‘Dhanya Gaura Parbati, glory to you!’
Shahni brought a hot bowl of milk with almonds and pistachios for Gosainji. Gosainji picked up the bowl with a corner of his shawl and sipped contentedly.
Suddenly a tapping of walking sticks was heard from the platform ahead. God protects! These were the footsteps of Vadde Lala and Bebe Nikki!
‘Malla, bring a light. Fetch the lamp from the nook.’ Shahni pulled her odhni low over her face and went forward to touch their feet. Taking the light from Barkati’s hand, she brought it close. ‘Pairipauna, Bebe!’
Bebe Nikki blessed her. ‘Be at peace! Long life to your husband! May you live long with your husband!’
Chachi called out, ‘I say, fetch some oil, child. Sadke jaoon. Today this home has been blessed by the arrival of Swayambhu and Satroopa themselves!’ Chachi went forward, exchanged Ramsatt with Bebe and bowed her head before Vadde Lala. Chhoti Shahni dripped oil over the doorstep. Did pairipauna to both, and gestured with her hand and said, ‘Please be seated.’ A low stool was produced for Bebe, and Lala Vadde sat with Gosainji.
Gosainji of Baddoki praised the Satpurukh’s truth incarnate. ‘All the good men gathered here pray to God that Lala Vadde and Bebe Nikki cast their protective shade upon this village forever. Those who, owing to their good deeds, the punya of their past lives, live to be a hundred, are like gods in this Kalyug.’
The women came forward to bow before them. The children jostled.
Seeing them, Nikki Bebe’s heart overflowed. ‘Live my children, live! Laugh and play! Enjoy your youth!’ When Ragi’s daughter-in-law did pairipauna, Bebe kissed her forehead and blessed her. ‘As many sesame seeds fall upon the earth, as many sons to bahooti will be born.’
When the Shahs came upstairs, both touched Lala and Bebe’s feet and then stood before them with folded hands. ‘Today, the katha of the first Navratra has been given an auspicious beginning by you. Lalaji, tell us your wish.’
Lala Vadde nodded. ‘Puttarji, on the eighth Navratra, distribute halwa-puri to the whole pind. That is all.’
For some reason, both brothers’ eyes became moist on hearing this, ‘As you wish, Lalaji.’
Gosainji nodded his approval. ‘When someone like Lalaji presides, every day is a yagna!’
Kashi Shah folded his hands and requested Lalaji, ‘Gosainji will be reciting the Katha every day during Navratras. You and Bebe must stay with us in the baithak with balconies.’
‘Puttarji, let this yellowed leaf stay in its place. Who knows when the gust of wind will come and carry it away?’ In the lamp’s glow, Vadde Lala and Nikki Bebe’s ancient, wrinkled faces seemed like the eternal mountain and the eternal river. Shahni made Bebe touch the huge platter of prasad and put it before Gosainji. The children, playful as ever, jostled to get the prasad. Nikki Bebe and Lala Vadde stood up to leave.
Gosainji recited a shlok: ‘Not every mountain hides jewels, nor every elephant a pearl in his forehead. Good men are not found everywhere, nor sandalwood in every forest.’
‘Padharo-padharo!’ Lamp in hand, both brothers escorted the venerable couple out, followed by the women and children. God knows why but Bhagwan Panda’s youngest, Birju, made a rhyme on the spot.
‘Depart, O revered gods; you lead, we follow
Ascend the steps to heaven; you lead, we follow.’
All hearts were struck with fear. Hai re, what on earth was the Brahmin son thinking?
In the star-filled night, Lala Vadde’s feet stumbled as if a gust of storm had shaken an ancient pipal tree. He stood on his doorstep, ran a hand over the Shah brothers’ backs in turn, wanted to say something, but no words came.
Kashi Shah came to his aid. ‘Lalaji, any command or advice for your humble servants?’
Lala Vadde kept nodding, as if trying to remember something. Then he shook his head. ‘My body and consciousness are growing weaker. I can see my dearest mother and father before my eyes. My journey has come to an end. Puttaro, show the path of wisdom to the village and clan. Petty selfishness corrupts intelligence and wisdom, the fist of family and clan loosens and scatters.’
The brothers bowed their heads. ‘True words. Anything else, Lalaji?’
‘Puttarji, I want to be cremated in front of the platform of the Satis.’
‘As you command.’
