The black ripples of the Ganges faked yellow as the headlights arrived with a screech. A newly painted Swift D-zire came to a hault at the Bagbazar "Baba" ghat only to evoke a few barks and to wake up a short but stout priest, Ramvilas. Thoroughly disturbed to be awakened at two hours past midnight, Ramvilas, bare-bodied, came out of the small temple by the stairs. He had on him a pair of shorts and nothing else. The dogs were still barking near the headlights as Ramvilas surveyed the surroundings. There wasn't a single human soul to be seen anywhere. Fearing that there might have been an accident, the priest ran towards the front of the car. There was no one at the wheel. There was no one inside. Suddenly it appeared to Ramvilas that the car was not on the stairs, neither had it fallen into the river. He felt disturbed. Intentional.
"Namaste Pandit ji!"
Ramvilas turned with shock to find a bald man staring at him with joined palms. He was clean shaven and strangely had a pair of goggles on. He also wore a sinister smile on his thick lips. The person was well built, a few inches taller than Ramvilas. A shudder went through the priest. "Jai Ganga maiya ki", he replied.
The man's lips widened but did not part. "Kuch baat kar sakte hai aapse?
Ramvilas : Ji boliye,
Man : Ei sob pujo-accha kotodin cholbe Ganga-paare?
Ramvilas was taken aback : Kya matlab?
Man sighed : kichu na. Ei tomra UP, Bihar -er maal gulo Kolkatay eshe jure boscho din din. Benaras e to pujo hocche. Okhanei thakte!
Ramvilas had had enough now. He was in no mood to waste his sleep over an idiot's nightout. He ignored his associate and started towards the temple. His way was blocked by a muscular arm.
Man : jacchen kothay? amar ekta confession korar ache. paap er bishoye bhagaban ke bolbo. shunben na?
Ramvilas : To jaake Ganga maiya ko boliye.
Man : khun kore eshechi.
Ramvilas stared at the other guy open mouthed. He felt paralysed with fear.
The man unbuttoned his shirt near the chest and took out a large dagger. Traces of blood were still visible on the steel. He looked at the petrified short priest in-front of him. "Eta murder weapon," he said.
Ramvilas : Aap yeh sab miujhe kyun baata rahe hain?
Man : Kauke to bolte hobe. Police ke to bolbo na. Puro-ta shunben? Mojar golpo kintu!
Ramvilas had no option. He said, " Andar jaake baat karein?"
The murderer gestured towards the river, "Ganga-paare katha bolbo cholun."
The two figures descended the dry steps of the ghaat and and sat down by the water. The dogs had left long ago.
Ramvilas : Bolo.
Man : Ei je pasher ghaate tomar jaat-bhai, Nirmal. Maal ta ke mere elam.
Ramvilas rose : Kya? Nirmal bhai...
Man : bosho bosho.
He pointed to his side with the dagger. Slowly, Ramvilas sat down looking into the mysterious pair of glasses.
Man : Tomra ki mone koro bolo to? Manusher baccha hoy na aar tomra thakurer ashirbaad dite tader bari jao?
Ramvilas : Bhul ho gayi babu. Ab se nahi hoga. Mein chor ke chala jaunga Banaras.
Man : Se to porer katha. Golpo ta shono! To tomar sei Nirmal bhai emon ek Meror bou ke pregnant korlo, je Mero clinic e giye nijer test koriye eshechilo. Ektu to khonj khobor rakhbe naki?
Ramvilas was in tears : Bhul ho gayi babu.
The man smiled : "Arre ami babu fabu kissu noi. Babu to amay bollo tomar bondhu ke topkate. Giye topke ashlam.
Ramvilas : Chor di jiye babu. Main chala jaunga.
Man : shono shono. to tomar bhai tomar motoi naak deke ghumacchilo. Garir swabde ghum ta bhanglo. tomar motoi khali gaye beriye elo. jodio, oi ghaate kukur chilo na tokhon. Se khunjte beriyeche ke tar ghumer byaghat ghotalo. Hothat ekta haat pechon theke tar mukh chepe dhorlo.
The assassin's eyes lit up as he said the following words : "Eta dekhcho (he pointed towards the dagger), or buke khub taratari char bar dhuktei rokto bomi korte shuru korlo. Byas, aar ki." He let out a deep breath as he finished the sentence. As the priest cried profusely, the assassin placed the dagger in between them.
Man : to bolo, tomar ki hobe? Amar client to bolte parlo na thik kon ghaater purut tar bou er kol bhoriyeche. Ei duto ghaatei to sudhu Ganga pujo hoy naki?
Ramvilas was silent now, his head in between his legs. The assassin put his hands on the priest's head.
Man : Kano korli bolto erokom? Gari chaliye bhaloi thaki. Abar toder janyo esob kaj korte hoy.
The right hand took the dagger in a flash! He swiftly moved towards his companion and punched him with his left fist. The sudden shot had made its impact. Before he could realize what just happened, he felt the cold steel on his throat. And then a sharp pain. As blood oozed out from the cut, the dagger pierced through the face, the neck, the chest again and again. After plunging the dagger thirteen times into his prey, the man rose up. He looked upwards. Only silence accompanied the Ola Swift D-zire. He threw the dagger into the water. Then he reached into the pockets of the slain. Having found what he needed, he ran towards the car, unlocked it and got in. He started the engine and set the car in back gear. Then it suddenly occurred to him. He ran downstairs and pushed the body into the water, Then he climbed up the stairs three at a time and took out the donation box from the temple. Morning birds had just started to make sounds. He ran into the car.
