प्रथम मैथिली पाक्षिक ई पत्रिका

Jagdish Prasad Mandal (Original Maithili Short Story)

Rameshwar Prasad Mandal (English Translation)
 

The moon’s Journey


After three years, Vishnudev returned to the village. In truth, visiting the village had not been on his mind at all. The thought came suddenly when his name was mentioned for a programme to travel to the moon. Vishnudev was a scientist. The institute was sending three people to the moon for exploration and study. The moment he heard his name, he thought that there were still twenty days left before departure. He would be leaving on the thirtieth of November, so in the meantime he could go to the village, meet everyone, and come back. Thus, Vishnudev arrived in the village a day before the festival of Chhath’s Kharna ritual.
By the time Vishnudev reached the village, evening had fallen. That day he did not go out to meet anyone. Being from a large family, simply talking with everyone at home kept him engaged till late.
The next day, around two in the afternoon, Vishnudev went to see Padhua Uncle. Padhua Uncle had been a teacher at the village’s lower primary school. He had retired two years earlier. Vishnudev had been his student for four years, from learning the alphabet to the lower grades, up to class three. Apart from being fellow villagers, the two shared a social connection, and the teacher–student bond deepened their relationship.
Sitting at the doorway, Padhua Uncle was quietly thinking about the Chhath festival. The thought crossed his mind that the oil pressed from the sesame seed is heavier than the seed itself. Such was the fervour of the festival that it seemed every Maithil family from other states had returned home with their families, and even those working abroad had also arrived with theirs. Whatever they would spend on the festival itself would be far less than what they had spent on travel fares, and the time lost in travelling would have been considerable too.
As soon as he arrived, Vishnudev touched Padhua Uncle’s feet in greeting and said- “I seek your blessings, Uncle.”
Although Padhua Uncle was over sixty years old, his disciplined life had preserved both the sharpness of his eyesight and the glow of his body. Blessing Vishnudev, Padhua Uncle said- “You used to come to the village once a year, every year. This time you have come after such a long gap.”
Vishnudev replied- “Uncle, travelling with the family by public transport has become very difficult.”
He spoke briefly, but Padhua Uncle, understanding yet curious, asked- “Why is that, Vishnudev?”
Vishnudev said- “Uncle, for one, the number of thieves and pickpockets have grown so much that you can never tell when something might happen. And another thing, the water we drink in the village, people in the cities will not even accept as a gift. Buying drinking water during travel costs a hundred or two hundred rupees at least.”
Smiling, Padhua Uncle said- “People earn precisely so they can eat and drink. And in the cities they earn much more than the people in the villages. So if it costs money, even then it is still better than what the village offers.”
Vishnudev replied- “But throwing one’s earnings into the water is hardly a good thing either, Uncle.”
Understanding the figurative meaning in Vishnudev’s words, Padhua Uncle decided not to pursue that line of thought further and asked- “And how else are you, Vishnu?”
Vishnudev said- “I should say I am well. There is one piece of new news, and it is to share that with you that I came to the village.”
Padhua Uncle asked- “What is it?”
Vishnudev replied- “Uncle, you are not only my father’s elder brother, you are also my guru. Even now I remember vividly that it was from you that I first learned the alphabet.”
Hearing this, Padhua Uncle was deeply moved. A thought also passed through his mind that in today’s environment, most people forget favours as easily as a bitter gourd sheds its bitterness, yet there are still some who always strive to acknowledge a kindness and remain grateful.

With quiet affection, Padhua Uncle said- “Vishnu, every person has their own responsibilities, just as they have responsibilities toward others as well. What was my duty I have fulfilled, and you may think of it in whatever way you wish.”
Vishnudev said- “Uncle, on the thirtieth of November there is a scheduled programme to travel to the moon, and my name is among those being considered. So…”
Without fully understanding, Padhua Uncle said- “You will have my blessings.”
Vishnudev continued- “Uncle, a team of three will go. More than ten people have applied. I have also applied. Selection will be through a lottery, so it cannot yet be said with certainty, but it seems likely that I might be chosen. It will be a space journey lasting a full month. I thought that if I were not able to return from the trip, I should at least visit the village now and meet everyone. Of course, it is not certain that I will not return, nor is it certain that I will definitely come.”
Hearing this, Padhua Uncle reflected on the immense potential hidden within the human mind. Until now, they had known and understood the moon in one way, but with scientific exploration, they were beginning to see it in quite another.

