Hardyal Babu

Something unusual was going on now. Something bigger. Something very Unusual. In a few days his whole body was bruised  and scratched as he would be beaten every now and then. He had had sleepless nights, upside down with rope, with no one to hear him shout or cry. His only Companion was as an ugly Moor Criminal in the 15 x 10 Cell, who was before long shifted to an another cell.

At Nights, hours passed like days- longer, never ending with his fancy. First, he would throw the food provided, but often at mid-nights, in his half wakefulness , he would visualize Subhi, Smiling, always smiling in his farthest  memory- Ogling and running away in the marshes and vanishing in the darkness of his thoughts; he would then eat and then drink. He wanted to believe that - a day before he would die, he would meet her;  Lost, he would sleep. He would then dream and then recite her name again and again. 

The new Policemen and the new prisoners would make a fun of him, followed by this incidence every time; during the entire daytime, while he would work on the part of either cooking or treaming the grass. He wouldn't respond. The vary next morning, he would escape to see himself in the rear-mirror in the gypsy- he would see his eyes, his chin, his muscular well craved hand, his Jaw which she once, loved the most in him. How Handsome he looked ! he would compliment himself. 

"This is how Subhi would see me." He would consider.

Hardyal would spend all his time lonesome, either laid in the couch in his cell or just sitting beneath a small tree , that he himself had planted when he was new in the Jail. And then one day, on the 15th August, a grand Occasion, he met a Havildar , who at first had noticed him during the Parade and at second, had came to see him. 

"I guess" he said " if you are Hardyal Ratan Singh ?"

Curiously enough he had attended many of his seminars and he addressed that his daughter was a devout follower of him and his ideas; and from from that day on, the Havildar would come to see him everyday.

Hardyal however, had no inclination or expectations of friendship with him. He believed that separations hurt and thus he didn't want to make any new bonding then.

One diary, a few Pens-and his poems were the best companions during those days. They were Themed on Nation, friendship, time and  separation. The people in the Jail soon learnt to call him 'Hardyal Babu'. he came across some people who had a keen interest in reading and reciting, who would listen to him and accompany during the leisure.

'The Poetic Society and the Library have become revolutionary." said the Havildar " I Daze" "You're Hither in accuse of killing innocent people" shrugging in deep cigarette smoke "I Recalcitrant."

Hardyal Babu would give an above- ground smile that had a life changing impact. His Forehead would Blaze and his black lips would protract. " I don't know what my Fate has planned for me, but it certainly will take me to an eternity." The Havildar unable to comprehend would say no more.

A month anon, the Havildar took his lunch to share with Hardyal Babu. "This week, your Association is going to Organize a National Event." Said the Havildar rushing inside his cell "and presumably, this would have dissipated Subhi too, enough to brought her to you. I therefore have brought you something."This ought to have disillusioned Hardyal Babu but instead it Pleased him. He smiled with the same life changing tone and his eyes sparkled. 

He re-swaddled his Turban and said his prayer. There was a thick blanket on his bed, which he sieved with his Towel and asked the Havildar to sit.The Havildar informed him that he had met Subhi the last week. The Havildar further informed him that the lunch that he had brought with him was sent by Subhi, and later that night, The Havildar brought him into his last nights inspection of an escape plan for him.

Hardyal Babu averted his eyes and looked all around. For a while he felt tempted, but before long his conscious mind evoked an storm-inside him and his intuition foretold him that might happen in future and his vision brought to him the sight of the scene  when he would escape. Drinking in his emotions like a poison , and nagging him to provoke a further supply he said " That's a really bad idea." The Havildar wore his cap and walked away saying - Do think about it. About Subhi". Standing across the gate he fuhrer added " about the revolution , you have initiated, its incomplete without you."

"Havildar Saab!" Yelled Hardyal Babu concerned "The life of a revolutionary is incomplete without Jail. Should I throw some name for the sake of your easy Understanding ?"

Motionless, the two men stared each other from the two ends of the gate of the jail, amazed. The Havildar locked the door and threw a key to him, and a key in his pocket. 

Next week , his imagination was fired on the uncertain sudden transfer of the Havildar. Hardyal Babu was utterly bewildered to have heard from the prisoners talking that the Havildar was actually murdered anonymously.

The new Havildar changed the rules and regulations regarding the welfare of the prisoners. Hardyal Babu was provided with books to read and more diaries to write. On his demand, he was further givena daily newspaper to read. He was exempted from the burden of manual labor and the only thing that he was asked to do was to deliver speeches every morning.

On a fine Sunday Morning , He came across one of the news of 'The Poetic Society' on one of the pages of the newspaper. His first impulse was to be happy, but soon he learnt that Subhi had been accompanied by a man who too worked for 'The Poetic Society'. He further realized that the two had married long ago. 

                                                             ___________________

 

He wanted to keep this burden with him now. He didn't Cry. Why would one ! Why would he ? He didn't sleep the whole night or the next night or the following next few nights, tossing up and down, allowing no one to come and see him.Now sometimes at mid-nights, he was heard bellowing and lamenting loudly.

From that day on, Hardyal Babu was was seen even more reserved. He wouldn't write any poem or recite any speech of even came out of his cell. he wouldn't sit beneath the shade of the tree he had planted. Even during the day, he would stay in his cell, breathing heavily and coughing and gasping. The constables out of much respect would prevent him enduring any difficulty, but he would take any favor from them either.

Other prisoners noticed him talking to the wall. That would be a death, they thought. The prisoners and the constables informed the New Havildar that he had locked himself in his cell for a week and had eaten nothing for the whole week.