The King's Hut

The King’s Hut

Once upon a time, there lived a farmer under the shade of a banyan tree. Lonely and poor, the old man led a simple life. He raised hens and grew vegetables on the open land near the tree. Selling eggs and vegetables in the market was his livelihood. Though happy and content, he had a secret desire. Like his brother in the village, he wanted a hut of his own. It was his desire to have his hut built on the edge of the riverbank. If the hut stands facing the banyan tree it would be better, he told himself. He was always dreaming of the day he would cook, eat, and sleep in his own hut. Two of his pets, a white cow, and a black dog were his only companions.

One-day the farmer saw two soldiers running after a man. They were shouting “catch him, catch him.” The former stood watching the fun from a distance. However, the stranger suddenly came near him, stopped for a while, and threw a small but heavy bag into a thick bush at the trunk of the banyan tree. Then the man took to his heels and disappeared.

A little later, the soldiers came running and enquired the farmer. The former explained them how a man came running and threw a bag into the bushes.

“Go and take that bag; do you know what it contains,” one of the soldier shouted at him. Without a word, the farmer walked towards the bush, took the bag, and handed it over to the soldier. The soldier opened the bag, checked the contents, and confirmed that nothing was lost.

“He has left the bag. Thank God, he has not taken the gold. Now we have to catch the fellow,” said the other soldier. He turned towards the farmer and said, “That man is a thief.”

“Can you show the way that fellow ran,” asked the first soldier.

The farmer pointed the direction in which the thief ran and said, “By this time he would have crossed the river. Shall I help you,” he volunteered. The soldiers looked at each other and wondered how a farmer can help to catch a thief.

The farmer understood the urgency. He did not wait for the soldiers’ approval. Immediately he signaled a command to his cow and the dog, Robin. Both the animals bounced up and dashed in the direction in which the man ran. Robin sniffed and fixed the way. The cow rounded up the man while Robin got him by his cloths and dragged him back. The soldiers wasted no time. They arrested the man and took him to prison.

Next day the king sent word for the farmer and invited him to the court. He presented the farmer a diamond ring.

The farmer was happy but hesitated to accept the present. He bowed the king and said politely, “your majesty, it does not belong to me; it is the king’s ring. It won’t look nice on a farmer’s finger. Please give me something that a poor man needs.” The king was amazed at the farmer’s humility.

“Tell us what you want from the king,” the minister asked the farmer.

“During the monsoon days I cannot live under the banyan tree. It is flooded with water. I cannot cook with water under my feet. My hens get drenched. My pet dog gets scared of mud and water on rainy days. Sometimes the river overflows right into our dwelling place. Please help me to put a small hut close to the river and overlooking the banyan tree,” said the farmer.

The king was happy to hear the farmer’s humble request. However, he ordered his men to build a beautiful house on a place chosen by the farmer. “I just wanted a roof over my head, but the king gifted me a mansion,” the farmer was always heard muttering to himself. To this day, that new house of the farmer is called ‘The King’s Hut ’.

Old Man and his Car

Old Man and His Car

It happened to Ivan on an otherwise ordinary day while returning from school. He used to ride his bicycle fast and reach home in twenty minutes. That day he was late. Games in the field took one extra hour of his time. Usually he’d be at home by five in the evening to get a cup of coffee and a hug from his mother. He knew she would be waiting for him. It was already seven, and it was getting dark. The clouds above threatened to bring heavy rains.

He took several short cuts, crossed Konica and entered the Lattice Bridge road. At the bend near the signal an old man was standing. Raising his hand he walked towards Ivan and stopped him.

“Ivan, Ivan”, he called out.

The old man tried to look friendly towards Ivan. Ivan pulled the brake and the cycle came to a halt just near the old man. Still he was sitting on the bike keeping his left leg on the ground. He was wondering who it might be at this hour to stop him at the middle of a road. The old man was lean and dark, but dressed in angelic white pants and a long loose shirt that was the fashion a generation back. He looked at Ivan in a casual and familiar way as if he knew him for a long time.

“How do you know my name” Ivan asked curtly.

“I know you. Are you not the son of Joseph Ivan? I know your father. I know your grandpa too”, said the old man.

