I was bored!
After all, for how
long can a sixteen year old remain interested in the technicalities of a steel
plant? That too, when the tour starts after ten in the night!
How did I land up in
this place? I was on a vacation to various places during my holidays and my
cousin had convinced me to accompany him to Patratu. He was employed in Bihar
Alloys, a steel foundry located in the midst of a jungle in Patratu District.
Or was it Hazaribagh? No matter!!
The point is that the
location was beautiful. Dense green forest for as far as the eyes could see.
Fresh air, complete silence, almost non-existent traffic, freedom from rules –
what else could one want? And to top it all, Niraj, my cousin was a bachelor,
making it easier to do exactly as we pleased.
The attachments to
TV, Mobiles, Pizzas, Burgers, Wi-Fi were nowhere in the horizon. It was not
late enough in the last century to have entered into the slavery of these
things. Life could be enjoyed in a much simpler manner.
Newspapers, magazines
provided the information; long distance communication was through letters;
radio provided the music and entertainment; puri-sabji, halwa, kheer, golgappe
(or Phuchka, Gup Chup also synonyms), shikanji and lassi (as opposed to Coke
and Pepsi) provided the culinary delights: a visit to the movie hall was a
treat: games of cricket, football, hockey and chess were in vogue instead of
video games. In other words, we were free from the “western” influence!
Though some of the
other delights were a little distant in the colony of the Plant, food cooked by
Niraj’s all purpose Man Friday was superb. There was ample place for games,
many trails for walks, a Murphy radio all to myself most of the time and the
prospect of seeing an engineer at work (becoming an engineer had been my
adolescent dream- but then I was an innocent teenager then!) more than
compensated for the lack of other things.
We started from
Ranchi after breakfast and after a rather pleasant journey in a bus we landed
at the plant in time for lunch. In hindsight, it appears that the journey was
actually not too pleasant in the ramshackle bus which miraculously did not fall
to pieces on the way – but who cared then! However, the scenery along the route
was amazing.
The plant was a
little way away from the residential colony – a little more than a kilometre or
so. There was a “pucca” road connecting the colony with the plant through the
forest but the primary mode of transportation was a bicycle. Maybe a few
scooters! Most preferred to walk. The walk was nice and also gave people
opportunity to catch up with office politics.
So at half past nine
we started for the plant. Niraj was on night shift, which started at ten. He
had offered to show me around the plant. Since, there was not much to keep me
engaged at night, I readily agreed. We had a light dinner – Niraj, from his
experience, had warned me that a heavy dinner before a sleepless night was not
a very good idea.
As we started, we
were joined by a number of others on their way to the plant for their shift.
There was a lot of office talk, in which I was not interested. The road cut
through the forest like a surgeon’s scalpel and was illuminated by dim streetlights
set about thirty meters apart. It looked nice and the walk felt good. I walked
a little behind his friends, humming a tune under my breath. Somehow, the
surroundings warranted a tune.
The road kept dead
straight but at the far end turned right and continued for a few meters. Soon,
we were at the gate of the plant, manned by security guards. Niraj filled a form
to get a pass for me. Soon we were inside. The floor was lit up brightly. There
were machines everywhere. The crane-mounted cupola carried the molten metal
from the furnace and poured it into dies to form “pigs”. Niraj took me around,
explaining the various processes involved and at the same time introduced me to
his colleagues, who were very welcoming.
This went on for a
couple of hours, till it was finally time for the first round of tea. The tea
cart came around and all activity came to a halt. I had a cup not because I
wanted to but because I had started feeling a little sleepy.
It was really hot in
the plant, what with molten metal being carried to and fro. The initial
interest was gone. The excitement of seeing new things had waned with each
passing minute and my love for engineering was also receeding very fast. It was
so, so…..mundane, not at all exciting! The most exciting thing around was the
shower of sparks from the newly formed “pig” and the glowing hot metal as it
was poured.
I finally had enough.
