Encouragement

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Game of POWER & Chaukidar

By Faiz A Askari



Its really an interesting observation when anyone watches the mango garden, pretty closely in the month of May or June. But the interesting aspect is not just gazing at the garden, but watching the watch dog along with the watchman, popularly known as chaukidar in northern India.

Near to Lucknow -- the capital city of India’s most densely populated province, there is a place called Malhiabad. The said village is 16 Kms from Lucknow, and a very fruitful land having being well blessed by the God. So as the land owners of the village are also blessed similarly. The entire Malihiabad is known for two things, the mangoes and the daring Pathans. Almost 90 percent of the population belongs to the Pathan Muslim families. But few of them have maintained their deadly image by using their power on poor. Among such selected pathans, Janaab Araaf Khan and his younger brother Janaab Yaawar Khan were counted. But there was a huge difference in the nature of both brothers.

Yaawar Khan had got both Power and an image by which everyone was afraid of him. It was completely a known fact that if anyone does any tingling with Yaawar Khan’s mangoes, he would not going to tolerate and would take highest possible destructive action against the culprit.

Coming over to the main topic, which is already been elaborated here as the most interesting part, in the intro of this story is -- The Chaukidar. The period of this narrative is somewhere in 1960s. However, Chaukidar of that sort is widely known as maali.

Yaawar Khan purchased a new Mango garden. It was the costliest one in that area. And that was the reason why Mr Khan was so keen to safeguard that entire area. In fact, his elder brother Araaf Khan had helped him in finalizing that property. However, unlike Yaawar, Araaf had a social image as a humble friend.

However both brothers love each other religiously and Yaawar gives full respect to his elder brother. So after purchasing one of the most stunning properties, the question comes, how to safeguard it. The relation between those brother was such that in every issue they use to discuss each other before taking an action. On the request of his younger brother Araaf Khan called up his most loyal person, Nabbu.

Nabbu belongs to a fishermen society but had very good experience while working for Araaf Khan as his home guard. Nabbu gave up fishery as he had no interest in it. However, there is another fact about Nabbu as he was been boycotted by his community because of such attitude. Nabbu was notorious kind of person, for which he keep on getting bad treatments by his society. Only good thing in his life was he had got the confidence of Araaf Khan. The reason of this was also very simple, since Nabbu had no family to feed and had got slaps from every corners. So Nabbu had no other option than to be loyal with his master.

Moreover, Araaf Khan was well aware with the past history of Nabbu. But he admires Nabbu because of his willingness to prove his loyalty. Anyways, Nabbu came to Araaf sahib, quietly and with full respectful entry. Araaf Sahib, told, “You have another new assignment. Now you are required for guarding the Mango garden. My younger brother Yaawar will take care of your expenses.” After hearing these words, however, there was no reply from Nabbu’s mouth but he accepted the proposal as he had no other option. But Nabbu was internally very much troubled after hearing that he would now going to report to most dangerous land owner of that locality.

‘Change of destiny is impossible’ that’s what going on in Nabbu’s mind. The next morning, suddenly someone appeared with message that Yaawar Khan was asking for him. Poor Nabbu was going to have his meal and he left everything as he knows if he goes late to Yaawar Khan’s call he would receive some new sort of punishment.

Nabbu went straight to Yaawar Khan’s place. The terror of Khan sahib was at the top of Nabbu’s mind.

After waiting for almost 30 minutes, Yaawar Khan entered. That guy had a very dominating personality, so he wouldn’t allow usually the workers to speak up in front of him. Nabbu was well aware of this fact, so he was quite, and his eyes were aiming at the feet of Yaawar Khan.
Yaawar Khan ordered Nabbu to take care of that particular Mango Garden. Yaawar Khan further informed Nabbu about how he himself loves that property and he wouldn’t be ignoring any notorious act at that premises. Deciding the money part Khan Sahib told that he will be giving 5 rupees every month to Nabbu along with a hut in that garden itself.

Nabbu being a bachelor was more than happy with such money that Yaawar was ready to give. But, Yaawar Khan disclosed one fact with which Nabbu was scared of. The dangerous land lord—Yaawar Khan said, “You will get all the support from my side. But if anything goes wrong with my mangoes in term of theft, you will be punished. The punishment would be equal in nature.” Later on he further elaborated that punishment would be like a hunter on his back on every mango which would be theft.

