Huff.. Huff.. Huff.. Somebody was panting while running in the backyard. Girdhari woke up with a shudder. He threw his wrapper and sprang out of his cot.. Chor.. Chor.. Chor.. Chor.. Bhaiya had already opened the main gate and ran out side, followed quickly by a household help. The loud voices were that of Haldhar Chacha and his two sons. Woof.. Woof.. Woof.. The street dogs were barking excitedly in the night as if they had seen a ghost. Whoosh… Loud clanking of metal hitting metal was heard. Haldhar Chacha’s spear had hit the electricity pole instead of the thief.
Haldhar Chacha has two spears while Paanini Chacha has a double bore gun in their houses. What weapon do we have here, asked Girdhari to nobody in particular. We have a pen to protect us, replied Dad. PEN…? Girdhari had not heard it properly. Yes, a pen, we are a Kayastha family, replied Bhaiya. And Haldhar and Paanini Chachas are Rajputs so they can keep a gun, sword, spear anything, okay ? At that age of innocence, Girdhari had no idea, dear reader, of the difference between a Kayastha and a Rajput !
Bulluji used to take Girdhari to see movies in the theatres. Bandits and rebels riding horses with their guns hung on their shoulders drew equal raptures from both, Bulluji and Girdhari. Girdhari’s only grouse was that Bulluji always purchased tickets for the first row. And poor Girdhari had to crane his neck up for three hours plus while watching the horses running over his head. Little Girdhari was mesmerised with the way Jai and Veeru handled pistols, guns and horses in the famous Hindi movie, Sholay.
The shop owner was looking closely at the eight years old, Girdhari. What do you need the knife for, asked the seller. Girdhari told him that he needed a knife to protect his family. The seller offered him a plain open knife. Girdhari said that he wanted to purchase a Rampuri knife which opens with a switch. The one that they show in the movies, asked the seller. Yes, confirmed the determined buyer. Girdhari paid fifty bucks and the shining Rampuri knife was his. He hid the knife safely in his house.
Mom’s glum face said it all. Dad was in Patna for a meeting with the governor. Bhaiya and Didi had gone to Mama’s house in Mokama. So for all practical purposes, Girdhari was the man of the house. The twenty people surrounding the house, for the last three days, were actually university students. They were sitting in gherao, to get some illegal work done by Dad. The authorities had refused help to Girdhari’s family as local influential politicians were involved. Girdhari had an inkling about the morning. The whole night he tossed in the bed.
At 7 in the morning, Girdhari opened the main door. A neighbour, Biswaroop Chacha and the student leader, Budhiya Mandal were waiting. Budhiya searched the rooms, kitchen, store room, three balconies and terrace, looking for Dad. He was standing outside the Puja room. Girdhari warned him not to enter the Puja room. His little chest was pumping like a spaceship’s engine. His right hand was positioned at his upper thigh. Budhiya put one leg inside the Puja room. Girdhari’s Rampuri knife came out of his pajama. CLICK.. The Rampuri came to life, immediately. Budhiya was looking in awe at the dangerous Rampuri in the hand of the small school boy. Girdhari was ready to rise to the occasion, if need be. Budhiya pulled his leg out of the Puja room, crestfallen. One by one all the students started leaving the place. The gherao was over !
Girdhari always looked forward to his visits to Mokama. After breakfast at Mama’s house, Girdhari along with Bappa and Nanhe would walk three kilo metres to Bappa’s ranch at Sherpur for Girdhari’s horse riding and shooting session. But Bappa’s mare, Bijli had no love lost for Girdhari. Bijli would lope for some distance and suddenly stand on her hind limbs, making Girdhari fall in the field. Nanhe would bring out his desi katta (locally manufactured pistol) from one pocket and a bullet from his other pocket. He would caress his pistol with love, open it in a flash, load a bullet in its chamber and hand it to Girdhari. Girdhari would hold the pistol firmly with both his palms, close his left eye, put his index finger around the trigger. While firing, Girdhari’s pistol would get thrown out of his hands with the impact and the bullet would hit anything but the target. And all three friends would fall down, laughing and rolling in the field. After several botched attempts at horse riding and shooting practice, Girdhari managed to progress from a zero to a big cipher !
Adults are just outdated children, wrote Dr Seuss, a famous American children’s author. Girdhari too had locked his childhood pranks and tales in his memory vault. He was pursuing a professional course in a metropolis, now. Girdhari was waiting for his friend, Murli, a small manufacturer of readymade shirts.
The huge board outside the office read, Baba n’ Baby Garments. Murli went inside the owner, Lalwani Seth’s cabin. Lalwani Seth didn’t offer him a chair. Murli opened the cabin door and cried out aloud, Ramzaan Bhai.. Ramzaan Bhai.. ! Ramzaan Bhai entered the cabin. Lanky, sturdy and eyes lined up with kohl, he was wearing green coloured crisp Pathan suit on a pair of Mojdis. Murli was telling the Seth that Ramzaan Bhai had a late night flight from Dubai. Lalwani Seth was quivering. Ramzaan Bhai took out a cigarette from the packet but did not light it. His gaze on Lalwani Seth was intense and unwavering. Lalwani Seth quietly pulled up his drawer. He started pulling out one bundle after another of hundred rupee notes and putting them on the table. There were ten bundles on the table. Murli started putting the bundles in his jute gunny bag. Murli and Ramzaan Bhai quickly sat in an auto rickshaw. Murli said, thank you, Ramzaan Bhai. If not for your timely intervention, my stuck payment of one lakh would have remain stuck, forever. Ramzaan Bhai smiled and said, just shut up, Dodo. I’m Girdhari and my acting assignment is over, for now !
Maverick Yogi 
Ati Sunder
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Woooo nice restaurant and story about it. It’s really very nice written and enjoyed to read and watch the picture too
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More such blogs are coming your way. Keep writing.
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