SHADOW OF THE MID-NIGHT SUN

The bus, carrying more than double of its capacity stopped at its stand. In fact there is no stand, set aside for any type of vehicle, in the middle of the village market through which the main road is passing by. Wherever they could, people set up their small buffer of the stockpile of ‘Sabji’ and other commodities to fulfill the daily requirement of the folks and to bring home some earnings. The honking horns, the droning hum of the engines of vehicles, wagons and hullabaloo in the surrounding market, all blended up to form a tropical environment. The smell of moldy, festering vegetables, peeled skin of betel nut, dry cow dung mingled up to produce a typical perfume that has its own identity.

“Benipur namibo…” the handyman of the bus shouted with a peculiar voice. Suddenly I came into my senses and got ready to get down from the bus. It’s been long time I have come to this place with my mother after my father’s demise. Unlike the cities, the changes in the villages are very protracted. Here, instead of man, changes are brought about mostly by the nature. Many known and unknown faces turned their questioning eyes towards us as

‘Ma’ and I got down from the bus. Yeah… why not? At that moment anybody could easily spot us as being outsiders. I left behind my childhood here. I was around 12 years old when my father shifted to the distant town. “Now after almost 15 years, many of my primary school mates might be having school going children”. I talked to myself… rural communities are not dawdling …always!!

“Arey… Naubow dekhun!!” My mother turned back after hearing a call from behind. The person was carrying two huge bags on both sides of his bi-cycle. I could see the stalk of the bottle gourd from the opening of the bag. He almost jumped down from his cycle as he stopped near us. ‘Ma’ could easily recognize that person. He is Nabin - Nabin Saikia, now head master of the village primary school. She asked him about the well-being of all concerned whom she could remember at that time. The person really seemed filled with amazement as she introduced me. He also expressed regret for he could not come
in my father’s bereavement.

“Hey… isn’t that Deepak?” Suddenly mother shouted with greater astonishment as she saw one guy crossing us hurriedly in a hush. “Arre Deepak… how are you? We’ve just…” The person, whom she called, stopped for a moment and looked back. But hardly she could speak something more; the person gave a faint smile. He uttered something that we couldn’t hear and went away. “See, how he has behaved!” my mother shouted with sheer disbelief and looked at Nabin sir. “What happened to this guy? His little girl has been sick since last Monday… must be worried… so…” Sir told, while adjusting his bags hung on the handle of the cycle.

But my mind could not accept this excuse as, the moment I stepped into the village; the first person I desperately wanted to meet was Deepak uncle. How could he react like this? The red sun, in the west, was already on its way to say good-bye for the day. The tall bamboo trees on both side of the contracted, soiled village road made the hours of darkness come down little early. The days of oil lamps, lanterns were then, perhaps, a remote past. Electricity had already made its way towards the far-flung corners of the village. Digital age had stepped into this village too. I could see few young men standing at the bus stop and near the grocery shop with cellphones in their hand. Towering TV antennas and elevated satellite
disks in many houses were carrying the pennant of modernity of the community.

As we approached our destination, my grandfather’s home, the past days with uncle Deepak started flashing more into my mind. I clearly remembered myself going to school holding his hand. Then he was a student of class ten, reading in the high school, which was located closer to that of ours. By that time he had appeared almost two to three times in the class ten board examination. Quite experienced, obviously in many fields. I remember, going to the verge of Dikhow River with him to swim and bath, visiting the Bihu function held at the high school premises, waiting for his girlfriend under the banyan tree with a packet of chocolates and cashew nuts. Of course, I also got a share of that, as an incentive, for not divulging anything at home. After a few years, one day I heard - uncle eloped her away to his home making his life partner! My college examinations were going on in that very year and I couldn’t manage to come. Later on, my parents told me how his father-in-law went after him…!

Then, how can I forget those nights he passed, without sleeping, near my bed while I was suffering from severe fever and my father was away from home! Yes, I cannot forget him anyway… but why did he act that way? Is he suffering from any anxiety, stress… or just avoiding us?

We received a grand welcome by all the members at my grandfather’s home. My grandma, in particular, was very happy to see her grandson since she had visited our home two years back after my father’s death. “Nothing has been changed…!” I said to myself. The benign touch of the clay clad moist half brick-walls of the rooms reminded me of my childhood.  My young cousins pulled me in front to their room.

The pernicious darkness over the entire village was driven away by the electric lights. Though the roads lacked in streetlights, these were lighten up by the chattering local youths, gathered in the pan-shops. However, my mind was yet in the darkness, filled up with different superfluous thoughts. I was desperate to visit him…Deepak uncle. Accordingly, in spite of being very much worn-out after the exhaustive journey I decided to pop in uncle’s home.

While I opened the bamboo gate of my uncle’s house, I spotted a few people sitting in the darkness of the veranda. A stray dog, resting near the gate, ran away woofing at me as I called uncle. An unknown fear grasped my mind as I drew near the porch. One of the persons sitting in the veranda came forward. A female voice asked me, “Who’s there?” Only just I could respond, somebody called me from my back, “Is it Nayan?” I turned back and saw uncle with a long twine in his hand. “I saw you on the way with your mother… wait let me tie the bullocks.” He introduced me to aunt in the meanwhile. I asked anxiously about their daughter. “Junti? She is quite OK now… in the reading table”, replying with a smile aunt went inside. I could hear somebody reading inside the room in a low voice.

“Why didn’t you respond at that time?” I asked Deepak uncle with an anger mixed tone. He laughed out loudly on my question. It certainly annoyed me. Before I could say something, he started speaking… 

“Actually I have an upset stomach for the last two days… today just in the market I felt the urge so strongly that… you can understand, I hope!”

Suddenly darkness covered up the whole village within its cool arms. “Again load shedding…?” I murmured. “Heri… sunishane…”, aunt shouted from kitchen, “Where have you kept the candles… Junti have you met Nayan da?” I could hear Junti rending… “Joonbai ae beji eti de…”