Ram Nath Thusoo of Zaindar Mohalla was known for his cycling. At times he would run very fast and at times he would compete in slow cycling. Brakes of the bicycle meant little to him. His height was an additional advantage to him. He used to stretch his legs to the ground to anchor his cycle at the height of its speed. One day he was betrayed by his over confidence. Autumn1959. A fat hen while on a stroll came under the crushing wheels of Mr. Thusoo. Mr Thusso could not save the elegant foul who breathed her last instantaneously. Soon a big crowd gathered around. The owner of the hen, Khate-Kandreini along with her six sons and two daughters crisscrossed the crowd to reach the culprit Mr. Thusoo, who by that time had turned as pale as a dead rat. Though furious on the fatal accident, none resorted to physical onslaught. Khatea-kandereni beating her breast started to count merits of the hen in a rhythmic couplet. In view of her laying capacity and her weight compensation was being worked out. Counselling started for and against. Obituary in honour of the dead was taken care of. Finally the counsellors decided that the damages be shared by both the parties equally. So Mr.Thusoo was to bear the brunt of one rupee and eight annas. Mr. Thusoo agreed to the decision but requested that he be allowed to pay the amount on first of the next month. The counsellors entered into a discussion and finally the request was granted. Thereafter, I dont remember whether it was his chance meeting with me or he had come to me. Seeing him upset, I asked him the reason for his deflated spirit. He narrated the whole episode--from accident to the compensation part of it. After patient hearing, I said:Where is the dead hen? He said: What have you to do with the dead hen? I said:Was the hen healthy before her death or she died a diseased one? He said:The hen was quite healthy before her death. I said:It means that the hen has died a jathka death. He said:Yes. I said: A Kashmiri Pundit is allowed both jathka as well as halal. This is an advantage with us. We are gainers, a hen worth three rupees will be ours for one rupee and eight annas only. Let you undertake such adventures biweekly. We shall meet the liability of the compensation. Immediately Mr.Thusoo rushed back to the site of the occurrence and asked for the dead body of the hen. They said:We have thrown the dead body in the River Jehlum. Mr.Thusoo said:You will get the compensation of one rupee and eight annas only if you handover the dead body of the hen. Counsellors sided with Mr.Thusoo and Rahman Kandur, the eldest son of Khatekandereni hired Azimas boat services on contract of one and a half anna. Azima was to be paid only on recovery of the dead. Azima had committed a mistake in the contract. He had not taken the speed of the river into consideration. The dead body of the hen was recovered quite ahead of Drabiyar and was handed to Mr.Thusoo. He brought it to me. One of my friends, Gidhari Lal Patwari had recently discovered a friend in Mohan Lal. Mohan lal had a shop to frame photographs at Zaindar Mohalla. Mohan Lal agreed to cook the hen in his shop. Girdhari provided him with edible oil and spices. Both Girdhari and myself took our rice thalis under the cover of our pheran and enjoyed the sumptuous dinner with the fat hen. Ram Nath did not participate. Till date the compensation is still in arrears. Brij Dass chu venan lasiv te basiv.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:03:34 +0000
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