Mission Impossible – Ranchi.

Mission Impossible – Ranchi.          

Preface :- 

This is a story that was narrated to my son, over thirty five years ago, in the eighties, while he was a school kid in a school at Calcutta, in India. His school was for five days a week. Every week he had a class test in his school, just prior to the week end commences. He was fairly serious in his study for this weekly examination and other exams too, with a condition that it is compulsory for me to narrate him a story that very evening. It was indeed my pleasure to agree to that. That means telling him a story once a week, which could last for several hours. Very often this activity of narrating a particular story to him lasted for several weeks, if not even for months, at a stretch, narrating just once a week, in the evening hours at our home. In fact if we remember correctly, to tell this particular story, this continued for over two months, of course with a sitting for just one day for narrating in every week. Interestingly this entire activity of storytelling to him from me was mostly extempore and every such story like this was in fact mostly fabricated out of my imagination. 

This particular story was in fact conceived earlier, although narration-wise is the first of the lot. 

This first one mainly was for two simple truck drivers, who were on their way from Hazaribagh to Ranchi in India, with a truck load of cargo. Whilst one of them was repairing some problems, which cropped up, they were confronted by a hungry leopard, which suddenly appeared from the nearby jungle. It was just how they managed to escape, to survive such a situation, since they did not have any weapons with them. However while narrating him the story the episode of kidnapping the girl as this also took place, was not disclosed to him. Rest all are narrated to him in detail, since all these are true. 

Please note that all the characters and incidents are just real in this story, although the exact time, actual names of all the people involved in this are of course changed, just for the sake of avoiding any further troubles, that perhaps might come up in future. However please note that all these since have happened. In fact, please also note that all the locations, geographical facts and relevant details, social facts and figures, are totally true. These are neither at all imaginary, nor are at all far from reality too. 

And from this story, my son always kept on insisting me for telling such a story every week-end to him. 

That is how it started. The next was a thrilling story that was dealing with all puzzled aircraft officials from the US Air Force, when the aircraft just confronted a sudden threat of disaster in the mid sky en-route a secret mission to some destination in the Far East, starting its mission from an air base in the state of California. It finally could avoid the disaster in a miraculous way and landed far away at Hawaii. 

The third was a thrilling story that explains how four daring commandos arriving from the UK came all the way to reinstate the Brazilian President, who was ousted as a matter of coup in Brazil.

Please note that in those days we did not have any Google to search for, in the eighties. However let me convey my gratitude to the authorities of Google and Bing, as for helping me for picking up several data and pictures for me to complete this.

Let me, however, hope that all of you will like the story and thus it will achieve the desired objective too.

P. K. Sarkar.

March 12, 2022. 

 

This is a story as narrated to him in the year late 1983

Preface to the overall incidents.

Please note that as already stated in the previous page, this is not at all a simple story for the sake of just storytelling to others. In fact all these since have happened in reality in the actual life. Incidentally however please also note that all the locations as later described, all the geographical facts and relevant details, social facts and figures, are totally true. These are neither at all imaginary, nor are at all fictitious either. In other words only all the characters and incidents as stated hereinafter are just real in this story, although the exact time, actual names of all the people and specific locations involved in this are of course somewhat changed, just for the sake of avoiding any further troubles, which perhaps might come up in future.

However to start wit let me introduce this city of Ranchi to you all.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RANCHI.

The early evidence of use of several iron slag, pot sheds, iron tools found in Chota Nagpur region around 1400 BCE.] Magadha Empire exercised indirect control over the territory, which lasted until the reign of the Ashoka. Armies of Samudra Gupta passed through the region on their expedition to the Deccan. In 4th century BCE, Nagvanshi king Raja Pratap Rai chose Chutia as his capital which is now a place in Ranchi. Few ruins of Chutia trace back to 2nd Century BCE. With the expansion of the Mughal Empire, the-then sovereign status of the Nagvanshi dynasty was technically affected, but they continued to rule and administer independently. Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo made Satrangi as capital of Barkagarh state near Subarnarekha river. He built Jagannath Temple in 1691.

 

                                Jagannath temple, Ranchi

After Battle of Buxar, Nagvanshi became vassal of East India Company. British reduced Nagvanshi rulers to Jamindar in 1817 In 1833, Captain Wilkinson established headquarter of the South-West Frontier agency in the village of Kishunpur, which he renamed into Ranchi after the hamlet located at the foot of the Hill.Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo, Pandey Ganpat Rai, Tikait Umrao Singh and Sheikh Bhikhari played a pivotal role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. British made Ranchi as municipality in 1869 and Ranchi was first termed as a town in the census of 1872. Nagvanshi shifted their capital to Ratu from Palkot in 1870. Udai Pratap Nath Shah Deo built Ratu Palace in Ratu in 1900. The last ruler of the Nagvanshi dynasty was Lal Chintamani Sharan Nath Shahdeo (1931–2014).

 

Jyotirindranath Tagore, the eldest brother of Poet Rabindranath Tagore, settled in Ranchi. Tagore Hill, where his house was located, has been named after him in remembrance. 

 

After Independence, Ranchi saw significant increase in its population. Its population rate of growth was 3.5% in 1901 to 1941, which increased to 14% in 1951–1971. This was because of increased industrial and educational institutions being set up, as well as the arrival of post-Partition refugees. Ranchi became an 'administrative-cum-industrial' town in 1958 when Heavy Engineering Corporation was set up. The succeeding years saw Ranchi becoming the headquarters for the following: Steel Authority of India Ltd and Central Coalfields Ltd. Erstwhile NCDC became eventually a large group within this.

 

The city remained the summer capital of Bihar till the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, when Ranchi became the capital of the new state.

                               Kanke Dam

 

                               Tagore Hill

Lalpur and adjoining Burdwan Compound - Central business and a decent residential district of Ranchi.

City centre of Ranchi is the commercial, historical, cultural, financial and economic district of Ranchi.

     Ranchi in the overall map of India.

SOME INTERESTING and SIGNIFICANT POINTS OF TOURIST INTEREST IN OR AROUND RANCHI.

Overall Geography of Ranchi. Since the city is located at a plateau, i.e. table land in this Chotanagpur, all roads approaching Ranchi has to climb an altitude of over 1000’ at least, depending on the direction you are approaching from. This ascent is mostly achieved as a hilly road, embracing perhaps a lot of ghats involving lots of hair pin turns or just a straight forward gradually inclined road with simple curves to reach that altitude. In addition, this altitude has given rise to so many waterfalls, which collectively eventually has become areas of immense tourist interest. Additionally all the forests embracing such a cluster of hilly road and presence of several trees herein and the jungle associated with it, the areas have become an ideal abode for a lot of wild flora and fauna in or around Ranchi. That itself is also an item of tourist attraction.

Here the word ghat is a local term utilised to explain the nature of the road. That is, here the road is extremely zigzag with lot of hair pin turns, i.e., serpentine turns too, all associated with dense jungle.

