LOCKDOWN SERIES:
THE CUCKOO STORY
She is excited! For what?? Her partner knows it well. Every year he sees this exhilaration in her. It is not that he is indifferent to all this. But she has some extra zeal. She has been counting her days eagerly for more than a month. Today is the time for that much awaited flight. Both of them exchange gleeful glance to each other and …
THE JOURNEY BEGINS!!
Oh! It’s a dream flight for them for which they wait almost nine months of every year.
The hilly abode is no doubt a delightful one. But this sojourn to the lush green plains adds some refreshment to their lives. Perhaps it happens to everyone of their community. The coming of spring rejuvenates their body and soul. She is flying gracefully with her consort through the vast azure sky. Yet her mind is travelling faster than her wings. All the time she is thinking about her dream destination. Memories of the last year is still alive in her mind . The big mango trees, the tender hazel leaves of banyan, the wild fragrance of keteki and nahar, the elegant beauty and sweet aroma of kopou , the virgin white tagar and alluring kharikajai. Oh, she feels restless to reach that place. The thrill of spring is visible in humans too. The magnificent beats of dhol , the silvery tune of baanhi, pepa and gogona, the spontaneous romantic bihu songs, the passionate graceful steps of bihu dance by gorgeous dhulia and nachani , the bright and colourful riha-mekhelas, the hand woven token of love and respect gamoshas, the henna-red palms of young ladies, the busyness in the household for making sweet pithas and larus, rush in the market place. It is a sure and certain picture that she is going to witness again after a long gap. All these specialities have made this place unique in her mind. This time they have planned to go to the same jamun tree like the last year as their first resting place. That tree gives them a 360* view of the semi urban area. She likes to see and enjoy the festivities. This time she has another reason for her earnestness. That secret attraction lies in family of the owner of the jamun tree. Last year there was a wedding in that family. The noise and music compelled them to temporarily shift their resting place to a nearby banyan tree. When the wedding was over and the situation became normal they came back. Then she saw that young and beautiful bride with a soft voice. Every morning the lady came to the backyard and listened passionately to the wooing voice her male partner who is sitting at the topmost branch of the tree. Sometime she followed the tune and came right under the jamun tree. She tried to find the source amidst the leaves . Then a young boy perhaps her husband came running with a worried look. She silenced him with the index finger on her lips. The bride let him hear the voice and both of them flowed in the tune of eternity. Oh, What a scene it was ! The birds on the tree were watching the love birds of human world. It became the habit for both the pairs. The whole season passed that way. Then it was the time to bid adieu. They left the jamun tree with a sad heart. Now those memories have cheered up her spirit. She really wants to experience those moments again. Their zeal for the plains has made it possible for them to cross the long journey comfortably. They reach the jamun tree. But she finds the atmosphere an unusual one. The spring is already here. Every part of nature is clad with new attire. The birds, squirrels all are happy. But something is missing. She is not able to trace the mark of festivity around her. No hustle anywhere , no beats of drum, no sound of dhekis in the backyard, and most strangely no vehicle is seen on the road. Her partner suggests that there may be some boycott programme. Last year also they experienced two or three Asom Bandhs. She assumes to be so. But the condition remains unchanged . They are all at sea. She peeps at the backyard in search of the bride. Not a single shadow is there. The earth without human activity is unimaginable for them. Yes she knows silence is peaceful. But this silence has some essence of graveyard which she finds distressful. The whole town is in a mute mode. They have flied all around the town. A very few persons are seen outside and all of them seem to be in some special duty. The stray dogs are roaming here and there. Their thin bellies tell how hungry they may be ! But the nahar, tagar, kopou , kharikajai all are in full bloom. She finds the air more refreshing than the last year due to the absence of smoke. Yet she has lost all the rapture of her heart in absence of that colourful lively world. Humans are also a part of nature. Then why is this seclusion?? No one is here to give the answer. They have come back to the jamun tree in the evening. But they hear some hue and cry inside the house. There is a white long car in the frontyard and some persons covering their whole body even the mouth and eyes with some unusual clothes have entered the house. They have come out after sometime with a young member of the house. Yes! He is the same boy , the husband of that young bride of last year. The car goes away. But the wailing of other family members continue till midnight. She sees a shadow of a lady on a glass window her face in her knees. She must be that young bride whom she so keenly wished to meet this time again. Actually she had a secret hope of observing some new changes in her physique, a clear message of coming of a new member to the family. She is totally disappointed. Next day another car comes and the whole family is taken away to somewhere. The house is being sprayed with water for some unknown reason. Both of them are looking at each other. The bright red eyeballs have become blur with tears. They have forgotten to sing their “kuu..kuu..kuu” song. It is as if they have become dumb. The tune of a bihu song and beats of dhol from inside of a distant house reach their ears. But it fails to make any impact in her heart. She looks at her consort helplessly. He can clearly read her mind. He nods. “yes, to the hills very soon.”
