a career, earn good amount to serve better, for many noble causes.   

Four poems of Sayam Suraj.

SOMETIMES.
Sometimes you sleep on a bed of roses.
Sometimes you walk on a floor of thorns.
Sometimes you bathe in the cold rain water.
Sometimes you wither under the heat of the sun.
Sometimes you live in the momentary present.
Sometimes you run down your memory lanes.
Sometimes you foresee the nearby tomorrow,
Sometimes you leap into the future of souls.

Life is so uncertain;
A Layer beneath the layer,
A puzzle, a labyrinth of eternity.
Sometimes it takes a toll on you,
Churns you down to your core.
But sometimes,
You become the rider; bold and magnanimous.
And your life becomes the horse.

TEMPLE OF SILENCE.

(An instant poem written inside lotus temple, Delhi) A thought and I can hear my mind aloud.
A shout from within,
Beautifully loud.

In between, surrounded;
I sit here within the deafening muteness.
On these marbled wooden legs,
This auspicious numbness!
This chaos of ecstatic emptiness!

Gathered around nothing,
For nothing,
With nothing,
In this nothingness;
I have felt whatever I have left aside.
I have left whatever I have felt inside.

And in this moment;
I am beyond prayers,
Beyond the universe,
Beyond myself,
And beyond eternity.

This temple of silence,
This serenity in the centre of violence.
And in this moment,
I am beyond the beyond.
I am at peace.

AN ODE TO REALITY(A fiction).

An everyday voice
A thought unheard
The warmth of people
Forever cold
A whisperer of patience
A chaos of crime
A void in the vastness
An unholy rhyme

I stumble upon, in my dream, screaming like the reality has lost control;
Everybody running
Everybody rapping
Everybody groping
Everybody raping
Everybody violent
Everybody silent
Everybody lie
Everybody shy

And suddenly, this woman yells;
As she yells, crying at the pitch of her gaze;
As she yells, she runs for seclusion around my vicinity.
N the man runs behind, a beautifully violent whip in hand, the man runs behind;
The whip-stained blood on her, the blood-stained whip with him.
The man runs behind, masculinity in his mind, unaware of the inhuman weakness in his soul,
The man runs behind.

Here, over here, by my side, with fear,
Here, over here, soft breathing, I hear.

And as the sun went down,
Her breathing went soft,
And her glow went dark,
And her body felt heavy,
And her man went back.

And then, with a shallow gasp of life, she left.
Yes, the woman left!
All that remained was her beautiful body covered in whip-stained blood;
All that remained were pieces of flesh, humility and dignity, scattered here and there.
And soon, the dream vanished and I vanished,
But those pieces remained there;
Scattered everywhere.

Hypnotic tide..

" Silver satin shimmer.
A chaotic mercury river.

Venomous petals covered in crimson,
flowing on the verge of treason,
dried leaves have come alive,
Water rampaging with hypnotic tide,
Keep flowing; comes an unholy edge;
a heroic sledge on that unholy edge,
Scars on rocks smoothed by the fall,
Brutality hibernates by the water hedge.

Rage;
as fierce as a Viking's gaze.
Rage;
Waits by the fall with an axe ablaze.

Silver satin shiver.
The rise of mercury, the fall of the river."

ପ୍ରେମର ଜୀବନୀ

ପ୍ରେମର ଜୀବନୀ 
  (I have written a very long story of nearly 12000 words, as it is meant for a magazine that needs unpublished stories, I keep it for that purpose. Trying it in Odia.)