Jonha Falls, Ranchi.Plunging from a height of about 45 meters, the Jonha Falls are surrounded in a canopy of plush dense trees and thick shrubbery. The holy waters of River Ganga and River Raru come together to form these giant roaring falls. They are also known as the Gautamdhara Falls because of a Buddhist shrine that lies in proximity to the falls.

Jonha Falls                                                                 

     Some glimpses of the serpentine road for arriving Ranchi.    

Hundru Falls, Ranchi

Actual Picture of the down falling water stream at the Hundru Falls.

Picture of the river at the Hundru Falls.

The Hundru Falls is a waterfall located in Ranchi district in the present Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the 34th highest waterfall in India. It's one of the most famous tourist places near Ranchi in Jharkhand. The different formations of rock due to the erosion by the constantly falling of water have added to the beauty of the place. The Hundru Falls at Ranchi is situated at a distance of over forty kilometers from the main city of Ranchi. It is one of the most attractive tourist places in the region. On the course of Subarnarekha River, there it falls from a height of 98 metres (322 ft) creating one of the highest water falls in the state. The spectacular scene of water fall, its height has been described as a sight to behold.

At the base of the Hundru Waterfall, there is a pool, which serves as a bathing place and a picnic spot. The spectacular scene of water falling from such a great height has been appealing to people for a long time. The Hundru Falls Ranchi is created on the course of the Subarnarekha River, where it falls from a height of 322 feet creating the highest waterfalls of the state.

Enlarged picture of downstream water flow, attracting tourists at Hundru falls.

Life and safety of girls in the streets of Ranchi. 

Inspite of all said and done, the city of Ranchi was in those days not at all safe for lone girls or single woman on the street, even as until date. That was mainly for so many sex maniacs and similar other rogues, eve teasers as well as the great gangsters and prima-facie outlaws, who continuously keep thronging the streets of the city as a result of which, the life of average civilians was at a dilemma very often, if they are outdoors with a company of girls or women of impressionable age, on the streets, accompanying them. The girls are always by nature the soft target for these super-great citizens of society anywhere. This nuisance in fact persisted even, if they are on the streets, even in broad day light too. Normally the safe time for girls was/is up to 7 pm for summer and 6 pm for winter. There was no in-time for boys, although it is far too ridiculous.

This time limit was fixed neither by any Civic body nor some of the Police Authorities either. We could not think of any other reason for this discrimination other than the question people asked. Very often, the Police officers behaved too strangely as if they are under too much of pressure, when somebody goes to report and ask them to file a diary or register a complaint by way of the standard FIR, against such miscreants like the uncouth eve teaser heroes or outlaws. This is nothing at all a strange matter in such places for the people and thus much to their disliking, average people had to accept it. Thus very often the public had to adopt their own remedial measures to combat such nuisance. In fact this was the running culture against such an apparent lethargy of the Police too. Thus the average people, as a matter of getting disgusted with such interesting attitude as displayed by several members of so called “Saviour of the Society” they adopted their own norms to combat all these as appropriate, even without intimating the Police too. The idea is, the Police people as if have a lot of big jobs to do, so why disturb them with such trifling matters of rescuing the girls !

Authorities, individuals and police concede that the city is not at all safe for women during a workshop on women's safety at Ranchi University recently. Almost every aspect of such an item, which is necessary to ensure the safety of a woman within the walls of a city, is in utter neglect here. For example, areas in or around Peace road, Distillery road, lanes on Purulia road among several other areas, are poorly lit, congested and thus for obvious reasons have turned as a playground for eve-teasers.

To quote a recent instance, "It was 8pm when I was walking down from Peace Road to Dangratoli Chowk. Suddenly, my sandal heel broke and I had to walk barefoot. There was nothing revealing about my attire but my naked feet seemed to be a stimuli for all the by-standers who began passing lewd comments. By the time I reached my destination, it felt as if my soul was ripped apart," recollected Monica Lehra, a 22-year-old resident of the city. Monica's experience is one of thousands which occur every day but go unreported.

The Shakti app, which had been recently launched by Ranchi police, also seems to have run out of fuel.

However to conclude, the life of girls, women or ladies is not at all safe in Ranchi, even as of date.

Mental Hospital at Ranchi.

The Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) is the first mental hospital in India established by the British purely for Indian patients as well as the second oldest functioning mental hospital in India.

The hospital has 24 hour emergency services for patients who are mentally ill. There are 16 beds (8 males, 8 females), and the services are provided free, apart from the cost of medicines and food normally which has to be borne by the guardians accompanying the patient. 

It is one of the largest mental hospitals in Asia.

Places of Academic excellence. Inspite of so many “if’s and but’s”, the city of Ranchi is well accorded as a place for academic excellence as well as for higher studies. There are several prestigious schools, colleges, Professional Engineering Institutes and Medical College – all are of National significance. For instance: - Just to mention of a few :-

Ranchi University, one of the best in the Country, so far next to BHU, in the Hindi speaking states.Vikas Vidyalaya, a residential school, located at about 10 KM away from Ranchi. Bishops West Scot School, very prestigious renowned boarding school for boys.Bishops West Scot School, equally prestigious renowned boarding school for girls, located in close proximity to each other. Each of these is at Namkom, which is a big cantonment. St. Xavier’s College, a very prestigious college, located in the city.Chotanagpur Girls College, a prestigious college in the city, near St. Xavier’s College.Ranchi College, another prestigious college, located in the city.Ranchi Women’s College, another prestigious college for women located in the city.Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, 12 km away, an internationally famous Engineering College. Ranchi Medical College, located north of the city, also a nationally famous Medical Institute.In addition to the above, there are several other schools and Colleges too, that are well renowned. 

Flora and Fauna in or around Ranchi.The city although is having the benefit of having so many items of national as well as International excellence, it can also boast of its natural resource of fantastic flora and fauna, received as a continuous gift from the Nature. The city as well as the neighbouring areas around it, in fact is having a lot of good and large gardens, mostly as personal properties as well as state owned gardens too. Most of these gardens and even the open areas in or around the jungles abundantly are also infested with lots of varieties of so many different flowers, lots of seasonal flowers and different types of fruits through the year. In fact of the fruits, different species of mango, different species of guava, different species of litchi – in fact this list far too exhaustive, for us to describe here.

Of the fauna, the wild life is remarkable in or around Ranchi. The presence of so many forest or jungle in or around the City has made it a good habitat for several animals, inclusive of Wild Animals. For instance, wild cat, wild mongoose, wild jackals or foxes are plenty here. Of the large animals, leopard, panther, different species of deer, different species of wild bear are available here. Tiger is a rare phenomenon here. The monkeys are in fact in abundance all over the city and the adjoining places. In fact the list here also is far too exhaustive.

The next item is the snake. There are plenty of varieties of snakes, tiny to very big, with or without venom too. Python is not at all rare, as its presence is noticeable at many places. In fact the list here is far too exhaustive.

