“There are only two kinds of people in this world: Rational and irrational” – – A Series Of Unfortunate Events.

The grass that is bordering the paddy-fields is lush-green and moist with yesterday night’s rain. But, the wet-layer of water on the leaves is slowly evaporating to the mild heat of the Sun. The mid-October had dulled the Sun with constant rains and clouds. But, today’s afternoon had regained the heat with the Sun blazing hot.

Image Credit: Pixabay.

Ayyappa walked on the mud-wall that seperates the two fields. With his left-hand, he shielded his eyes against the Sun’s glare and in his right-hand, he held a book. His forearm is moist with perspiration. Walking at a slow pace, he looked ahead.

Thank God … He thought – Just a few paces, I’ll reach my place.

My Place !

My Place … A thousand emotions flooded his heart, as he thought of his favorite place on earth.

A huge banyan tree stood gigantic at the farthest corner, where the two fields end. He climbed the mound and sat on the ground. He leaned on the tree trunk and with his legs stretched wide apart, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What a place … Under this cool shade, his mind and body felt rejuvenated instantly. The tree branches extended to a portion of the field and sometimes, he saw farm-workers sitting at the field’s edge, under the shade and having lunch.

He looked at the cover of the book: The Maze Runner. He opened the book and began to read. The world around him vanished into oblivion, as he turned pages after pages. His eye-lids began to droop and sleep engulfed him completely.

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Ayyappa opened his eyes and looked around. The mid-day’s heat had subsided and the wind began to loose it’s heat. He placed his left-hand on the ground and felt for his sling-bag. He slid his hand into the bag and found the watch: 4:40 PM.

He must have been reading continuously for more than two hours. He is not the one who indulges in afternoon siestas. But, the morning heat and the yesterday’s events had taken a toll on him.

Thinking of yesterday had taken him back to the errands that had a whack on his mind …

He is sitting on the old jeep-tyre and reading the last page of Twilight. He had been savouring of how Isabella won the love of Edward at last, when suddenly a cooking utensil flew near him and landed on the table nearby. The table houses old books. The shot was aimed at him but not directly. It was intended to warn him but not to hurt him.

Ayyappa closed the book and looked at the direction, the misfire was shot … His mother stood at the kitchen-table slicing bottle-gourd for today’s lunch.

“Why do you waste time like that, idiot boy?” Blurted out his mother.

“Wasting ? Am I really wasting time Maa ?”

“What’s in a book Sunny ? You are sitting there all day, doing nothing and reading ?”

As soon as his mother had said that he looked at the hanging on the wall, while his mother immediately followed his gaze and said: “I know … Books are a uniquely portable magic”

Even though her mother can’t read, she had memorized the quote after her son had said it for the hundreth time.

“I know … I know Sunny. It is said by Samuel King”

“Maa, it’s Stephen King”

“Who cares ?” Her mother shrugged her shoulders “It’s some King OK ? King or Queen, I don’t care”

Ayyappa closed the book and walked towards her mother. He planted a kiss on her forehead.

“You are my sweetest mother. You will understand me better than Daddy”

Speaking the word Daddy had made her instantly tense.

“Have you taken the bags to the town shop ? Your father will show up anytime soon”

His mother is afraid that he will beat her son. But, before he responded, her husband stood at the doorway looking seriously at both of them. With his hands on his hips, her husband stood there taller than both them.

Ayyappa now understood what he must do immediately. The town-shop is located at 3 KMs from his village. He immediately sprang into action. He grabbed the keys from the nearby table and headed outside. With two bags full of black-gram mounted on his bicycle-carriage, he peddled his way.

As he was about to cross the bridge of the village-creek, he stopped on the bridge – Looking at the fields surrounding the bridge. This is the entrance of the village and from this point onwards the fields on both sides of the road belong to one man. One powerful man. And, as far as Ayyappa is concerned, all that is considered ‘Powerful’ in this world is associated with evil.

Evil Reigns !

