Chapter 9--- A Dance in time

Memories that were forgotten in time… come back with the simplest of hints… from a smell, a sight, music, a touch…a dance.

As the sun went down over the forested hills, everybody gathered around the bonfire in the jungle camp. Though nobody knew each other in the camp other than the guide of the tour, DJ could not stop himself from pondering where SHE could be. She was called away by her friend at Unokoti and then went to the other minibus to reach the camp in the forest. But even after reaching the camp DJ’s searching eyes could not spot her among the people gathered around the fire. The people were gathered in a wide circle around the fire, seated and chatting to each other when Jitu the guide proclaimed -

“Ladies and gentlemen, now there will be a performance by the dance troupe. The dance that they are going to perform is an ancient one among the people of the jungle.” A drummer had already started beating a slow tune… “Nobody knows the origin of the tune or the dance…but folklore says that there was once a prince of the hill nation who fell in love with the beautiful princess of the plains and it was their meeting dance…” Jitu’s voice trailed off dramatically as the beating of the drum became louder and the drummer came nearer. A hush fell over the camp. 

The male dancer appeared and started dancing to the lilting sound of the drum beat around the fire. Slowly the drum beat became faster as the dance did too. But slowly the beat and the dance became slow again until the dancer almost laid himself on the ground in a posture as if expecting someone’s arrival into the arena. In a white and green saree worn elegantly like a ghagra most unlike the dress of the hill ladies, came the female dancer onto the arena. The passionate dance of love started …now more enchanting with the music of a flute joining the sound of the drum. But somehow DJ felt that something in the dance was amiss. He closed his eyes and only enjoyed the music which brought back memories...memories that were familiar but …

“As you know, the camp is located just next to the hilly village of Khamgiri. The people of the hills have been living in this village for centuries. The village head, has agreed to participate in our festivities today and I am honoured to receive him as our chief guest for today.” Jitu’s announcement brought DJ back to the present as he noticed that the dance had stopped and everybody was clapping. Some people came in with a kind of high pedestal and a chair. Two torches got lit on both sides and a chair was placed on the pedestal. Shortly, the chief of the village was seen slowly arriving with his warrior escorts in traditional dresses and taking his seat.

“Dear friends, welcome to the Khamgiri Hills” said the chief. 

“Today is a very special day. Today we celebrate the great meeting occasion. According to folklore, our village is an ancient one and there was born a great prince in the Hill nation who fell in love with the princess of the plains. They first met here, on this very spot, on the banks of river Gomti. So, every year, on this day, we celebrate the day of meeting of their great love. The dance that you have just witnessed is performed by our village people to keep alive the memories of their great love.”

“To celebrate the occasion, we hold a dancing contest. All are welcome to participate. Please choose your partners, as we will start the contest in 15 minutes’ time. I have a surprise gift for the winning couple today. After that, we shall have a great feast.”

Suddenly DJ’s eyes fell on the girl he had been searching. It was her- the girl from the paddy fields, the girl at Unokoti. Now was the chance. She was gossiping and laughing with her friend in a corner. He had been unable to spot her because of the huge celebratory flag masts. He boldly approached her:-

“Hello, how are you? I am DJ.”

“Hello, yes I have noticed you at Unokoti clicking my friend’s picture. That’s not right you know, clicking somebody’s picture without their permission you know,” chided Jyoti.

“Stop it Jyoti” quipped Payel.

“And what sort of name is DJ?” Jyoti carried on.

“Pardon me, my name is Digvijay. Friends call me DJ.”

“OO...” Jyoti had started to say something when Payel stopped her.  “Pardon my friend,” Payel flashed a skittish smile “I am Payel and this is Jyoti my best friend”.

DJ smiled back with his most captivating smile and slightly bowing mockingly towards Jyoti. A lot of girls had fallen for DJ’s smile. There were already 3 girls in the tourist group who were trying to get close to the handsome hunk and ogling his every move.

“Actually, I was wondering if you would care to dance with me for the contest” DJ shot at Jyoti. He knew instantly that if he asked Payel, knowing girls like Jyoti from his previous experiences, Jyoti would not allow Payel to dance with DJ.

“How dare you…No.” Blasted Jyoti.

“Then, I am really sorry but I would have to ask your friend. Payel, may I have the pleasure of this dance with you?”

“Yes”, said Payel just to watch her friend’s horrified face which actually worked.

