The Shoe Mender Jitu ate grass Jitu kept walking with one thought on his mind that he must get away from his father’s influence as soon as possible. First two hours he walked nonstop with his rigid mind, but soon his mind began to twist, and memories often started to pop up – parents, home, friends and one dear face that would not love him, one silent intelligent face. For the first time he felt happy to realize that Alo did not get involved with his life. Alo did not love him, and it made his feeling light. If he was to consider Alo, he could not walk out so easily… One simple girl who had no status, money or family background, whose father was a rickshaw puller refused to love him… Jitu had never expected any girl could reject him in such a way…though he had never proposed any girl before her, had never liked, or loved any girl before her…girls came to him and was bounced back. He had always kept his door shut, but when he opened it to welcome Alo, to his heart full of warm love, she denied so easily… Jitu was still keeping his heart open, one day, one day she must declare her grand presence…she would be in his heart for ever, forever the door would be closed taking her in, but now? Jitu must forget everything- his parents, friends, even, Alo. He stood for a second, and looked up at the stars. Suddenly he felt eternal lonely. He loved Sayeed, and he had rejected him, he loved Alo, and she had rejected him, even, now his parents. Jitu took a deep breath to realize his true identity; yes, he belonged to the open street, to the sky, to mother earth. Jitu shook off his memories like shaking off all the plums from the plum tree…the tree must sustain, not the plums, not the memories. He must forget Alo, it did not matter how difficult it was. His jaws were clenched in sudden determination. He must walk away from all the memories. He started to munch the memory of Alo as if he was munching a piece of meat, and tonight’s walk would swallow it all forever. Jitu was busy taking snacks with his friends in the cafeteria; yes, the scene was so vivid in his mind that as if he was watching on television. A girl was sitting across the table, and was eating ruti with tea. It was an unusual scene, but she did not attract much attention. Her dress up was very simple and out of fashion, and she was not beautiful. She was looking like a domestic help. His friends were already out, and Jitu was paying the bill. When he was about to leave, suddenly he cast his eyes at the girl, and found her eating their left over. It was such a scene that he was mesmerized. Instantly he went to the girl, and offered fresh dish but she refused politely. There was a faint smile on her lips while she was saying, ‘There are people dying of hunger. We can’t simply waste food.’ It was a violent blow, and Jitu found him looking at her like a stupid. Then he left silently without saying anything. He was feeling shame. Then the second scene was never forgettable. They were in Rezaul sir’s class. They were listening to his lecture very attentively. A shadow appeared at the door. There was a sweet musical voice, ‘May I come in, sir!’ Everybody turned, and it was the domestic help. Rezaul sir looked extremely happy and cheerful. He nodded his head smilingly and asked the girl to come to him. When the girl went near him, he began to say, ‘Dear students, very happy news for us, the girl who stood first in the admission test, has finally come. Meet your new friend, Alo.’ Alo smiled at them candidly. Though her teeth were uneven, poking out of her lower lip, her smile looked beautiful to Jitu. Every body was surprised. How could this girl become number one? When Jitu came to know that her father was a rickshaw puller, he wanted to help, but again he felt ashamed because she said that she was alright, did not need any help. When he proposed her, she smiled candidly and said that she had no time for considering it, and could not love him. When it was dawn he entered into a jungle. He must take rest during day, and walk at night. In the jungle he lay flat on his back, and closed his eyes. He felt the hardness of mother earth for the first time, and he did not mind. His body must be moulded. He ignored mosquito bites, and he shook off the fear of snake bites or the attack of other animals. The whole day he slept concentrating on his shoe mender life. Then before dusk, when his hunger and thirst seemed unbearable, he started to eat grass. Tears started to well, but he held, no, never, he must suffer the pain of becoming natural. He must not beg, he must go through the moulding process.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 10:20:54 +0000
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