Laali

A Story by Chanchal Sheik

I was awakened by the noise at my door. It was cold; lazily I tucked myself further into the warm blanket as if it was another bad dream. The banging grew louder with a women shouting Dada babu, (brother). I unwillingly got out fast fearing the hinges on the door would snap as she was on all four hands and feet. I sprang out of bed, stepped on Laali’s busy tail, the poor cat jumped on to the table with a sharp yell. I muttered few four letters words under my breath and shouted back. It was unmistaken ably Malati mausi, much elder to me but addressed me as dada babu.

Malati mausi our house help, had been with the family for longer than I can remember. I had always had her around taking care of me as if I was her own. She was so aggressive that she would take up matters with the parents of kids who tried to bully at school. Once I came home crying, all I had to tell her was that I was beaten by a teacher. Even before my mother could come out hearing my cry, Malati held the end of her sari in one hand and my arm on the other dragging me to the principal’s office demanding an apology from the teacher. It’s true she never got the apology but neither was I beating again. My life revolved around her however there were times I hated her. During winters I refused to take bath for days, my mother got worried and brought it to mausi’s notice. Mausi, who seemed to have solution for every problem, one fine morning while I was still asleep, carried me and took a dip in the pond holding me tight in her arms. Till this day mom and mausi laughs at me over the incident.

Laali was a gift my mother had brought along with other accessories on her wedding. She adored her and took pride in boasting about her native village at every opportunity. Laali and I were equally lazy and enjoyed each other’s company. Mausi could never tolerate her as she often sneaked into the kitchen disobeying basic rules of hygiene that hands should be washed before and after meals.

I fumbled for the lights and dropped the empty milk glass frightening the poor cat once again. It was 5:00 o’clock in the morning, morning for the village folks however, midnight for me. As I opened the door, there was mausi she jumped at me out of the darkness almost knocking me down. I had never known her to be afraid of anything or anyone in this little village but that winter morning was different; she stood there cold and lifeless crying out, “Dada babu, the pond has been poisoned.” I shivered a little, not sure if it was her words or the cold. We rushed out but now it was not like the old times, I had to make an effort to hold her straight. Her cry was effective; half the village was awake now and made way towards the pond. Walking along the earthen road, rubbing their eyes still wondering what the fuss was all about people gathered around the pond.

The water was not dark and still any more, it had turned white with foam. Fishes floated upside along the banks in great numbers while other jumped up and down breaking the surface as if calling out for help. Like little stars they twinkled in the dark. Two men jumped into the water fishing them out with bare hands and threw them on the bank making a last effort without realizing it was useless.

I had heard stories of ponds being poisoned by thieves for good easy catch but witnessing one was very different. The poisoned catch would then be sold in city markets and then they would move to plague another village for another easy catch. We witnessed life go out of those poor creatures in hundreds and yet there was nothing we could do. The morning sun brought with it silence and foul smell around the village which lasted for a few days. The pond was unfit for use leaving the village paralyzed. It was a loss for every house in the village however; my losses were far more for I never saw Laali again.