Miyan Fooski and Bhattji's Adventure

- Miyan bent, picked up his cap, placed it on his head, and stood up silently...

- “You always do something foolish, cause some trouble, and make our hearts beat wildly with fear."

- Jivram Joshi

A s usual, one night Sonu and Monu came running into Dada-Dadi's bedroom. They jumped on the bed and, with eyes shining, demanded a story of-yes, you guessed it!-Miya Fooski.

Dadaji sighed, but he was smiling too. He knew resistance was useless. "All right, all right," he said, pretending to give up. "Here comes another tale of Miya Fooski…"

And so he began.

***

O ne day, the Thakor (chief) of Rajpur called Taba Bhatt, the priest.

The Thakor said,

"Bhattji, tomorrow morning go to Vadodara. I had given some clothes to Mangan the tailor to stitch. Bring them back. Then go to Pavagadh and offer food at the Bhadrakali temple. Also, from Shivalal the sweet-seller, bring two kilos of barfi."

Just then Miyan Fooski , who was sitting nearby, spoke loudly,

"Two kilos only? That's nothing! Let us take five kilos of barfi. Then we can eat plenty ourselves and also share pras?d with everyone happily."

Bhattji shook his head.

"You will get pras?d here itself," he said.

"Why?" asked Miyan with surprise.

"Because you are not coming with me," replied Bhattji firmly.

Miyan looked shocked. "Why not?"

Bhattji said, "Because you never walk straight. You always do something foolish, cause some trouble, and make our hearts beat wildly with fear."

Miyan laughed loudly.

"Ha! Ha! Now ask me why I laughed!"

Bhattji, annoyed, said, "Why did you laugh?"

Miyan answered,

"You are a Brahmin. You eat so many free laddoos and sweets that your heart has become soft like butter. That is why it trembles at the smallest thing. And that is exactly why I come with you! If I am not with you, and your heart trembles, what will happen then?"

"What will happen?" asked Bhattji.

Miyan looked towards the Thakor and said,

"See, he does not even know what happens when the heart trembles too much! If at that moment a brave man is nearby, he can steady you. Then the trembling heart person may be saved from death. That is why I always go with him."

The Thakor stopped the argument.

"No more debates about this. Get ready and leave tomorrow."

Miyan agreed. "Yes, yes, no need to argue about hearts trembling. Let us just do our work."

***

Next day, early in the morning, Miyan Fooski  and Taba Bhatt set off together.

They reached Vadodara, collected the clothes from Mangan tailor, and told him, "Keep Thakor's clothes ready on time." Then they went to Shivalal's sweet shop and bought a box filled with barfi.

Carrying the sweets, they took a bus and reached Pavagadh. From there they climbed all the way up to the top where Bhadrakali Mata's temple stood. They offered the barfi and a coconut as pras?d.

After the puja, they sat down near the temple wall. Eating the coconut and the sweet barfi felt so delicious. They also enjoyed the view from the top-the forests, rivers, and green fields spreading far in every direction.

Miyan Fooski  pointed with excitement.

"Look, Bhattji! See those green fields-how beautiful they look! And among the trees, that blue water-how pretty!"

Just then, a Bhil tribesman standing nearby spoke,

"That is the Deer Lake. Around it are thick bushes. Many herds of deer live there. The Bhils who live nearby never kill them or allow anyone else to kill them. So, during the day also, deer come freely, drink water from the lake, and rest in the shade of trees."

"Did you hear, Bhattji?" asked Miyan eagerly.

"Have you ever seen such deer?"

"Yes," said Bhattji, "I have seen deer many times in the zoo."

"Foolish fellow!" said Miyan.

"Why am I foolish?" asked Bhattji angrily.

Miyan explained,

"Of course, we have also seen deer in the zoo many times. But have you ever seen them drinking at a lake in the forest, moving about freely under the trees? No, you haven't! Come on, admit it."

"All right, no, I have not seen them," said Bhattji.

"Then since we have come this far, let us go see the Deer Lake and watch the deer in their natural home," said Miyan.

Bhattji became irritated.

"We have not come here to watch deer. We have come here for work."

Miyan replied, "The real man is the one who can do two things at once."

Finally Bhattji said, "First let us climb down. Then we will think about it."

***

So they came down from Pavagadh hill. But Miyan Fooski  did not give up. Even though Bhattji kept saying "No, no," finally they agreed to visit the Deer Lake.