Another interesting item is the nature’s gift for beautifying the overall system of the animal kingdom. In fact that is for different species of birds, inclusive of some rare species are available here too, that attracts several renowned Ornithologists from all over the World to come and assemble here in order to watch and take photographs as possible. Another interesting thing, presence of so many snakes has inducted the presence of a variety of large different types of hawks, peacocks, possibly for maintaining ecology balance, by Nature itself.

Little local topography of the town.The city has a few good roads to approach here. Once the-then Viceroy of the earlier British Empire in India had appreciated the roads of Ranchi as equivalent to the roads of heaven; he said this as he was impressed for its nicely maintained roads as compared to that of other nearby cities. That is so, since most of these approach roads in or around Ranchi, is mostly garlanded with lots of lush greenery and lots of huge large trees althrough the path of journey near and even after the jungle or forest regime. The road to Hazaribagh, road to Chakradharpur are garlanded with lot of serpentine curves and associated dense jungles and motorists are supposed to be far too cautious to drive here. For obvious reasons, drivers are also expected to be cautious as very likely that they will get confronted to a variety of different animals en-route.

There are a few such roads to reach Ranchi. One is Ranchi Hazaribagh Road, another is Ranchi Purulia Road, next is Ranchi Chakradharpur - Chaibasa Road, next is Ranch Daltongunj- Netarhat Road and the last one later is bifurcated as Ranchi Patratu Road. All these are all weather motorable roads and from all these several off-roads have emerged out and these have different terminals too. Within the city there are several roads and cross roads, as for the ease of movement of the local residents.

However the venue of the main item of our story is the Ranchi Hazaribagh Road, just also called Hazaribagh Road as most of the incidents are over here or around here.

However to connect Jamshedpur to Ranchi, recently a diagonal road is opened to the public, via Namkom This has immensely shortened the distance to a considerable effect and virtually no ghat in this zone so far. 

ACTUAL DIARY OF INCIDENTS.

Now that we have so far described the details of the city in respect of the localities and other places of significant interest. The main item of the story will get started here.

To start narrating these entire activities, please note that most of the incidents, (excepting the last two tiny incidents, which are somewhat related to the overall matters), have all happened during the same day in or around Ranchi. Thus let us start, for the sake of ease in such comprehending, a diary of events time-wise. There are three separate incidents that comprise the entire episode. Although each of the incidents started differently and separately at different places independent of the other, although surprisingly all these near the end of the day, are clustered together. They do not have any social relation whatsoever within the other team members prior to such a meeting, although circumstances pulled each of them towards the other in a super interesting manner.

Please incidentally also note that for the sake of convenience of narrating the entire episode, we will keep changing from one Team to another Team and thus keep shuffling it for the sake of maintaining the diary of events time-wise as far as possible precise.

However in order to start it, let us get a little familiar with geography of the place.

Place :-

All are in or around Ranchi, (except the last one a bit).

Time :-

It is a cool chilly and windy morning during early November of 1968. It is a few minutes to six to start here.

Characters:-     

The first lot of characters is a pair of persons, in the name of Arjun Singh and Nishan Sahu. They happen to be truck drivers and helpers of the same truck, which is owned by their boss, Mr. Amrish Aggarwala, in short popularly called as Amrish-babu, who is famous as an oil merchant. He runs his own company with a fleet of trucks and dozens of such people. Arjun is a resident of a village, located just outskirts of Ranchi, though Nishan comes off the neighbouring state of Orissa. Either of them comes off a poor family too. Amrish-babu however is a wealthy Marwari person, although living in Ranchi since over last fifty years at a stretch. He lives in his large palace in the crowded area of Upper Baazar in Ranchi. He is somewhat resembling the legendary character of a mini Shylock the Jew, as in “Merchant of Venice”. This is the Team-1. The members of all other team will come whenever the narration will require them to do so. However Amrish-babu has a large family of his own, with wife, three daughters and three sons. His brother is staying with him, with his family too in this house as a member of his family and he is blessed with two daughters and two sons too.

His brother is indeed an interesting character. Although he is a member of the big house and a member of the overall family here, he is not an active member of his elder brother’s “oil merchant” activities so far. He is just a casual member and just gives occasional assistance to Amrish-babu whenever needed by him. He has in addition to that two shops as he runs a shop of clothes and a sweet meat shop. However these are not in Upper Baazar, instead about a kilometre away on the Main Road in Ranchi, near the Market. 

There are several other characters who will be appearing enroute the overall journey of the episode.

So here we start our story as presented as a diary of events time-wise.

 6.00AM

Team – 1. 

Amrish-babu has since made arrangements with Arjun and Nishan to take a truck load of loaded oil drums to one of his associates, who is in Hazaribagh. Hazaribagh is located about 100 Km north of Ranchi and there is a straight road, its name is Ranchi Hazaribagh Road. In return to this, he is arranging to procure something else from his associate and these two persons are asked to take the delivery of material as received from his associate in Hazaribagh, in order to bring it here in Ranchi for him, i.e., Amrish-babu. Arjun meanwhile had a quick check of the truck in a critical way and he had noticed of some defects in it, of which he immediately intimated to Amrish-babu. In reply Amrish-babu advised that, despite it, he expects Arjun somehow to manage it out of that and bring the lot to Ranchi as this lot is urgent. Tomorrow his own mechanic will come to have a thorough check of the truck and he will arrange to do the necessary repairs. So hearing that most unwillingly Arjun started the truck together with Nishan with load of cargo in it.

So they had left Ranchi early in the morning and since for normal reasons, the road traffic was much less, they had reached the destination in time, rather ahead of time. Amrish Babu’s associates was too glad to receive the consignment and suggested that he will be able to load his stuff a little later in the day for them to take it back to Ranchi to their boss. Arjun and Nishan had earlier done similar job and thus they are least interested as to what will be loaded, since they insist on having a delivery paper or document, in India called as “Challan” as it describes the details of the consignment. Once that is clearly stated, their personal responsibility ceases. It was already two in the afternoon and now they got the green signal to start for return.

However since all incidents never happen the way we plan, some troubles do come up, much to our disliking.

10.00AM

Team – 2. 

This team comprises two young men, age-wise each in twenties. One of them lives in the thick congested although decent residential area in the name of Lalpur and the other one in adjoining Burdwan Compound. The difference within their residences is just a few furlongs. Either of them is academically well qualified as per the Indian standards and has one hobby within them as common. That is for hunting wild animals. They are related.

Their names are Pulak and Dipak. Each of them has necessary Government licence for maintaining such weapons with them and they are normally maintaining and keeping these reasonably clean, such that each is readily usable too. Pulak lives in Ranchi and works for a Central Government Company in Ranchi itself. Instead Dipak lives in another town in the name of Jamshedpur as he works with a giant Multinational Company here. The difference within the two places is about 125 Km. Dipak very often comes to Ranchi in several weekends, practically twice a month on an average.

