KHARKA VILLAGE

PART 02 BUTCHER BOYS

In the depths of the jungle path, the black sheep stood tall, its mouth wide open, poised to strike. Helpless beneath its looming presence, Santosh braced himself for the impending attack. But in a split second of desperation, he instinctively reached out, pressing his palm against the sheep's snout to halt its advance. With his other hand, he drew his khukri knife from his waist and swiftly struck the sheep's throat, causing it to recoil in pain and release him.Seizing the opportunity, Santosh scrambled to his feet and fled, heart pounding with adrenaline. His wounded foot faded in the rush of survival, leaving him with only the determination to escape the perils of the jungle.

His heart raced as if it had fled its rightful place, yet he pressed on. After a few frantic strides, he glanced back, finding no sign of the black sheep. A wave of relief washed over him, but before he could fully collect himself, distant voices called out his name."Santosh, Santosh," they echoed through the forest. Ashok, Prem, and Juthe had finally returned. Santosh staggered towards them, collapsing at their feet."What happened, buddy? Are you okay?" Juthe asked, concern etched on his face.Ashok tried to lift Santosh, his voice tinged with worry. "Hey, what's wrong? Where were you?"Unable to respond, Santosh succumbed to unconsciousness once more. With a heavy heart, Ashok lifted him onto his shoulders, carrying him back to the village.

As the first light of dawn gently brushed against Santosh's face, he stirred from his slumber, greeted by pain throbbing in his head, legs, and wounds, his whole body bound by bandages restricting his movements. Confusion clouded his mind as he realized he was in his own bed. Struggling to piece together the events of the previous night, he attempted to rise, only to be met with a wave of concern from his mother, Mann Maya."Son, son, take it easy. You shouldn't push yourself," she urged, her voice laced with worry. Khadka Bahadur, his father, entered the room, his expression more wrathful than sympathetic."This is what happens when you go gallivanting after dark," he chastised, his tone heavy with reproach. "At least you made it back in one piece."Santosh listened in silence, his mind reeling. However, when Khadka Bahadur's words cut too deep, Mann Maya couldn't hold back."Shame on you!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with indignation. "How can you say such things to your own son, especially in this state?"But Khadka Bahadur remained unyielding. "It's your coddling that's spoiled him," he countered, his words stinging with accusation. "He may have grown in years, but his sense still lags behind."The tension hung thick in the air as Santosh struggled to make sense of it all, his parents' contrasting perspectives adding yet another layer of complexity to his already bewildering situation.

In that pivotal moment, Antim entered the room. Khadka Bahadur's remark echoed harshly, "Ah, here comes his tail." Witnessing Santosh's state, Antim's heart sank. Santosh's parents quietly exited the room, urging him to rest. Antim approached, silently expressing concern for Santosh's well-being. Santosh, indicating his need to relieve himself, softly uttered, "I need to pee. Help me up." With gentle care, Antim assisted Santosh from the cot, a silent understanding passing between them.

Antim was younger than Santosh, but despite being Ashok's little brother, they were quite close. Antim found himself spending more time with Santosh than with his own brother. Santosh also cared for him, assigning him tasks and looking out for him. However, Antim often felt overshadowed and belittled by boys of his age because he was mute, subjecting him to teasing and bullying. As Santosh showed him affection, Antim often found solace in following Santosh's lead.

In a cozy room filled with the soft glow of sunlight, Susmita was diligently massaging her little brother Juthe's sore leg. Juthe winced as her fingers worked their way over his muscles, muttering, "Ouch, that hurts!" Undeterred, Susmita applied more pressure with the oil, remarking, "That's what you get for picking fights with everyone."Protesting, Juthe retorted, "Hey, take it easy. Why the strong grip?" Susmita shot back, "Why do you always have to go and fight with the Simpane boys?"As Susmita continued her massage, she gently reminded Juthe of their new reality. "Since Mom and Dad left, I'm the one in charge of everything. With all the responsibilities I have at my age, I have to manage alone. You're not helping by adding to my worries."In a subdued tone, Juthe reassured her, "Don't worry. Mom and Dad will come back." But Susmita's hope had faded over the years. "It's been years, and there's no sign of them. I've lost hope," she confessed.Defiantly, Juthe insisted, "They'll come back. They can't leave us like this." Both fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their parents' disappearance lingering in the air. Despite endless searching, their whereabouts remained a mystery.