The brothers didn’t speak on their way home. When they reached the haveli door, Chhote Shah said, ‘Vadde Lala has turned his gaze heavenwards. We only have a few days left of his company now.’
‘Forgive me, maharaj, forgive me!’
‘Nikkiye, are you asleep?’
Bebe Nikki stretched a hand and straightened Lala Vadde’s quilt. She had barely closed her eyes when he spoke to her again. ‘I say, Nikkiye, try to remember, when did we go to Katasraj?’
‘Lo, have you forgotten? In peace and joy, when our eldest Chann Mull’s son Trikhal was born, we went to Katasraj for the first time. The second time, when we married off our youngest, Bikram. On that trip we had visited Katasraj, Dooni Sahib, Panja Sahib …’
‘Nikkiye, Katasraj is the Trinetra of the earth, the centre of wisdom, and the most sacrosanct. The fragrance of red roses and the sense of divine presence fills the soul with prayer.’ Vadde Lala pulled in a deep, long breath as if a gust of pure air had blown in from the holy place. ‘Nikkiye, say what you will, but this, our Rabb’s world, is most pleasant. Remember the Amarkund in front of the Raghunath temple? When the Pandavas reached the place after many days of walking, they were burning with thirst. As soon as they saw the Amarkund, they touched its water to their lips. All the brothers except Dharmaraj Yudhishtir drank the water and fell down unconscious. Yudhishtir Raj prayed to Lord Shiva of the third eye, and taking water from the kund, sprinkled it on his brothers. The Pandavas sat up hale and hearty.’
Bebe Nikki closed her eyes again, but the temple of the Jains swam before her eyes. ‘Father of Chann Mull, I often see the glittering Jain temple in my dreams. May Rabb will it so, we must go there once at least. Do you remember, on the trip to the Raghunath temple, Pran Mull got lost in the fair? There are three deities in the temple. Vishnu Narayan, Vishnu Narasimha, and Vishnu Varaha. Their godly faces are sculpted so beautifully! And each has a lotus in every hand. The holy lake of Katasraj blooms with lotus flowers and the whole lake is aglitter in motion. Green leaves, pink and blue lotus flowers. Father of my children, it has been an age and more since we saw the high Stupa of Sangharam, encircled by all its ten splendid lakes and tanks. Must be some Chakravarti king who built it.’
Deep in thought, Lalaji shook his head. ‘Rabba, your ways! Buildings of mud and stone remain standing for ages, and man who possesses the life force, the prana, is absent.’
To divert him, Bebe said, ‘When Ran Mull’s son had his head tonsured, we had gone to Tilla Gorakhnath as well.’
‘It is said Raja Bhritahari had lifted the entire mountain range and taken it to Jhangmaghiana. Such is the power of prayer and penance; it arouses the psychic force within.’
When Bebe Nikki didn’t respond for a while, Lala Vadde called out, ‘Are you listening or have you fallen asleep?’
‘Saiyyan, if I could sleep, wouldn’t this body know some rest! What warmth is left in this old body now that it will lie down and instantly fall asleep?’
‘I say, get bahu to put some ghee in hot milk for you.’
Bebe flared up. Sat up and said, ‘What’s this you’ve started? You think I will criticize my bahootis! Father of Chann Mull, one cannot partake of milk and curd without the requisite good karmas.’
‘Nikkiye, there are cows and buffaloes at home, we have plenty of cattle, but your destiny is only to suffer. Elder one’s, middle one’s, younger, or youngest daughter-in-law’s – drink milk from whoever’s kitchen you want.’
Nikki Bebe started grumbling, ‘Don’t touch this topic, Saiyyan. Even if they do occasionally offer a mouthful or two, I tell them – daughters, leave it for the children. Us old, useless ones no longer do the
hard work to justify milk and cream.’
Lala Vadde sat up in agitation. ‘Nikkiye, what is this! You are the Rajmahishi, the queen and empress of this home and hearth.’
Bebe Nikki laughed a strange, incredulous laugh. ‘My innocent husband, there is a difference between the ascending rajeshwari and the declining rajmata. One has the power to command, the other has neither right nor authority.’
‘Nikkiye, pluck this fault out from your heart. It is mere illusion!’
‘I only say one thing, that all graces and munificence are of those in ascent. Saiyyan, you nourished and nurtured such a large family-clan. You only tell me, what influence do you have left today? Does anyone listen to you now?’
