HILARIOUS DONKEY RIDE

 

       It was the year 1955-56. One day,  at about  six in the evening, it so happened that both of us, me and Taro Bua’s Duff hatched a plan.  A plan that was in our dirty minds for so long! We wanted to have a long donkey ride from the town to a far off place and back.  There were many kumr families in Village Gangath and each family had number of donkeys  going out from town every day and, therefore, there was not much problem in fulfilling our long cherished dream. 

       As we both were discussing the matter in a lonely corner of the street going towards river Chaunchh, we saw a group of 10-15 donkeys going out of town towards the river. Duff said, “Wait a minute, I know the owner of the donkeys. Let us go and talk to him". We both approached the man and told him about our intentions and also requested him to co-operate and take us along  with him. At first, the man looked adamant and clearly told us that he was going too far and would return back at about mid night.

        But we had already made up our mind, come what may, today we will have the ride for sure. Duff further requested him and manipulated him in such a way, the man agreed.  On this, we both felt like winners and shook hands and embraced.

       We chose the donkeys of our choice and climbed up and were gone  tip-toe tip-toe feeling thrilled with excitement and also feeling like as if we had won the battle.  It was 7 PM already when we left the town.  The donkeys were walking haphazardly.  They sometimes walked in a single row, sometimes in the middle, sometimes by the side of the dry river bed. We were to go all the way through the river. 

       There were some stretches of the river where ankle deep of water was showing up and had to be crossed by the donkeys. When some more time elapsed and the sun started becoming orange pale, and looked as if going down behind the hills in the west, our fears also started surfacing on our faces.  Since real travel had just begun, we felt overjoyed and hilarious about our journey and forgot about the world around us and also what might be happening back at home.

       There  were hillocks on both the sides of the river, covered with trees, wild foliage and bushes. Beautiful scenery on both the sides of the river looked enchanting. Now it was going to be dark. The sun had nearly gone down in the west. Our shadows became longer behind us. Hillocks at the both sides of the river presented  dark and fearsome look. Our heart beat had started thumping and throttling.  Fear psyche could easily be noticed  on our faces. It was about 8 o’ clock at night.

       On a over century old peepal tree, we saw hundreds of bats hanging upside down and their collective harsh crying sound was intolerably fearful at the time of night. There were jackals in the jungle that were barking one after the other, intermittently disturbing peaceful and quiet night atmosphere. Gushing sound of flowing river water  and blowing of winds also sent out musical tunes in the ghostly atmosphere!

        Clouds of Jugnjus were flying all along the route and buzzing and frightful sound of night insects and creaking crickets in the bushes created 'sansani'  in our immature minds. Half moon and twinkling stars in the clear sky above, however, helped us maintain our calm. To overcome all imaginary fears, Duff asked the donkey owner as to how far we may have still to go in order to reach our destination. 

       In turn, the man said that since you people have come at your own will and pleasure, there is no need to fear now. We will reach the farm within next half an hour. It was 9.30 at night when we reached at the Farm.  On reaching at the Farm, some of the donkeys were unloaded and then re- loaded with onion sacks and then we started our return journey home at ten O' Clock. The man advised us to remain  calm and quiet and enjoy the ride.  As we had never experienced such a long donkey ride before, we felt tired and uncomfortable due to increasing stiffness in the body.

       When we returned back and reached home, it was 1 O’ Clock at mid night. We kept on standing outside the house quietly and surveyed the house from all sides to see if we could find any other inlet into the house but failed. I had lost my pair of chappals that I had borrowed from a friend at Ladori. Duff was wearing Satpal’s  (Sattu) old shoes which were also showing teeth.

        I  was putting on an old school scout shirt and nikkar. My nikkar  pockets were torn from inside. Right side shoulder button of my shirt was missing and the shoulder flap was hanging downwards on the right arm. I had not taken hair cut for the last one month and my hair became abnormally longer. My forehead and ears were covered with the hair.

       We both were tired and exhausted. We sat on a slab kept outside main door. I was engulfed by the sleep for a while and I saw a flash back scene of yesterday morning when I reached Bua’s house. After sometime of my arrival in the house everything was okay. But when Satpal (Sattu),  Dharampal (Duff), Gopal (Bounu), Devraj (Kirlu) got together, we ransacked the house, started running inside, outside, upstairs and downstairs and made a 'dhamaal' by doing the house upside down. 

       Ram Rattan (Bantu) and Rajpal (Gorkhu) being seniors did not participate and kept on enjoying our drama with smiling faces. Bua scolded us and also ran after us with a 'jhadu' but in vain. Fufa Nanak also tried his best to silence us but could not do so. Our activities were just intolerable and were seen just like spoiled brats.

       Makodi behan was another hard nut to crack in the house. She was like a Hitler in Gangath house. She would not hesitate to slap or thrash whosoever was caught by her, by playing a trick. We all were not afraid of any one in the house except Makodi behan. But from inside Makodi Behan was not so bad. She was kind hearted and lovable person too. Abruptly, I woke up from the deep slumber and asked Duff “Arre Yaar, ab kya karen? Bahut maar paregi”. But Duff said, “Koi baat nahi, dekha jaayega. Kharkao Darwaja”.

        We could easily guess that what might have had gone on in our absence in the house. We gathered all our dare and knocked at the door. To our fearful surprise, when the door was opened from inside, we saw Makodi Behan standing with a long stick in her hand. Our faces got whitened and as if blood circulation stopped and hair shot up straight upwards with the fear. She did not ask questions. Straightaway served many sticks at our bottoms and behind the legs.

        When the stick broke, then 'De Thappar, De Thappar'. We could not resist and did nothing except giggling. She commanded in a high caution “Stay outside the house for the rest of the night” and she shut the door with a bang. I said to Duff, “Marwa dia na yaar, mein kehta tha ki din mein ride par chalenge, raat ko nahi, lekin tu  nahi mana. Ab bhugto, baitho bahar,bhookhe aur pyase”.

       After about an hour later, we heard that someone is trying to open the door. The door opened and this time Bua asked us to get inside quickly. She was quiet and did not say a word. We were very hungry and thirsty too. Bua gave us roti, achar and lasaru ki sabji and we ate our full and went to sleep. A week later of the donkey ride, I was to return to Ladori, there was a pin drop silence in the house and everyone looked tired and sad.

        Suddenly Makodi Behan came out of her room and hugged me and also kissed me on my forehead . She took both of us to the market and we both had our hair cut. Behan also bought two pairs of chappals for both of us and came back home. I touched the feet of Bua, Fufa and Makodi Behan. Makodi Behan gave me an 'Athanni' . When I got out of the main entrance, I looked back and noticed a tear rolling down on the face of Makodi Behan. Duff accompanied me up to Chaugaan where I sat on a Tonga going to Jasoor with a promise to come back again soon. Duff waived his hand in despair!