ପୁରୁଣା ଦିନର ମଧୁରତା ସେବେ’ବି କେତେକାଂଶରେ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ ଥାଏ। ବିଚିତ୍ରତା ଏହିଯେ, ମହାଭାରତର ବିପରୀତ ରୀତିରେ, ଦୀପକର ବାପା କୃଷ୍ନ ଥିଲେ ଦରିଦ୍ର, ସ୍ୱଳ୍ପ ଶିକ୍ଷିତ। ତାଂକର ସେମିତି କିଛି ଉଚ୍ଚାକାଂକ୍ଷା ନଥିଲା ଓ ସେ ନିଜର ପିଲାଦିନର ସାଥି, ଗ୍ରାମର ସର୍ବାଧିକ ବିତ୍ତଶାଳୀ ସୁଦାମାଂକ ପାଖରେ ମାଳି କାମ କରୁଥାଂତି। ଅତି ସୁଂଦର ଏକ ବଗିଚା ଗ୍ରାମର ଶୋଭା ବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ କରିଥାଏ। ବଂଧୁତାର ପ୍ରେରଣାରେ ସୁଦମା ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନିରଂତର ପ୍ରଚେଷ୍ଟିତ ଥାଆଂତି କିଂତୁ କୃଷ୍ନ ସେ ସୁଯୋଗ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବାକୁ ସଂକୁଚିତ ବୋଧ କରଂତି। ସେ, ବାସ୍ ତାଂକ କାମରେ ଖୁସି ଥାଆଂତି। ସେ ଜାଣିଥାଂତି ଲୋଭର ବଶବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ହେଲେ ଦିନେ ନା ଦିନେ ବଂଧୁତା ଉଣା ହେବ। ଏହି ଉଚ୍ଚା ନୀଚ୍ଚାର ପ୍ରଭେଦ ସତ୍ୱେ ସେମାନେ ସମୟ ବାହାରକରି ସାଥିରେ ବୁଲିଯିବା, ଭୋଜି କରିବା, ମାଛ ମରିବା ଓ ପୂଜାପାଠ କରିବାରେ ବେଶ୍ ଆନଂଦ ପାଆଂତି। ପର୍ବ ପର୍ବାଣୀରେ ସାଥିରେ ବସି ଖାଆଂତି। ଏକ ଗ୍ରାମ ପରିବେଶରେ ଏପ୍ରକାର ଚଳଣୀ ସେ ସମୟରେ ଅତ୍ୟଂତ ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ଥିଲା, ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଛି। କୃଷ୍ନଂକ  ଛଅ ଜଣ ସଂତାନଂକ ମଧ୍ୟରେ କନିଷ୍ଠତମ ଦୀପକ, ବାରମମ୍ବାର ବାପାଂକ ସାଥିରେ ସୁଦାମା କାକାଂକ ଘରକୁ ଯାଏ, ଯଦିଓ କକା ଖୁଡିଂକର ଏକମାତ୍ର କନ୍ୟା ମୀରା’ର ବ୍ୟବହାର ତା ପ୍ରତି ଥାଏ ବହୁତ ଋକ୍ଷ । କକା ଖୁଡୀ କିଂତୁ ଖୁସି ହୁଅଂତି। ମୀରା’ର ସ୍ୱଭାବ କାରଣରୁ ତାକୁ କେହି ସାଥି କରୁନଥାଂତି, ଦୀପକ ତା’ପାଇଁଏକ ମାତ୍ର ସାଥି।  ପରିବାର’ର ସାନ ପୁଅ ଦୀପକ ବାପା,ମାଆ, ଭୋଉଣୀ, ଭାଇ ଏବଂ ଏହି କକା ଖୁଡୀଂକ ଠାରୁ ଯେତେ ସ୍ନେହ ପାଅଂତି, ସେ ତୁଳନାରେ ମୀରାର ଅଝଟ ଓ ରାଗଋଷା ଲାଗେ ଅତି ସାମାନ୍ୟ। ବରଂ ସେଠରେ ମିଳୁଥିବା ଅନେକ ଖେଳନା, ଅନ୍ନ ବ୍ୟଂଜନ ଓ କକା ଖୁଡୀଂକର ଆଦର ତାର ପିଲା ମନକୁ ଆକୃଷ୍ଟ କରେ। ସେ ଭାବେ, ସେ ନିଜେ ଯେମିତି ନିଜ ଭାଇ ଭୋ ଉଣୀଂକ ପାଖରେ ଅଳି ଅର୍ଦ୍ଦଳି କରୁଛି ଓ ସେମାନେ ସହୁଛ୍ଂତି ସେହିପରି ଏ ମୀରା ପାଖରେ ତା ବ୍ୟତୀତ କିଏ ଅଛିଯେ ଅଭିମାନ କରିବାକୁ। ମୀରା’ର ଯାବତୀୟ ଦାବି ଯଥା କଂକି ପ୍ରଜାପତି ଧରି ଆଣିବା, ଆମ୍ବ ପିଜୁଳି ତୋଳି ଆଣିବା, କାଗଜର ଖେଳନା, ତାଳପତ୍ରର ଚକ୍ରି ଓ ପେଏଁକାଳି ତିଆରି କରିବା, ନାନା ଜାତି ରଂଗୀନଫୁଲ ତୋଳି ଆଣି ମାଳ ବନାଇବା, ଗଭାରେ ସଜାଇବା, ଏ ସମସ୍ତ କାମ, ଦୀପକ ଏ ସୁଂଦର ଟିକି ପରୀଟି ପାଇଁ କରିଚାଲେ।

