- Shantanu Som

Shambhu Nath is sitting in the village kitchen. He has returned from the field. He has taken out his hat and started eating on his own. There is no electricity in the village, but not more than three or four hours a day. The hat is soaking wet with sweat. He has put it on the fence, and it will dry. When the sweat dries up, he will sit in the nearby pond. Uma's cooking will be finished. The rice, dal and five-spice vegetables are thick. Everyone has a cow in the house. He can't give a glass of milk. He can't give anything else to the boys and girls. Two of the four boys live outside the house. The other two are trying to make a small cot. Saraswati teaches in a primary school in the district, but no one knows when the electricity will be available. She sends two thousand rupees a month to meet her expenses. The girl is a guest these days. She is a poor person. She is a poor person. She is a poor person. She is a poor person. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a housewife. She is a mother. She is a poor woman. She is a poor woman. She is a mother. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a mother. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife. She is a housewife.

Shambhu Nath cultivates five bighas of land. These days, too, he has a problem with the water pump. Even if he can get water, the children in the neighbourhood have to pay for it, or else they stop the pump before time. Shambhu Nath does not like the hassle. The body is big but there are many diseases. Sugar and pressure are all in it. Uma does not know anything, if she knows. Laxmi's throat is found. Kalu is calling a dog with rice flour. The girl is very fond of animals. There is a pawn in the west corner of the house, and Laxmi is very fond of it. The eldest son Kartik works in a mobile shop, in a nearby subdivision. There is a mess, and he has to send some money every month. The days of farming are short. He does not know how to work. He is a very dutiful son. Shambhu Nath is not bothered about helping his father. Shambhu is the only one who can do his work. Umma is also very upset. He does not understand what is happening.

But that was not to be. There were many plots of land on the other side, three big ponds. There were no nobles, but there was no shortage of anything. There were joint families. Shambhu's jatha used to say that we don't have to buy anything except clothes and salt. But what happened.

What happened? You remember what happened. You don't remember what you don't remember? You just remember sitting in a muddy mud pond with Laxmi with her throat slit in the middle of the night, mud on her head, Laxmi's hair smeared with mud. You see who lit the torch at night and who were looking for her and many others. Sometimes, the screams of women's voices come from here and there. Then? You don't remember anything.

How did you come here, how did you start farming, how did they get so smoked in this dry land. Did you bring one with you, and hide it? Shambhu tried to think. Did you? He had tried to think about it a few times before, but somehow he had lost his mind. Today he decided to remember. It was a long time ago, but if you try hard enough, will you not remember? Someone walked into his head and said,'I remember very much, it's time!'Shambhu Nath nodded at Uma,'I'm taking a walk, you eat. '

A little distance from the house is the pond. A huge bael tree is by the pond, and another ashwath tree is by its side. It is a very shady place. He sat down on a corner. Suddenly a blue light flashed before his eyes. Shambhunath was afraid. What is happening today! What a blink! Shambhunath slowly went into a deep sleep, leaning against the tree.

There is a fire all around. Some houses are burning. The sound of wood and bamboo bursting. The villagers are running away. Some people are chasing them. The children are crying. Saraswati is silent with her mother's face on her chest. The girl's intelligence is startling. The family is pure. The village is unknown. She is hiding in a thick forest of bushes. Suddenly, a small, fresh body is on her feet. Her throat is slit. Shabunath is not particularly upset. In a gesture, Uma is told to hide the children. Don't let the bodies be seen. There are so many bodies lying all over the street. How much should you hide? It's evening. You need a shelter.

What does the one on the right look like? A small stream. He passed it. There was no expression on Uma's face, no fear, no nothing. The little one went crazy. The clouds were coming in, two drops of thick rain fell on her. The light was fading.