“What?” Jyoti gasped at Payel as if trying to say ‘Wait I will kill you’ with her eyes. Then she stood grouchily as her friend accompanied DJ to the dancing arena.

Quite a few couples had gathered there for the contest which was to start in a matter of minutes.

“But I don’t know how to do the dance” said Payel nervously to DJ.

“Don’t worry; just let the music take you. We have seen how the performers danced…it won’t be tough”, said DJ reassuringly.

All the couples were to wear the traditional attire of the dancers. When they changed and came back to the arena, DJ was looking like the Prince of the hill tribes, strongly built and long hairs. All eyes in the contest were on Him. The female partners had to join in the mid of the dance with their male partners.

“Let us start” proclaimed the chief smiling.

The drum started beating slowly and all the male contestants started dancing to the lilting sound.

Slowly DJ almost closed his eyes feeling the beat and losing himself in the music. He felt as if he had done this dance before in some other time and place. Déjà vu or was it? The beat gathered a fever pitch and DJ started dancing like the warrior in the dance. Most of the novices fell and only the men from the village remained in the arena who had done this dance before. Slowly the beat subsided to the lilting sound again and flute music started accompanying the drum. The female partners of the remaining contestants joined the arena. When the men slowly got up from the posture of expecting their partners to join them, DJ saw Payel in the green and white saree approaching him like the princes she was. It was as if sparks were flying in the air when she touched him to get up with her small soft hands. Both got immersed in the beat and the music and danced like the prince and princess that they were from the other life. They danced forgetting where they were and who they were. Passion of the dance made them forget their present and took them to the other time when they had first danced some centuries back. Memories long forgotten, memories so loving, memories so dear so powerful that when DJ held her closely to him with the last beat and looked longingly in her eyes, Payel closed her eyes and tears started flowing from them. Everybody in the arena was transfixed, as if they had glimpsed the first dancers themselves. The moment was long…a moment in time that contained centuries. No words needed to be spoken. Only thoughts, feelings, memories, remembrances filled the moment. 

A dance in time....nothing else matters...

The Meeting..contd.

Moments in time seem prolonged and then time stops to a point when time is no time. It is just like a breeze over the river ever caressing the flow and still cannot leave a mark on the flow. When lives meet and love is re met ..magic happens…and there was magic...magic of time immemorial ...lives intertwined by remembrances from deep thoughts and MEMORIES. A single white wild flower among a horde of carefully pedigreed selection of flowers. Still the appeal is individual and personal.

Longing for a touch…which was never essentially required physically yet the base instinct taketh over. A reluctance of being lost in the hypnotized glory of the moment…A moment in time more precious than a life time. All existence seems blurred and insignificant in the presence of that person.

That is how DJ felt. With his HD 40x zoom Sony camera in hand he saw Payel again. A dance in time that was long forgotten but somehow managed to resurface in time. There was an insistence hitherto unknown of reasons far beyond mortal causes or urges that seemed to embrace the moment their gazes met.

The small Godly hand of the girl was giving alms to the Sanyasi sitting at the foot of the representation of lord Shiva at Unokoti. Her face was gleaming with an inward joy.DJ did not lose a single moment in capturing it. He himself was standing there at a short distance away. All the others from the 7 days trip of Tripura had gone to the top of the hill to see the relics on the top of the hill. Suddenly their eyes caught each other’s gaze. The Sanyasi was playing on a flute …the tune being a long forgotten one of the hill folks…a tune from the long forgotten past. Suddenly a breeze touched upon the dupatta and caressed the long flocks of hair coming on Payel’s forehead like a gentle touch of the hand of time. DJ’s heart skipped a beat as he discovered himself gazing into the deep doe shaped eyes. Thousand stories climaxing into one single point of glory and time stood still.

Chapter 8 ---- The Meeting

“Why did you come out to get captured?” Tamluk inquired Chitradeep.

“You know ...a dog’s tail always follows it.” Tamluk laughed at Chitradeep’s sense of humor even in this situation. The two friends kept walking side by side enjoying each others company. 

Soon they neared the camp as the sun had reached the horizon. The sound of the mighty Gomti river could not suppress the sound of the horses’ hooves and the sound of the returning hunting party. The five shadows had stopped following the hunting party at the end of the jungle upon a hand signal from Tamluk. They hid themselves at the top of some trees and kept watch.