ସତେ ଅବା ବୁଢୀମା କାହଣୀର କେଉଁ ଏକ ଜେମା ଓ ମାଳି ପୁତ୍ରର ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ଗଳ୍ପ।

ବିଭାହର ଅନେକ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ମୀରାର ଜନ୍ମ । ମାଆଂକର ଆର୍ ଏଚ ରକ୍ତଗ୍ରୁପ ଓ ମୀରାର ଗ୍ରୁପ୍ର ମଧ୍ୟର ବିଷମତା ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ  ସୃଷ୍ଟ ଜଟିଳତା ପରବର୍ତ୍ତି ଗର୍ଭର ପ୍ରତିବଂଧକ ସାଜିଥାଏ। ଏହାର ଚିକିତ୍ସା ହୋଇ ପରିଥାଂତା ଯଦି ମୀରାର ଜଂମ ପରେ ମାଆଂକୁ ଏକ ଇଂଜେକ୍ସନ ଦିଆ ଯାଇଥାଂତା। ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ଇଂଜେକ୍ସନର ଉଚ୍ଚମୂଲ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ସକ୍ଷମତା ଥିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ତାହା ସହଜରେ ମିଳୁନଥିଲା । ମୀରାର ଦାବି ଏକ ଭାଇ ଅବା ଭଉଣୀପାଇଁ ପୁରଣ ହୋଇପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ। ଏ ଅଭାବ ଦୀପକ ଆଂଶିକ ପୁରଣ କରୁଥାଏ।

ନିଜେ ମୀରା’ବି ଅନେକ ପ୍ରଚେଷ୍ଟା ଓ ଚିକିତ୍ସା ପରେ ଗର୍ଭସ୍ଥ ହୋଇଥିଲା। ଲୋକେ କହଂତି, ଇଶ୍ୱର ଏହି ବହୁଜନ ହିତାୟ ଦମ୍ପତିଂକ ଅଚଳ ଭକ୍ତିରେ ସଂତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ କନ୍ୟାରତ୍ନଟିଏ ଦେଲେ।

ଆଉ କେହି କେହି କହଂତି ସେସବୁ ମିଥ୍ୟା, ଦୁହେଁ କଲିକତା ଯାଇ ତେଷ୍ଟ ଟ୍ୟୁବ ବେବି କରିଛଂତି। ଏ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ କାହାରକିଛି ଧାରଣା ନଥିଲେବି ଲୋକେ ଖବର କାଗଜରୁ ଜାଣୁଥିଲେ ଏମିତି ଚିକିତ୍ସା ଅଛି ଏବଂ କଲିକତାରେ ଅଛି। ସେ ଯାହାବି ହେଉ ସମସ୍ତଂକର ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଆନଂଦିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ।

ମୀରାର ଉଗ୍ର ସ୍ୱଭାବ ପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତେ ଚିଂତିତ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ଛୋଟ ପିଲା ବଡ ହେଲେ ବଦଳି ଯିବ ଏ ଅଶା ସଭିଏଁ  କରୁଥାଂତି।

ଦୀପକ ଠାରୁ ଅଢେଇ ବର୍ଷ ସାନ ଏହି ଟିକି ପରୀଟିକୁ, ନଦେଖିଲେ ସେ ଯେତିକି ବିକଳ ହୁଏ ତାହାଠାରୁ କେତେଗୁଣ ଅଧିକ ସଂତପ୍ତ ହୁଏ ଝିଅଟି। ଅଝଟିଆ ବିକଳତାକୁ ବେଶ ଉପଭୋଗ କର୍ଂତି ସେଠାକାର ବୟସ୍କ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ତଥା ପିତା ମାତା।ଦୀପକ ତାର ପୀଉସୀ ଝୁମାଅପା ଭଳି ଖୁବ୍ ମେଧାବୀ । ଝୁମାଅପା ସେ ଅପାଠୁଆ ପରିବାରରେ ଥିଲା ବ୍ୟତିକ୍ରମ, ଘରୋଇ ଉଦ୍ୟମରେ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ଦେଇ ସେ ଏମ୍ ଏ ପାଶ କରିଥାଆଂତି ଓ ଗ୍ରାମରେ ନବ ଗଠିତ ଉଚ୍ଚ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ସବୁ ଶିକ୍ଷକଂକ ପରି ନଗଣ୍ୟ ବେତନରେ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ କରନ୍ତି।

