FEARLESS GADAI

A fictional narrative based on incidents from the childhood of Sri Ramakrishna.

- GITANJALI MURARI

On the way to Mukundapur Shiva temple, people avoided cutting across a dense patch of trees, taking instead the longer route around it. “A ghoul lives in that forest,” Gayavishnu shivered, “it leaps onto your shoulders and bites your head off.”

“I must see this fellow,” Gadai declared, immediately perking up.

“Are you crazy? Don’t even think of it.”

But as soon as the bell rang for afternoon break, Gadai ran out of class and headed straight for the forest.

“I’ll tell your mother,” Gayavishnu shouted but when this threat didn’t work, he rushed over to Kshudhiram’s cottage and told Chandramani everything. Deeply worried, she called her second son, Rameshwar. “Ramkumar and your father have gone to fetch your aunt,” she said, “you bring the child home, son.” Walking briskly, Rameshwar soon reached the little forest. But there was no sign of his kid brother.