Beyond the sand, by the boulders a silhouette lurked. Still in the shadows. It seemed to be looking out to the sea.
The waves lapped the shore in a gentle rhythm. Looking up at the sky one could see the stars blooming one by one as the moon lazily gripped the horizon. It was difficult to say what was more glorious- the moon rising in all it’s glory or the sun setting the skies on fire in brilliant tangerine and molten gold, before vanishing in the depths of the sea.
A shadow flitted behind the boulders.
Definitely there was something or someone.
The young boy was at his wits end. All morning he had pushed the cart, shouting out his fresh vegetables. It was alright in the morning. People opened their doors and windows, some haggled and argued while others picked and chose the best of the lot. He was hopeful the cart would soon be empty.
But as the sun rose to the zenith, it shone brighter, hugging all tighter which none really wanted- being such a blighter.
His hopes seemed to evaporate by and by just as sweat oozed out in buckets.
He had eaten nothing since morning but a stale roti, (his sister had forced it) and a glass of cool water from a clay matka he craved now.
The fresh vegetables though now dwindled, no longer looked fresh! Shriveled in a matter of hours, it just could not be imagined.
‘Men would turn into raisins,’ he thought looking at his measly heap.
‘Every last one should go, before you come to me,’ he had threatened. The scalding heat, the sweat trickling down his face, his back and the gnawing in his belly made him brazen.
He was toying with the idea of offering it to Krishna in the temple or tossing them to the beggars at the railway lines.
A tonga suddenly reared close. Saving his ware from the beautiful white horse, he started appealing to the wayfarers. His conviction belied what he offered. The babu smiled! His starched spotless ‘dhuti and Panjabi’ giving away his status. The gold within his mouth winked as he said something to the tongawala.
Everything? He couldn’t believe it. Tears mingled with his sweat as he received the crisp notes… all twenty of them.
What? I have to go to his house in the evening? Sure. Anything!
Running all the way to his house… the twenty tucked in his pocket, he was sure he could now get the medicine for his ailing mother. And also some jalebis, for his sister.
That evening the man with the golden tooth revealed a secret. ‘On the full moon night, go to the sea and bring me the brightest thing you see. I required it for my puja.
In return I will give you five hundred rupees.’
“That would feed us for a whole year. And get mother’s medicine too.”
“Yes Babu, I will bring it.”
Here he was tonight. Did he have any idea what it was he was seeking?
No!
The waves soon became lazy of being a good girl, coy and dutiful. They gave up their pretense as they played catch with each other, racing gleefully up the sandy shore and dashing on the boulders.
Now they grew quite wild! Leaping higher and higher, raising a crescendo. The poor boy wondered what to do. He stayed in the shadows watching the water’s playing out their dangerous charade.
Suddenly there was a lull. The waters grew silent like a child chided to sleep. A bright light approached…
Has the moon slipped into the sea? he wondered.
The beacon broadened and brightened.
There stood a monstrous sea turtle. With a crown of dazzling rubies, diamonds and sapphires. The boy was rudely jolted out of his stupor….’Get the brightest thing you see’
‘Oh! How can I do that?’
He stepped out of hiding.
“Hail great warrior,” he said.
The turtle turned to look at the puny human form.
“What do you want, child?”
“Your bright light! I will do anything you ask me.”
“And why should I? I can knock you down here. With no one to know, and the one who sent you will remain empty handed.”
“ Wait! Are you speaking to me? Can you talk?”
“ It’s telepathy boy.
Can you do what I tell you?”
“I promise!”
“ Kill him who sent you and keep my crown! Use it for the good of others else it will come back to me after killing you!”
Shivering with anticipation and nerves he bolted forward and pulled off the bright and heavy crown. A bolt of lightning passed through him as he felt himself flying through the air.
Amazed to see the crown of twinkling gems still in his hands, he ran helter skelter to his ramshackled hut and jumped into bed. Of sleep there was no sign. He planned what to do, how to do and as the eventful night slowly turned to day he drifted off to sleep!
Raucous laughter woke him.
There stood the babu bending over him.
“ Give it to me boy! I don’t have all day!”
“What?” He jumped out with alacrity. Trying to lunge at him with his pumpkin chopping cleaver he slipped and fell.
Meanwhile the man had spotted his booty hidden under a pile of sacks. Picking it up quickly the babu ran away, warning him of dire consequences if he came near.
And for all his adventures the boy lay sprawled under the scorching sun quite empty handed!