ଦୀପକର ଦୁଇ ଭୋଉଣୀ ବିଭା ହୋଇ ସାରିଥନ୍ତି। ଉଚ୍ଚ ଶିକ୍ଷିତା ଝୁମା ଅପା ଆପାତତଃ ଚିରକୁମାରୀ ରହିବା ସମସ୍ତେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ନେଇ ଥାଆଂତି। ତାଂକ ପାଠୁଆପଣ ଓ ଚାକିରୀ ସେ ସମୟରେ ତାଂକ ବିବାହର ପରିପନ୍ଥୀ ସାଜିଥାଏ। ସେ ଦୀପକକୁ ପୁତ୍ରବତ୍ ସ୍ନେହ କରୁଥାଂତି ଓ ତାର ମେଧାର ବିକାଶ ପାଇଁ ସର୍ବ ପ୍ରକାର ଯତ୍ନ ନେଉଥାନ୍ତି।

ସମୟର ଗତି ବଦଳିଯାଏ । ଭାଗ୍ୟର ବୀପରିତ କାଳ ଅଚାନକ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହୁଏ । ଦୂର ମୟୂରଭଂଜ ଜିଲାର କୀଚେକେଶ୍ୱରୀ ମଂଦିର ଦର୍ଶନରୁ ଫେରିଲା ସମୟରେ ଏକ ମର୍ମନ୍ତୁଦ ସଡକ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ମୀରାର ମା ଓ ଦୀପକର ବାପା ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାନ୍ତି ଅଥଚ ଅନ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତେ ନିରାପଦ ରୁହନ୍ତି।

ଗ୍ରାମରେ ଖେଳିରହେ ଏକ ଶୋକାକୁଳ ନିରବତା ବେଶ୍ କେତେଦିନ। ସେହି ବାଲ୍ୟକାଳରେ ଓ ଅତି ଦୁଃଖ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୀପକ ବୁଝିପାରେ ଗ୍ରାମଟି ଯେମିତି ଏକ ବଡ ପରିବାର ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତେ ତାଂକର ଦୁଃଖ ଲାଘବ କରୁଛଂତି। ଆଉ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ବୁଝିପାରେ ଯେ, ଜଣେ ସାଥିର ଦୁଃଖ ଲାଘବ କରିବାରେ ବ୍ରତୀ ହେଲେ ଆପଣାର କଷ୍ଟ ମଧ୍ୟ ଉଣା ହୋଇଥାଏ। ଯଦିଓ ଏ କଥା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତ କରିବାରେ ସେ ସକ୍ଷମ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ ତେବେ ଅନୁଭବ କରେ ଓ ଆକ୍ଷିର ଲୁହ ପୋଛି ମୁହଁରେ ହସ ଫୁଟାଏ। ତା ନିଜର କିଂତୁ ତା ଅପେକ୍ଷା ଅଧିକ ତା ଅଂତରର ଗେଲ୍ହା ମୀରାର।  ଗୋଟିଏ ପରିବାର ରୋଜଗାରିଆ ମଣିଷ ଓ ଆଉ ଏକ ପରିବାରର ପାଦ ତଳର ପୃଥିବୀ ହଜି ଯାଇଥିଲେ। ଏହି ପରିପ୍ରେକ୍ଷୀରେ ଉଭୟ ପରିବାର ପରସ୍ପର ସହଯୋଗ କରିବା ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ଥିଲା। ମୀରା କେବଳ ଅପାଂକୁ ଛାଡିଦେଲେ କାହାରି କଥା ଶୁଣୁ ନଥିଲା। ବୋଧହୁଏ ଦୀପକ ପ୍ରତି ଅପାଂକର ଯେଉଁ ମାତୃବତ କରୁଣା ମୀରା ଅନୁଭବ କରେ ତାହା କେତେକାଂଶରେ ତାକୁ ଅନୁପ୍ରାଣୀତ କରେ। ଅପା ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ଅଝଟିଆ ହତଭାଗିନୀ ଟିକି ଝିଅଟିର ଯତ୍ନ ନେବା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ମନେହୁଏ।

