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While returning home from school, Babai saw the market showcased  kandals hanging lose from the top, all colours where emanating from far- green, blue yellow and tiny diyas were kept in a row, and villagers dressed in traditional attire bargaining or paying or taking away some or the products,

the sight of all these reminded babai that, the villagers will be celebrating something grand but individually at home. The market was lit, and this a rare picture that all the walks of the villagers gathered together.

Did he wonder what kind of celebration is this? He sauntered, towards one of the shops with his school bag, which is torn and one of the books is visible from far. as he came close, one of the helpers from the shop, shun him away. still curious he stood there observing what is the conversation, Babai was blocking one of the customers- so the shop keeper took out a long stick which he uses to scare the cows and unwanted dogs.

With the sight of getting beaten Babai took a few steps back and didn’t go close again. he saw a coconut which is half-eaten,  he kicked it hard and kept walking towards home. the noise of the market ebbed as he reached far,

the road was empty and cows were grazing grass and cold wind slowed down his length of walking. a man riding bicycle kept a kandal tied on his cycle, swaying and the tint of red made it extremely good looking work of art.

Babai wondered if he can chase him and see exactly what he will do with it, but he sped away , to his surprise few birds flapping their wings and the wind became more intense and cold.

for a moment he realized its been long he is roaming astray and need to go home.

He took the shorter route from the jungle and a river which flows crossing it, he took the stick and ran inside it, after exhausting his last source of energy he took refuge beside the river and rested for some time.

Baba was chasing him with a stick, and he was running in a green field with the same kandil in his hands, baba didn’t looked agitated- the cold wind touched his face

it became all dark now, everything is fading away.             

He opened his eyes with a roar of a hyena who was approaching near,

when he sensed , it was almost dark and he cannot even see himself- with a shock he moved back, and all sorts of voice he can hear from all over, a hyena, cricket and constant drumming of the bushes.

His eyes filled with tears and he shut his mouth not making the predators aware where he is, he sat down making no noise, the stillness and the noise of the animals around made him shiver through his spine.

Regretting why did he approach this route he was hungry and alone.

He can hear a tiger approaching, he can feel its big enough to eat him up without even listening to him. He sat still shivering, there was an eerie of silence.

He closed his eyes, and for the first time he missed his father so much, and he couldn’t help but reciting his name, but the tiger kept approaching near, taking a small step

His entire body became pale with fear, after a few seconds he heard the voice ebbed and he didn’t hear anything,

The cloud cleared the moons way and now there was some light- and he saw an old man looked like  ( Dadu) coming his way with a huge bamboo stick, unaware how did he land up, he went running towards him, with a respite from the danger.

Dadu didn’t say anything and kept walking with him, unusually quiet - Babai kept narrating his stories how he slept, the moon was still shining

As they came close to their house, Babai insisted dadu to come for once but he quietly went back.

 Ma and baba was sitting in the veranda, ma was profusely crying by the sight of seeing him- she hugged him tight, and baba discreetly trying to hide his tears,

While eating food, the lantern was lit and the light was on the food,

when he explained that dadu helped him averting the danger, and even showed the way.

Ma and baba became worried and quiet, after a few days they mentioned to Babai that

dad died one year back, in the near village- and he has been buried to the place he got lost, that was cemetery near to the river.

I didn’t believe them, because I see him every day sitting beneath the tree near to the school.