Ashok Kumar Mishra

Drama Crime Others

4.5  

Ashok Kumar Mishra

Drama Crime Others

UDGARA (Eruption)

UDGARA (Eruption)

6 mins
182


     ######################################### Kusumgarh Naresh Dig Bijay Sumer Singh was ecstatic when he heard Colonel Harcourt Saheb has sent exclusive message for him from Fort William, Calcutta. It arrived at the dusk. Special messenger brought the message to Kusumgarh fort and reported that Col Saheb has remembered Sumer Singh. This is definitely a matter of great pride for Kusumgarh. Other princely state rulers , paying taxes to the British Government will feel jealous of Kusumgarh and no doubt Sumer’s standing among kings will go up manifold. Harcourt Saheb has shown keen interest to visit Kusumgarh during Dussehra, leaving grandeur of Calcutta during Dussehra. This will definitely bring lot of good name to Kusumgarh. Sumer was so excited he did not want the preparations to welcome be postponed till next morning.He felt it would be proper to call Dewan now itself and discuss about the ensuing visit of Col. He called for Balwant, his personal bodyguard and immediately, a strong and handsome teenager appeared at the entrance of Sumer’s luxurious recreation hall. Balwant being Sumer’s personal bodyguard, he always stays close. During other time he stays and works at the King's stable and take care of the horses. When Sumer and royal family members or their guests ride horses, Balwant kneels on the ground on the left side of the horse to help embark on the back of the horse. He controls the reigns of the horse by running alongside the horse and shows his back to help when they disembark from the horse. During nights Balwant’s job is to run side by side with horse holding lanterns and show light. He is obedient and does his work silently without opening his mouth and waits for the next order. Balawant was standing near the door seeking orders from the king. Sumer ordered "it is very urgent. Run to Dewan Saheb's residence, convey my orders to come and report to me immediately. Wait there till he embarks the horse and bring him to the fort without wasting time.." Saying "Jee Hazoor" Balwant left without further delay. There was no limit to Sumer’s enthusiasm and anxiety that evening. He ordered the attendant to pour him another drink. A beautiful young lady handed a sparkling glass filled with expensive liquor to Sumer.          


  Women of Kusumgarh have a name all over the country for their beauty, and Sumer has filled his bar with beautiful young damsels. As soon as they got the hint from Sumer the young ladies came around immediately and started comforting him. Sumer recalled that Harcourt visited Kusumgarh six years ago and stayed for about two weeks.             The fortnight passed by with indulgence and luxury, liquor flowing and young beauties comforting, musicians and dance performance by performing girls brought from Calcutta,hunting expeditions, fireworks etc. During that time, Kusumgarh was flooded with expensive foreign liquor. Major Harcourt was enjoying water sports for hours with beauties in underground pool of the Royal garden. Major Harcourt was a junior officer then. But after getting promotion as “Colonel”, Harcourt, now is a senior and powerful white Officer in Fort William. Harcourt loves and enjoys merriment, but hates Indians a lot, always shouting at them using filthy language. Angry at slightest mistake he shouts “You native, scoundrel" and tortures Indians kicking, whipping and beating at will. So with proper care Harcourt’s comfortable stay needs to be planned in detail. In the mean time Dewan Saheb reached apprehending there will be serious discussion, seeking his advice regarding security or some other important issues. But after coming to know uthe reason for the summon and seeing the enthusiasm of the king, he could guess the impending trouble ahead. The financial health of Kusumgarh was not so comfortable due to regular droughts and now to meet the long list of expenditures as per Sumer’s order, such as - silt removal from pool and repair, modernisation of royal house and State guest house in Royal garden, welcome flower decoration,lighting, fireworks, foreign liquor, hunting expedition expenses, bringing performing girls from Lucknow and other related expenses are too much to bear for Kusumgarh.


Dewan expressed his opinion that it will be difficult for the royal treasury to bear this financial burden. "If necessary, impose more tax on the public, but organise grand reception of guests without any compromise” ordered Sumer. He further suggested to organize a beauty contest ( Kusum Queen)among young girls during the visit. Sumer asked Balwant to leave and cautioned Dewan about the bad temper of Colonel Harcourt. He also ordered to consider proper care of guests as a matter of pride for Kusumgarh. Looking around, Sumer reminded Dewan in a low voice about the mishap during hunting expedition on the last visit of Harcourt saheb to Kusumgarh. “Yeah, I remember that. After consuming lot of liquor drunk Harcourt fired bullets on hunter Bachawat while hunting tiger and immediately Bachawat lost his life. Thank God the situation would have gone out of control had this incident was not kept a secret from the public. The people of the state know that Bachawat was mauled, killed and eaten by the tiger in spite of all efforts by you and Harcourt to save Bachawat from tiger. “Well, it was an accident. Don't let this matter spill over to public’s ear and keep it hidden from public by keeping it to yourself. Rather spread the message that Colonel Harcourt is coming to Kusumgarh to avenge the murder of Bachawat by killing that tiger. “Do you understand, Dewan Saheb?” Dewan saheb agreed and got ready for grand welcome. Time passed by and Kusumgarh was dressed up like a beautiful woman to receive the guests. Harcourt reached Kusumgarh with his entourage a week before Dussehra. Huge welcome gates with flowers were erected followed by a grand welcome with fireworks. A week passed by as per plan with Royal feasts, drinks, water sports with beautiful girls in Royal pool, Kusum beauty pageant was organised and Dance performers and musicians from Lucknow performed every night and visit went on according to plan. Harcourt urged to go hunting on Dussehra. Selected hunters were sent ahead for prior arrangements and preparation for hunting accessories. King Sumersingh and Harcourt were to leave on the morning with the rest of the hunting team. Balwant was ready to kneel down as a horse on the ground by the side of the horse and help Harcourt embark on the horse.


Colonel Harcourt came out and as soon as he put his foot on the back of Balwant, who was kneeling on the ground Balwant suddenly moved to a side and Colonel Harcourt fell down. Before anyone could understand what is happening Balwant pulled out a sharp knife and stabbed Harcourt repeatedly and he was in a pool of blood and after some time became still. It was so unexpected that Harcourt didn't have time to get his hands on the revolver. Sumer Singh took out his revolver and fired several rounds to Balawant and he fell down there and closed his eyes. Time passed by. After a few days, Sumer Singh was sitting on a cosy chair and looking down through a window. He was trying to recollect the incident and was trying hard to find out how Balwant came to know that Harcourt was the killer of Bachawat, who was his father. At that time Balwant was only twelve year’s old when his father passed away. Sumer showered pity and gave the orphan work in the stable. During his last visit six years back Harcourt visited Kusumgarh and in the Kusumbeauty pageant Mala, Balwant’s sister was selected by Harcourt as “Kusum Queen” and forced her to participate in water sports with him and have physical relations. Bachawat strongly opposed this. So Harcourt and Sumer shot him dead in the pretext of hunting. Then Harcourt took Mala to Kolkata along with him and sold her to a brothel after enjoying thoroughly, sexually exploiting Mala for quite some time. But did Balwant could know all this and if so who told him this? Before he could know anything, three rounds of bullets from the revolver was fired from behind and Sumer fell down still and silent immediately. Dewan Saheb was standing behind. ############


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