The Old Witch

I remember a day when I was a kid. I remember the clay on my feet and hands. I remember the rain telling me, “No! You can’t go home, boy”. I remember the winds that made the chills grow in me. My small body was shivering in a way I hated. That day, I missed home as I had never before. But the cold was just the cold and fear was not of it. I was standing at the door of the old witch.

I have stood there before when I used to call her ‘dadi’(grandmother), when a small boy, named ‘Sachin’, lived in this house. The days before he went away.

In those days, I used to run around in the neighbourhood before lunch. I used to keep my eyes on the butterflies and the dragonflies trying to catch them but failed mostly. On one of those days, I discovered this boy playing with his small plastic animals at his house’s entrance. I had those plastic animals too but the dog dug a hole somewhere and hid them. I felt jealous but also curious, who is this little kid that looked so similar to me?

“Aye! Who are you?” I asked.

“Sherkhan!” he said, “and I am the king of the jungle.”

“And I am Simba, the king of the jungle,” I announced with pride.

“No! I am the king. You are the king of another jungle.”

“Oh yes! There is my kingdom.” I said, pointing to the last house in sight.

“We here in our Kingdom welcome the king of a foreign land.”

“Thank you! King Sherkhan. Hey! How come your ears are so wide?”

“Mum said this is because I am a wise king.”

We played and played and played the whole afternoon. My tiny kiddy brain had no concept of time then. It was inevitable and I heard a voice calling my name. It was my mum’s. I was in big trouble and I knew it. She had tears in her eyes and it grew when she saw me. I was terrified.

“Where were you? I was so worried.” I noticed the weakness in her trembling voice.

“Answer me.” She nearly screamed.

An old lady came out of the house and a younger woman followed.

“What happened?” the old lady asked with the old lady voice.

“Namaste! I am his mother and I have been searching for him since the morning. I was so worried. And this one is playing here.” My mum was angry and I was definitely going to get some beating at home.

“There is nothing to worry about. He was here the whole time. Relax.” Dadi calmed her down. I felt like calling her that. ‘Dadi’, I never had one so that was natural I think.

“I saw them talking and I was happy that our Sachin has found a friend. So I let them play.” The younger lady said who seemed to be Sachin’s mother.

“You all shifted today?” My mum asked.

“Yes! And there is so much to unpack.” Sachin’s mother replied.

“Okay! Today’s dinner will be at my house. It is the last house in sight.”

And that was the start of the friendship of our family. Every day before lunch, Sachin and I started doing what I did, chasing the butterflies and the dragonflies. At the evening, we ruled the animal kingdom together. After that, it was the time for samosas made by dadi. And that was when my ‘Aaloo prem’(Love for potatoes) began.

Our mums became best friends too. They talked and talked and talked every evening with tea. Sometimes I wondered what they talked about. Eh, whatever. I think our dads would also have become best friends but I never saw him around ever. Maybe he was a shy one.

I liked king Sherkhan but I was still jealous of his animal subjects. So one day I dug out my animals and started the journey of mine to rule the kingdom with him.

Ruling the lands of animals is a tiring job and sometimes the king needs rest and sometimes he gets sick too. The day was so gloomy, as the king of the lands, me, was sick in his bed and the subjects were left alone.

“Please look after my subjects too, Sherkhan,” I said in my own mind.

I slept for the whole day. At least till the doorbell rang and interrupted my sleep. My mum went to attend the door and I followed.

It was Sachin’s mum. She was crying. I didn’t understand anything.

“Sachin… Sachin… He…” I think she didn’t realize at first that I was there too. When she did, she stopped, looking at me.

“Sonu! Go inside.” My mum said to me with her strict voice.

I was in my bed thinking of Sachin’s mom, why was she crying? Did Sachin become a bad leader and killed all of my subjects? Is that why she was crying because she is here to apologise for the crimes of King Sherkhan? Even I don’t want a war but he must be put to the trial and face justice.

I was in my own world thinking about this when my mum came in and rushed to the living room where my father was. He ran out saying something to my mother’s ears.

She came slowly to me and spoke softly, “I and your father are going for some work. Okay, Sonu. Chotu bhaiya will be here with you, Haan.”

Chotu bhaiya lived at the next house to us. He always had a smile when he rode past us on his bicycle. But today, the smile was gone. I had no strength to ask him why. The fever made me dizzy and the sleep took me in its arm and we flew away.

Dream of the flying man. Dream of the little flying man. I can feel you sitting on my bedside, mum. I can feel you looking at me with all your motherly love. The breath of relief with a pinch of sadness. I can feel all this. Tell me the truth.

I left my dreamland and woke up on my bed. Mum was there and she was just looking at me. I don't know why.

"Mumma, why was Sachin's mother crying?"

"Sonu, Promise me you'll never go to Sachin's home again."

"Why Mumma?"

"No Sonu! Never go there again."

"No."

"Please Sonu! The old lady is a witch. Don't ever go there again. Sachin will not be there when you'll go to meet him. He is gone."

I didn't know what to think, what to make of everything. I didn't know anything. I'll never go to that house again. I'll miss you Sachin. I'll miss dadi's samosas. And the days passed.

"What did you tell Sonu about Sachin?" My father asked my mum. He was furious when I mentioned the old witch to him one day.

"The truth! She is a witch. She killed..." Mum looked at me and stopped.

"Sonu, go to your room," Mum asked me to leave but I wanted to listen. I stayed behind the door listening.

"..she killed him and if Sonu would have gone to his home that day, he would also have been..." Why does my mum always stop speaking like that?

"But it wasn't her fault. The rat poison wasn't supposed to be in the kitchen in the first place. Her blind eyes failed to see what she was putting in the food... She didn't, her old age took him"

"My baby would have been dead too. Can't you understand?" mum nearly screamed while her broken voice worsened.

"I understand. He is my baby too!"

Then, all I heard was silence.

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So back to the day when the rain held me hostage. I was stuck at the place  where I wasn't supposed to be at. At least I promised to not to come here again. I felt the cold and I felt so trapped. I was afraid of the old witch.

The heard someone coming from behind. It was Dadi. She was not a witch. Didn't look like one. She looked like Dadi.

"Aye! Who are you?" Dadi said.

I was still too afraid to utter a single word.

"Why are you standing here?" She looked at me as if she didn't recognize me.

I still said nothing.

She went inside. I took a breath of relief.

Then she reappeared. This time with an umbrella in her hand.

"Take it and go home and.....do not bother to return. Go!"

I took it and opened it.

I wanted to thank her but the fear still held me.

But the words came out.

"Thank you, Dadi." And her eyes filled with tears.

Then I ran into the rain towards my home.

I was afraid no more.