Of snakes, spiders and scares!

Today thou shall all be treated to a quiet recording of banter between two cousins (of almost the same age) in a smallish car travelling on the smallest path in a smaller village...

S: I told you not to roll down those windows.

N: But it's hot and I want air.

S: Amma switched on the fan no! And it's evening. It's not even afternoon. Why do you want the windows to be opened?

N: (adamant) Because I don't like it if it is hot.

S: (equally adamant) Then you go and sit in the front and open those windows.

N: But atta is driving. I don't want to disturb her. And why should I go? You go if you don't want to sit near open windows.

S: (a bit nervous and apprehensive about revealing her fears) There are snakes hiding in these trees, and they'll come inside if you keep the windows open.

N: I don't believe you. And I'm not scared of snakes anyway.

S: But I'm scared of snakes.

N: Why? They don't do anything. I've seen snakes a lot of times.

S: I also saw snakes at my atta's house sometimes. But I'm scared of them. We will die if they come inside the car and bite us.

N: If you don't do anything, they don't bite us.

S: Why are you behaving like that? You're also scared of something I'm sure. All children are scared of something...

N: I'm not scared of snakes. I'm only scared of lions and tigers.

S: But they don't stay in the village or come here. Then why are you scared of them? I am not scared of lions and tigers at all.

N: (teasing) But you're scared of snakes.

S: (sulking) Yes because they can come and bite us now also.

N: What else are you scared of?

S: I'm scared of spiders also.

N: (laughing out loud) But why? They're very small and they don't bite also.

S: No, they also bite. And it's okay if I'm a boy and they bite me. But I'm a girl no. That's why I'm scared.

N: Huh?

S: You know, if a spider bites a boy he'll become Spiderman once he becomes big. But I don't know if a girl can become Spiderwoman if the spider bites her.

N: Ohhh...

N and S are still lost in thought when I switched off my mental record button and killed the car's engine as well. The house is in sight, and the girls are in mirth as they spot their one-year-old brother running towards them. And there ends our sweet banter, and the complex thought process too!!

For a few amenities more...

Generally speaking, two months is a long-enough period to get over things but, somehow, the tragedy of the untimely death of this 14-year-old boy still remains fresh in my mind and keeps visiting my thoughts. I guess it's not really very easy to forget and move on when the tragedy happens to be a heart-wrenching one and the victim happens to be an innocent young kid. Apparently, the snake that bit the boy is an extremely poisonous small green reptile that hides in the trees, jumps on to its unsuspecting, hapless victim(s), bites, and disappears as suddenly as it appears.

This incident keeps rewinding in my mind's eye as I brave the jungle-like path en route to my tuition everyday. And each time I pass by those huge terrifying wild trees on my way back when it is much darker and much more scarier, I keep wondering if I'll be the next innocent victim of a vengeful venomous snake. I know my fear almost sounds like an Urban Legend sequel. But life in this part of the country is not really that easy. Nor is it an eternal source of enjoyment sans worries, tragedies, tensions as is often portrayed. Neither is my home always going to be a risk-free retreat or a safe haven for my urban friends.

Not very long ago, there was this gas leakage near my daughter's school. And no, this was not because of negligence but because of poverty. No job = more poverty. Somebody tried stealing the brass knobs of gas cylinders (filled with chlorine) from a factory. If this is not tragic, what else can be? Those involved in the theft not only risked their life but also the lives of people in the vicinity - for a few rupees more.

And a few days prior to this incident, while commuting to Berhampur every night for over a week to stay with niece who delivered at Christian Hospital, I was shocked beyond words when I witnessed the pathetic living conditions of people in this part of the world (read absence of toilets) where women are forced to answer nature calls late at night under the dark canopy of the star-lit sky, and quickly hide their face(s) as the headlights of that one-odd vehicle passing by focuses on them for a brief moment.

Why the hell are we witnessing such shameful conditions even after 60 years post-Independence? Are we independent, really? And why are these villagers not standing up in arms against their apathetic condition? And how are these women tolerating this torture every night of their lives? If people themselves are not interested in working towards their betterment, who'll come to their aid? What freedom, life, and dignity are we talking about?

It was not so much of a culture shock... it was more of disgust towards the apathy of the government and its failure in every aspect of governance that frequently troubles my soul. I'm also now reminded of a rainy evening and my frustration, almost a year ago, when I got drenched completely as the bus I was travelling in started leaking.

All these incidents might still be bearable. What is unbearable is the death of a young boy, primarily due to lack of proper medical care in the village(s) in and around Berhampur. I don't think there's any justification to that tragic death, and the apathy of the officials and the pitiable living conditions around here make the crime that much more unpardonable!!!