The wheels screeched again but now they were in motion.
"Namaste Pandit ji!"
Ramvilas turned with shock to find a bald man staring at him with joined palms. He was clean shaven and strangely had a pair of goggles on. He also wore a sinister smile on his thick lips. The person was well built, a few inches taller than Ramvilas. A shudder went through the priest. "Jai Ganga maiya ki", he replied.
The man's lips widened but did not part. "Kuch baat kar sakte hai aapse?
Ramvilas : Ji boliye,
Man : Ei sob pujo-accha kotodin cholbe Ganga-paare?
Ramvilas was taken aback : Kya matlab?
Man sighed : kichu na. Ei tomra UP, Bihar -er maal gulo Kolkatay eshe jure boscho din din. Benaras e to pujo hocche. Okhanei thakte!
Ramvilas had had enough now. He was in no mood to waste his sleep over an idiot's nightout. He ignored his associate and started towards the temple. His way was blocked by a muscular arm.
Man : jacchen kothay? amar ekta confession korar ache. paap er bishoye bhagaban ke bolbo. shunben na?
Ramvilas : To jaake Ganga maiya ko boliye.
Man : khun kore eshechi.
Ramvilas stared at the other guy open mouthed. He felt paralysed with fear.
The man unbuttoned his shirt near the chest and took out a large dagger. Traces of blood were still visible on the steel. He looked at the petrified short priest in-front of him. "Eta murder weapon," he said.
Ramvilas : Aap yeh sab miujhe kyun baata rahe hain?
Man : Kauke to bolte hobe. Police ke to bolbo na. Puro-ta shunben? Mojar golpo kintu!
Ramvilas had no option. He said, " Andar jaake baat karein?"
The murderer gestured towards the river, "Ganga-paare katha bolbo cholun."
The two figures descended the dry steps of the ghaat and and sat down by the water. The dogs had left long ago.
Ramvilas : Bolo.
Man : Ei je pasher ghaate tomar jaat-bhai, Nirmal. Maal ta ke mere elam.
Ramvilas rose : Kya? Nirmal bhai...
Man : bosho bosho.
He pointed to his side with the dagger. Slowly, Ramvilas sat down looking into the mysterious pair of glasses.
Man : Tomra ki mone koro bolo to? Manusher baccha hoy na aar tomra thakurer ashirbaad dite tader bari jao?
Ramvilas : Bhul ho gayi babu. Ab se nahi hoga. Mein chor ke chala jaunga Banaras.
Man : Se to porer katha. Golpo ta shono! To tomar sei Nirmal bhai emon ek Meror bou ke pregnant korlo, je Mero clinic e giye nijer test koriye eshechilo. Ektu to khonj khobor rakhbe naki?
Ramvilas was in tears : Bhul ho gayi babu.
The man smiled : "Arre ami babu fabu kissu noi. Babu to amay bollo tomar bondhu ke topkate. Giye topke ashlam.
Ramvilas : Chor di jiye babu. Main chala jaunga.
Man : shono shono. to tomar bhai tomar motoi naak deke ghumacchilo. Garir swabde ghum ta bhanglo. tomar motoi khali gaye beriye elo. jodio, oi ghaate kukur chilo na tokhon. Se khunjte beriyeche ke tar ghumer byaghat ghotalo. Hothat ekta haat pechon theke tar mukh chepe dhorlo.
The assassin's eyes lit up as he said the following words : "Eta dekhcho (he pointed towards the dagger), or buke khub taratari char bar dhuktei rokto bomi korte shuru korlo. Byas, aar ki." He let out a deep breath as he finished the sentence. As the priest cried profusely, the assassin placed the dagger in between them.
Man : to bolo, tomar ki hobe? Amar client to bolte parlo na thik kon ghaater purut tar bou er kol bhoriyeche. Ei duto ghaatei to sudhu Ganga pujo hoy naki?
Ramvilas was silent now, his head in between his legs. The assassin put his hands on the priest's head.
Man : Kano korli bolto erokom? Gari chaliye bhaloi thaki. Abar toder janyo esob kaj korte hoy.
The right hand took the dagger in a flash! He swiftly moved towards his companion and punched him with his left fist. The sudden shot had made its impact. Before he could realize what just happened, he felt the cold steel on his throat. And then a sharp pain. As blood oozed out from the cut, the dagger pierced through the face, the neck, the chest again and again. After plunging the dagger thirteen times into his prey, the man rose up. He looked upwards. Only silence accompanied the Ola Swift D-zire. He threw the dagger into the water. Then he reached into the pockets of the slain. Having found what he needed, he ran towards the car, unlocked it and got in. He started the engine and set the car in back gear. Then it suddenly occurred to him. He ran downstairs and pushed the body into the water, Then he climbed up the stairs three at a time and took out the donation box from the temple. Morning birds had just started to make sounds. He ran into the car.
The wheels screeched again but now they were in motion.
