Sahityasetu

Nearly 11:00 a.m. Only sweepers were seen in the lobby. The lawyer told Niraj that their four-year-old divorce case may come to the end. It was in the final stage. But the leaf ‘lockdown’ turned a barrier to his fortune. He was confused very much. His friend Rasik a witness in the case too was upset. Both of them got off an auto-rickshaw and walked to a tea stall.

The court premise began to come in life. The man boiling tea repeatedly set his mask. Some people away from them were taking tea, and some others smoked. Across the road at a chicken shop the man severed a cock head and removed its skin. The caged cocks gave a terrific cry. It seemed that the November cold brought many customers to the shop. Niraj and Rasik ignored the things and busied themselves in their talks.

‘Time’s up and still the lawyer missing’, said Rasik taking a sip.

‘Rang to him. He’s not picking up. May be on the way. Better the case end today. Will be a great relief’, said Niraj.

Hardly had he ended the talk, he saw the lawyer’s car being parked in the court premise. But it was his opponent lawyer. Nayana and the lawyer came out of it. She watched herself in the shut window glass of the car and made her hair. Drew lipstick-painted lips together to give them proper shape. With a small handkerchief wiped them a little.

‘Here’s she – a harlot. A bloody one. Wants compensation. Not a rupee will I give. In the full presence of the court room, she confessed her sin and blew off my reputation.’ He spoke to himself.

‘See, our lawyer too came. Let’s go’, Rasik said.

Outside the court room in the waiting area, they sat on a bench. Nayana too was sitting there opposite side to them. He stared at her. Thoughts ran into his mind. Won’t have to see her devilish face now onwards. If the judge announces the end of the case and give the divorce certificate, he can loosen the grip of this hooker. Only then fresh ideas may come to me. Can pay attention to my business.

And the summons came: Niraj Ambalal, Nayana Niraj be present before the judge... The order echoed the room. The lawyers of both the sides came.

The lawyer asked Niraj, ‘Let’s go.’

‘What do you expect today?’ curiously asked Niraj.

‘May not end today. Perhaps a date after a month will be given to us. We only have to remain present today’, said the lawyer.

‘Why after a month? We were to given final judgement today.’

‘O Sir! The judge has been transferred. This is a new one. I just came to know about it. He may not give the final decision. But let’s go and see.’

Disappointed Niraj and Rasik followed the lawyer and stood before the judge. Nayana too came up and stood with respect to the judge. The judge oversaw the file and held glasses into his hands. Wiped them with his handkerchief and said, ’Where are the parties? Are they present here?’

‘Yes Sir. Here is Mr. Niraj Ambalal, my petitioner.’

‘Yes Sir. Here is Mrs. Nayana Niraj, my petitioner.’

The judge for a while looked at them. Hurriedly he looked at Nayana and hurriedly made a note on the last page of the file.

‘So, finally both of you have made decision. Want divorce, know?’

‘Yes Sir’, both of them said.

‘Ask them to remain present before the court after a month’, he ordered the writer.

The lawyer made a sign at Niraj to go out of the room. Niraj and Rasik were broken at heart. With sunken faces they again resumed the same bench at the tea stall. Niraj looked into his watch and said to Rasik, ‘Half day lost. No meaning to go to business place now.’

‘Yes, I took full day leave. That’s wasted too. But you don’t get disappointed. Next month you’ll have final decision.’

‘Well, should I go now?’

‘But tea has been ordered.’

Niraj sat silently. He felt very much crushed. Rasik began to read a newspaper.

******************

Little far away a crowd of the sweepers and other workers was growing up. Niraj was surprised and tried to find out the matter. There was a man. He was Chhaganlal. His head was covered up with a white cloth. Clothes were dirty and had torn footwear. He stood up and made sign to the crowd. Within no time it turned into an oval shaped gathering. Men, women, and children. As if a magic show taking place. They sat there. Some took tobacco and some smoked biris. Noise died down and silence prevailed. Niraj watched. He was interested into the matter. He was startled when Rasik handed him a tea cup. He saw everything but asked Rasik, ’What’s happening there?’

‘A conference. We do online. Theirs offline.’ He smiled and began to take tea. Niraj again watched the crowd.

‘Where’s Maniyo?’ Chhaganlal who stood at the centre of the gathering raised the question.

‘A man in very dirty vest and half pant stood up and his head bent down came in the middle. Chhaganlal continued, ‘And now, Bhimo. Where’s he? And Ramtudi. Yes, you too come over here. And tell me what have to say? All of you tell the truth. If you don’t Ma Meladi-the Goddess of Crematorium won’t spare you, I tell you. tell the truth only.'

Bhimo and Ramtudi lined up little far to Maniyo. ‘Yes Bhima, say. What you say? And be audible to all present here.’

All eyes were fixed upon Bhimo now. He scratched hands first of all and tried to be himself. Finally he began,’Um.. um... Chaganbhai what to say? I’ve already said to you. I had been out on my work and Ramtudi was alone at home. Had Kaniyo not told me I never have known it. This bastard Maniyo was lying naked with my wife. And this Kaniyo, I swear in the name of Meladi, won’t tell any lie. You can ask Kaniyo.’

‘Where’s Kaniyo?’ Chhaganbhai asked loudly.

Kaniyo came out from the crowd. ‘Chhaganbhai, I tell the truth. I had gone there for buttermilk. How do I know anything? Maniyo was there. How do I know he be there? And this Maniyo and Ramtubhabhi were naked on the cot. Sleeping together. Maniyo with his both hands on Ramtubhabhi’s...’

On hearing this half statement Niraj couldn’t take tea. It turned bitter. He poured down remaining cold tea and put the cup aside. Rasik looked at him and asked, ‘Won’t we go now? Much time gone.’

‘Wait for some time. I am interested in this conference.’ Again, he gave his eyes and ears to that crowd.

‘Maniya, What Kaniyo says, is it true?’, so that everyone can listen to it Chhagalal asked loudly.

‘Me telling the truth. In the name of Ma Melady, will I tell a lie?’ Kaniyo babbled and then sat down.

‘Maniya, I ask you. What Bhimo and Kaniyo says is true? Have you to say to this?’

‘Maniyo fixed eyes on the ground and rubbed slippers to the ground.

‘Mark, Chhaganbhai. He didn’t say anything. He’s naked. A bastard. Say, I say speak out.’ Bhimo was angry.

‘Bhima, you keep mum. Let him speak.’

‘Chhaganbhai, I tell it’s true. I made a mistake. Never do it again. Ready to bear any punishment you like.’ Kept head down and he said.

Chhaganlal was silent now. Brought out a biri from his pocket, lit it and began to puff. It’s your turn now Bhima. Say what punishment you wish?

Bhimo stiffened himself and gave a sharp look to Ramtu. ‘Mistake is hers too. But it’s up to me to punish this brothel. You decide for this pimp. I just want to say that he publicly swear in the name of Ma Meladi not to keep eyes at my wife again.’

‘Kaniya you want to say anything?’

Kaniyo shook his head. Maniyo had still his head bent down. A young man entered the round and began to count the people.

Niraj got understanding of the conference. The tea maker poured a litre milk-pouch in the pan.

Chhaganlal rubbed the biri to the ground and crushed it and asked the young man, ‘How many?’

‘Fifty-one.’

Chhaganlal ordered, ’O man, serve us fifty-one half tea.’

The tea maker hurriedly started making tea. Niraj and Rasik came to the road began to wait for an auto rickshaw.