“Yes. My father is Joseph. What can I do for you? I’m in a hurry. I’m already late. My mom will be waiting for me”, said Ivan.

“Well. Ivan, will you please take me in your bicycle. It is about to rain. I’m too tired to walk. Just up to the end of this Road. My house is there at the corner. It’s about a kilo meter from here”.

“Ok. Sit on the career” said Ivan half-heartedly.

The old man sat comfortably at the back of Ivan’s bicycle. Ivan started pedaling. It was not a difficult job. For the old man was of a light built. In fact Ivan needed no extra effort to pedal. He felt he was carrying a bagful of feathers. The old man first started whistling to the annoyance of Ivan. He then started talking. Ivan was not happy to listen or in a mood to talk. He thought the man was talking to himself aloud.

“Ivan. Why you’re silent? Let’s talk about something. Let’s talk about your hobbies. Let’s talk about all the latest models of cars. Are not you interested in cars?”

Ivan didn’t reply. He was pedaling silently, though he’d love to talk about new cars. He thought of his mother who would be at the gate waiting for him. The old man was more inclined to speak continuously without waiting for Ivan’s response.

“To day you’re late. Seems you spent too much time in the foot ball ground”, the old man continued.

“How do you know I was in the ground and am late”, asked Ivan at last.

“I’ve seen you in the school. Often I’ve seen you leaving the field at four in the evening and ride fast on this road”, was the old man’s reply.

“Ivan. Stop, stop. That’s my house. Leave me here. Thank you”, Said the old man.

Ivan was too happy to get rid of the man. He stopped and glanced at the house pointed out by the old man. It was equally old, for there is nothing remarkable to remember about it. The man took out something from his pocket and gave it to Ivan. It was a coin. In the dark Ivan could not make out its size or value.

The old man said “Ivan, take this coin and you’d always remember me”. Ivan did not want to be complimented for such a small help to an old man.

“No, thanks”, said Ivan.

The old man slipped the coin into Ivan’s shirt pocket. Ivan was about to move. The old man said Good night to Ivan. “Call me one day. This is my house. I’d be happy to receive you and show my coin collection. You’d love to see the latest Fiat car I’ve bought last month. It is Fiat Punto Dyanamic”.

At the mention of a new car Ivan turned to smiling. Suddenly he got interested in the old man and his car. Yet he was more anxious to move away and run to join his mother at home.

“Ivan”, the old man again continued. “How is your grandpa? I was his best friend those days when we were in the college. What happened to that old Fiat he was ridding around?”

Ivan did not wait for another word from the man. He got on his bicycle and rode fast without even looking back.

“Let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll show you my new car”, the old man shouted at Ivan.

At the gate as Ivan expected, his mother was waiting. He told her how he met an old man on the road. He narrated the event, every bit of it. He said how the old man referred to his grandpa and the old Fiat their family owned years ago. Ivan’s mother did not show any interest.

After dinner Ivan was alone. He was recollecting the unusual meeting he had had that evening. He was suddenly interested in the car the old man mentioned. Only one man in the town is having Fiat Punto, Ivan told himself.

Next day while returning home he rode slow and glanced at the old man’s house. It was a huge one. But there was no sign of anyone living there. The compound wall was dilapidated with cracks and fissures. Ivan could see a garage where he imagined the new Fiat might be parked. His curiosity was roused. Leaving his cycle near the wall, he pushed open the gate. It made a loud screeching sound. He walked towards the house with a hope of seeing the old man he had met previous day though he couldn’t remember his face.

As he was nearing the portico a window was opened and an old lady was seen peeping out. Ivan never expected to be greeted by an old lady seeing him through a window. The lady motioned him to come closer to the window.

“Hallo young boy. What do you look for?” the old lady asked Ivan.

Ivan looked around and made sure that this was the house the old man showed him the previous day.

“I met an old man yesterday. He said this is his house. I met him on my way home. I took him in my bicycle up to this compound wall. He gave me an old coin and invited me to see his coin collection. He said he owns a new model Fiat. I’ve a fancy for new cars”, Ivan told her without a break.

