Nila
Those days were joyful days in my teenage.I studied nineth standard in a nearby school.I used to go to school in a new Hercules bicycle.I went on that way daily when I was going to school.But I didn't notice the small shed which was near our coconut grove.One summer morning my father asked our male servant to give the blunted iron axe to the blacksmith.It was a sunny sunday, most of our friends went out with their family members for collecting the black gram plants.I felt lonely,so I had decided to go along with the servant to the blacksmith's workshop.Within ten minutes , we reached the workshop.The blacksmith was sharpening an iron sickle.The workshop was just like a small shed and it was very dark.We couldn't easily identify who were inside the workshop.Our servant called "Blacksmith, Blacksmith."The blacksmith asked who were you outside?.Our servant told that we were coming from the big owner's house.After sometimes the blacksmith called us in.We bent our heads and went inside.The shed was very dark and in the dark I saw a black man with good physique, sparkling eyes and big moustache.He had seen me and called" Oh small owner, please come in".I saw a eight -year-old girl who pulled and pushed the airbag which was made of leather.The end of the airbag was the furnace.The blacksmith put the wood coal on the furnace and it got fire.The fire made the black coal into red balls.He was very busy in his manual work.Our servant had given the iron axe to the blacksmith.He also told him to collect it on the next week.The blacksmith didn't open his mouth and just nodded his head.In the meantime, I saw the girl who wore a half saree.Her dress was dirty and her hair was uncombed.And her half saree had more round holes which were made of fire.She had seen me twice with her pale eyes and continued her work.I understood that her faded eyes wanted to tell something to me.While we were returning to our house I asked our servant who was the little girl?. Our servant replied that she was the only daughter of the blacksmith and her name was Nila. Her mother died five years ago in blood cancer.He added further that the motherless girl was tortured by his merciless father, the the blacksmith.When I reached house , my mind was full of her remembrance.I wanted to see her again.I didn't know the actual reason why I was attracted towards her.I went to the bedroom and fell on the bed.I was not able to sleep and I decided to see her in the next morning.When I went to school I had seen the small shed.But it was very silent like a clear pond.I didn't see the girl and her father.When I returned from the school I stopped my bicycle and went inside the workshop.The blacksmith was very busy in his work.The girl pulled and pushed the airbag as usual.Her face and and half saree was full of sweating.After she had seen me she smiled.Her face looked like a full moon.The blacksmith welcomed me and said that he would give the iron axe within two days.In the meantime, the girl signalled me to pull and push the airbag for a while.I asked the blacksmith purposely that how was the furnace work? I caught the handle of the airbag from the girl . The blacksmith told that the airbag had worked by pull and push techniques.While we were talking, the girl returned and caught the airbag's handle from me.She looked very comfortable and she thanked me by her smile and eye's signal.I spent few minutes in the workshop and left.My inner conscious mind wanted to help her.The next morning, I went towards the school.On the way I had seen the workshop.I didn't see her.The workshop was half closed.I reached the school but my mind was thinking about her and her strenuous work.While I was returning from the school, I stopped my bicycle and went inside the workshop.The blacksmith and her daughter were very busy in their works.I caught the handle from the girl and relieved her from the work.She went outside quickly and returned soon.She smiled and caught the handle from me and continued her work.I saw her smiling face and she signed me to come on the next day.I nodded my head and left the workshop.I wanted to speak to her but there was no suitable situation for that.The next day was Aadi perukku, a hindu monsoon festival in south india that was celebrated on the eighteenth of the Tamil month Aadi.Most of the villagers are agriculturist.The young men, women and children of the village assembled near the river Pandavar and celebrated it.I went there and searched the girl among the crowd.I didn't find her and felt sad.While I was returning from the river, I noticed the blacksmith workshop.The blacksmith hit something by the hammer.I heard the sound.He also shouted the girl "Donkey.,. Donkey ,pull and push the airbag speedily."Then I heard the moaning sound of the girl.I didn't know what to do.I was very much afraid to go inside the workshop.So I returned to my house very fast.My house was filled with villagers.The village women were lamenting loudly.I didn't know what happened.My father who was the president of the village died due to heart attack in the morning.All my family members were cried and I also joined with them.After the cremation of my father's body,my mother told my uncle to put me in a nearby town school hostel.I did not open my mouth. I wanted to see the girl.But I was not able to see the girl.The next morning I packed my things and went along with my uncle.On the way I had seen the blacksmith's workshop.It was closed.My dream was shattered and tears rolled down from my eyes.
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