The Enchanted Forest
How difficult it was to experience love and compassion in this world that we live in, thought Malini, as she searched for answers to the questions that were raging on in her mind ….
Malini stood at the edge of the forest. It looked just as she had left it, almost a year ago - dense, inviting, and enchanting! Her heart, heavy as lead, now fluttered again, though weakly. The surrounding landscape had changed over the years. Many houses had covered up parts of the vast greenery. Yet, the forest looked the same.
The forest was said to be somewhat peculiar. Different people experienced it differently. Majority of the people would experience an eerie feeling, the moment they stepped into it; some would swear that they saw apparitions after sunset, and some others could hear howling of wolves and screeching of owls, while walking through it.
There had been many attempts at various points of time to cut down parts of the forest, to build roads and factories. But none of these attempts were successful. Every time, either some accident, or a natural calamity, would stall the activities initiated in the name of progress.
For Malini, the same forest was her haven of peace and joy. She had chanced upon this forest accidentally. She was out on a long walk that day, and had gone farther than ever before. She was actually nursing the wounds in her heart that had been inflicted by Shyama Devi that morning, for being overly kind towards Lali. Lali had high fever and Malini had asked her mother Pushpa to take her to the local doctor, while Malini would take care of the unfinished chores. Shyama Devi was furious with Malini! On such occasions Malini would just go out for walks, to calm her disturbed frame of mind.
As she kept walking, Malini had absentmindedly stepped inside the dense, green forest. The sudden drop in temperature, shook her out of her reverie. She looked around and something strange happened. She could feel the cool, soft breeze touching her, caressing her, and she felt all her hurt, disappear. She could hear a mesmerising music in the forest, all around her; tiny bells were ringing, violins were playing in harmony, and there was a sweet fragrance that overwhelmed her. It was an enchanted surrounding for her, and she lost herself completely in its magic.
This kept happening, every time that Malini stepped into the forest. She spoke about it to others, but no one believed her. Even her husband, Brijesh, laughed it off. One day she took him with her, to see it for himself. While Malini had the same experience, Brijesh looked around, bewildered, trying hard to see, hear, and feel what he was expected to! This experience, in fact, invoked a fear in Brijesh’s heart, about Malini’s mental health!
Henceforth, the forest became a retreat for Malini. She would spend hours there, soaking in the peace and beauty of the place. The wild brooks literally sang out to her. She would lay down beside them, singing aloud to her heart’s content. Often, she would simply lie down and look up at the peeping sky that would be trying to send the sparkling sun rays through the thick, green branches of the trees, as if playing hide and seek with them.
Malini was a young housewife in a big joint family. She had three children. Her family was one of the most affluent, upper cast families, in town. Belonging to the highest class of Brahmins, Malini’s family members had always held their head high. Malini did not quite like the fact that everyone would always put himself/herself on a pedestal. Other people too treated them so deferentially!
What disturbed Malini the most was the discriminatory behaviour that the servants of the household were subjected to. Not only did they belong to a lower caste, but they were poor as well! Their crime, so it seemed!
Malini always took extra care to look after all the servants of the household. She would monitor them during their lunch time. It hurt her to see the inferior quality of food served to them. Many times, leftover food of the family was used to fill up their hungry stomachs. Malini would try and do whatever best she could do, to bring some semblance of dignity into their lives. Not surprising then that no one in the household approved of Malini’s generosity, except only her father-in-law, Munir Babu.
Munir Babu was a learned man and was widely respected in the society. His household was run by Shyama Devi, his wife, who was a strict taskmaster. Their two sons and their families, all stayed under the same roof. No one had the courage to speak up against Shyama Devi and her harsh ways with the servants.
Malini had a very compassionate heart, along with a sharp and brilliant mind. Books were her best friends. She spent all her free time, reading. She was a nature-lover too. She had her own garden, where she planted flowering plants, and looked after them with great care.
Lali was the twelve-year-old daughter of Pushpa, the cook of the household. Most of the days, Pushpa brought Lali along when she came to work. Lali would just keep playing by herself the whole day, while her mother worked. Malini would often talk to Lali, and would tell her stories, along with her own children, during the afternoon. She taught her to read, too. Seeing Lali’s interest, Malini got her admitted in the same school as her children. There was a big hue and cry about it but Malini stood firm and, with Munir Babu’s backing, she was able to weather the storm.
Years simply rolled by. Lali was now in High School. She had blossomed into a confident young girl, with a beautiful heart! Lali simply adored Malini! She knew that it was Malini who had transformed her life and she was extremely grateful to her, for this.
One day Malini got news that her father, who lived in another town, was critically ill. She rushed immediately, and ended up spending a month at her father’s place, nursing him back to health. She had never been away from home, for so long.
On her return she felt something amiss, in the house. Pushpa, too, seemed withdrawn. Malini thought that maybe she was imagining things! The day passed, but there was no sign of Lali. Malini found this extremely strange.
Next morning she asked Pushpa, about Lali.
“Bahu ji (an address used by the servants, in India, for the lady of the house), Lali is in her home.” Pushpa replied with a stone face.
“Home? Why did she not go to school today? She didn’t even come to meet me, yesterday evening.” Malini voiced out her concern.
“Bahu ji, Lali is married! She now lives at her husband’s place, in a village far away from here.”
Malini could not believe her ears! Lali was married?
“What rubbish are you talking Pushpa?” Malini literally shook her.
“Yes Bahu ji, Lali is a married woman now. Malkin ji (an address servants often use for the senior lady of the house) had received a marriage proposal for her. She called me and said that she would make all arrangements for the marriage, and that I should agree to this, as the boy is from a higher caste than us. I had no options but to obey,” sobbed Pushpa.
“I can’t believe this, Pushpa! Your daughter was studying and she was not even of a marriageable age! Couldn’t you at least wait for me?” Malini was pacing up and down in anger.
“Tell me about the boy! How educated is he? What does he do?” Malini wanted something to console herself with. Maybe the boy was progressive, and would allow Lali to finish her education.
“He is a wealthy farmer, Bahu ji. He is not literate, but believes in education, and so sends both his children to the village school.” Pushpa replied with downcast eyes.
“Illiterate! Children! Pushpa, how old is he?” thundered Malini.
“Thirty-five years, Bahu ji. He is very caring though, and has no vices too!”
Malini felt her head throbbing in pain. It felt like bursting. She did not know what to do, to get relief. She stepped out of her house and started walking. Her mind was on fire! Her heart was weeping blood!
Before she knew, she had reached the dark forest. Pulled by some magical charm, she walked into the forest. Suddenly, she felt different. It was the same experience, as always. Her strained nerves felt calm again. She could breathe in the scented, cool, air. All the turmoil raging in her mind, turned to musical notes.
This was a different world; a world she loved, she wanted. In a trance, she kept walking; deeper and deeper into the forest, till she was completely lost. It was sheer magic all around; she forgot everything about the world that she had left behind. She didn’t realise when she had started singing. She sat near a gurgling brook and her melodious voice filled the thick, dark enchanted forest.
Even today, twenty years later, anyone passing by can still hear her singing, can still hear her enthralling voice, coming from deep within the forest!