A beautiful song came floating in the evening breeze as if laying a caress on the already beautiful sunset. It had such an enigmatic appeal that Tamluk could not help himself and instantly took out his flute which was tucked in his waistband. It took him a moment to understand the flow of the music and quickly gave accompaniment to it. They were almost upon the camp. Everybody in the camp who had come out to greet the king and his hunting party fell silent and enchanted at the same moment. It was an incredible moment for everybody. 

The sun was setting in the background and the sky had taken a reddish-orange hue with the castles in the sky taking a crimson colour. The light breeze had the unknown sweet smell of a forest flower. The enigmatic sound of Tamluk’s flute and the sweet sound of Sreelekha’s voice seemed to cast a spell on everybody. All eyes were fixed on Tamluk. 

Suddenly Sreelekha engrossed in her evening prayer heard the sound of the flute which she had heard only once before and came running out of the Royal tent. Immediately her doe like eyes were fixed on Tamluk who was so much engrossed in playing his flute that he had not noticed Sreelekha. The sun was setting behind Tamluk and his handsome figure was so engrossed in the music that it seemed to Sreelekha that Lord Shiva himself had come down on earth to meet her.

Tamluk brought the music to a befitting end and opened his eyes. He had not noticed that the vocal music had stopped and they had reached the camp. When he opened his eyes, he was staring speechlessly into the beautiful eyes of Sreelekha. It felt to both that they had finally found the person whom they had been searching for the whole lifetime.

Never before had it happened that Chitradeep had seen his friend in such a state. Neither had it happened that Sreelekha had not run to the arms of Bhim Sen when he returned home. Nor had the people seen such a handsome person in their life. He had to be a prince.

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Chapter 7 -The Hunt (Continued 2)

“How dare you play around with the mightiest king of all plains?” Chaturbhuj’s anger and frustration were evident in his voice.

What he got in reply was a twisted smile and an infuriating silence which in some way reminded him of the divine smile of the Lord Krishna. But it did nothing to appease his anger.

“Answer or be off with your head” Chaturbhuj intimidated with his three and half foot long sword – now naked and shimmering in the afternoon sun.

And again what he got back in reply was a deep chuckling from Tamluk.

“Who are you young man? And how dare you laugh at Chaturbhuj? Do we seem like jokers to you? Do you even understand our language?”

A voice came from the forest as if the thunder was striking in the sky. “Who ever you are, you people of the plains, and you are trying to kill against the law of the forest. You cannot eat a tiger. So why do you want to kill one?”

“Show respect when the rajah speaks, you insolent being” Chaturbhuj raised his whip in the air to strike at Tamluk. And just then, six arrows came flying from now where and cut his whip into pieces even when it was in the air.

Stupefied and instantly alert, Chaturbhuj and the troops started to look around, swords drawn, trying to locate where from the arrows had come.

“Well Chaturbhuj, you and your Rajah need to go back to the plains from whence you come. You cannot hunt in the forest. This is our land and you are standing on it. Also you and your people are not welcome to hunt here. All creatures in the forest belong to Lord Barmura. And HE does not give permission for such hunting.”

This time it was the time for raja Bhim Sen to be angry. “Who are you? How dare you talk like this? Come forth so we may see you.”

Tamluk could not stop himself but only chuckle at the way Chitradeep was making fun of them with his deep voice mimicking skills. Chitradeep came forward from the forest with his bows and arrows and was immediately taken as a prisoner too.

“The sun is setting; let us go back to the camp my lord.” Chaturbhuj suggested “We can question them there”. The hunting party set off for the camp with the two prisoners. Discretely following them were five shadows hiding amongst the trees.

Next Day

Next Day

“It has been so long that I have tasted fresh new nubile and tender grass. It is so good to taste some after long time.”

This summer was very hard on the forest dwellers. Especially on the herd of Chital deer’s as the rain fall was scarce this summer and the grass the herd would survive on was so rare to find in the usual patches. The herd head had brought them to a patch near the foothills of the great mountains. Here, there was a stream that flowed all the year round and hence there was a patch of green grass that the whole herd could feed upon.

But mama doe was irked by some sounds that were not usual in these parts of the forest. This being the reason, she kept her calf quite nearby and would not let it wander too far away. Also there were smells of strange animals in the air.

Suddenly then, she heard the ruffling sound somewhere nearby and immediately became alert along with the other members of the herd. As soon as she had heard the sound there was the thud sound of something falling near the herd. The already alerted herd thought it better to make a quick get away towards the interior parts of the forest.

