By Subhadeep Santra
It was at the later part of 19thcentury. A French merchant named Diago came to the village of Sarvaigao. He traded in garments and was highly satisfied at the revenue generated. On the day before the day of his scheduled return he fell ill. He was staying in an Atithi Bhawan (Guest house) build by the zamindar for the purpose of entertaining traders and travellers. The Bhawan had all facilities except the availability of an inmate vaid (Doctor). Two rural vaid attended him, Muruti and Devapran.
Both left no stones unturned to serve the merchant. They never left them alone. When one prepared the Ayurvedic medicines the other would sit beside Diago. In the meanwhile the assistant of Diago left for France with the cargo and promised to return the next week with another cargo and suggested that Diago returns in the cargo arriving the next week. The present cargo had a few perishable items and delaying the cargo by a week was not practical.
Diago was left to the mercy of Muruti and Devapran. No wonder he was in good hands as Diago was hale and hearty within a week. The ship was also ready to leave. Diago was a humble man and was deeply moved by the care provided by Muruti and Devapran. He could not find a suitable way to manifest his gratitude. He cannot give a gift of money or kind as it may be seen as an insult. Yet he was reluctant to leave India without leaving a memoir of his appreciation.
This seemingly meagre issue got aggravated when the both refused to take anything of value from Diago. He does not have much time. The ship shall not wait for long. It must return. Diago had already decided that he shall gift something that has utility neither to him nor to them. Something he shall render as a responsibility so that the whole idea of Gift can be avoided.
He was already boarded on the ship. Muruti and Devapran had come to bid him good bye. The past few days bore witness to the companionship that developed between them. Diago grew desperate when the final moment to say goodbye occurred. It must be some divine intervention that Diago finally spotted an object that suited his specifications-Two Cacti that lay at a corner of the ship.
A cactus has quite a few utilities but he knew that the villagers did not cultivate cactus and would not be able to put it into any good use. The cactus was useless to Muruti and Devapran. He could bestow upon them the responsibility of watering the cactus so that they cannot claim that I gifted them something. After all, responsibility is no gift. He also contemplated that he would help them whenever such opportunity arises. Until then the cactus shall act as a symbol of their companionship.
Diago presented each of them with a cactus. He requested them “My country has a climate that is not at all suitable for the growth of cactus. But I do not want the cactus to die early. Would you do me a favour?”
Muruti and Devapran nodded joyfully in approval.
Diago requested “Both of you must Keep one cactus each and plant it outside your house. You must sprinkle a little water to the cactus every day until it dies. Do not worry because the cactus may not survive more than a year. I won’t be surprised if they die within months.”
Muruti replied “I shall take due care of the cactus. You need not worry at all.” He lifted a pot containing a cactus and left for home.
Devapran picked up the pot without a word but smiled in agreement.
***
Diago has set sail a month ago. Both Muruti and Devapran had kept their promise. They kept the cactus pot in front of their house and sprinkled water on it every day.
One day Muruti consulted Devapran “I feel this notion of sprinkling water to the cactus plants is a complete waste of time. What is the need of it?”
Devapran opined “Even I feel that the cactus is not going to live for long. But it is my duty to look after the cactus plant. I cannot overlook my responsibilities towards our friend Diago.”
Though Muruti nodded in approval he made a dissenting opinion “I respect your attitude towards friendship but a responsibility performed without any result attached to it seems quite a foolish idea to me. It is the aim that should determine the path. When I cannot see the destination why do I traverse the path at all?”
Devapran said “You are right. These Cactus plants serve nothing to us. Yet I shall do my duty. I shall water the cactus plant until it dies.”
Muruti decided “I will dispose the cactus. If Diago returns he would think that the cactus died naturally.”
Muruti threw the cactus away as he had opined. But Devapran continued to water the cactus.
