Blessings

It rained a lot of last night, in a torrential downpour. God has poured His blessings to the people of this village. There was no sign of rain for the last two months. The heat was so intense that the soul could come out of its cage anytime. People were restless and were seeking for the comfort. What a sultry condition it was for so long. Rivers, canals and ponds got dried. All the crops that were in the field dried up because of intense heat. Sukhomay could not collect more than one bucket of water from morning till night by searching through the village and even the surrounding villages in search of drinking water. The parents affectionately named him Sukhomoy. Did not find any good in his fifty years of journey. However, he maintained his happiness every time on his face. But his wife who was inducted in this family through marriage, used to pull the yoke of the family all day long.

What a labor she used to put for the family. God probably forgot to write any happy word for her when writing fortune. Otherwise, such a strong, energetic wife how could get lost in a day’s illness forever. Sukhomoy called a village quack home and applied medicines as per his advice. She did not response to the treatment. Suffered from simple diarrhea and vomiting and it was all over in a day. Since then, Sukhomoy and his son had been pulling the strings of the family. How much money could Sukhomoy earn by working on the field so that he could run the family with a little ease. Ratan, son of Sukhomoy, was a very weak fellow. Most of the time he remained sick and needed treatment. Even after regular treatment, the body did not show any improvement in health. It did not look like that Ratan was the son of a farmer, being not strong at all.

Last night's rain brought a lot of calmness and peace to the body and mind. That was the reason for Sukhomoy to go to the field in the morning.

The soil had softened a little making an opportunity to take the plough. If it rains a little more, he will spread the paddy on the field. It is time for the rainy season to come. Now and then, if it rains a couple of times, the rice seedlings will come out. He had been plowing for long time but could not concentrate at all this time. From time to time, he becomes unmindful thinking of Ratan. The son got a fever because of the cold due to rain last night. In the morning, on placing his hands on Ratan’s body, Sukhomoy felt that he was running with a high fever. Leaving Ratan in this state, he was not willing to come to work in the field, but the landlord would not be sparing him for not attending to the job. The landlord remains relaxed leaving all the responsibilities of the field work on Sukhomoy. The day he goes to work, he must go to his landlord’s house in the evening after finishing the work. He must have to put the brief of what he has done all through the day. Then the wages of that day will be available to him.

On the day when there is no work, there is no wage. That is why he had to leave the sick boy alone in the house just to get the wages at the end of the day. Of course, he had requested the aunty next door to look after the sick son. He had a faith and belief that the aunty would certainly look after the boy. Kindhearted aunty did not disagree to her job. Sukhomoy got relieved of the pressure of leaving the sick boy alone in the house. He started thinking within his mind that when he would go to get the wages in the evening, he would request the landlord to pay a little more as would be required for the treatment of his sick son. But the landlord was so miser that he would not agree to pay in excess even if Sukhomoy was desperately needing it for the treatment. After much pleading, if he finally agrees to pay, will certainly deduct the amount from his next day's wages.

Sukhomoy returned home with increased palpitation in his heart. Who knows the condition of his son? As soon as he reached the door and called Ratan by his name, he came out of his room Jumping. Sukhomoy got surprised and asked, " has the fever gone?"

- Yes Dad, an old man came home this afternoon, probably be a saint. He was Wearing a saffron cloth and carrying a kamandalu in his hand. When he realized that my body was sick and I was having high temperature, he sprinkled water all over my body from his kamandalu and told me to chew the root of a tree. As soon as I did that, he said, 'Yeah, you would be fine now, and won't have any illness further’. He turned his hand on my head and blessed me. I recovered.

Being stunned Sukhomoy just folded his hands together and bowed to God.