As it happened, Tamluk was hiding in the deep forest along with his friends and following the movements of the hunting troupe of Raja Bhim Sen. The forest people deeply revered the forest GOD and believed that who ever kills any living creature in the forest without the need of hunger should be punished. This was a law that went without saying. Every creature in the forest followed the same law. But why were men from the planes suddenly in a hunting spree that was not going to quench their hunger was beyond the understanding of the forest people. In all essence Tamluk and his small gang of friends wanted to stop this. So they had decided to make the hunting excursion of the Raja a failure. Every time the Raja or any member of his hunting party would aim at any animal the animals would miraculously get some prior knowledge of the attack and would flee. This had been going on for three days at a stretch when the Senapaty Chaturbhuj had to conclude in frustration to his almighty Bhim Sen about the matter. It was a serious concern and Bhim Sen himself was getting frustrated.

“Today I want my soldiers to form a circle around the prey and hide in the forest. I want to find out the reason for this. Chaturbhuj tell all soldiers to act upon your signal for the same”.

Languishing in the early summer soft morning sunrays was an exquisite royal Bengal tiger in the small clearing near the foothills. The hunting party had spotted it and according to the instructions had circled around it in a quarter mile radius. Raja Bhim Sen along with Chaturbhuj were progressing slowly towards the tiger on their elephants. Their bows and arrows were ready for the kill. Then suddenly there was a sound of ruffling in the forest and an arrow hit the ground just near the tiger. As if the thunder had hit the ground from nowhere in the blue sky, the tiger raced away towards the deep forest. Immediately afterwards, the Raja heard the shouting of a few soldiers who had made a perimeter around the tiger from the North side. On a signal from the Raja, Chaturbhuj dismounted from his elephant and mounted on a horse nearby. He immediately sped towards the general direction of the shouting. After sometime, the Raja could see that Chaturbhuj was returning with a captive walking in front of his horse slowly towards him.

Bhim Sen could not help himself but admire at the remarkable physique of his captive.

 

Chapter 7 - The Hunt

There is an instance, where time is not time. Where place is not a place. Peace here and now. There all existence is within one grain or infinite times bigger.  Imagination flies. Everything sometimes seems shrouded in a veil of mist. And to find truth…love and compassion rises from the heart.

High above in the sky a lonely eagle flies touching the clouds. The air ruffling in its feathers… leaves a trail in the clouds - so white. Its mighty wings spread so confidently. Sitting on the back of the elephant the king looks up to enjoy the flight of the eagle and admires its strength. He sees the eagle circling above them and then suddenly it is gone like a dream into the clouds again.

Another keen pair of eyes has also seen the eagle circling the forest. A shrill whistle calls the eagle. Perched high on the topmost branch of the mighty banyan, Tamluk’s hand reaches out to receive the mighty bird.

“What have you seen Chet?” The bird moves its head in a certain way.

“So, there are hunters in the forest? How many?” Now the bird raises its talons. “It’s a big hunting party. Well we will see.”

With agility Tamluk climbs down from the tree and after taking his bow and arrows on his back, moves swiftly towards the direction where Chet was flying. On reaching the last hill near which Tamluk had seen Chet circling the sky, he climbs a high tree. There was a moderately big clearing near the hill where he was now. He sees that a hunting party had pitched camp there. He could make out that there were almost 50 soldiers. Most of what was surprising was that there were horses and 3 elephants. Tamluk had never seen a horse though he had heard of them from his grandfather. The biggest elephant was adorned gaudily. He knew that sometimes some of the hunters boldly breached their territorial demarcation and entered the forest to hunt. But never before he had seen or heard of such a big hunting party blatantly entering their territory to hunt. Generally he would shoot a few arrows in the direction of the illegal hunters to frighten them away. But this situation was different. He decided to go back to the village nearby to this place and rest for the night as the sun was almost setting.

Tamluk went to the nearest village where the chief was a distant relative.

“Uncle Kalidas, I need to stay in Khamgiri for the night.”

“Sure nephew, you are more than welcome. “

“Uncle, I would need another favour. Please send a runner to my village to tell Chitradeep to come and join me here immediately tomorrow. He must bring my other two friends Kishore and Bikram along with him. They must bring with them all their and my war gears.”

“I will immediately tell my son Kashi to do as you have instructed”.

Kalidas summoned his son Kashi and gave him the necessary instructions. Kashi left immediately. Then he gave instructions to his wife and sister to cook dinner.