***
One month had passed away. The villagers now faced a grave threat. People died of cholera. Disheartening news of people dying from cholera was received throughout the country. The news of the endemic had reached the village a few days before the first symptoms were discovered. The disease spread like forest fire. Half of the members in each family were bed ridden waiting for their final departure. Muruti and Devapran were not affected but their respective families were not spared. Chinmayee the son of Muruti, Brinda the daughter of Devapran was on the verge of death.
Chinmayee lay on the bed staring at the terrace like a lifeless log of wood. His eyes had lost glory and the urge to live. He was 10 years old but knew what death is. He has seen people dying in the village. He knew that death is an infinite hollowness. He stared all day at the hollowness of life. He ate nothing. He spoke nothing. At the early stages of the disease he looked at his father with the hope that he shall be his saviour. Gradually the hope faded into dark acceptance of death.
When he died Muruti had felt like somebody has thrown him into a wild forest and has taken away his eyes so that he could never return home. On the destined day Muruti cremated Chinmayee and was returning from the funeral ghat. He saw Brinda playing with an earthen pot outside her house. He was surprised that she recovered so miraculously. None of the kids who were affected by the disease could recover except Brinda. Muruti was not the only person who was unable to comprehend this miracle. Some villagers spread rumour that the case of Brinda was a divine intervention. Though the village headman was inquisitive he waited for the endemic to subside. After a prolonged wait and the endless efforts of medical practitioners plaque though existent lost the devastating impact.
Thereafter a Panchayat Committee was formed to understand how such divine intervention was called upon.
A 4 bench Panchayat was formed. The villagers had gathered at the middle of the village as per the prevalent norm. A special invitation was given to Devapran and his family to attend the meeting. It was also made clear that their absence would be treated as an insult to the panchayat.
After preliminary exchange of greetings the village headman assumed the position of the presiding officer of the Panchayat Committee. Thereafter he raised the topic of discussion “As you may all be aware that our beloved Brinda has the blessings of the almighty. The disease that left most families bereaved could not sustain its impact on Brinda for more than few days. I request Devapran to tell us how the divine power descended on him.”
Devapran was not aware of the rumour. He heard none of it. He had been too overjoyed that his daughter had recovered from a state of utter dejection. When a man is excessively happy or excessively sad he hears no worldly whispers. He was taken aback by the question.
“It is the Gods grace that my darling daughter was saved from the clutches of death. It is the power of our prayers that the divine blessed us.”
One of the attendee exclaimed “Look friends. He is acting naive.” Then he addressed Devapran “We all pray. The families who lost their near ones are not atheist. Tell us what chants you performed to save your daughter?”
Devapran was at a loss of words. “I do not have any knowledge of miraculous chants. She was saved by Gods grace. “
Another villager spoke “God needs an agent. On earth the doctor act as his agent and treat us. God does not come down to Earth. Please name the agent. Is it black magic?”
Devapran protested “Black magic! No! This is a baseless allegation.”
“How can you be so selfish? If you have a special spell or ointment to ward of the disease you must have shared with us. How could you see us bewail the loss of our dear ones and still be quiet? How could you let others die when you had such boons?” hurled an unknown voice from the gathering.
Being browbeaten to admit an divine intervention Devapran’s wife now rose up to clarify “For long I have been listening to the accusations. Please do stop accusing my husband as he knows nothing of it. He saw nothing unnatural in it when Brinda recovered. He is unaware that a special medicine was provided to her.”
Devapran was so dumbfounded that he could not ask the question that the headman asked “What special medicine?”
Devapran’s wife explained “Once it happened that my husband was not at home. Brinda was fast asleep as the disease had deprived her from energies of life. I was tired so I fell asleep too. When I woke up I discovered that Brinda was awake and she was eating something. She held a paper in her hand like a plate. It had some white substance. I asked her what she ate. She told me that when she woke up she found a white substance wrapped in paper kept on my bed. She saw an ant on the paper and realised that the powder may have been sweet. In her innocence she consumed the medicine. And then miracle happened.”
The headman asked “Why did you not tell us before?”