ପ୍ରତିବର୍ଷ ରକ୍ଷାବଂଧନ ଦିନ ଅପା ତାଂକ ନିଜ ଭାଇ କୃଷ୍ନଂକ ହାତରେରାକ୍ଷୀ ବାଂଧିବା ସହ ଭଗ୍ନୀହିନ ସୁଦାମାଂକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅନୁରୁପ ଭୋଉଣୀର ମମତାରେ ରାକ୍ଷୀ ପିଂଧାଉଥିଲେ। ଠିକ୍ ସେହିପରି ମୀରା ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୀପକ୍କୁ ଏହି ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାର ବଂଧନରେ ବାଂଧୁଥାଏ ତାର ହେତୁ ହେବା ଦିନରୁ। ଭାଇ ମାନଂକର ଏହ ଯେପରି ଭୋଉଣୀ ମାନଂକୁ ସର୍ବକାଳ ନିର୍ଭୟ ଦେବାର ଏକ ବ୍ରତ। ଭାଇତ ଚାଲିଗଲେ। ଏଣିକି ଭାଇ ବଦଳିଆ ଏହି ସୁଦାମା ଭାଇଂକର ଯାବତୀୟ ଘରକାର୍ଯ୍ୟର ଯତ୍ନ ଓ ତାଂକ ଶିଶୁକନ୍ୟାର ଘରୋଇ ଶିକ୍ଷକ ଦାୟୀତ୍ୱ ନେଇ ପ୍ରତିବଦଳରେ କିଛି ପାରିଶ୍ରମିକ ନେଲେ ଦୀପକର ପରିବାର ଉପକୃତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି। ଏଥିରେ କୌଣସି ଅସ୍ୱଭାବିକତା ବାରି ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

ଦୀପକ ଆଉ ଅପା ଏଣିକି ସକାଳ ଛଅରୁ ରାତିରେ ମୀରା ତା ଅକର୍ମଣ୍ୟ ଜେଜେମା କୋଳରେ ଶୋଇଲା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟ୍ଂତ ତା ସହ ରହନ୍ତି। ସାଥିରେ ପଢଂତି, ଗ୍ରାମର ସ୍କୁଲ ପୁଂଜକୁ ଯାଆନ୍ତି, ସାଥିରେ ଖାଆନ୍ତି, ଖେଳନ୍ତି ଓ ଗପ ଶୁଣନ୍ତି।

ତେବେ ଏହାଥିଲା ଏକ ଅସ୍ଥାୟୀ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା। ଏକ ବର୍ଷର ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଶୋକ ସମାପନ ଉତ୍ତାରେ ଗ୍ରାମର ମୂଖିଆ ଓ ବଯସ୍କ ମାନେ ସୁଦାମାଂକୁ ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ପକ୍ଷ ପାଣିଗ୍ରହଣ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରବର୍ତ୍ତାଇଲେ। ବାପା ଓ ଝିଅଂକ ବ୍ୟତୀତ ସମସ୍ତଣ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମନେହେଲା ଏହା ଏକ ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ତଥା ଯୁକ୍ତିଯୁକ୍ତ ଚିଂତାଧାରା। ଆଉ ପ୍ରାୟ ବର୍ଷେଯିବା ପରେ ସୁଦାମା ମଧ୍ୟ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଆପାତତଃ ରାଜି ହେବା ବୋଧହେଲା। କିଂତୁ ମୀରା ସଦା ସର୍ବଦା ତା ଜେଜେ ମାଆଂକ ଏ ସମ୍ପର୍କୀୟ ସାମାନ୍ୟ ଆଲୋଚନାର ଆଭାସ ପାଇଲେ ଭୟଂକର ଭାବେ ଉତକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ହେବା ସହ ବିଶାଦଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ହେଉଥିଲା। ଏଣୁ ଏହା ଆଗେଇବାର ଅବକାଶ ନଥିଲା।

ଜେଜେମା ଓ ନାତୁଣୀଂକ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ସମୟରେ ଅପଡ ହେଉଥିଲା।

ଏମିତି ଆଉ ବରଷେ ମାଡିଗଲା । ଦିନେ ଜେଜେମା ଗାରୁ ଗାରୁ ହୋଇ କହୁଥାଏ ଓ ମୀରାକୁ ବୁଝାଉ ଥାଏ, “ତୋର କଣ ମାଆ ଦରକାର ନାହିଁ। କୂଳ ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଭାଇଟିଏ ଦରକାର ନାହିଁ!”

