Miya Fooski and the Green Tent

- ‘We have been thirsty for a long time and you are sitting on a horse ready to die?’

Jivram Joshi

I t was story time, once again! One afternoon, as usual, Sonu came rushing into the room and jumped onto Dadaji's lap. Her sister Monu followed close behind.

"Dadaji, please tell us a brand-new Miya Fooski story!" Sonu pleaded eagerly.

"Miya Fooski stories are classics-they can't be 'brand-new'! We used to enjoy these stories when we were your age," Dadi said with a smile.

"That makes Miya Fooski even more exciting!" exclaimed Monu. "Dadima, please tell Dadaji to tell us a story!"

"Of course he will!" Dadi laughed.

"Okay, okay! Here it goes..."

And with that, Dadaji began telling a story.

***

It was early morning. Kuski Miya hurriedly ran to Taba Bhatt's house. Nahi had washed up and Taba Bhatt was sitting to do prayers. Bhatni had gone to the neighbor's house.

Fooski Miya went to the barn and stood there, pressing his nose and closing his eyes tightly.

Kuski Miya was in such a hurry that he couldn't even stand still with both feet. Moving his feet up and down and grimacing, he said, "Hmm hmm hmm... There must be some kind of prayer happening there. You pressed your nose and closed your eyes, but what about your eyes? They must be pressing their eyelids too, right? God only looks happy if he comes out and stands in front. 'Oh Bhattji! You may press your nose, but open your eyes!'"

With a loud shout, Miya took a couple of steps forward, rubbing his palms.

Bhattji was sitting quietly and stayed seated.

Fooski Miya stomped his foot and said, "You have your nose closed, eyes shut, but haven't closed your ears, have you? No? Your ears are open, then why aren't you listening?"

Bhattji neither swayed nor moved.

"Hmm hmm hmm..." made a humming sound and Fooski Miya said, "Hey Bhattji... Press the rest of your nose tomorrow, and keep your eyes closed as you please. But listen carefully to this: God is not a fool who will be pleased just because you close your eyes and nose! God is smart. Even if you stop eating and drinking, God won't accept it. Our Habibdo prays three times during the day but his business is of theft and bullying. Our rightful God will never accept such prayers. Keep truth and honesty in your prayers, that is the real worship."

"Anyway, we are not cheap white-shirt leaders who keep giving speeches endlessly. We have no time to wait even for a moment. Right now, right this instant, if we can fly, we will fly; if we can run, we will run; if that doesn't work, we'll charge ahead strongly."

But Bhattji did not nod.

Fooski Miya got irritated and said, "If your ears are open, then listen carefully Bhattji! We don't have time to wait. If you don't open your eyes and look at us, I will grab your turban and shake you so hard that you'll need a hospital. And listen to this as well - at that time, we won't come with you. Yes, we are soldiers!"

Bhattji let go of his nose, opened his eyes slowly, and looked at Fooski Miya standing behind him. He said angrily, "I'm so angry that I could stand and kick you both."

Miya laughed and said, "Yes, that's the spirit. Give us not one or two, but as many kicks as you want. But don't sit with your eyes shut like fools. All these foolish practices - come on, get ready quickly. There's no time to waste."

Bhattji said, "What?"

Fooski Miya said, "We were just sleeping when Thakor sent someone to call us. Unlike fools like you, when called we don't stay with eyes and nose closed. As soon as our name was called, we woke up standing, didn't even stop to put on our caps! We put on a slipper on one foot, left the other foot bare, and rushed out. We reached Thakor's place quickly. Thakor gave us a letter and said to leave immediately. Don't stop to drink water on the way. We must reach Malsar soon and give this letter to Deepa Sheth. When Deepa Sheth writes a reply, we must come back quickly with that paper."

Bhattji said, "That's very good. Let's go."

Miya said, "You foolish one!"

"Why?" Bhattji asked.

Miya said, "You still ask why?"

Bhattji said, "So?"

Miya, annoyed, said, "Then put on your turban immediately without messing around. Good thing is you don't wear a cap, so turban won't take time. Put on your shoes too. It's a hot summer day. We must walk."

Bhattji said, "So you mean we should come with you?"

Miya said, "So what? Why do you think we went through all that nonsense? We aren't going to waste time asking your opinion or making useless fuss."

Bhattji said, "Then understand why we would not come without work there."

Miya said, "If you don't come with us, then we won't go to Malsar alone. Honestly, if you don't go with us, we won't go."

That idea was accepted.

Finally, Bhattji said okay but added that they wouldn't walk ten villages on foot.