She replied “What could I say when I did not understand the miracle myself? I am still not sure whether the powder really has anything to do with her recovery. Moreover, I was afraid that my husband would be upset with me that I could stop Brinda from eating unknown objects.”
The headman threw a question at the attendees “Can anybody suggest any means to determine whether the white powder has anything to do with the cure of plague?”
There was murmur all over. Then somebody suggested “Where is the wrapper?”
The headman realised the merit of the question “Oh yes! The wrapper must have vital information. Where is the wrapper?” The question was pointed at Devapran’s wife.
She was taken aback by the question “I did not keep the wrapper intact. I do not even remember what happened with the wrapper.”
The headman questioned “Will Brinda remember?”
Though the question was placed before her it was Brinda who replied “It is inside my piggy bank.”
The headman wondered “What is the wrapper doing in the piggy bank?”
“When I was putting some coins inside the piggy bank the wrapper was folded and tucked in my fingers. I do not know how but the wrapper slipped into the piggy bank.” She clarified.
The headman instructed Devapran “Go home and break the piggy bank and bring the wrapper. Make it fast. We shall be waiting.”
Devapran obeyed and left for his home. He lived not far away from the gathering. He returned in 30 minutes. Devapran handed the wrapper to the headman.
All attendees were excited when the headman opened the wrapper. But Muruti was the most excited to know the secret behind the enigmatic recovery.
The headman was astonished “This is a letter by some ‘Diago’. He writes:
‘My dear Devapran,
It has been long since I met you and Muruti. Ever since I reached France I had been contemplating how to repay the obligations I owe both of you. You had taken care of me when I was sick and away from my motherland among unknown people. You left no stones unturned to lead me to convalescence.
I was growing restless by the day trying to find ways to show my genuine regard for both of you. I waited patiently for an opportunity. By divine grace I got an opportunity. I do not know if I sound like a saddist but I do not deny that I saw an opportunity in the plague prevalent in your country. Recently a medical scientist in Paris invented a medicine that could cure plague. A very limited amount was produced and only influential people had access to the medicine. I am an influential trader in France and have friendly relations with the scientist. I offered him good amount of money and convinced him to let go of two doses of the medicine stock that he held as sample. He was reluctant at the onset but agreed eventually.
Considering the widespread effect of the disease in your country it was more plausible that you will need the dose either for yourself or for any relative. I grabbed two doses of the medicine, packed my bags and set sail for your village.
When I arrived at the village I realised that I do not know your address. I never visited your house during my past stay. I tried to ask some villagers about your whereabouts but none spoke to me. They would evade me at the very sight of me. Probably, they perceived me as a potential carrier that could spread the disease even more. Most of the villagers did not know English and I could speak only French and English. I was at a loss. I could not just walk through doors in search of you. In France it is considered highly impolite. I could not fathom any means to reach both of you.
Then an idea struck me. I recalled that I had gifted both of you with a cactus plant. I knew that both of you would not keep the pot inside the house but in front of your respective residences.
Your village was a small one and I decided to look for the cactus plant to identify your residence. I had to leave in few hours as the ship had a fixed schedule. After a frantic search I could find only one cactus plant which belonged to you. I entered your house through the already open door. I saw your wife and daughter fast asleep. I recognised your wife because she had cooked meals for me when I was ill. I did not wake them up lest I disturb a disease stricken patient and deprive them of a good sleep.
I did not have any spare paper to write this letter on. Therefore I am writing in the wrapper of the medicine itself and keeping it beside the palm of your daughter. I shall now leave for the ship which is scheduled to leave in a short span of time. If I do not leave now I may end up traversing the village in a breakneck speed. I wish I could find Muruti as well. I think his cactus had died and therefore I could not find it. However, this wrapper contains sufficient dose for the cure of two. Please share it with Muruti in case he needs it. I would have given him the medicine myself had I found his residence.
Yours friend always,
Diago
****
By Subhadeep Santra
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