The Monument Moment

This story is quite old when the means of modern livelihood would sound like a far cry. Thakur Saab has buried his wife Zohra with much affection and care. A beautiful tomb was constructed at the site of burial. Thakur Saab would spend much of his time at the tomb after all Zohra was his beloved wife with whom he has married against the wishes of his family. Thakur Saab was from affluent landlord Hindu family and Zohra belonged to a lower middle-class Muslim family. Her family was in the vocation of performing arts like dancing and singing. How a girl form such a family would be accepted by Thakurs.

Thakur Saab came in the contact with Zohra during his youth. He would travel to different places in connection with his studies and work. He always had a liking towards arts and culture and would promote local talents. During one such trip, he saw Zohra performing the dance number. He was mesmerized to see her. Rest is history. He married Zohra and started living with her in a somewhat cheap and small house which is built for Zohra. Zohra was not accepted by the Thakur’s family so Thakur Saab shifted to the small house with her. Zohra was very fond of studies and dance. Due to financial conditions, she was not given proper education. But all her dreams were waiting to bloom in full swing as Thakur Saab was very encouraging.

But their joy was short-lived. One day while performing a dance act at the terrace Zohra fell off the terrace as there was no barricade. As Thakur Saab was expelled from his family, his financial conditions were not very good. Due to the financial crunch, the work of barricading the terrace was pending. And this resulted in the untimely and grieving death of Zohra. Thakur Saab took to alcohol. His failing health and loneliness once again brought his family together. He was now staying with his family and the house where he used to live with Zohra was turned into a monument. A place where only Thakur Saab would pay a regular visit as Zohra was not close to anyone. When electricity was brought to their area, it was only the Thakur’s haveli which would light in the dark as most of the people were very poor. It was not possible for them to bear the burden of electricity. Poor kids would go to the government school for basic education and after that, they would turn to either farming or their ancestral vocation.

Due to his love for Zohra, Thakur Saab had put one light bulb at the monument of the Zohra. Thakur Saab would spend his evenings at the monument, drinking a large amount of alcohol and remembering the olden days. Due to heavy alcoholism, Thakur Saab developed many health ailments and was somewhat confined to beds. His movements were restricted now. He was not able to visit the monuments. He asked his servants to take care of the monuments regularly. One day while passing by the monuments Thakur Saab realized the pathetic condition of the monument. The monument was wearing a deserted look and was hiding behind long grasses.

Only the light bulb was shining. On reaching haveli, Thakur Saab rounded up his servants and asked for the justification of the pathetic condition of the monument. A very strange reply was given by the servants. All the servants replied in one voice that the monument was haunted. Every night the spirit of a female visits the monuments. She would come dressed as a dancer with her ghungroos (musical anklet) on. She would dance tirelessly whole night there. This was a very strange revelation. That night it was very hard to sleep for Thakur Saab. He had a feeling that he is being called at the monument by none other than Zohra. He became restless. Despite his poor health, he headed towards the monument.

He was assisted by the servants but on reaching the monuments everyone refused to step in. but Thakur Saab went inside. On walking some steps he heard the sound of ghungroos (musical anklet). It was coming from the terrace. He climbed the stairs and peeked through the door. A female dressed beautifully and a veil covering her face was dancing beautifully. Thakur Saab realized that she was dancing like Zohra. He was mesmerizingly watching her dancing behind the doors. She was looking like a fairy under the light bulb. Thakur Saab would fall asleep while watching her. This became a habit. Thakur Saab would watch her daily. He never tried to come in front of her. He thought that the spirit might get distracted.

One day Thakur Saab decided to confront the spirit. That night as he was trying to step out behind the door, much noise was generated in the effort. The spirit got alerted and ran towards darkness. Thakur Saab asked her not to run away and tried to follow her. The spirit was soon disappeared and in the effort of meeting the spirit. Thakur Saab fell off the terrace. But he was saved with fractured legs. He was again confined to the wheelchair. He was not able to visit the monument for many days. He was desperate to see the spirit. One day he received the invitation from the local school for attending the dance program by the school kids. Thakur Saab was not very willing but he went to attend the function. Though the function was okay, a solo dance performance by a girl student won his heart. Other than school prize, Thakur Saab awarded her from his pocket. She actually danced like Zohra.

After reaching the haveli Thakur Saab was very restless. That day he decided to visit the monument to have a glimpse of the spirit. He went to the monument and hid behind the tomb of the Zohra. As the night falls and the light bulb was shining he realized that the spirit has come. She started dancing and was in the full swing. She was taking numerous turns and soon reached the verge of the terrace. Thakur Saab realized that she might fell off. He leaped to catch hold of her. She was saved from falling off. Thakur Saab was somewhat trembling. The cool breeze blew off the veil of the spirit. Thakur Saab was taken aback to see her. She was none other than the girl who performed at the school’s function. She was also terrified.

Thakur Saab made her sit comfortably and asked her if she was a spirit. She laughed and shook her head. She revealed that she lived in the same village and belongs to a poor family like many others. She was very fond of dancing but could not get the time to practice after school and household works. It was only the night when she could manage some time for her passion. But due to darkness, it was not possible to practice. The monument was one such place that was lit in the night. So she took the opportunity. The passerby would think it as a ghostly act and would not intervene. So she was relaxed. Sometimes her younger brother would also accompany her to the monument to study under the light bulb.

After talking for a while with Thakur Saab she went to her house. Thakur Saab was sitting quietly near the tomb of the Zohra. He was immersed in the thoughts of Zohra and thinking. Life is an exam where the syllabus is unknown and question papers are not set. He was very much in love with Zohra and had always helped her in realizing her dreams. Then why he never tried to carry forward it after the demise of Zohra. This could have been a very good way of keeping Zohra alive in the hearts of many. She never received the respect and affection which were meant for her. Her passion was often looked like a silly and lower category act. The thoughts that are coming to his mind now can actually make the name of Zohra worth remembering. That school girl made him realize that this could be a very noble way of remembering Zohra. He had made a monument in the name of Zohra but that may not bring peace to the soul of Zohra. Why make her soul rest in peace when she can still live in the hearts. He immediately stood up with a resolution.

Next day personnel from electricity department were making rounds of the village. It was the instruction to make electricity supplied to every house. The condition of the school was uplifted with the funds provided by the Thakur Saab. After that day no spirit was seen at the monument as the talent was given its due place. Thakur Saab lived his last days at the monument. From the monument, he could see the small light bulbs illuminating the house and lives of the villagers. Zohra was living once again.