ମୀରା କ୍ରୋଧରେ ହିତାହିତ ଜ୍ନାନ ହରାଇ କହିଲା, “ମୋର ମାଆ କଣ ନାହିଁକି, ଅପା ମୋର ମାଆ ନୁହେଁକି?” ସେ ଯାହା କହିଲା ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ତାହା ସେ ଅଂତରରେ ଭାବୁନଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ସାରା ଗ୍ରାମରେ  ଯେମିତି ଏହାର ପ୍ରତିଧ୍ୱନୀ ଶୁଣାଗଲା। ବୁଢା ବୁଢୀ ମାନେ କହିଲେ, “ହଜିଲା ବଳଦ ଖୋଜିଲା ଠାଇଁ”।

ହଠାତ ଏକ ତତ୍ପରତା ଖେଳିଗଲା।

ଅପାଂକୁ ଏହା ଅତ୍ୟଂତ ଅପ୍ରିତିକର ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ପକାଇଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେଦିନ ଠାରୁ ମୀରା ଅପାଂକୁ ମାତୃବତ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବା ସହ ମାଆ ମାଆ ଡାକିଲା। ସେ ଡାକର ଥିଲା ଏକ ସମ୍ମୋହନ ଶକ୍ତି। ସେ ସମ୍ମୋହାନ ଅପାଂକ ମାନସିକ ଉଦ୍ବେଳନକୁ ସର୍ବ ସମ୍ମୂସମ୍ମୂଖରେ ଯେତିକି ବଢାଉଥିଲା ଏକାଂତରେ ସେତିକି ଲାଘବ କରୁଥିଲା।

ଲୋକେ ଏହି ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବକୁ ଆଗେଇନେଲେ । ରକ୍ଷାବଂଧନର ଏକ ମହତ ସମ୍ପର୍କର ସ୍ଥାନ ମାତୃତ୍ୱର ଦାୟୀତ୍ୱକୁ ରୂପାଂତରିତ ହେଲା।  ଅପା, ଦେଇପିଣ୍ଡିରେ ମୀରାର ପ୍ରକୃତ ମାଆ ସମେତ ବିଗତ ଚଉଦ ପୁରୁଷ ପିତ୍ରୁପକ୍ଷଂକୁ ଅନ୍ନ ବାଢିଦେଇ, ସବୁଦିନ ପାଇଁ ମୀରାକୁ ତାଂକ ପଣତ କାନୀରେ ସର୍ବସୁରକ୍ଷାରେ ଘୋଡାଇ ପକାଇଲେ।

ଚେସ୍ ବୋର୍ଡ୍ର ରଜା ରାଣୀମାନଂକ ପୁନଃ ସଜ୍ଜୀକରଣକୁ ସାରା ଗ୍ରାମବାସୀ ବେଶ ଏକ ହର୍ଷପୂର୍ଣ ଗମ୍ଭୀରତାରେ ଗ୍ରହଣକଲେ।

ନୂଆ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ଯୋଡି ହୋଇଗଲା, ମୀରା ଏବେ ଦୀପକର ପିଉସୀ, ଝୁମା ଅପାର ଝିଅ, ଏଣୁ ଭୋଉଣୀ, କଜିନ୍ ସିଷ୍ଟର୍ । ତାହା ପୁଣି ସାବତ । ସାବତ କଜିନ୍, ଦୀପକକୁ ହସ ଲାଗିଲା, ମନେ ମନେ ପୁଣି କହିଲା ପିଉସୀ ଅପାର ସାବତ ଝିଅ ଭୋଉଣୀ। ସବୁ ଅଡୁଆ ତଡୁଆ ଲାଗିଲା। ହଁ ଏ କେଉଁ ନୂଆ ସମ୍ପର୍କ, ଆଗରୁବି ତ ସେ ଡାକେ, ” ଦୀପକ ଭାଇ, ମୋର ତମ ସହ କଟି”। ଦୀପକ ଫିକ୍କକିନା ହସି ଦେଲା। କେହି ତାକୁ ଦେଖିନଥିଲେ ସେ ଚତୁର୍ଦିଗକୁ ଚାହିଁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ହେଲା।