The era that is being stated, is when hunting was still allowed, although in exceptional instances. Either of them is interested in hunting and the weapons they maintain is a simple local make of double barrel gun for Pulak, whereas a simple .22 bore semi-automatic rifle of F N Browning of Belgium make. This unit is foldable and fitted with telescope too. Just yesterday a message came to Pulak that a village nearby Ormanjhi is getting disturbed by a crocodile (in short called as croc). There is a little brook, in short a tributary that finally leads to another larger river. This little brook passes through several villages and enroute there are several larger patches of water, which looks like a pool. The season is of ensuing winter and very often the villagers have noticed this croc has come out of the water for basking in the open air near the jungle. Please note that most of the villages are next to the jungle and most of the villagers also make a living out of the jungle too. This croc apparently is just of the fish eating species. The croc does not disturb the human much ; instead it is after their domestic animals. One local peon (rather a simple bearer) in the name of Ramu, who works also in the same Office, where Pulak works, lives in the adjacent village and from him the message has come. This is a weekend and thus they are planning to do this adventure. Pulak’s constant friend Mr. Nandi, is running a dance school and also a hunter, a good marksman and thus has plenty of such experience. However Mr. Nandi is somewhat sick and as such not physically fit enough to join them. He instead suggested adopting certain precautionary measures, since the croc is gradually increasing its tyranny over the innocent villagers. He also suggested, if it is still there, then he will gladly join them, if they plan for something similar item for the next week end. Pulak meanwhile went to one of the Executives of the local Police and in short asked for his opinion and his permission. It was another decent gentleman in the name of Mr. Pradhan, who gladly accepted the idea with his permission and suggested a few words of caution. He of course strongly suggested them to complete their activities positively all during the day, irrespective of whether successful or not. Pulak thanked him a lot and left. The overall location of the spot is near Ramgarh, just where Chutupalu ghat starts, for journey to Ranchi.

The journey thus commences. Pulak has a scooter of original Italian make Lambretta and this is what his normal chariot for daily movement. Dipak does not have anything like that of his own here in Ranchi. One thing is that Dipak has the pleasure of riding this chariot in several instances, although in this adventure, he suggested to check its fuel tank and get it filled together with tyre pressure, oil check and similar activities.

Pulak did all these and with reasonable food, drinking water and other essential items, they commenced their journey for the disturbed village. The peon Ramu was waiting for them exactly at the pre-fixed place and he suggested parking the scooter at some point near the actual place and then walk through the jungle heading towards the actual spot, as this is the spot people have noticed just yesterday afternoon. In all probability, the croc is hiding in a pool, as it is there enroute the journey of the brook towards its final point of confluence. The place is very much surrounded by large trees of different names, a lot of bushes and as a result of so many big trees, the place is somewhat shady even during the middle of day too. Although the weather is so far fine, since it is during the day, it will eventually become cool a little later in the afternoon.

For this purpose, Pulak as well as Dipak took some extra clothes with them. For instance, a complete lot of dress including one kurta with pyjama and a slipper for each, some warm garments for each and a kit for first aid inclusive of some medicines like cotton, liquid antiseptic, like a tiny bottle of Dettol and band-aid bandages, all packed up in the back bag and Dipak is prepared to carry all these, since Pulak is to drive the chariot. As regards dress that they are wearing is one sports shirt, a trouser and a canvas shoe for either of them. Pulak is not having any bag of his, except for the double barrel gun with casing and Dipak is having the back pack.

So Ramu has brought them up to the designated point near a pool as it is enroute the passage of a brook. Ramu helped either of them to climb on to two trees located on either side of the pool and he himself also selected another different tree to climb up, to sit with his bow and arrows. Now starts the long wait. It is thus already over two hours and there is no symbol of the croc to come out of the pool, except he lifted its nose to the air in a few instances, perhaps for fresh air to breath or something. Thus they started getting bored of it.

 

Picture of the fish eating crocodile basking in the open air.

Meanwhile let us get back to Ranchi for other serious incidents that are also taking places in the town simultaneously elsewhere.

Team – 3. 

Place :-

Just in front of the main gate of Chotanagpur Girls College, near the Plaza Cinema, Ranchi.

Time :-

01.00 PM

Characters:-

Plenty, although prima-facie it is just one girl, in the name of Jhumri Sinha and another four typical anti-social elements, virtual outlaws.

One girl, much pretty looking, i.e., Jhumri, together with several other friends and colleagues just at the entrance gate of the Chotanagpur Girls College, Ranchi came out of the College in search of some food or snacks in order to munch during the tiffin hour..

Jhumri is a fair complexioned pretty looking girl ; she is a student of the final year of the BA class in this college and she is reasonably good in her studies. She came out of the college gate with her friends and colleagues, as it is the tiffin recess for thirty minutes or so. This is virtually a daily routine activity for her and for her friends and colleagues too. Her favourite item is the chana-masala or some matar-masala. So too it is mostly for her friends and most colleagues. In fact due to such heavy demand of this particular item, several such vendors are ready and they all come here every day of the college, in order to cater to such requests of such students. Jhumri was somewhat asking the vendor to select some item of her selected choice.

Suddenly slowly one Ambassador car approached near her from behind and quickly came out two bandits. One of them came out with a cloth well soaked in chloroform and swiftly held it tightly in front of her nose and mouth and the next bandit, as if was equally ready for it, came next to him, lifted her physically in order to all get boarded in that car. The car engine was on and it started instantaneously from the spot. Some vendors had noticed it and was about to object by way of shouting. The man next to the driver silently took out a pistol through the window and asked them to shut up. He in addition threw a few hundred Rupee notes to them. In a few seconds the kidnapping is over and swiftly went off the car towards the Catholic Press. From here, it took a left turn and through Purulia Road left for, through Hazaribagh Road northbound.

The driver of the car then purchased some food enroute and straight drove towards their second home, a den that they recently discovered in the Chutupalu area and they are claiming it as if it is their home den. After reaching Chutupalu, they managed to park the car in such a way that it is not easily noticeable from any of the drivers of so many vehicles that keep moving on the Hazaribagh Road. After they finished their lunch, they were getting ready for their next activity so far planned, i.e., gang rape this girl. Meanwhile Jhumri just came back to senses and she is well aware as to what is going to happen to her. Lest the girl keeps on thus shouting, the gang leader has put a sticking plaster over her mouth and kept her tied for the right moment. She is in full senses, although she does not have the strength to object or protest either, as she is well guarded by the bandits, of whom she is not so familiar with, except the so-called chief, steering the car.

2.00 PM

Team – 1.

Meanwhile coming back to the initial incident of two truck drivers, they got their truck re-loaded with a lot of goods from the cousin of Amrish Babu’s at Hazaribagh and after such loading is complete with all relevant papers, they have got the green signal to commence their return journey for Ranchi.