Lala chided her lovingly, ‘Ladiye, this grouse in the heart is not good. Gone are our times. Your sons and grandsons never spared any effort to the extent they could.’
Bebe Nikki shook her head. ‘Saiyyan, the human kind always sins. It suffers and writhes in torment in old age. It may not express it in words, but the soul suffers in silence.’
‘Why rake up all these regrets now? Let it be! I say, Gosain of Baddoki does a good katha. If there is any happy occasion in the family, arrange for a katha by him.’
‘Khair sadke, may the joyous day arrive soon! Bikram’s wife is due to deliver in a month or two.’ Bebe Nikki turned on her side, murmuring, ‘Satnam, Satnam.’ A body may grow old and weary, but the mind and heart forever wander restlessly into the future or the past, she thought behind closed eyes.
Bebe must have just nodded off when the sounds of cats fighting came from the direction of the tandoor. She rapped on the window as she lay, saying, ‘Shoo, shoo off! Just like Brahmins, your eyes on the milk and cream day and night.’
Lala Vadde called out, ‘Nikkiye, if the paper given by Lawrence Sahib hadn’t been lost in the floods, your family would have had plenty of land in jagirs.’
Bebe Nikki chided him as if he wasn’t her husband but her son. ‘Try to sleep. The visit to the Shahs has exhausted you, Chann Mull’s father. Why this thirst for jagirs in this old age? Who cares about Sahib’s paper? Rabb hasn’t been any less generous to us, Saiyyan. The Giver has blessed you with eleven jagirs in eleven sons.’
‘What you say is right, Chann Mull’s mother.’
Bebe turned towards Lala and laughed. Then groping for him with her hand, said, ‘Saiyyan, you don’t have any complaints against me now, do you? Eleven times I delivered, and eleven times you cradled a son in your lap.’
Lala Vadde spread his hand towards her bed. ‘Nikkiye, this is not a man’s doing, this is the doing of that All Giver!’
It was probably the third hour after midnight; the water-wheel under the pipal tree hadn’t yet started. Bebe woke up with a start and found Lala Vadde talking to himself. ‘Marriage of Vishwakarma to Prabhuti. Sons were born to them – Malakar, Karnakar, Sankokar, Kubanadak … Kubanadak … Kubanadak … O Rabba, can’t bring the next name to mind …’
Bebe Nikki had heard these names countless times every summer and every winter night. Irritated, she said, ‘Lo, I’ll tell you, Kumbhakar and Kanskar. But tell me one thing, Bhag Mull’s father, why always Vishwakarma and Prabhuti’s sons? Why don’t you count your own, and may the heart, too, know some solace. Chann Mull, Bhag Mull, Ran Mull, Bikram Mull, Labba Mull …’
‘Stop, Nikkiye, don’t take the name of the next godforsaken laggard. Left his wife and home to live with that Kunjawali Sheedo.’
Bebe softened. ‘Let the low life be where he is. Khairon se, if the family is large, one such idiot is good for warding off the evil eye!’
‘Enough. I have heard.’ Vadde Lala got breathless and had a bout of coughing.
Bebe rubbed his chest. ‘I’ll get you some milk!’
Bebe got up to go but Lala Vadde stopped her with a hand. ‘Listen to me before you go, Nikkiye. Every breath a man takes in this world upon the earth, his world beneath the earth also breathes with him. I feel as if all three worlds of this body are about to merge. My horse has left for earth from the heavens. It will reach any time. Rabbji, I, too, am ready …’
Nikki Bebe trembled with fear, but calmly said, ‘All is well, Saiyyan, you still have to offer worship on Ashtami.’
Lalaji’s chest started to rumble. Bebe ran and opened the door and on her way towards the milk boiler, rattled her eldest son’s door. ‘Bhagmulla, go to your father, all of you. Right now. I will get him some milk.’
By the time Bebe returned with the bowl of milk, the whole family had gathered around Lala’s bed. In the light of the lamp, Lala recognized Bebe and haltingly spoke the words he spoke everyday, ‘The day has risen, hasn’t it? Come, accept greetings for today’s sunrise. God knows about tomorrow …’
Nikki Bebe’s old body trembled helplessly. ‘Hai O Rabba, why have you sent this testing time upon my head?’ She gripped Lala’s feet and said, ‘Saiyyan, don’t go back upon your promise. Don’t be so cruel. Don’t leave your Nikki alone!’