ଏଣିକି ଦୀପକ ସଟଲ ଗାଡିଭଳି ସକାଳେ ଅପାଘରେ ହାଜର ହୁଏ ଓ ରାତ୍ରୀ ଭୋଜନ ପରେ ଘରକୁ ଫେରେ।

ଦୀପକ ଏବେ ହାଇସ୍କୁଲର ଛାତ୍ର ଯେଉଁଠି ଅପା ଜନସାଧାରଣଂକ ଦାନରୁ ମିଳୁଥିବା ଅର୍ଥର ଏକ ସମାନ୍ୟ ଭାଗ ବେତନ ପାଆଂତି। ମୀରା ଘରୁ ଆଗେ ଯାହା ମିଳୁଥିଲା ତାହାତ ସ୍ୱଭାବିକ ଭାବେ ବଂଦ ହେଲା, ଦୀପକ ଘରର

ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟତା ଏବେ ଅନାହାର ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ଅବନତ ହେଲା। ବଡ ଭୋଉଣୀ ଦୁଇଜଣ ତାଂକ ମଜୁରୀଆ ସ୍ୱାମୀ ମାନଂକ ସହ କଲିକତାରେ ରହୁଥିଲେ, ଘରକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ତାଂକ ପକ୍ଷେ ସମ୍ଭବ ନଥିଲା। କ୍ରମରେ ତୃତୀୟ ଓ ଚତୁର୍ଥ ଭଗ୍ନୀ ଦ୍ୱୟ ପଢାରେ ଡୋରୀ ବାଂଧି, ଗାଁଆର ଛୋଟ ମୋଟ ସିଲାଇ କାମ କରୁଥିଲେ, ସମୁଦ୍ରକୁ ଶଂଖେ ରୋଜଗାର କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେବେଳର ଚଳନୀ ହିସାବରେ ଝିଅ ମାନେ ବେଶି ହେଲେ ଶୋହଳ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସରେ ସେ ଅଂଚଳରେ ବାହା ହୋଇ ଯାଉଥିଲେ, ଯଦିଓ ଏହା ସରକାରୀ ନିୟମର ପରିପଂଥି ଥିଲା। ଦୁଇ ବଡ ଦେଇ ମାନଂକ ବୟସ ଯଥାକ୍ରମେ ଅଠର ଓ କୋଡିଏ ହୋଇ ଯାଇଥାଏ କିଂତୁ ସେମାନଂକ ବାହାଘର କଥା ସାମ୍ପ୍ରତିକ ଅନାଟନ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଚିଂତା କରାଯାଇ ପାରୁନଥାଏ।

ଏକମାତ୍ର ବଡଭାଇ, ବୟସ ଯାହାର ଶୋହଳ, ପଢାରେ ଡୋରୀବାଂଧି, ଅଣ୍ଟାରେ ଗାମୁଛା ଭିଡି, ସ୍ୱଳ୍ପ କିଛି ପୈତୃକ ଜମିକୁ ଭାଗଚାଷରୁ ଫେରାଇ ଆଣି ନିଜେ ଚାଷ କରିବା ଅରମ୍ଭ କଲା । ଉଦ୍ୱେଶ୍ୟ ଚାଉଳ ବର୍ଷମୁଣ୍ଡ ପାଇବ। ଆହୁରି ମଧ୍ୟ ସମୟ ପାଇଲେ ଫେରିବାଲା ପ୍ରକାରେ ଗ୍ରାମରେ କିଛି ଛୋଟ ମୋଟ ବେପାର କରେ।

ଆଉ ଦୀପକ୍, ପିଂଗ ପଂଗ ବଲ ଭଳି ଅପା ଘରୁ ନିଜ ଘରକୁ ଯାଉଥାଏ, ସ୍ୱଛଳତା ଏବଂ ନିଃସ୍ୱ ଅବସ୍ଥା ମଧ୍ୟରେ ନିତି ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଏକ ସମୀକରଣ କରୁଥାଏ, ମାତ୍ର ଦୁଇ ଫର୍ଲଂଗ ବ୍ୟବଧାନରେ, ଏକ ଛୋଟିଆ ଗ୍ରାମ ମଧ୍ୟରେ।

