A really big bag. Packed with food, drinks, and clothes. The money he earned was tucked into the long-sleeve pocket of his shirt. That’s how he made sure it didn’t slip out.
After so many years, he’s finally back home today. Ten years ago, he had an elderly mother, a wife, and a young daughter. There’s no clue how they are doing now. But his village under Amteka Forest village, hasn’t forgotten him.
At the suburban railway station, when the Rajdhani Express train from Delhi came to a stop, he stepped out and stood there, looking around. He remembered, ten years ago, the station wasn’t like this. It’s changed a lot these days.
Renting a car from the train station, he drove straight to the Amteka market. Stepping out of the car, he looked around. You know, the Amteka market wasn’t like this ten years ago. Everything’s changed.
He rented another car from the Amteka market and headed to the village of Sanajuli. He thought about it. The village has also changed a lot over the past ten years.
Ten years ago, there were bamboo groves along the roadside. At night, this was where ghosts and monsters would appear.
No one has had bamboo by the roadside in ten years.
Ten years ago, the road would get muddy when it rained. In winter, it was dusty. This was a favorite spot for village kids to run around dragging bamboo logs. Now, the road is paved. Cars, bikes, and bicycles run smoothly on it — whether well or not.
He still remembers where his home was. He started walking towards his house. Back then, his house was very simple. Now it has a beautiful blue RC. Seeing this, she burst into tears. He thought to himself:
My wife was very active.
Her parents didn’t want to give it to me.
But I took him anyway.
The villagers’ parents took her back once.
But in a few days, she ran back to me.
He stood in the courtyard. A girl came out of the house and asked,
‘Who needs it?’
He was thrilled to see the girl. He thought she must be his own daughter.
‘Is it my daughter?’
‘You’ve grown up so fast, my dear!’
‘My dear daughter, I’ve brought you some food and clothes.’
The girl was surprised. She was also scared. You shouldn’t get too close to a stranger when starting a flirtation. It’s even more terrifying these days. People put themselves in serious danger by lying about themselves, like claiming a certain caste, relatives, etc. The Ravana of Lanka took Sita, pretending to be a monk.
The girl looked at the man’s face and asked,
– Who are you?
He said,
– I’m your honest one. It’s been so long, and you couldn’t see it.
The girl then learned that her father had died when she was a child. What kind of language is this these days? Panicked, she rushed back into the house and started closing the door. Sitting inside, she called the young man from the village.
Come over with some friends.
We’ve got a bad guy around here.
He offered me something to eat.
After some time, some youths of the village came and started attacking him with sticks. Riots broke out in the village in the name of human rights.
Rwirub was there working in her own cultivation field. When she heard a commotion in the house, she come back from the field. The village youths were beating up and injuring a man. Rwirub recognized the man after taking a good look at him. This brought a mix of happiness and sadness. It led to many nights spent lying in bed. A body that had always been in close contact—how could it be forgotten easily? No matter how much it changes, why can’t it be recognized even after years? As soon as she recognized the man, Rwirub dropped to the ground with a fiddle.
The village elders have also recognized the man. It’s none other than Maguram. Ten years ago, five goats took him to the mountains to be killed. The goats were brought back to the village, beaten up, and fined a hundred rupees on the spot. The whole village thought he had been killed by thieves. In his name, the kingdoms cooperated to rule. But today, the one everyone thought was dead has come back home. It’s incredible! Someone must be really happy.
The whole village thought he had been killed by thieves. The kingdoms even cooperated in his name. The one everyone thought was dead is coming home today. What a strange event! And it’s such a joy to see him again today.