Continued from last week

TODAY Ashu's mood is sullen. He feels, some one is whispering in his ears. Ashu you are poor, very poor. The poor people are really sad people. They cannot afford to buy a new lungi. Their sisters

cannot sleep in a new cradle. Nobody invites them in a feast. He came to the river bank. The river is wide, its water is flowing and the sky is reflected in the bottom. One boat with painted sail is plying slowly. The oars making splashing sound. Inside the boat, two married girls, perhaps going to visit their parental home. Children making rhyme with the girls.

Oh, parental home visitor brides Please come to our home

We shall entertain you with Fried rice and frog legs.

Ashu crossed the sandy part of the river bank. He dipped his two hands in the water. The water of the river is slightly cold. His sad feelings washed away with water. A Brownish big porpoise surfaced from the depth of the water. Its brown body glitters with the sun ray. The porpoise splashed water with its tail, somersaulting twice, dived again into water. Ashu has a feeling, this river, this water, even this diving porpoise understands the groaning of Ashu's heart. Bangshi. the fisherman threw the angling hook to the river. In order to attract fish he is shaking the tip of the angling rod. He is staring at the angling float with his black eyes. He looks like one legged crane. At the wharf of Bailtali three boats are being loaded with tobaco. The air is filled up with the pungent smell. Ashu cannot

stand this, he feels like vomiting. The setting sun cast its golden light on the sandy river bank.

Crossing the sandy bed Ashu came near to the dwellings of the barbars. The barbers live together in a cluster of houses. Ashu could not overlook the dilapidated mudbuild house of Rajani barbar. Last year Rajani left for India, leaving behind the lame step-mother, a bunch of green coconut is hanging from the tree. Glow of the setting sun mingles with the green colour of the coconuts. The shivering sari, which the wife of Rajani used to spread on the fence, came to Ashu's mind. One bullock-cart proceeded towards forest office, creating all kind of noises, volume of grey dust hovered around. The bells on the neck of the two white bullocks, visit far, far away. Train comes whistling along the rail lines. From a far it glitters like bright silver. Evening sky looks sullen, like the face of Ashu’s mama. Light footed evening is approaching slowly.

Ashu took his seat on the bank of the tank owned by the babars. Rajani’s stepmother is plucking Helnecha leaves from the pond, with much difficulty. There is no one to look after her. Ashu felt deeply for the old lame and helpless woman. All on a sudden Ashu found the old slanting big konokchampa tree Is silently staring at him. Young children of barbar s do climb upon the tree and play the game of wolf hunting. Ashu tried to recollect the song of the game.

The branches of konokchampa is oily and leaves are thick and flat. On the top of every branch, there hangs a bunch of yellow flowers looking like golden anklets. It's soft smell sweetens the air. Ashu began to stare at the bunches of flowers with utmost attention — so lively, sc^yellow, so undulat-

ing in the air. The darkness between the spaces of thick flat leaves, have stored up many many stories. Ashu thinks if trees could talk, they could tell many fascinating stories. Standing on the trunk, years after years, trees learned many things, human beings, do not know. The experiences, the trees gathered out of the direct contact of cloud, rain and the sunshine — do those things not have any expression? Ashu feels deep in his heart, yonder this sky. this tree, this golden sunshine, this vegetable creepers, this hanging nests of the weaver birds, are incessantly engaged in talking. The problem with Ashu is he cannot follow that language. He has not learned the alphabets. If he was born as tree or plant, instead of human being? Ashu thinks, why I was not born as Jumping grasshopper? Why I did not become a bunch of yellow konokchampa flowers, yellow bosom would be filled up with moist smell. Ashu got scared to see a cast off skin of a snake, near the fissure of the trunk of konokchampa tree, he remembered. Go-lam Sharif died four months ago, out of the snake bite. Ashu left the place hurriedly.

Ashu came near to the date tree, the top of which was burned by the fire of thunder. He felt sad and sat by the tree many strange and piercing questions came to his mind. This date tree used to yield two full jars of Juice every night. Why such a beneficient tree should be killed by lightning strike. Why good people like doctor Bhuvan, should die premature death. Ashu feels, the sullen shalik bird on the top of dead date tree thinking the same. Telegraph wires create variety of sounds. Ashu thinks the telegraph wires are telling the same thing. Ashu, you are poor, very poor.