ଇଂଦ୍ରଧନୁ ଦେଖି ଦୌଡିବା, କଂକି ଧରିଆଣି ମୀରା ହାତରେ ଧରାଇବା ବୟସ ଆଉ ତାର ନଥିଲା। ଇଂଦ୍ରଧନୁ ଅବା ପ୍ରଜାପତିଂକୁ ସେ ଏବେ ଭିନ୍ନ ପୁଲକରେ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଥିଲା। ସେ ଏବେ ଲାଜ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଥିଲା ମୀରା ଗଭାରେ ସଜାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଫୁଲ ତୋଳିବାକୁ, ଯଦିଓ ପ୍ରତି ସକାଳର ପୂଜାଫୁଲ ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରିବା ତାର କାମ ଥିଲା। ସେ ଫୁଲ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମୀରାପାଇଁ ଫୁଲ ନୂଆ ସରାଗରେ ରଖୁଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲା ନା ମୀରା ନା ତା ଅପା ଏ କଥା କେବେ ଜାଣି ପାରଂତୁ। ନାନାଦି ପରସ୍ପର ବିରୋଧି ଭାବନା ତା କିଶୋର ମନକୁ ଚଳ ଚଂଚଳ କରୁଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟର ସାମାଜିକ ଆକୃତିକୁ ବାସ୍ତବ ବିଚାରରେ ଆକଳନ କରି ଯାବତୀୟ ଭାବପ୍ରବଣତାକୁ ଏକ କ୍ଷୁଦ୍ର ବଳୟ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଆବଦ୍ଧ କରିବାରେ ସେ ବେଶ ସକ୍ଷମ ହେଉଠିଲା। ଲଜ୍ଜାବୋଧ, ସାମଜିକ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧତା, ଶିକ୍ଷା ପ୍ରତି ଆଗ୍ରହ, ବୈଜ୍ଂୟାନିକ ଗଳ୍ପ ପଢା ଏମିତି ନାନାଦି ନୂଆସାଥି ତକୁ ଶୃଂଖଳିତ କରୁଥାଂତି। ସେ ନିଜକୁ ଚିହ୍ନିବା, ଉଂକି ଉଠୁଥିବା ନାନା ଜଟିଳ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ସ୍ୱୟଂ ନିର୍ବାଚିତ ଉତ୍ତର ଖୋଜିବା, ସ୍କୁଲ୍ର ପାଠାଗାରରେ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ ଯତ୍କିଂଚିତ ପୁସ୍ତକ ପଠନ କରିବା, ଖବର କାଗଜରୁ ନାନା ତଥ୍ୟ ମନେ ରଖିବା ଏମିତି ଅନେକ ଗଠନମୁଳକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ନିୟୋଜିତ ରଖି ସମସ୍ତଂକର ପ୍ରୀୟଭାଜନ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ଲୋକେ ତାଠୁ କିଛି ଅଧିକ ଆଶା କରିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଦେଇ ଥିଲେ। ଶିକ୍ଷକ ମାନେ ତାକୁ ସୁନଜରରେ ରଖୁଥିଲେ।

ଥରେ ସେ ଖବର କାଗଜରୁ ଏକ ବିଜ୍ଂଯାପନ ଦେଖିଲା । ‘ଜାତୀୟ ବିନଜ୍ଂଯାନ ତର୍କ’ ପ୍ରତିଯୋଗୀତା ପାଇଁ ଆଗ୍ରହୀ ହେଲା। ବିଜ୍ଂଯାନ ଶିକ୍ଷକ ତା ସହ ଦିନରାତି ଲାଗିପଡିଲେ, କିବା ଅସାଧ୍ୟ ! ବିଷୟବସ୍ତୁ, “ଗ୍ରେଗର ଜନ ମେଣ୍ଡେଲ୍ଂକର ଗୁଣସୂତ୍ର ତତ୍ୱ ଓ ଏହାର ବ୍ୟାପକ ପ୍ରଭାବ”। ସେ ଓ ତା ଶିକ୍ଷକଂକ ସମେତ ସାରା ଗ୍ରାମ ଅଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଚକିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲେ, ସେ ହୋଇଥିଲା ଜାତୀୟ ଚମ୍ପିୟାନ୍।

ଘଟଣାଟି ତା ପାଇଁ ଓ ଉଭୟ ପରିବାର ପାଇଁ ଆଣି ଦେଇଥିଲା ବ୍ୟାପକ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ।..... କ୍ରମଶଃ