After a little more time, the scene became clear. A Shiva temple. He walked. It was getting stronger outside. It seemed like a storm was coming. The temple looked a little hopeful. If anyone else took shelter, he would be able to get along. The whole family entered the temple very carefully. The medium-sized temple, very neat. A small Natamandir on the left and the real temple next to it. A very strong wooden door. But there was no way to lock the door from inside. A black stone Shivling, a bell on the head and some fresh flowers. That means this afternoon also the puja was done. A red oil lamp was burning on one side. They sat inside and the door was wet. The children's stomach was not burning all day, their mouths were dry. There was nothing but a little khoya and jaggery. They saw a corner. The temple was a little safe. Uma shared jaggery with the children. Soon after the sound, the door opened and a long, bloodied Bhairav entered the temple.

Bhairav lowered the shoulder bag to one side. Then he took out the jhola, which contained sal leaves, curdled puri, heavy dal and laddoos. He said, "Eat two. You have not had food since morning." He took out a small brass pot from the jhola and handed it to Uma. "Mother, give the children, have cow's milk, light it."

Sambhu Nath had tears in his eyes. He could not imagine that he was going to collect the milk of his children, his own food. Meanwhile, the rain started pouring down with a sound. Bhairav was a man of few words. When the meal was over, he took out a root from his bag and handed it to Uma. Mother, the thumb of his right foot has been cut off. Chew it and eat it with two drops of water. Uma realized that Bhairav was possessed of a special divine power. Perhaps she knew about their arrival. Uma had not told anyone about the injury on her toes yet. She was aware of it.

Suddenly, there was a noise outside. There were many people. Bhairav opened the door. About a hundred yards away from the temple, about ten people were gathered under a chawl. A herd of wolves. Torches in one hand, sharp weapons in the other. I thought they were following. The smell was good. They were stuck because of the torrential rain. The torches would go off when the rain came. The rain would subside, and then the bodies of the boys would be left in the temple, and the girls would be the objects of loot. Uma decided to strangle the boys herself before being caught. She put a knife to her throat. She brought a sharp chawl, which was kept in a pile of jewelry.

Bhairav is sitting in Padmasana, eyes half-closed. There is only the sound of rain in the middle of the temple. No one is talking, there is nothing to say. A very loud bolt of lightning strikes nearby. Little Kartik makes a frightening sound, hiding his face in his mother's lap. Moments after the bolt, the rain begins to subside. Uma puts her hand in the folds of the jewellery and clenches her fist. Soon it will be over. The rain continues. The torches are now bent straight. The swan-group is about to leave the chala. The heavy wooden door of the temple is a little hollowed out as the bolt strikes. Bhairav holds the trident in his hand and utters a mantra three times. He stands outside the temple.

In the darkness, Shambhu Nath saw the blue light of the middle reed of the trident increase manifold. And that is when the incident happened. A bolt fell on the wheel, making a deafening noise and floating around in the blue light. As the bolt fell, the wheel caught fire. Uma and the children lost consciousness at the intensity of the sound. Once again the lightning struck. In that light, Shambhu Nath saw some half-smoked bodies scattered around the wheel.

Bhairav turned to Shambhu Nath. He said, "Tomorrow morning, if you walk a little along the road to the western corner of the temple, you will meet a large group. Then there is no danger. No one will remember what happened today. After a long time, one day your memory will be revived. That day you will remember all the events. But it is not a good time. In the northeast, Kalbaishakhi is going on. Be careful.

Shambhu Nath said to Kritanjaliput - Can I know you, Mahatma? Bhairav kept quiet. Then he said - I am you. The day the time will come, you will see yourself, you will know yourself. This trident is also yours. You will find it by digging in the ground beside a bel tree in the eastern corner of your house. But the day you will find yourself, all the secrets will disappear. Now go to sleep, and there is no danger. In the morning, go on a journey as I told you. All the memories of this night will be forgotten. Shambhu Nath bowed to Bhairav. Bhairav smiled. Then he took a deep breath and placed his right index finger between Shambhu Nath's two eyebrows.

It was late afternoon when Shambhu Nath had finished his sleep. After sitting quietly for a while, he returned home. Uma was tired and lying on the mat after waiting for a long time. Seeing Shambhu Nath, Uma said in a gentle voice - Eat.