PART II
(HISTORY)
Although
every man in the village was happy after Shantaram was elected as the new
Mukhya, but the air of Mukhya's house hung in tension because of the degrading
health of Ramchandra. He could not even stand on his legs, this sudden fall of
his health made every person in the house worried. Vaidya’s were called to
check Ramchandra, but all failed to tell the reason behind his sudden degrading
health. All the brothers and their wives were worried for their father. Tension
grew regarding their sister’s impending marriage with their father on the bed.
Shantaram
somehow managed to fix her marriage with a good family in the neighboring
village. They had their own business of cotton, which they use to give to
cotton mills and earn lots of money. Everyone in the house was happy for her
especially her father Ramchandra. He was very proud of Shantaram as he took the
responsibility of the house very well, but last thing which he wanted from
Shantaram was that he should also do something for his brothers. Shantaram too
was worried about his brothers as none of them were employed and every single
person in the family was living on the earnings of Shantaram.
One
day Shantaram heard that there was a military selection camp in one of the
neighboring village. Now this was an amazing opportunity for him to put forth
his brothers and get them employed.He went on his own, gathered full
information about the process, came home and told everyone about this.
Ramchandra was happy and thought that finally all his sons would be employed,
but only Shantaram, his sister, his wife and Ramchandra were happy with this
decision. Getting a job in military means to fight for the country and to stay
away from your own family. This point was not at all pleasing to any brother
and hence they were unhappy. This thing was noticed when all the brothers went
away silently after getting this news. Ramchandra called them back and forced
them to go and scolded them for getting up in this manner and made all the
brothers to apologize to Shantaram. All were angry on Shantaram yet with due
respect for their father, they apologized and also agreed that they would go to
the selection process.
Shantaram’s
wife Kaminibai was pregnant during this time with their first child, yet she was
the one to struggle in the kitchen and to take care of her father-in-law. Every
single lady in the family were giving excuses about their children and working
in the field. This made Shantaram very angry, he was going to make it very
clear to everyone that this is not going in a proper way. But Kaminibai didn’t
want any hard feelings in family, so she stopped Shantaram every time, whenever
he became harsh with words. All these brothers and their wives were doing this
deliberately because they all were jealous of Shantaram and now they got an
extra reason to be angry on him. They didn't think that going to the milotary
was for the betterment for their own family, yet this situation wouldn’t have
risen if these brothers would have studied properly. Even Shantaram didn’t
study higher enough just because he wanted to help his father. But that time
they were enjoying and doing all the wasteful things and today are wasting
their energy getting angry and jealous on him. Every action of these brothers
were getting observed by Ramchandra as well, but he was helpless and could only
watch this show from the front seat as he loved them all. Even Shantaram and
his wife were noticing these changes but kept calm and didn’t waste their time
thinking about them. One day postman came along with letters, Shantaram
received these letters and thanked the postman. Letters were the reply for the
application he made for his brothers. He soon told everyone about this.
Finally,
its the day of selection, all these brothers were nervous, actually everyone in
the family was nervous but all were acting brave enough to let them go.
Shantaram was crying in his own heart to send them for this selection, yet he
was thinking about his own brothers, the time they had spent in their childhood
together, even though they were against him he loved his brothers, if they got
selected they would be parted from him and also from his own family, but this
is the only option he had for them. So he waved them by hardening his heart.
Selection process involved them to stay for a week if they progressed. But two
of them returned on the third day itself, they failed. Now all they could do
was to come with their heads down to show how bad they were feeling about this,
but they had planned already that they were not going to take this seriously.
Ramchandra was sad and Shantaram was angry because he saw that they were least
interested to get this job and had given an unsatisfactory explanation about
the selection when asked by their father. So Shantaram declared in front of
everyone that he is not going to take their responsibility anymore and that
they should go on to look up for their own living, to which the brothers got
worried. They didn’t utter a single word to Shantaram and started thinking as
what to do and all but it was obvious that these dumb brothers wouldn’t find
any solution but to go and beg from Shantaram to get them employed somehow, and
they did that. They went to Shantaram and begged in front of him for
employment, he gave a clear nod and told them to go away but they cried and
showed him that they were helpless and begged for help. As Shantaram was kind
at heart he got melted by this act of their brothers and told them that he
would try something. Next day Shantaram came home from his work and told his
brothers to go and join as farmers in the neighboring field. Recommending them
where he himself worked. To this they got happy and started to express their
gratitude towards Shantaram, flipping them off he went inside.
Days
passed, and soon the day arrived when finally the girl of Gaura’s was getting
married. She was very sad to leave her brothers specially Shantaram and her
father. Every member in the family was crying as their chimni was waving them
bye to start a new life and family. Ramchandra was being put on a wheelchair,
he was satisfied and said that now he is willing to die happily.
Some
months passed and soon Kaminibai delivered a baby girl and named her Shobha.
She was healthy and was pretty, looking like her father. Everyone was happy in
the village and had a feast for this. At the end of the feast Shantaram gave a
blow to the villagers by telling them that he is going to shift to a new city
and that they should elect a new Mukhya. This was a very big mistake done by
Shantaram as he declared it in front of everyone as his own father went in
shock and had an heart attack and died because of it. This is not how a brave
warrior should have died, this is not how he should have gone, etc. etc. all
these thoughts were running in Shantaram’s mind and his eyes were all filled
with tears taking all the blame of his father’s death upon himself. After all
the vidhis were performed he announced a meeting, all the villagers gathered in
the center as usual, and Shantaram asked with his confident voice as to whom
will be the next Mukhya, as he was totally sure to leave the village and get
settled elsewhere. There was a pin drop silence, you could hear a heartbeat,it
was that silent. No one was willing to tell Shantaram to give-up, so they
started discussing between themselves and came to an unusual point, that
Shantaram will stay to be the Mukhya of this village even if he doesn’t stay in
this village. This decision made Shantaram shocked and his brothers even more
jealous. Shantaram had an unsual feeling where he was both happy and sad about
this decision. No one was against this decision, except his own brothers but
they didn’t raise their voice as they knew it was useless and also kept a smile
on their face. So he agreed to this decision and started packing his bags.
Time
arrived where Shantaram was going to leave his village and get settled
elsewhere. He was very emotional about this but all he wanted to do this was to
make his brothers independent so that they would earn their living in a proper
way. Kaminibai was pregnant again and all set for her delivery soon. Yet she
wanted to go with Shantaram to accompany him and help him setup his life.
Shantaram came out with his bags with unshed tears in his eyes. His brothers
helped him by giving a hand to their bags. They too were crying but it was
noticeable that it was crocodile tears. All the villagers gathered near the
Mukhya’s house to give him a hug and bid him adieu. All villagers had tears
rolling down their eyes, for that person who had brought prosperity to the
village telling them bye. They knew he was going to be back and that he will
have his eyes upon the village, but to stay there and being with them is a
different thing rather than controlling and observing things from long
distance. The cart started to move and soon Shantaram was out of sight.
To
be Continued…
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