They started the truck and straight started the engine for driving it down through their popular highway, i.e. Hazaribagh Road towards Ranchi. Normally a journey like this will take a little over two hours, if the road is clear and system is all OK. However today it is much different. First on their way to return, came the little township of Mandu, a little later came Ranchi Road. Nishan suggested Arjun to halt here in order to have something to eat. Instead the driver Arjun suggested it is a much prudent idea to stop it near his friend’s garage at Ramgarh, as this is where he can perhaps have the engine re-checked again from his friend, who works in a tiny garage over here. Nishan agreed to it. So they did too. His friend had a quick check of the engine and the associated items and pointed that in fact a problem is still there and it requires thorough repair. However for the present he did some quick remedial measures and suggested not to accelerate much and avoid all possible bumps in order to avoid possibility of jerks. Arjun agreed and after all of them had something to eat together here at Ramgarh, Arjun started the engine and after offering gratitude to his friend here, took off from his friend’s garage.

4.00 PM.

It is nearing 4.00 PM. They somehow are able to cross most of the roads in ghat region and although a little bit of the zigzag road are yet left, a cautious way of steering a vehicle while driving is what is required here. So Arjun was much too cautious and remembered what his friend had advised him. However all advices do not always get followed, not due to the unwillingness of the listener, instead at many instances much to the sheer disliking of most, it is also due to several unavoidable circumstances. Suddenly Arjun noticed that a lot of rough repair work took places at the road by the local road repairing authorities, although as normal, none of them bothered to have the road properly cleaned in order to save the next passenger or drivers to avoid unnecessary hassles. That is something just normal in the Indian scenario, here most people just only are concerned of themselves, without thinking of the possible effect of that to the neighbours or others even. As a result of this the road is still left with a lot of unnecessary large boulders, due to which it eventually had made it insurmountable at places.

And this is what had happened as he was apprehending ! Much to his surprise and disliking, in order for avoiding one large boulder, he could not avoid the next and he just had managed to fall into a ditch that was created due to the recent rain and continuous weather erosion and thus resulted in a jerk. So that is it and with an abnormal sound, virtually the engine had stopped at the middle of the road. Somehow Arjun could manage to park it at one corner and thought of repairing it with his little experience of such mechanism of the engine. His friend had however advised as to what must he do as a remedial measure, in such a sudden emergency situation and that seriously is what he is remembering. His friend’s garage at Ramgarh is at some distance and there is no means of getting another, i.e., alternative means of transport amidst such a semi-jungle region in order to reach there. So as last recourse, he thus thought of doing something of his own in order to do the work of rectification himself. He is aware as to what was the source of the trouble in engine.

He suggested Nishan to keep the tool box ready and supply him whenever or whatever he requires any of these. He spread a piece of thick cloth made of jute, underneath the engine and he himself went underneath with an idea to do the repair. He somehow was able to locate it and assessed that in order to repair that he will take another twenty minutes or so. His assistant Nishan was anxiously waiting and eagerly helping him to the extent possible. However as per the old adage, troubles never come alone.

Nishan could notice the presence of a leopard at a distance coming this way and he thus immediately advised Arjun of it and asked him to quickly come out. Arjun did so and within a few seconds the leopard arrived at the spot and started roaring in despair. Either of them had by then already perched within the driver’s cabin with a little opening of either window too. At such an uncomfortable tight corner, wonder how many of the readers have ever been and if none so far, let me hope that such a situation does not arise ever in future to anyone. They kept sitting helplessly within the driver’s cabin in the truck for some time, with an anticipation that someone might come up in future sooner or later this afternoon as otherwise they will have to wait here until the next morning like this in such helpless fashion, as it appears. However no sort of help or nothing in the name of such assistance could arrive here for about an hour or so and this was only just increasing their worry and associated panic.

Team – 2.

Suddenly Ramu amidst the forest noticed, some little bit of hectic movement within the bushes is taking place in the nearby jungle, just a little away from the trees, where they are sitting. From his jungle instinct he could smell the beginning of some trouble. He immediately just signalled either of them to come down, keeping their weapons ready, as it is perhaps a panther moving for some of its food searching in the jungle. So they came down as per him and Ramu advised them at once to return from their so-called adventure. He later explained to either of them as to why is he doing so. The panther might change its mind in order to attempt for something different. Since it is already late in the afternoon, he suggested them to postpone today’s planning and let us keep it for the next day or for future. Listening to his prudent words, either of them decided so and Ramu helped them to take them through the wild to come out of the dense jungle up to the main road, in order to come near the parked scooter. That is the e nd of today’ adventure in this Chapter. Ramu suggested that he is capable to reach his own residence as it is normal habitat and with a word of thanks they started their return journey towards back home. 

While returning too, they will have to cross a reasonable distance of their path across the Chutupalu ghat and this is where like any other driver, they have to become much too cautious. Further it is nearing late afternoon. Since Pulak was steering the chariot, it was Dipak, who was watching all round and suggesting all items that are somewhat appearing suspicious along their return journey to Ranchi.

The ghat is nearing end and it appears that once they are able to cross a little patch of straight road, nearing the terminal point of the ghat, the ghat chapter is likely to get over. However Dipak was feeling like going for clearing his pressure, i.e., he was interested in a toilet activities. Since it was within the ghat, he somehow managed to control his interest for his toilet activities. So now he requests Pulak to stop the chariot for a few minutes and he agreed to it. Once it stopped, Dipak got down from it and advised Pulak to be always alert and aware with all possible fronts to be well guarded with his weapon ready for an immediate action. Pulak with a smile agreed to that too. Since the gust of wind was ever increasing while driving, either of them had well guarded their nose and mouth with hanky in a proper fashion.

Thus Dipak went to the nearby end of the road and wanted to clear himself. Once it is over, he suddenly just heard a feeble sound, a screaming sound, as if a female voice coming from a distance, as if asking for help ! How come ! What on earth is it ! That too a female voice asking for some help at such an unearthly place and at this hour. He thus became much too curious. He became much too attentive to listen to it and thus went a bit far towards the source of the sound, i.e., from the direction of its source. It is clear that the sound is from a female voice and certainly it appears that some female is at distress. He somehow proceeded a bit ahead very cautiously with his rifle loaded and ready for an attack to some strange enemies, if there are any over here. Just cautiously after crossing a few meters, he somehow crossed a large boulder in order to have a look towards the direction of the sound arriving ! He could look towards the West and noticed a dreadful and a sinful scene, a very distressful scene. It was as if a perfect silhouette picture of five humans. From the distance he could not guess who they are all. However, it was clear that four bandits have kidnapped a girl and forcefully taking her to some of their own destinations for some mal-activities, it was apparently clear. At that moment, the first one turned back and said something to the following men. Dipak could gather that it is Mohammed Idris, a notorious gangster and also a remarkable outlaw. The next one later was identified too, as he also turned backwards once and that is his able assistant in the name of Suleman Hanif. Slowly and gradually all are thus identified, as the third is Abdul Mannan and the last is Fuyad Halim. All are from Ranchi and the objective is apparently clear to him. The third man was dragging the girl upwards perhaps towards some of their hidden dens, whilst the last was constantly molesting her. The girl, for obvious reasons, doing her best to object and get freed somehow, although she could not, since she was tied up.