The old lady didn’t say a word. She just smiled back and waited for Ivan to continue. Ivan was surprised at the old lady’s uninterested look. He made a gentle pat on his shirt pocket to prove that he still had the coin given by the man. He turned his glance to the garage.

“So the old man is still loitering around and scare children on the road”, said the lady casually. “Look into the garage and see for yourself”.

Ivan did not understand, but he was curious to know what the old woman was saying. He peeped into the garage only to see a very old car with flattened tires and caught in a maze of cobweb. It must have been there for half a century, Ivan concluded disappointedly.

“What do you mean by scaring the children on the road”, Ivan asked. “I want to meet him. He promised to show me the new Fiat he has bought recently”, Ivan said. The old lady this time laughed aloud, hysterically.

“O! My dear young man, how can I explain this? That man, my husband, died long ago. Often he appears to children on the road and fools them. It is true he loved cars and had a coin collection. Yesterday it was your turn to be fooled,” said the lady stuttering out every word slowly.

“But the coin he gave… “, Ivan couldn’t finish. The old lady closed the window with a bang. Ivan took to his heels, grabbed the bicycle and jumped on it. While riding fast he checked his pocket. Alas, there was no coin. He remembered the old man’s last parting words “let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll show you my new car”.

Bear Sense

Bear Sense

“Jason, hurry up. It’s time. Let’s start. Take your binoculars”, said Jason’s father.

“Has mummy prepared sandwiches for us”, Jason was anxious about the food they had to carry.

“Yes. I’ll carry the lunch box and the tent. Get up. It’s time”, Jason’s father said, wearing his green hunting shirt for the day.

“Ok, Dad”, said Jason approvingly. “You told me we’re going to the forest and pitch our tent near the stream.”

“Yea”, confirmed his father. “Remember we’re going for bird-watching.

“Dad, I’d love to watch birds. But I’m scared of wild animals. Won’t you bring your gun?” Jason asked.

“No. We need no gun. Don’t be afraid. I know the places where animals never stray into. Anyway, if you want take your air gun. That’ll do”.

Jason was delighted to carry his air gun. He had never taken it beyond their compound walls. With a gun slung across his shoulders, he thought he could scare away animals. The very sight of a gun would frighten a tiger, his grandma had told him once. He now recollected this animal psychology passed on to him. To match the gun what dress should I wear, Jason thought for a while. Well, I shall wear the police uniform I sported for the fancy dress competition, Jason made a quick decision. He put the pellet box in the shirt pocket. I’m now armed to accost any animal, Jason told himself. He looked more like a hunter than a bird watcher.

“Look, Jason. Remember we’re not going to hunt”, the father reminded.

“But you said we’re going deep into the forest where all kinds of animals live”, Jason reasoned.

After an hour’s drive they reached the forest. Jason was seeing for the first time tall and heavy trees that were different from those in the plains. Why they are heavy and tall, he asked himself. He was delighted at catching a question of great importance to the environmentalists. He thought that there would be birds on every tree. His next move was to spot nests of weaver birds. Screeching sounds of birds he was able to hear, but could not locate one.

“Jason, listen. Seems there is a woodpecker somewhere here. Can you hear the sound ‘tuck, tuck, tuck’. Sure it is a woodpecker, chipping shafts of wood and making a hole for its nest”, said the father. Both walked on their toes and listened.

“Jason, I’m sure, it is a woodpecker. It’s making a nest in the trunk of a tree. Give me the binoculars, let me first locate it and show you the bird in action”.

“Dad, first tell me how woodpeckers make home with their beaks. Will they not get hurt while making holes on tree trunks?” asked Jason while handing over the binoculars to his father.

The father moved, taking every step with caution to avoid noise. Jason was lost in his thought. He had to find answers for a lot of questions swirling in his mind. How do these birds choose the right tree for their nests? Do they choose soft trees, was his first question. Which one is a good architect, the wood pecker or a weaver bird? Do they first draw an outline or a blue print of their nest?

His father started tracking the bird’s ‘tuck’ ‘tuck’ sound. He made signs to Jason to keep calm and waiting. Jason was still thinking of the nests of birds. Do they make any rough sketches before they start building? How many days will a bird take to complete a nest? How many little ones can live in their nests? Who will guard them at night? Will there be light inside a bird’s home. Grandma had once told him how weaver birds keep their nests lighted by captive fireflies tucked on the walls inside. Do woodpeckers follow the same technique to light up their woody holes? Jason was lost in his thoughts about birds and their home-building techniques.