“Sit here my nephew next to me. I am very much pleased with your visit. But is there some problem?”

Everyone in the Barmura kingdom respected Tamluk and knew of his war skills as well as his good nature. They also knew that he was going to be the next king and a rightful person for the position too as per his capabilities. Sitting next to his uncle in front of the fire, Tamluk waited a long moment before answering.

“Three hills from this village, in the clearing, a hunting party has set camp.”

“So what is there to be so annoyed? I will take a few warriors of my village and shoo them away tomorrow morning. This is a routine thing for all the border villages such as ours.” 

“No uncle. You do not understand. There are more than 50 of them with horses and elephants. And they seem to be having among them a person of big stature. We must be careful.”

“Only 50? Nephew, do not worry. But it is a matter of thought though as never before this had happened here before.”

“That is why I want to find exactly who they are and what they want. I must be sure of their intentions. If necessary, we may have to inform the nearby border villages and inform the garrison of the Khamgiri hills.”

“So shall I send more messengers?”

“No uncle. We must first find out discretely. That is why I have sent for my friends. I may also need 3 of your best warriors preferable trained highly in tree climbing and jungle warfare tactics. Their knowledge of the land might be required.”

“I will see to it immediately.”

“And uncle, I do not want too many people to know about it just yet.”

As Kalidas left, Tamluk sat contemplating about his plan.

Soon Kalidas returned with his three best warriors. All of them greeted Tamluk and sat discussing about the situation and their plan.

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Chapter 6 Home

Aaahh…the smell of freshly cut grasses, the whiff of bamboo, teak and the earth just after the fresh rain…motherland…all the memories from childhood came rushing back as DJ stepped on the concrete Tarmac of the airport in Agartala. The air travel was comfortable. But in the anticipation, he just could not sleep in the last leg of his journey from Kolkata to Agartala. Memories from his childhood flooded his mind. He could feel the taste of hot fresh chicken chaps and egg wraps in his mouth that he would relish eating at the roadside fast food stalls in Agartala.

Just outside the cordoned off area in the luggage checkout point, he could see his father waving at him. His father had come to receive him from the airport. He rushed into his father’s arms and hugged him tightly. There were tears in his father’s eyes. The smell of his father’s aftershave lotion brought back memories even forcefully. Quickly he collected his luggage and sat in the car with his father to head towards home. He told the chauffeur to take the car via a different route where there were rice fields. The light breeze brought in the smell of the green paddy fields, wet after the rain. The sun shone on the droplets nestled on the blades of the paddy plants. There was a shimmering effect and the fields seemed like a sea of jade. The setting sun behind the clouds and the orange tinted sky was a miracle that he wanted to capture. He stepped out of the car and clicked away with his camera. He could not stop himself from stepping into the fields. Suddenly in the far field there, he saw a girl in pure white and cream salwar running through the fields and touching the droplets nestled on the paddy plants. She was jumping and enjoying the beauty as much as he was. He was mystified and could not take his eyes off even to click at his camera.

“You know Duggu; your mother is waiting for you. We should go now.” His father called out affectionately.

“Coming baba”.

But who was that girl? May be he would never know. But she seemed so happy and fairy like beautiful immersed in the beauty of nature.

“Your mother has cooked Hilsa for you today.”

“Wow...Hilsa?”

“Yes dear and there is also Boyal for tonight.”

DJ loved fish and Hilsa and Boyal were his favourite. Soon they reached home. He took his luggage and ran home.

“Ma…I am back.” He hugged his mother and there were tears in her eyes too.

“So long it has been. Freshen up and come to eat...today I have made Hilsa for you”.

He felt like a child again. Hilsa made with mustard paste with rice…was his favourite. It seemed to him that the past one year that he has been away from home, he has been eating only rubbish compared to his mother’s cooking.

“Well here I am at my home and I plan on binging”. He said to his parents who were gathered around him. They were very happy to see him after such a long time.

“Tell me whatever you want to eat and I will bring for you’’, his father said with a smile.

And then they started to talk about his accomplishments in his current job and the news about the neighbors and family members.

Soon the day ended. After dinner and saying goodnight to his parents, he went to his bed. The smell of his old teak wood bed and school time books floated in the room. But he pondered… who was the girl he saw in the paddy fields today? As he floated into the dream world, serene flute music seemed to play in his ears and there was this girl dancing in the paddy fields…