Nila

Those days were joyful days in my teenage.I studied nineth standard in a high school nearby.I was very troublesome and talkative.I used to go to the school in a new Hercules bicycle.I went on that way daily when I was going to my school.But I didn't notice the small shed which was very near our coconut grove.One summer morning ,my father asked our male servant to give the blunted iron axe to the blacksmith for sharpening.It was a sunny sunday,most of my friends went out with their family members for plucking the black gram plants.I felt lonely,so I had to go along with our servant to the blacksmith's workshop.Within ten minutes we reached the workshop.The workshop was just like a small shed and it was very dark.I couldn't easily identify who were inside the workshop.Our servant called blacksmith, blacksmith,twice.The blacksmith asked who were they outside? in a thunder voice.The servant told that they were coming from the big owners house.After sometimes the blacksmith called us to come in.I bent my head and went inside.The shed was very dark.In the dark, I saw a black man with good physique, sparkling eyes and big moustache.He was sharpening an iron sickle.He had seen me and called Oh, small owner please come in.I saw a nine years old girl who pulled and pushed an air bag which was made of leather.The end of the airbag was the furnace.The blacksmith put the wood coals on the furnace and they got fire by the air which came from the leather bag.The fire made the black coal into red fire balls.He kindled the fire balls by a long spoon.He was very busy in his manual work.Our servant had given the iron axe to him and told him to get it on the next week.The blacksmith didn't open his mouth and just nodded his head.In the meantime I saw the girl who wore a half saree.Her dress was very dirty and her hair was uncombed.And her half saree had more round holes which were made of coal fire.She had seen me twice with her pale eyes and continued her work.I understood that her faded eyes wanted to tell something to me.While we were returning to the house I asked the servant about the girl.The servant replied that she was the only daughter of the blacksmith and her name was Nila.Her mother died five years back in blood cancer.He further added that the mother less girl was tortured by her merciless father, the blacksmith.When I reached my house,my mind was full of her her remembrance.I wanted to see her again.I didn't know the actual reason why I was attracted towards her.She looked like a red lotus in the muddy pond.I went and fell on the bed.But I was not able to sleep and I decided to see her in the next morning.When I went to the school, I had seen the small shed.But it was very silent like a clear pond.I didn't see her and her When I returned from the school,I stopped my bicycle and went inside the workshop.The blacksmith was very busy in his work.The girl pushed and pulled the air bag as usual.Her face and half saree was full of sweating.After she had seen me she smiled.Her face looked like a full moon.The blacksmith welcomed me and said that he would give the iron axe within two days.In the meantime, the girl signalled me to pull and push the air bag for a while.I asked the blacksmith purposely that how was the furnace working.I caught the handle of the air bag from the girl.The blacksmith explained that the air bag had worked by pull and push technique.While we were talking, the girl returned and caught the handle from me.She looked very comfortable and she thanked me through her smile and eye's signal.I spent few minutes in the workshop and left.My inner conscious mind voiced me to help her.The next morning I went towards the school.On the way I had seen the workshop.But I didn't see her.The work shop was half closed.I reached the school but my mind was thinking about the girl and her strenuous work.while I was returning from the school, I stopped my bicycle and went inside the workshop.The blacksmith and her daughter were busy in their works.I caught the handle from the girl and relieved her from the work.She went outside and returned soon.She smiled and caught the handle from me and continued her work.I saw her smiling face and she some to come on the next day.I nodded my head and left the workshop.I wanted to speak to her but there was n suitable situation for that.She conquered my heart by her innocent smiling.The next day was Aadi Perukku,a hindu monsoon festival in south india that was celebrated on the eighteenth of the Tamil month Aadi.Most of our villagers were agriculturists.The young men, women and children of our village gathered near the river Pandavar and celebrated it in a grand way.I went there and searched the girl among the crowd.I didn't find her so felt very sad.While I was returning from the river, I noticed the workshop.The blacksmith hit something by the hammer.I heard the hitting sound loudly.He also shouted Donkey, Donkey,pull and push the airbag speedily.Then I heard the moaning sound of the girl.I didn't know what to do.I was very much afraid to go inside the workshop.So I returned to my house very fast.My house was filled with villagers.The village women were lamenting loudly.I did not know what happened.My father who was the village president died due to heart attack in the afternoon.All the family members were cried and I also joined with them.Aftet cremation of my father's body ,my mother told my uncle to put me in a nearby town school hostel.I kept quiet and didn't open my mouth.I wanted to see my beloved girl finally and exposed my affection.But I was not able to see her.The next morning I packed my things and went along with my uncle.On the way to the bus stop,I had seen the blacksmith's workshop.It was closed.My dream was shattered and tears rolled down from my eyes.