Ashu cannot divert his eyes from the bunches of konokchampa, so pretty, so fresh yellow, swinging so fast. When Ashu's mama sits a prayer mat, she herself turns soft and tender like a bunch of full bloomed konokchampa. There are many tales concealed within the bunches of konokchampa. When wind blows konokchampa began to speak In whispering language. He feels sorry, he does not understand the language of the flowers, flowers are good, soft, tender — only the sad thing about the flowers — they are very short lived. The bunches of konokchampa swings with the speed of the wind. Ashu feels something is swinging in his mind, Ashu whispers, my dear konokchampa just swing. Without any delay or protest the bunches of konokchampa start swinging. The bunches of konokchampa are sweet tender and very friendly. They understand Ashu’s secret moorings. They show respect to his Inner desire. In the whole world only the konokchampa flowers are the real friend of Ashu. Sister Foolmoni, is still a clot of blood, Ashu loves her so much takes so much care, even then, she does not bother to hear Ashu. Only the konokchampa flowers understand the secret desire of Ashu.

Ashu made a silent bet. If the bunches of konokchampa swings this time, there shall be a beautiful flower decorated cane cradle for his sister Foolmani. Ashu gave full concentration on the bunches of konokchampa. Just after a few minutes a flash of soothing air arrived from the bottom of the sea. The air spoke something in the ears of the flowers, and the konokchampa began to swing. Ashu became oveijoyed. He did not make any mistake by believing konokchampa. He got emboldened and made another bet, if you swing again konokchampa there shall be a new lungi for me. As soon as he expressed his desire in language, the spring breeze of falgoon gently swing flowers along with the bunches, branches, leaves and foliages. Ashu clapped his hands and shouted out,

konokchampa you are my real friend. I have none except you, who can fulfil my wishes. Twice 1 have given you trouble. Once more. I shall give you trouble. You enjoy swinging, I know. It gives you pajn too. Your floral body is too tender. Slightest wrong movement hurt you gravely. I request you for the last and final. Please do swing again. If you kindly swing this time, my papa will have three acres of land and there shall be no want in our family. Please swing once more. Then I shall go home.

Ashu began to wait, silently he is inviting, the wind which moves within thick leaves like mother fish among its young. Oh wind please do come quickly and swing the bunches of konokchampa. Evening is not far. This is time about I should back home. If I am not at home, my mama cannot cook. Foolmoni developed the habit of sitting on my lap. If I am not at home, she will cry violently. Please do come wind and make the konockchampa swing. But there is no wind. This time konokchampa did not comply with Ashu's request. Ashu again requested fervently. There is no reply from the silent tree. Ashu said it is my last and final bet. Bunches of konokchampa. If you swing this time my papa will have three acres of land. This much land is enough for the upkeep of our family. Twice you have responded at my request. Many times mad wind forced you to swing against your will, caused the destruction of your branches. Just comply with the request of a child. Swing once more. If you do not swing then worries of my papa will not go. Just have kindness for my mama and papa. Requests went in vain, konokchampa remained stubborn.

It is already evening. Ashu's voice sounded like prayer. But there is no response from konokchampa's side. Ashu said imploringly, konokchampa flowers you all are soft and tender, it is true. But your heart is hard like stone. You do not understand the sufferings of poor people. They do not have the means to procure square meals. People do not

invite them in feast. Most often they starve. Even Allah is hostile towards them, please do remember my request. Tomorrow at about this time I shall come again. In the meantime you will take your full rest. When I shall come, please do not forget to swing.

While Ashu was returning, he saw one ugly large size crane flew from where, Ashu do not know, swooped on a branch of the tree and forcibly placed its huge body. The intrusion of the crane caused shaking to that particular branch of konokchampa. The leaves, the branches cannot remain in different. They began to swing in violent speed.

Ashu clenched his teeth and said in a determined voice, now I have understood konokchampa, what is the secret. You will not swing on request. I will have to make you swing. He tied the lungi tightly round his loin and started climbing on the tree. After reaching middle portion, he started jerking the whole tree with the all amount of his strength. There came a tremor in the body of the konokchampa. Ashu did not stop.'A mad urge prompted him to jerk more and more violently. A branch broke down. This time Ashu stopped. He came down from the tree. But the off konokchampa is swinging incessantly. Darkness is gathering all around. Ashu said with proud voice konokchampa, I made you swing. This time Foolmoni will have a new cradle, and a new lungi for me. My papa will have three acres of, land. We shall not be hard-up any more. He felt the presence of soft tender fresh yellow swinging konokchampa in his mind. His body is covered with sweat. Never in life Ashu felt such intense pleasure. Ashu saw some rough thing is attached with his leg. Bending slightly he picked it up. It is the cast off skin of the snake. This time he did not scare at all. Stars began to appear in the sky. Gazing to the stars, Ashu remembered, his dead brothers and sisters. They must be some where there in the sky in the form of stars, Ashu feels sad. very sad. He started for home. ~