Anand Kumar

Tragedy

5.0  

Anand Kumar

Tragedy

The Farmer Story

The Farmer Story

4 mins
8.8K


One fine morning he made his offerings to his God and thanked him before leaving the house. He was heading to the bank and was to withdraw a sum of Rupees 20000 (supposedly more than 80% of his total wealth). He was happy as he would now have seeds to sow his land, finances to arrange water to irrigate them, and the climate this year too, seemed benevolent against his previous failed efforts. He was full of hopes and plans for a calm future, anticipating the clearance of all his debts this time. Drunk on ecstasy, he returned home to talk to his wife. His favourite song played on the radio, and everything seemed to be just right.

But God had his own plans. It was late night and was still listening to radio, when suddenly the music on the radio was interrupted by an aakash-wani that drove away all the joy; hope gave way to worry, and sleep driven away to the unknown. A man build on daily eccentricities shielded by a rugged cape realism wasn’t to be inflicted with pain so easy. But the news was equally bizarre. “THE CURRENCY NOTES OF RS 500 AND RS 1000 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT”.

The next morning was a fine one, the weather, the wind was a bliss, the sun rose from the east as it always did, the mocking birds sang like they always did, the women cooked like they always did. But many lives had taken a flip. Doubtful and drowned in hesitation, he went ahead to pay for the bills that were due, but alas! None was inclined to accept the old currency notes. The lenders already had a lot of notes to be managed so they denied taking any old notes. Yet this was only the beginning of his troubles. No seed vendor accepted old notes, and with no seeds available now, the land had to be ploughed again in a few days. The every door he was getting returned empty handed the more he was getting depressed and teemed with bounteous negativity. Somehow by dawn, he pulled himself together and convinced himself that things will be fine once the banks reopen. Only a fool would believe that!

Banks reopened. He stood in an unbounded queue at the bank. Finally, when he reached the counter after three exasperating hours, the cashier announced “The cash has ended, no withdrawal or exchange will be done today. Only deposits will be entertained”. Unable to understand the message completely but knowing his money will not get exchanged today, he returned home like many others.

The bank was open on Sunday. A boon indeed, and somehow our poor farmer managed to deposit the money after unyielding efforts of three strenuous days, that he had withdrawn earlier; but not to get any in exchange. But things were getting worse by the day. The little cash that he had at home ran out; food was getting arranged on credit. Like every second farmer of the country he too was practically broke. The monster of demonetization had pulled them down to their knees. Another week passed, it was the same but with things getting worse everyday. The family survived on two half-filling meals daily. About a month passed like this. The monster seemed heartless.

The lenders pressurised for their money, the grocer denied giving more on credit. Back he went to the bank with a sliver of hope. The queue seemed to be growing by the day. After a few hours of scorching heat topped with shattered hopes and an empty stomach, his body surrendered. The monster was brutal! The world revolved around him, darkness groped his eyes, Ah! Who will pay the doctors’ bill now?

Few generous people carried him to his house, the family dipped in helplessness, his wife cursing God and begging for kindness at the same time. What sight could be of any more pain?

The sun set along with his hopes. The next afternoon - hopeless, filled with depression and weakness he went to see his field. It was close to be a barren land. He died a little there. Standing at the middle of the field, he looked up at the sun, murmured something, looked down and dropped to his knees. Surrendered - to God or the Monster that is a question yet.

There he lay over his prized possession looking to the lands far-far away. One deep breath, two deep breaths, eyes shut slowly working his way towards a kind friend. A friend, the fear of whom had kept him going all along.


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