Matongini wiped off the beads of perspiration from her forehead with the loose end of her sari as she blew air into her earthen stove. Peeping into the vessel placed on top of the stove, she pushed in the ladle to give the broth another stir. She sat back to let it cook a bit more resting her tired back on the Sal wood stilt that held up her hut. Her eyes tired with age and misery, bore a far-away look. It was as if her body was sitting in…
Tag: elephant story
Chapter 9
Shrikant pursed his lips thoughtfully. Having visited the village and speaking to the people filled his mind with questions. Several things flashed around in his mind. Lalu’s wristwatch and aftershave, the fishing net, Shuddho’s absence on the night of the fire all formed a story waiting to be tied up. However, he needed the thread to do so. A picture that was vaguely forming in his mind, awaited completion. Unfortunately, he was unable to shed adequate light on it to make it look sharper. Shrikant knew he was missing something…
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 details Shrikant’s first tryst with wildlife. He meets with an accident while trying to capture a photograph of a baby elephant and almost gets trampled by its mother. Amodini saves him from impending death. This incident leaves a deep impact on Shrikant goading him to know more about the little girl.
Chapter 5
Lunch at the forest resort was a simple but delicious affair. It consisted of fresh vegetables from the local market, a serving of lentils and wholesome wild fowl curry all cooked in authentic Bengali style. Moni da, Shuddho’s boss and the Resort’s caretaker cum manager, had taken great effort to ensure that Shrikant would have no reason to complain. Not used to such hospitality, Shrikant was feeling a bit awkward at all the attention he was getting. After lunch he called up Surabhi to inform her that he had reached…
Chapter 3
The night was unbearably sultry. Matongini tossed and turned in her mat as she found it impossible to sleep. After several attempts when she realised sleep would continue to evade her she came out of her room to sit on the balcony outside her house. This was her sole possession in the world. Other than Shuddho, Amodini and this small two-storied enclosure, there was nothing else that she could call her own. The house comprised a slanting tin roof covering two small rooms that were encased within walls of thick…
Chapter 1
“Amuuuuu!” Matongini scrunched up her aged eyes shading them with her hands to look into the distance as she called out for her granddaughter. The thin wrinkled skin on her throat stretched and the veins swelled up as she did she so. In her other hand she kept waving the red scarf that she usually used to attract Amu’s attention. “What is the point of shouting yourself hoarse Owui[1]?” said Shuddho her 20-year-old grandson lazily from one corner of his cot where he had been sprawled out since morning. “As…
