ENDEARMENT (ON HOLD)

Converge II

He had always felt unnecessary to explain what they had as it had been beyond human's knowledge and understanding. They were unique, so people had problem, both with their thoughts and actions.

But now, the question had urged him to answer, to answer an unknown and he din't want to. Was about to retort but too late, she was already gone.

The next day, it was a blazing late afternoon, hearing noise may be quarrel he made his way out of study to see Bihari trembling with refreshment tray.

Nearing more, clear yet obscure of the issue. They were group of men sitting depicting royality in all possible forms, might be Zamindars of neighbouring village.

All anxious, enraged and wrathful. Tense added with fear clearly evident, he heard them speak all one by one.

"Zamindaar sahab, yesa hi chaltha raha na toh hum kahi bhi muh dikhane layak nahi honge. Hume hi bachana hoga humare bachon ko aur humare riti rivazon ko."

"Jaldhi se pakadkar, katin se katin dand dena chahiye, usko."

"Arey, mein kehtha hoon, Jis din miltha hai usi din usko zinda jalayenge aur woh bhi sabke samne."

"Nahi, uske hathon ko pehle kaatna chahiye. Intni himmat ke liye."

"Par sahab, log unhe rakshak bol rahe hai, tode log tho pooja kar rahe usko..."

Intervening him, the grumpy huge Zamindar while making faces "koi rakshak nahi, bakshak hai woh. Joh humare bachon ko sati, bal vivah jaise punya kaam rokkar, humare bachon ko utakar bhagtha hai. Unko marna hi chahiye woh bhi tadap ke... kyun Trilochan sahab" unaware of the Barrister's presence.

His brows upped, raged in anger, all his try and work seemed to be a joke to them, rolling his fists marched to them but Batuk with all force pushed him outside, noticing his dada he knew all are going to be out for their words, their ears would be torn all them bleeding if his Anirudh dada starts yelling and no assurance of them returning to their homes safely. Definitely not.

Managing the situation, Batuk tried "dada, yeh log sirf bathe karthe, aur kuch nahi" while he tried to retort but calmed hearing about the evening class, the girls time for empowering themselves.

Yet unsettled, he asked "Batuk, kya abb bhi humare gaavon mein sati, bal vivah jaise kupratha ho rahi hai?"

Huffed out, Batuk replied "Haan dada, sare kupratha abb bhi jashan ki tarah ho rahe hai, yehaan koi kanoon se nahi darthe sirf ussey hi darthe isiliye yeh sab itna pareshaan hai."

Pausing his walk, asked "kanoon se nahi tho kaun? kis sey darthey? Kyun?"

Laughing, with little pride Batuk replied "kuch saal se yehaan inn sab kupratha ke liye tayari tho hothe par joh kaam sati ho yah bal vivah yah vidhwa hone ja rahe karya woh ho, sab asafal ho jathe unke karaan. Isiliye toh ussey marne ki bath chal rahe hai."

Curious rising, he asked "koun? Koun aur kis ke bare mein bath kare ho?"

Batuk again, "patha nahi dada, kuch log rakshak bolthe aur kuch toh chor kehte unhe." It reminded him of the ajnabi, yet subsided it because of less possibilities.

Batuk continued, "Woh hi Karan hai yeh sare kupratha rokne ki aur tho aur us bache ko lekar bag bi jatha hai, Meine suna hai. Abb tak lagbag 38 bachon ko bachaya usne, fir koi bhi unn bachon ko nahi dekha. Aaj tak kisine bhi usko nahi dekha aur uske bare mein nahi patha."

It all felt suspicious to him, saving a child was ok but disappearing with them, all unsettled and puzzled to him. Their assumptions might be true about the stranger being thief too.