I interrupted Niraj in something that he was doing and announced that I was
going back to his quarters. He found it a little surprising that I did not find
his work interesting enough. I assured him that this was not so, only that it
was too much for me to absorb in one day. He finally relented and agreed. He
told me to wait for a few minutes so that he could organize someone to escort
me home.
I
was stung! I? A child? What did he think? I needed an escort? Rubbish!!!
Rubbish! Rubbish!
I haughtily informed
him that I did not, repeat not, need an escort. After all it was only a fifteen
minute walk. He persisted, I resisted. And finally I won. So, bidding him
goodbye, I started. He came up to the gate to see me off and also to ensure that
I did not have trouble with the security guards.
I started off and was
soon at the turn onto the road that went to the colony. It was nearly one o’clock.
The road looked different from what I had seen a couple of hours ago. It was
deserted now. And silent. I lit a cigarette. It felt good. It was one of the
few that I smoked in those days. It felt good. I slowed my pace. I wanted to
enjoy smoking it. The plant was not visible now. Nor was the colony. The
street-light barely filtered through the dense foliage of the trees and played
hide and seek with the shadows.
It was also very
quiet. Very, very quiet. I could hear the sound of my own footsteps. Or was it
only my footstep? No! There was someone definitely behind me. I turned
around.
Nobody! At least not
someone I could see. Was it a man or an animal that seemed to lurk in the
shadows? But I dared not go back and investigate. I simply did not have the
nerve.
Resolutely,
I turned back and started walking ahead. There, that same sound! Again!
I quickened my step.
But at the back of my mind, this voice said that you cannot outrun these
“things”. It is best to take deep breaths and walk as normally as possible.
Don’t make it understand that I was afraid. I was. But I slowed down. I dared
not look left or right. Maybe it was trying to take a peek at my face over my
shoulders. If I looked left or right, I might be facing it. That had to be
avoided at all costs!
Was there someone,
sitting on the branch of the tree? No! Can’t be. Just my mind playing tricks.
Really? But the outline is not very clear. Maybe there are more of them waiting
for me. But till now, at least they have done nothing.
Inadvertently,
the words of “Hanuman Chalisa” came
to mind. I started muttering under my breath…….
“Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun
Sagar,
Jai Kapish Tinhu Lok
Ujagar……..”
Felt better. A little
better! But why was the guy still following me? He was supposed to go away! And
why was the road so long? Why could they not have the colony nearer the plant?
Stupid people!!! Stupid!
No! It was not a good
idea. The road back may be longer. And I could not turn back. I might see “him”
smiling at my terror! That would not do!
The breeze seemed to
have died down. The leaves were not moving in the breeze anymore. Was something
about to happen? Surely the signs were there. The forest seemed quieter. Were
they all waiting for the show? Was I to be the star of the show? A shiver went
down my spine. I could not help it. Did “it” notice? My fists were clenched
tight. Did “it” notice????
I hope not.
Relax!
Relax! Just a short distance left. I am sure. How long I have been walking? Not
sure.
Was
it a suppressed giggle? Was “it” making fun of me? Playing with me? No. I did
not really hear it giggle? Or did I?
My feet were becoming
heavier. I wanted to run. But they refused to obey. Was he taking over my mind?
No. I would not allow it to. But how do I stop it? Don’t know. Was it coming
closer now?
Move
forward, Go! At all costs!
My
palms were wet. Hell! My shirt was wet. My head was feeling heavy.
I heard the bark.
Then the mongrel came into view. I don’t particularly like dogs. But it was the
most welcome sight. The being had suddenly fallen back. It was beating a
retreat. I loved the dog.
Just
a few more steps and I would reach.
I was in the colony.
There were lights around me. The smell of humans was in the air; and of dogs; and
garbage.
All welcome.
All beautiful.
Allowing
my mind to play games!
I
reached Niraj’s quarters. Opened the lock and walked inside. Fell on the bed.
I
was more relaxed now. I even laughed to myself. How stupid had I been?
I
decided to change and hit the sack.
Took
off my shirt and flung it towards the clothes rack.
I
went to pick it up. Then I noticed it.
The
smudged print of a very large hand on the shoulder of the shirt…….!!!!!
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