Next morning, they set out early. The lake was about four miles away. On the way they passed through farms, orchards, and clusters of date-palm trees. There were no villages or houses nearby, only now and then a farmer working in his field.

The lake was surrounded by very thick bushes. They pushed through and slowly reached the edge. From between the bushes, they could see the clear water of the lake.

Suddenly Bhattji cried, "Oh look there! What is that?"

They stopped. A deer stood near the lake.

"That is a deer," said Miyan happily.

"But why is it not running away when it sees us?" asked Bhattji.

Miyan laughed again.

"Bhattji, you read so many books that you have become blind to common sense. Forest deer are different. They don't always jump and run like zoo animals."

"But see, see!" cried Bhattji. "Now the deer has noticed us. Look how it is moving, pulling, trying to escape! It wants to run away but cannot."

"Yes, yes!" said Miyan. "Its leg seems to be stuck in something. Look how it struggles! Poor thing."

Without waiting, Miyan Fooski  ran towards the deer. The more he ran, the more frightened the deer became. It pulled hard, but its leg was firmly trapped.

Miyan crouched near it. Though he was also a little afraid, he reached out carefully and touched the deer's leg. There was so much grass that it was not clear what the leg was caught in. Then he felt something like a rope around the hoof. 

Quickly he took out his knife.

Just then, from the opposite bank, someone shouted loudly.

"Come back! Come back!"

Bhattji also shouted, "Miyan, someone is calling. Come back!" But Miyan did not listen.

Thinking only of saving the deer, he cut the rope-like thing with his knife. Immediately the deer sprang free. It bounded away in great leaps, flying like an arrow into the forest.

Miyan looked at it with joy-until suddenly **THAP!** A heavy slap fell on his head. His cap tumbled down. He turned quickly and froze.

***

Before him stood a huge Bhil warrior, tall and strong, with angry eyes and a big axe resting on his shoulder.

"Stand up!" the Bhil shouted.

Miyan bent, picked up his cap, placed it on his head, and stood up silently.

"Do you know who I am?" thundered the Bhil.

Miyan folded his hands in greeting and smiled nervously.

"I think I have seen you somewhere… perhaps in a picture of the Ramayana. Yes! At the gates of Lanka there was a demon exactly like you. Maybe you are the same one…"

SLAP! The Bhil struck Miyan's face so hard that it stung.

"Ow! Don't hit me like this," cried Miyan. "I don't like such mischief."

The Bhil raised his axe. "Shall I use this instead?"

Miyan trembled.

The Bhil said proudly, "Do you know who I am? My name is Tuniyo Sardar."

"Very nice, very nice name," said Miyan quickly. "And what is your father's name?"

"Butiyo Sardar," said the Bhil.

"And his father's name?"

"Kutiyo Sardar."

"And his father's name?"

"Huriyo Sardar."

"And his father's name?"

"Gutiyo Sardar."

"And his father's name?"

"Urio Sardar."

By the time Miyan asked about the sixth and seventh ancestor, Tuniyo's eyes had become red with fury. His cheeks glowed like burning coal. He lifted the axe with both hands above his head, ready to bring it down on Miyan.

Miyan closed his eyes in terror. But when the blow fell-THUD!-the axe blade sank deep into the ground instead. Tuniyo had swung so hard that it stuck in the earth.

While the Bhil struggled to pull it out, Miyan clenched his fists and ran.

***

Miyan reached the other side of the lake where two horses were tied. Without thinking twice, he untied one, leapt onto its back, and rode away.

"Run, run, run!" he shouted, whipping the rope. The horse bolted at full speed, not caring for path or forest, just galloping madly forward.

Tuniyo Sardar saw this and boiled with rage. He jumped on the second horse and chased after Miyan like fire chasing dry leaves.

Miyan clung tightly to the horse's neck, eyes shut, too scared even to look around. The horse ran out of the forest into open fields. Behind, Tuniyo's horse followed closely, his axe shining in the air.

Bhattji, hiding behind a tree, saw everything. His heart pounded.

"Oh Miyan! I told him a thousand times not to interfere. The deer would have freed itself. But he had to show pity. And now, because of pity, his own life is in danger!"

Meanwhile, Miyan's horse ran and ran. Suddenly it stumbled, as if something had come in the way, and stopped with a jerk…

What happens next? Wait and watch!