From such a distance, it is impossible to protest to them, as they will ignore such protests. He remembered that the city of Ranchi, is not at all a safe place for girls or women and the “saviours of our society” are no good for doing anything to combat that. So Dipak thus fixed up his mind as to what to do. He also noticed that the third person was holding a revolver and often pointing it towards the girl, as if it is meant for her, if she further misbehaves. How disgusting ! They are threatening a girl at a gun point and that too after kidnapping her and forcing her to walk forward keeping her tied up. So this sort of inhuman action deserves some similar rewards at once.

Incidentally since he could recognise them, he came to the conclusion that the first person ahead is perhaps the ring leader and the other three behind him are his followers or disciples. Thus he took out his rifle and started watching them through the telescope. It is loaded with one bullet in the firing chamber and another ten in the magazine chamber. When one trigger is pulled, the next bullet comes in the firing chamber of its own. In this fashion there are a total of eleven bullets. All are intact. He searched for a twig of a tree, as there are plenty of trees of various sizes. Some are bushy some are not. He took support from a twig of a medium size tree at his shoulder height. He thus aimed at the first person thro’ the telescope, adjusted the distance, then he pulled the trigger aiming at the hip of the first person. He immediately with a shouting fell down on the hard boulder floor. Within just another second, he pulled the trigger again aiming at the next person at his hip too. He fell down too on the hard boulder surface like the first. Then aiming is for the third person, which was holding, rather he was dragging the girl upwards, with an open revolver. The moment he was hit, his revolver went far higher up in the sky and before it could reach the ground, the fourth bullet from Dipak’s rifle struck it. With a loud “Thong” like sound it fell far away in some ditch below. Watching an imminent danger ahead, the fourth person, who was so far engaged in molesting the girl until a few seconds ago, decided to quit and thus he quickly turned back to escape. Well it is too late for him too as the fifth bullet from Dipak’s machine hit him and he too joined the brigade of others falling over the hard boulder floor. Thus all the four rogue bandits have started wriggling in severe pain over the hard boulder floor under the blue sky in this Chutupalu region. Once all of them are thus down, slowly and gradually a signal was given by Dipak to the girl, who was still standing totally bewildered and nervous, as to what is happening in the last one minute. She was constantly weeping, although out of her instantaneous nervousness, her weeping has stopped. She looked around, although could not notice anyone near her. Then it was Dipak again gave a whistling sound and tracing the sound, she noticed the source and could notice him. Dipak indicated her to come down quickly towards him.

The girl was too eager to agree to do that and out of sheer super eagerness, she got somehow misbalanced and fell down by way of slipping from the hard boulder floor. However nothing untoward has happened, since Dipak was ready for it and reasonably well prepared for such a possible incident. He caught hold of her quickly and made her lie down at another similar boulder floor, although at a much lower altitude. The girl has become senseless, out of sheer panic, fear or whatever it is. 

Dipak noticed that her dress is heavily torn, mainly for the upper item of her dress, called the Kameez, as a result of aggressive molesting from some of the notorious miscreants. In fact it was too much torn, such that her breasts are well exposed to the open air. Her Salwar, i.e., the lower pyjama is also heavily wet, perhaps she had passed her urine out of fear or panic and she could not get an opportunity for clearing that. So with utmost affection, sympathy and dutiful approach, Dipak took out her Salwar silently and after doing that he took out her knickers too, since all these are heavily wet. He took her knickers off and threw it away and it got stuck at some twig of a bush near them.

Oh dear, Dipak exclaimed to himself ! It is Jhumri, one of the most pretty and lovely girls in the entire Lalpur area and that too she is lying virtually naked in front of her, although unconscious.

However due to aggressive molesting from some of the nails in one of the molesters, her right breast has developed a deep wound and so much deep it is, that the blood is oozing out of that. So he quickly took out the first aid kit out of the back pack and applied some liquid antiseptic at that spot. Then he took out another packet comprising some similar items for first-aid. He put on a band-aid type of bandage over the spot. Then he took out his own spare pyjama from his personal kit out of the back pack and properly thus managed to put it too on her, tied the thread with a proper knot such that, as if she has all the way come with that. Then he sprinkled some few drops of water to her face just to bring her back to senses and this way in another couple of minutes, she regained her senses. She noticed that her Kameez is so torn that she was feeling too shy for that. To end it, Dipak helped her to take out her Kameez and gave her his extra spare Kurta, which is fitting somewhat a little loose for her. Her bra was comparatively less spoiled, except its elastic band has become somewhat loose. Dipak already had noticed that the girl is Jhumri, although as a matter of courtesy, he had asked her name. She told the truth. Then she narrated, in response to a question from him as to how did it happen. She told that the notorious bandits have kidnapped her from the entrance gate of Chotanagpur Girls College in the tiffin hour in broad daylight in presence of another dozens of girls and several petty vendors. However now she has got a fresh dry dress and she started feeling somewhat comfortable. Inspite of all that, for Dipak, his duty is not so far complete. 

Dipak enquired as to how they managed to come so far. In response to it she described an Ambassador car and the path they kept on driving from her College all the way to this area. Although she was unconscious immediately after the effect of chloroform, she later has gathered all these details from their inter-dialogue. Dipak enquired as to where the car is. She pointed out the area and either of them went that far to locate that. Yes it was parked in the area in such a camouflage manner that none of the drivers passing along the Hazaribagh Road will be able to notice it. It is as if hidden within the shrubby bushes in the area and Dipak had to admit that it is an appreciable idea for some of them. So the immediate task for Dipak is to deflate the tyres such that they will have a herculean task for them to fix it up all over afresh. The idea of simple talking such little dialogue, was primarily to let her come back to proper senses, so that she can bring herself back to normalcy again. Then with the help of some sticks and her hairpins, Dipak managed to deflate two of the tyres of their car straightway in presence of her.

The girl, i.e., Jhumri asked him of his identity as to who he is and how come he is here at this spot. In response to that he narrated everything to her, except his name. He told that she should remember him as her friend -cum - Brother, rather to be precise just as her “Chutupalu Brother”. That is for the day enough, he stressed to her. Details of further introduction will come to her later.

So let us now return to Pulak, as he must be waiting since long and wondering as to what is there that might have happened to him. He told her that another one is there with him, who is waiting with his scooter at a little distance. There is nothing to be so afraid of him, nor there is anything for getting ashamed of, as Dipak will explain whatever is the truth and it is something universally everybody will appreciate it at the first moment.