One mango equals to one Hunter, that’s what the conclusion of their conversation. However the money component of the deal was very attractive for a Chaukidar like Nabbu. Considering the money component in the deal, Nabbu was satisfied. But the threat of being treated brutally by Yaawar Sahib was always remained at the top of the mind of Nabbu.

It was the first day of Nabbu’s duty at the mango garden. It was the month of May, when Mangoes started getting visible on trees, so it was very critical situation. The environ of the garden was so attractive as anyone can fell asleep even on the day times. The garden was full with the trees and mangoes on those trees. But one thing which was not been conveyed to Nabbu was a fact related to the nearby locality of rivals of his master.
But that had no business with Nabbu, but there was a risk factor lying for garden.

In brief, the adjacent garden belongs to Bahadur Khan who was a small time local leader of the locality and had good money with him. But that again had no connection with Nabbu’s work or area of work.

But, what was linking between Bahadur Khan’s Garden and Yaawar Khan’s garden? There was a care taker family who was been appointed by Bahadur Khan for his garden. Since there were no boundaries as such, Nabbu can easily see the kids playing in Bahadur Khan’s garden. Being an alone, isolated kind of young man, Nabbu gets free of cost entertainment watching the family of neighboring. The very first day, Nabbu gets attracted towards the family who belongs to enemy’s region.

Unknowingly, Nabbu continued to watch the kids playing with each other in the neighborhood. After repeatedly committing this act for three four days, one day, the youngest kid among four of them came towards Nabbu. That little chap smartly asked Nabbu, “why are you watching us, why don’t you do something,” it was very special occasion for Nabbu, that someone is saying something and Nabbu is not bound to just say ‘ok’. So, Nabbu replied, “I am doing my work, I am watching you all of you.”
That kid further added, and informed Nabbu that all the kids were also watching Nabbu gazing them. Nabbu laughed and asked, “what is your name little master?” that chap replied with a smile as his name was Ravi. While replying, kid asked a favor from Nabbu. The favor was the demand of three mangoes.

Nabbu felt, there would be no problem for him to give three mangoes, and who would go to Yaawar Khan for telling this act. After thinking for about two minutes, Nabbu plucked three mangoes and handed over to Ravi. Jumped with joy, Ravi called up all the kids by giving them well visible actions that he got those mangoes. All the three kids introduce themselves to Nabbu and took their mangoes.

However, Yaawar Khan used to take report from Nabbu about the developments of the mango garden, on weekly basis.

A day after the when Nabbu got some little friends, Yaawar khan called up Nabbu. The invitation was made in such a way that the invitee had understood the outcome of the meeting. Nabbu was well aware by the upcoming hammer from his master.

Nabbu reached the place where Yaawar Khan was sitting. Nabbu like a goat, appeared in front of Yaawar, he asked Nabbu, “Why are you looking like an afraid mouse. It means you did something which I ordered not to do. Is it right or wrong? Or you are just afraid as you are in-front of me?” Nabbu stayed quiet and showed no responses. Yaawar further said, “Your silence is compelling me to take action against you.” Further elaborating to Nabbu, Yaawar informed that his confidential sources saw remains of the mango at the adjacent garden of guava.

So the fact appeared that the adjacent garden where Nabbu was living belongs not only to rival party but it was a guava garden.


Not only, by the fact that Nabbu was behaving like a stone in front of Yaawar Khan but he did not even dared to open his eyes while Yaawar Khan was talking to him. Yaawar Khan after a while, said, “Since you have no words to convince me, and you not even trying to speak up the fact that happened with you. And since you are ok, with what I am saying and not even raising your voice so…. You will get what you deserve,”

With these words, Nabbu was slammed three hunters and one on his neck.

After having all the music by the hunter-man of Nabbu went back to his the garden. While coming back, there was one question going on at the top of his mind, the question was –who was the person who leaked the information to Yaawar Khan.

It was late evening, so without thinking on this any more, he slept. Next morning when he woke up, he saw Araaf Khan in the adjacent garden. Araaf Khan was with another tall man and both of them were sharing very good thoughts each other.

Away from that garden, Nabbu was watching Araaf Khan’s activities. He saw those kids, who use to attract Nabbu’s attention while playing, were getting candies from Araaf Khan sahib.

After that every one went to work, Nabbu called those kids, and they informed Nabbu that the second person that was with Araaf Khan was no other than Bahadur Khan himself.

After knowing this fact, Nabbu realizes the importance administration, system and responsibilities. Since then, Nabbu is a good friend of Ravi and Co so as he is in good books of Yaawar Khan.

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