While Padhua Uncle and Vishnudev continued their conversation, Padhua Uncle’s wife, Damayanti, came and stood before them. Unlike most women, who keep a little distance before making a request, Damayanti came directly before her husband. This was her own courtyard doorway, and she recognised Vishnudev as well, but still, keeping to her husband’s manner, she stood silently.
Seeing her, Vishnudev rose, touched her feet in respect, and said- “Aunty, do you recognise me? I am Vishnudev.”
Damayanti said- “How can one not recognise people from the same place? Besides, my eyesight is still as good as it was before. Where do you live now, son?”
Carrying the thread of thought forward, Vishnudev replied- “Aunty, as people in the village say, the worker knows his master’s house just as the calf knows its home.”
At this, Padhua Uncle asked- “What work is it?”
Damayanti said- “Today is Kharna, and the bananas have not yet been riped.”
Padhua Uncle said- “Today there is only a small quantity of bananas for in the leaf basket, is there not?”
Damayanti replied- “Yes, but the plantain is still unripe.”
Padhua Uncle said- “Today is the village market. I will bring the bananas from there in the evening, as they will only be needed later.”
Damayanti said- “The Sugarcane has not yet been gathered.”
Padhua Uncle replied- “I will bring both the sugarcane and the bananas from the market.”
Damayanti asked- “What about the plantain tree?”
Padhua Uncle said- “We have to offer plantain. Whether the fruit is ripe or raw, the Goddess of Chhath will hardly mind.”
Damayanti was heading towards the courtyard when Sonelal arrived. Coming close to Padhua Uncle, he asked- “Uncle, have you heard the news?”
At Sonelal’s question, Padhua Uncle wondered to himself which news this could be, for in the course of a day one hears all kinds. He asked- “Sone, do I ever leave the doorway to hear anything? What news is it?”
Sonelal said- “It is very sad news, Uncle.”
Hearing “very sad,” Padhua Uncle’s ears stood alert. What could be so tragic? He asked- “What is it?”
Sonelal said-
“Sharda Sinha has passed away.”
Padhua Uncle had not known that she had been suffering from cancer. At once her mood sank. She had been admitted to AIIMS in Delhi, yet the illness had advanced relentlessly, and in the end she breathed her last. He asked- “What had happened to her that she died?”
Sonelal replied-
“Illness has neither beginning nor end that anyone can predict. I heard she had cancer for a long time, kept it hidden, and then it advanced so suddenly that it could no longer be controlled.”
Padhua Uncle said- “Sone, this body of ours is a dwelling place for ailments. No one knows when or how illness will strike. With her, a great luminary of Mithila has come to an end.”
Padhua Uncle was still talking with Sonelal, with Vishnudev seated before him, when Manchan arrived. Entering, Manchan touched Padhua Uncle’s feet. Padhua Uncle blessed him and asked- “When did you arrive, Manchan?”
Manchan worked for a tea company in Darjeeling. He said-
“I arrived the day before yesterday, Uncle, but I was busy making arrangements for the festival.”
Padhua Uncle asked- “How have you been?”
Manchan replied-
“I have developed an ailment in both thighs, Uncle. I vowed to the Goddess of Chhath that if I were relieved of this illness, I would return to the village for the festival. That is why I am here.”
Hearing this, many thoughts stirred in Padhua Uncle’s mind, but he said nothing. Just then, Damayanti Kaki arrived at the doorway with four cups of tea.
On seeing the cups, Manchan took a tin of tea leaves from his hand bag and gave it to Padhua Uncle, saying- “Uncle, I brought this tin for you. It is tea that does not require milk.”
Padhua Uncle asked- “What is the name of this tea?”
Manchan replied- “People call it green tea. This half of kilo tin will last at least fifteen days.”
After drinking the tea, both Manchan and Sonelal rose and went. Vishnudev and Padhua Uncle remained seated.
Padhua Uncle said- “Vishnu, you are a scientist, so your outlook is bound to differ from ours. What do you think of the Chhath festival?”
Vishnudev replied- “My life is tied to a fixed schedule, confined within certain limits, so I hardly get the time to think deeply about other subjects. Besides, it would not be right to speak to you about something I do not fully understand.”
Padhua Uncle said- “Since there is a plan for you to go to the moon, you must have studied and reflected on the subject of the moon.”
Vishnudev replied- “Uncle, the way the moon is regarded in society is very different from how it is seen in scientific terms. The programme is still in preparation. If, by chance, I get the opportunity to go and return, I will be able to share all the details clearly. For now, I am not in a position to say much.”
Hearing Vishnudev’s words, Padhua Uncle accepted in his mind that what Vishnudev had said was indeed correct. Padhua Uncle said- “Vishnudev, I do not know everything myself. Whatever I have heard from others, that is all I understand. But…”
Vishnudev asked- “But what, Uncle?”
Padhua Uncle said- “There are some thoughts on which one can reflect. Today is the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik, and it is Kharna. After partaking of the Kharna prasad, the devotees will remain fasting until the final ritual of the festival. At dawn on the seventh day, at the pond’s ghat, they will offer arghya to the sun, and after that they will end their vow and take prasad. In between, they will remain fasting.”
Vishnudev said- “Uncle, I have seen all this with my own eyes and I understand it too, but…”
Seeing Vishnudev fall silent after saying “but,” Padhua Uncle felt that Vishnudev was not fully satisfied with his explanation. He thought it would be better to share what he knew so that his own integrity would remain intact.
Padhua Uncle said- “Vishnudev, some farmers mark the festival between bringing home the previous harvest, meaning the paddy, and sowing the rabi crops in the fields. In that sense, this festival belongs completely to the farmers.”
Hearing Padhua Uncle’s words, Vishnudev nodded in agreement, but from the perspective of his scientific knowledge so far, doubts began to arise. Padhua Uncle noticed this and spoke again.
“Vishnudev, although the offering of arghya during this festival is to the sun and not to the moon, the dates of Shashthi and Saptami are determined according to the waxing and waning of the moon, not the sun.”
Hearing this, Vishnudev was puzzled. After a moment, he asked- “Then?”
Padhua Uncle replied- “Vishnudev, the sun is the source of all life. Soil, water, and all else are formed by the sun’s energy. The festival has scientific, cultural, and religious significance. Just as the sun contains seven colours, so too does life have seven colours. But there is one problem: the sun, which deserves to be worshipped every day, is honoured only once a year. The light of the sun is also seen as the light of knowledge. In the same way that the sun is not worshipped or honoured daily, the knowledge of human beings too is not always respected.”

 

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