Miya said, "We have horses! We will ride."

Bhattji said, "And us?"

Miya said, "If you get tired, we will put you on the horse."

Bhattji said, "No, we will ride the horses today. When we say, you ride."

Fooski Miya would not leave it like that. Taba Bhatt had to get ready and go with them. They put Bhattji on the horse and Fooski Miya started walking.

Perhaps neither Bhattji nor Fooski Miya had taken this path before. There was dust all around.

It was a summer day.

As the sun rose higher, the heat increased.

Bhattji said, "We made a big mistake. We should have taken a water bottle. We don't have a rope or pot to get water from a well. What if we get thirsty?"

Fooski Miya said, "So what will happen?"

Bhattji said, "Mouth will dry, tongue will crack, and one might die."

Fooski Miya said, "What foolish things you say! We have been thirsty for a long time and you are sitting on a horse ready to die? We have rubbed our tongues raw with thirst."

Taba Bhatt stopped the horse immediately.

He raised his head, held his forehead with his fingers and looked ahead.

"What do you see?" Fooski Miya asked.

Bhattji said, "What do you see first?"

Fooski Miya said, "I see nothing. You tell us what you see."

Bhattji said, "There are dense trees. It looks like there might be a green cornfield."

Fooski Miya stood up and said, "You idiot! Why ask? It's obvious that there's a garden and with dense trees, there must be a well too."

Bhattji said, "Then that's it. Let's go there, drink water and rest a while."

Now Bhattji urged the horse forward.

Fooski Miya also got up.

They reached a leafy garden with dense, green trees.

There was a big, old tree as if someone had stretched a green tent over it. Its trunk was twisted and hollowed out.

They tied the horse there and Bhattji got off. A farmer-like man was sitting there.

Fooski Miya sat directly on the hollow of the tree and said happily, "Bhattji, seeing this shade, I feel like climbing up the tree. Catching hold of the shade and then maybe sneezing: ha ha ha! What a nice old tree!"

The farmer said, "Don't talk about that."

Miya asked, "Why?"

The farmer said, "This tree is Dolubha's."

Miya asked, "So?"

Farmer said, "Not even a branch of this tree can be broken."

Miya said, "And if broken?"

Farmer said, "Then Dolubha will break your head. See that forest garden over there?"

Miya said, "Yes, I see it."

Farmer said, "That garden is also Dolubha's."

Bhattji stood up and said, "Enough talks. I am really thirsty. Let's go. First let's go to the garden. There must be water there. Let's drink first."

Miya snapped his fingers and stood up saying, "Then let's go to the garden."

Farmer said, "Hey hey! Don't dare go into the garden."

Miya said, "What?"

Farmer said, "Dolubha is in the garden. No one steps foot inside. If anyone enters, then they are finished."

Miya asked, "What happens?"

Farmer said, "If someone enters without permission, Dolubha won't talk. He keeps a sword nearby and strikes directly."

Miya laughed loud.

Farmer said, "It's no laughing matter."

Miya said, "Then what?"

Farmer said, "Then don't expect to come back alive."

Miya said, "Such things don't happen anywhere. Come on Bhattji! Let's go into the garden, meet Dolubha, drink water and come back."

Bhattji stopped.

Miya said, "Why are you hesitating? Let's go ahead. We will walk first. You don't need to say anything."

Bhattji said, "No, we won't do that. Let's do this - we'll go near the garden's entrance and call Dolubha."

Farmer said, "Don't do that. Dolubha must be resting on a cot now. No one can call him at this time."

Miya said, "And if we call?"

Farmer said, "Dolubha will get so angry that he keeps a sword at his side. If someone wakes him up by calling, Dolubha will cut that person's head off."

Bhattji said, "Then we won't do that."

With a smirk on his face, Miya said, "Enough now? You Brahmins think you are clever. If you don't come, we will go alone."

Saying this, Fooski Miya started moving.

The farmer stood up and said, "Oh Miyaji! Don't be foolish. Dolubha's anger is not to be taken lightly. If you put your foot into the garden, you are dead."

Bhattji said, "Enough Fooski Miya! We are not going into the garden."

Fooski Miya said, "Why not go? If you spar, then it will happen. Yes, we are soldiers! Those who are scared, stay seated. Nobody is forced to go."

Though the farmer said much, the Miya did not listen. Even Taba Bhatt tried to stop him. But Fooski Miya would not be stopped.

***

Then? What happens next? 

You will find it in the next issue of Jingle Jingle Zagmag!