Daddy was not seen near. Jason shouted, “Daddy, daddy”. There was no response. All around him was silence, except the distant ‘tuck’ ‘tuck’ being followed by his father. A strange sense of fear gripped him. But he told himself that he is not afraid. Again he shouted. No response. Instead there was a series of “thuds” indicating movement of an animal. Now the sound was clear. And there were rustling sounds of the dry leaves on the ground being crushed. Finally the sound was heard close to Jason. Suddenly there appeared a bear cub. It stood majestically looking straight into the eyes of Jason. It cast a surprising look at seeing a young boy standing alone. There was also a mischievous smile on its lips to announce that the boy was in its mercy. Jason on his part stood stiff, as if he was not scared of the little intruder.

Strangely enough the cub began to speak. It asked,” what’s your name?”

Jason blinked for a while. “Jason, Joseph Jason. Friends call me Jay Jay”, he replied curtly.

“Why you’re here”, the cub asked. Its face showed a sense of curiosity. May be it hadn’t seen a boy straying into its territory.

“I came with my dad. We came to watch birds and photograph them”, Jason said showing the camera hung on his shoulders. He is after a woodpecker’s ‘thud thud’ sound”. Jason thought for a while whether he had given a correct reply.

“Why that gun?” the cub asked.

Jason summed up his courage. “Oh! It’s only an air gun. It wouldn’t hurt even if I shoot at close range”. The bear cub eyed at the small weapon curiously to make sure that it was not meant to kill.

“I think you’ve lost your way”, Jason questioned the bear, this time with an air of feigned courage and superiority.

“Me?” No. I know this forest well, every inch of it”, said the cub casually. Its tone showed its intent to be friendly with the boy.

Jason smiled and tried to show a friendly face, though he had his own fears. He could not believe he was standing before an animal, face to face, in a forest with no one close to save him if it pounces on him. He felt he too should talk something to make the cub feel at home. He asked,” what’s your name?”

“No. My mother had warned not to disclose my name to anyone. You people would drag me to a circus”, was the cub’s reply. Jason was not able to understand the cub’s hatred for men. Why then it is patiently talking to me, Jason wondered.

“Ok. Keep your name to yourself. Now can you help me to reach my dad?” Jason asked, though he wasn’t sure of a cub helping to find his father.

“O! Sure. Follow me”, the cub came readily to help Jason.

Jason had his own doubts about the cub’s ability to help. “How will you find the way to my dad”, Jason asked.

“It’s simple. Don’t worry. Is not your dad carrying sandwiches—I mean egg-and-cheese sandwiches in his knapsack”, the cub asked with a meaningful smile.

“Yes. How do you know it is sandwich my dad is carrying?” asked Jason.

“I can smell. I smell sandwich. And you’re not carrying any bag with you. I’ll sniff the way and take you to your dad. Follow me”, said the cub.

Now Jason began to like the cub and its smart talk. But he didn’t show it out. He followed the cub meekly.

“Hi! Jason. Look. There’s your dad. Go and join him. Run. Don’t look back. Tell your dad that a bear cub guided your way. You’re not home-alone in this forest. Remember, here you’ve enough friends to play with”.

Jason was happy to see his dad emerging from the furthest end of a bush. He looked back at the cub to say thanks. “Please come and share some sandwich with us”, Jason requested.

“No. My mother had warned me not to accept food from city folk. That’s how my dad was tricked into being caught by the circus people. Bye. Walk fast and join your dad”.

Quickly, to Jason’s surprise, the cub left the scene, leaving him to think about the whole episode. He was amazed at the bear cub’s worldly wisdom. But he felt he got new knowledge of animal rights, and his love for animals acquired a new meaning. He vowed never to see animal shows in circus.

Was it a dream, Jason was not sure. He jumped up and sat at the edge of his bed. Squinting his eyes at the eastern window Jason saw the first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. He shook his head to ensure he was awake. All that he remembered now was his father’s promise to take him for his first bird-watching tour that morning.