Vadde Lala blinked, and his hundred-and-ten-year-old breath caught in his mouth. His sons took Lala off the bed and placed him on the ground. The eldest poured some Ganga jal in his mouth. The second eldest got his father to give away a cow and rice in daan. Chann Mull put a diya in his father’s hand. The fading eyes flared brightly for an instant, and then the soul of man crossed into the world of darkness. Bebe Nikki wept, caressing Lala’s head, ‘Hai O, my king, my handsome groom, why have you left me bereft?’
Chann Mull roared his anguish and awoke the whole pind with his cries. ‘O people, the gods have turned their back on this house – we have lost our king!’
‘The drums beat once – War is declared.
The drums beat twice – Recruitment is on.’
With the announcement, the ages of men considered fit and unfit began to be eagerly debated. Chachas, tayas, fathers and brothers cast furtive looks at their sons and nephews, at their muscles and chests, and praying to keep them safe, blessed them abundantly. Everywhere in the village – at furnaces, wells and tandoors – mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers rubbed their palms in trepidation and said, ‘Malla, whatever did the Angrez think of? Started this war for nothing, and when everything was going fine too. Their old queen, Victoria was much better. She ran her dispensation with wisdom and good sense, ensured peace and harmony. Earned the regard of her subjects.’
‘That is because she was a woman with family and children! It is heard that she herself was the empress. Even her husband obeyed her. He was not a shah or badshah.’
‘Behna, whether an empress, queen mother or whatever, she too must have needed a man’s protection.’
‘She earned a good name and spread her munificence among the people. Let us see what these cursed sons and grandsons of hers do.’
‘It is in the nature of men to fight. They have indulged in genocides and murders and assassinations since the beginning of time. They get it into their bloodthirsty genes to fight and they don’t rest content until they do. No matter what excesses the cursed ones might enjoy, until they have shed blood, these masculine tantrums are not complete.’
‘Very true! What do they care, they don’t lose a single hair of their moustache! It is the woman’s belly that is torn open. It is the earth that receives the seed, so why should she let her trees and fruit be wasted in vain!’
‘Malla, even Rabb distributed work between men and women after considerable thought. Adam may have a million endeavours, but Rabb gave children only to Eve. Imagine, if men had got it in themselves to nurture children, they would have eaten them alive. They have no patience. They want their fun and entertainment.’
‘After all, the One above also understands his own creation well. He made pairs and distributed work wisely. Said to the woman, “Daughter, you plough and harvest love for your children and nurture your family. Son, you raise crops and feed the family.”’
‘Listen, Nikka’s father returned from the city yesterday. He says they are keeping an account of the ages of
children in every village.’
‘Rabb protect our children! The royal order is passed, now all will be tied with the same rope.’
‘Khair sadke, your Gauhar is young but looks a little older.’
‘My Jalal, too!’
‘They are about the same age, give or take a few months.’
‘Come, now don’t be in two minds. Let the barkhurdars look more than their age. After all, they have to carry a plough or a gun on their shoulders sometime. It is not as if they will be keeping accounts and ledgers like the Hindus. May Allah-Beli be kind, let our sons go to the army in pomp and splendour.’
‘Hamida ri, you’ve heard of Sikandara’s antics, haven’t you? He goes, commits a dacoity, and returns home. With the war declared, at least our boys will be less inclined towards such crimes.’
‘I say, have you seen Saain Ditti’s airs these days? The Jatti struts about like a Shahni. Grabbed her relatives’ lands through court cases. Rabb-Rasool Himself will see to this injustice!’
‘Begum Bi of Miyan Khan had told me in secret that Saain Ditti has raised more money from the Shahs to fight the case.’
‘Talk of the Shahs! When the purse is stuffed with coins, a man will either dance about showing off, or lead others in a merry dance. Fight court cases. The contentment and patience of the Hindus keeps them from making a fool of themselves over money, unlike the Muslim Miyan folk. Shahs invest money wisely and reap double.’
‘All right, I am off. Have to take the cattle to the pond.’
‘But listen first! I have doubts about the couple who’ve come to live with the weavers. They sent a plateful of pulao on Eid. I was most surprised. When Jalal’s father saw, he said, “Say what you like no one can make such a pulao except a Syed woman.” They must be runaways. The woman seems pregnant. One day the truth will out.’
Zindaginama Page 37