So within the next few minutes, they reached the place, where Pulak has parked his car. He just lit up one of his favourite cigarettes and just finished smoking. He in fact just started wondering as to why Dipak is taking so much time and was thinking whether he should proceed in the same direction with an idea to help him, if so required by him. Just at that moment he noticed that Dipak is approaching with someone else, a girl.

Oh Dear ! It is a girl ! How come this girl has come here and met Dipak at such an unearthly place like this ! However Dipak came up to him and explained why this delay is and narrated in short the entire episode of this girl. That is how the girl came here, as the notorious bandits have kidnapped her from the entrance gate of Chotanagpur Girls College a few hours ago in the tiffin hour in broad daylight in front of another dozens of girls and several petty vendors. Pulak felt too sorry for her and asked Dipak as to what is happening to those people. Dipak narrated the incident and it will take at least several weeks for each of them to regain their old strength and stamina too. The car is due to get inflated by way of hauling it to some garage near Ramgarh if possible, as otherwise someone has to fit in two Stepney tyres in the car again to make it workable.

While conversing like this within them, Pulak started his scooter. Dipak asked Jhumri to sit in the middle and sit in a reverse fashion, such that she can have a constant watch towards rear area, in order for her to watch or notice and to ascertain whether a possibility for another attack is imminent from the rear. She agreed at it. Pulak started the scooter and commenced their return journey towards Ranchi.

Just after a few minutes, Pulak came near the parked truck and Oh dear ! What on earth is that ! It is a large leopard hovering over the truck. He told Dipak of it. Listening to that Jhumri started shivering out of fear. He stopped the scooter around hundred meters away from the truck. Dipak could passify her and told not to get nervous and not to make any sound at all. She agreed at it, although shivering with fear. Dipak has realistic presence of mind and courage to implement that as appropriate.

So he quickly took out her torn kameez, which she was in fact planning for taking all the way back to Ranchi, with an idea to get it re-stitched and utilise it again. However ignoring such plan of hers, he immediately took it, torn it into pieces. He then searched for a twig and out of several such scattered across the road, he picked up a couple of such strong twigs, wrapped each of these with such torn clothes as just salvaged out of the torn kameez, sprinkled some petrol taking out from the fuel tank of the scooter. Then with extreme caution, he ignited one of these torches and then with its help he ignited the other. Jhumri, although constantly was shivering althrough in fear and panic, somehow was watching with utmost curiosity the remedial measure, which is being adopted here by Dipak and the seriousness with which he was preparing his local primitive most effective weapon. Indeed it is so effective that the leopard at once got startled and jumped high up to catch a twig of the overhead tree. Noticing that Dipak approached near the truck and enquired as to whether the driver is there and if so, what is the matter here !

Soon came a response from within the driver’s cabin of the truck. A feeble panic stricken voice of the driver it was. Listening to that, Dipak, with a torch ablaze, came near the driver’s cabin and asked him to speak out loud. What he gathered was that, the truck had developed some trouble while returning from Hazaribagh for Ranchi and while he was repairing the trouble, by way of going underneath, since this trouble arose from somewhere in the engine, this leopard had arrived in the spot. As a matter of panic, he immediately climbed up leaving his repair work and just managed to perch within the driver’s cabin, where his helper mate is there too. Dipak then asked either of them to come out as he himself is there and there is nothing so much to be afraid of, since two torches are there constantly ablaze.

Listening to that either of them climbed down and Dipak gave one of his torches to Arjun to take it below with an idea to repair it fast. Although it is still day hour here, it is in fact late in the afternoon and the evening is slowly creeping in order to continue for the next few hours. Then he prepared another such a torch and ignited that too. The leopard is so unhappy that it is expressing his constant dissatisfaction by way of loud growling in anger, although it does not dare to come below. Jhumri was althrough in sheer panic and with fear watching the movement of the leopard and keeping Dipak and Pulak intimated of its movement. Either of them is ready for a possible confrontation, with the loaded weapons, if necessary so and thus they were not afraid at all. Nishan suggested that why not let the girl go within the driver’s cabin. Good idea and so asked Jhumri to climb up to the driver’s cabin. She quickly did so, although from the window hole she kept a constant watch over at the movement of the leopard to intimate Dipak and Pulak, although they were watching that too. Then Dipak suggested Pulak to board the truck and have a look from the other window. So he did too at once.

Soon within about the next fifteen to twenty odd minutes, Arjun came out with a satisfied smile of successful completion of the task and he confirmed that by way of driving slow, he can now comfortably reach Ranchi. Normal journey from here will take a bit of forty to fifty minutes, however with a semi-repaired vehicle ; he can reach in just over an hour or so. So Dipak suggested them to start the engine, in order to check it. He agreed and did that too. Later Dipak told him to start again to take off and he asked Pulak and Jhumri to come out. At that juncture, it was Arjun suggested why not all of us come together and it was seconded by Nishan too. The question is of the scooter. Nishan with a smile agreed to lift it up, with the help of Arjun and with his mini winch-machine. Pulak joined them in doing so, while Dipak was on a constant vigil in respect of possible aggression arriving from upwards. In fact His Excellency the Leopard was extremely unhappy at all incidents that are taking place below. Soon, the scooter was lifted, rear lid was closed and all others have boarded. It is time to extinguish the fire. It is extremely since unethical to leave an open fire anywhere unattended at all. So Dipak extinguished two with due cautions, althrough noticing the movement of the leopard and he boarded the truck with the third torch ablaze. In response to a question as why didn’t he extinguish it at the below ground, Dipak with a smile told that as soon as the fire is extinguished, the leopard might jump over them.

So they finally commenced their journey back home at last. Within a minute or two with the help of the helper Nishan, the fire was extinguished and now starts the truck at a speed as per Arjun. At once Jhumri noticed that the leopard has jumped at the truck and it has boarded it. Arjun smiled at it and suggested not to worry about that. It will jump away as soon as we happen to cross its area of normal habitat or places that it is familiar with. So it happened too. After a few minutes, the leopard got so disgusted, that it jumped away and left.

In fact interestingly it was Jhumri, who was constantly watching it right from the starting. Soon came the little village of Ormanjhi and a short while later, it was Vikas Vidyalaya. That will mean they have thus crossed the area of the jungle. Ranchi is approaching thus and now starts another item of panic with Jhumri, as to how she will manage to tell her own people at home the reason for such inordinate delay of several hours. She thus stated fabricating within herself some “cock and bull” story to elucidate to them. She however now starts feeling comfortable since all are returning to their base at Ranchi.

Jhumri was curious to ask Dipak as to why didn’t he shoot at the leopard, since they perhaps could do so. In response to it, Dipak with a smile told that it has not done any harm to them so far. The Universe has over a few billion types of different species of flora and fauna spread all over the globe. Omnipotence has not given the right to anyone so far to hurt or destroy just any of them for some trifling reasons. There can be just two reasons as exceptions in the entire World. One is for self-defence or the next is for food. The leopard has no other interest in doing any harm to any of us otherwise and it is our duty to protect us from such aggression somehow. In fact that is what we did and believe you me, this should be the motto of all people worldwide. As a matter of interest, most animals, if not all animals, in this entire Universe maintain this unwritten law within themselves and many persons have written several articles in respect of that, confirming that. Jhumri was listening to all these facts with great astonishment and interest, as none so far has told or explained or taught her so simple points ever before nor did she ever bother to listen such dialogues from any one so far !

While having some simple such conversations within them, the City limits have reached. This is Kokar and soon it will be Lalpur. It is, Arya Hotel’s lamps are noticeable from a distance and after crossing that Jhumri suggested to stop and get out here, near a mini shopping arcade. All three got down and Nishan again came out and helped them to lower down the scooter. They all immensely thanked Jhumri, Dipak and Pulak and with the permission from them, they left for their Amrish Babu’s place into the town Here in the mini shopping arcade, Jhumri is aware that a shop is there which sells similar dress that she wore in the morning and she expressed that to Dipak in confidence. Dipak agreed with a smile. She got a reasonably similar dress for herself and put it straightway, keeping away all Dipak’s gears, i.e., she took of all those. Dipak thought that she will return that lot. Instead she told that she will like to keep all these as a “memento” with her, if Dipak is so kind enough to permit. Dipak with a smile agreed to it. However Dipak once again arranged to pay for this lot of new dress to her, as if it is a present to her. Thus they boarded the scooter, in a couple of minutes, they reached Jhumri’s house. She was surprised as to how come you have come all the way, although nothing is told of her house, as to where it is, so far to any of them. Nevertheless, prior to finally leaving them for her house, she just fell at their feet mainly at Dipak’s, bowed down her head there and offered her great deep grateful respect in the best Indian way to either of them. She got up slowly then disappeared from the spot, towards her house, with the fresh luggage of her “souvenir”. Still after she has disappeared, either of Dipak and Pulak was waiting there speechless for a while and just at once she shouted at them through one of their windows for offering her best regards to them. She kept on waiving for them staying near her window staring at them, until they had left the place for their respective residences.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER :-      

The next few weeks it was not possible for Dipak to come to Ranchi due to his immense work load at his office. He has now the opportunity to come and meet his relatives again. The week end went so so and later again, it was a long gap as he was deputed elsewhere for several months in order to answer some urgent commitment from the Company he is working for. In this way it is nearly eighteen months have passed meanwhile. They incidentally have a common relative at Ranchi town too, one very senior Official of the NCDC, one of the-then outfits of Coal India’s. It is his elder daughter’s marriage and she happens to be a cousin to either of them. So as per the personal cordial invitation, he came and together with Pulak went to attend the marriage at the celebration hall to join the get together. After all functions properly are organised and completed, it is time to return home. So Pulak decided to drop Dipak at first and then he will reach his home.

Oh dear ! What on earth is this ! They are passing by the road, where Jhumri’s house is here too. They just noticed that Jhumri’s house is well illuminated with lot of decoration, as if some marriage is getting organised here too. Dipak stopped there and went in. He felt curious and with an innocent approach, he just asked a well-dressed woman as to what it is all about ! Incidentally Dipak as well as Pulak are equally well dressed as per the standard Indian norms of marriage celebrations. The woman was too surprised and told with a hatred look and finally announced that it was Jhumri, who is getting married this evening. Dipak, with all due respect and hesitation, requested her to be kind enough to intimate her that her “Chutupalu Brother” has come and expressed his desire to meet her. Most unwillingly she agreed to do so and went in. Within just a minute, Jhumri rushed from nowhere, came to Dipak and straightway fell and initially bowed down her head to his feet and then embraced all of them. Everybody got surprised too much, as to who these persons are. However once Jhumri stopped crying, Dipak pulled her up and enquired as to what it is all about. Jhumri explained that it is her marriage. The groom lives in Patna and he is an Engineer working in a local firm. It is agreed that after completing her education, since she is about to complete her Master Degree course in a few months, she will join him and start living a proper married life. In fact she wanted to personally invite either of them, although she did neither have their names nor their address either. Thus now she has proper idea as to who they are, where they live and thus she starts crying all over again. Patting her softly and asking her to stop crying like this, in such an auspicious occasion, with due affection, love and sympathy it was Dipak, who told that now she is aware as to who he is. So it is up to her to maintain contact, if she desires it.

Jhumri’s father requested them to sit here for a while and have some sweets at least. They did so and later they came home with a much surprised approach.    

ANOTHER TWO YEARS LATER.        

A tiny letter is delivered by the Postal peon to Dipak at his address one day and he noticed, Oh dear ! It is Jhumri again. She has given birth to a little girl and it is a celebration for her daughter’s “Annaprasan”, a normal significant family’s ritual of first rice-eating festival for the children in this corner of the country here in India. She has invited him cordially to come and grace this most significant occasion. Dipak, although got too much surprised, accepted it and confirmed his desire to come. He thus made arrangement for a couple of day’s holiday from the office and arrives there. In fact that is the D-day, although a few hours are still left for that. So when the actual ceremony starts, Jhumri comes to make her last trump card and asks straightway to Dipak to offer the first rice to the little girl. He is totally stunned at it. Normally it is the job of a maternal Uncle within the girl’s family, i.e., the “Mama” and if there is none such, then someone like that, for instance, some of her cousins can also do so. Amidst such dialogue and controversy it was Jhumri, as she came to him and as if she is ordering, asked Dipak to start the initial chapter of offering rice to the little girl.

So much confused he was that, he finally accepts the idea and agrees to complete that. At that moment, it was Jhumri, who came too close to Dipak and murmured as to where else can we find a better “Mama” for her in the outer entire World so far !

P.S.

This info. is of no relevance to the main stream of story or all associated incidents, although it elucidates to some extent a little bit of interesting facts. Those four notorious rogues, rather outlaws, somehow with a lot of distress managed to reach some clinic at Ramgarh the next day and managed to get the due treatment. Although their Doctor expressed his desire that this is to be intimated to the local Police, he did not do so at their request. Thus the Police are not yet aware of such an incident. They came back to Ranchi around two to three months later and as if a totally changed group of persons. In fact they have so far of course had the pleasure or misfortune of confronting Jhumri in a few instances in the town of Ranchi, although they did not dare to look at her again like that. Another interesting item is here, they were surprisingly never noticed near the Chotanagpur Girls College ever. Next significant item, the car, with which they had made their so-called victorious journey, had to be sold as a scrap, as it was left at that area for over two months and as a result of this as well as other factors, like falling of a boulder over it, it eventually just turned into a scrap item.

Incidentally no such incident of kidnapping of a girl has taken place for the next few decades at or near the Chotanagpur Girls College, in Ranchi.                                                      ================================================================================