Ayyappa read somewhere that all that is good is always humble and simple. No chest-thumping. No boasting. And more importantly, no ‘Power’.

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“Your son wastes time like this. By reading books, while I toil hard to earn money” Ayyappa heard his father talking to his mother as soon as he returned from the town-shop.

“Let him read. We both cannot read. Atleast, he is having the pleasure of reading” His mother started defending him.

Ayyappa is more attached to his mother than his father. She understands him better than anyone else in this world.

“Where is the pleasure of reading books anyway ? It is a waste of time. Some people who has thier bellies full and had nothing else to do will write books” His father began his ramblings.

It is useless to argue with him, thought Ayyappa. He loves his father very much. He is the one who works hard by day and night, so that he and his dear mother are sleeping peacefully. But, Ayyappa easily gets angry and irritated when anyone disrespects books.

Thinking of yesterday had strained his mind and he returned to the present. He got up and looked towards the sky. The Sun had lost it’s inferno and turned amber in colour. People in the adjoining fields started packing thier things and began to leave.

He picked his bag and felt less weighty. He opened his bag and checked inside: Water-bottle and a napkin. One main content is missing – His book. The book he is reading is not there !

He drifted into sleep, while he was reading – He remembered. And if that is the case, the book must be lying here somewhere. The mound he is now standing is higher than surrounding fields. The tree stood exactly at the point, where four seperate fields intersect. The mound is a slope and the prop-roots of the banyan tree had penetrated the ground as far as the edge of the nearby field.

Recent downpours had exposed the tree’s buttress roots and the ground is more inclined now. The book must have rolled down. He got down from the mound and searched near the mud-wall.

No sign of the book !

Hmm … He has to go. Otherwise, he has to face another tantrum of his father.

***********************

Next morning, Ayyappa woke early and as soon as he brushed, he indulged in helping his father with his work. After breakfast, he felt relieved as this is the time, his father leaves for town. From now on, he can spend time with his dear mother.

The afternoon rolled quickly and Ayyappa’s anticipation began to grow.

“Maa … How much time will it take for the lunch to be ready ?”

“What’s your hurry Sunny ? Let me finish. We can eat at the old-table. Now, clear the old-books”

His mother now understood what is plaguing him – This is afternoon and he had to go to banyan tree and spend time reading. As soon as she served rice on the plate, he ate it hastily without even chewing. He washed his hands, took the sling-bag and left. His mother watched him from the kitchen-window and kept her eyes on him, as he vanished into the green-fields.

As usual he walked on the mud-wall and reached the banyan tree. He took The Girl On The Train out of the bag and began to read. Yesterday, the book he is reading is misplaced. It is the first time in his life that he had left a book incomplete. No book, he had laid hands on, would be left unread.

As he dwelled into the book, his body became weary and as tiredness covered every part of the body, he slipped into deep slumber.

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The chirping of a bird had woke Ayyappa from his sleep. A Blue Jay landed on an aerial-root and kept signalling for it’s flock. Once a common visitor in the fields, this Indian Roller is on the brink of extinction, due to the rapid reduction of green-fields. His watch told him that the time is 4:00 PM. He began to pack his things and started to leave. He immediately realised one thing: The book he is reading is missing !

He nervously searched his reading spot. He walked towards the fields and with all his focus, he scanned the surroundings. And, then a thought occurred to him and realisation dawned on him. He now knew how his books had vanished – It’s the farm-boys. These boys once in a while come to the fields to give food-carriages for their fathers, who work in the neighborhood fields.

These boys will do some mischief, whenever they come here. Last time, they had punctured the tyres of a Luna that is parked nearby. The farmer who owned the moped, walked with his bike and reached the main-road which is more than a Kilometer. They must have stolen the books, as he is asleep. They are the ones who must have taken the book yesterday also – Just to tease him. It’s all for fun sake !

Anger rose in Ayyappa. He not the one who easily looses his senses. But, they had touched his sensitive-spot … Books.

They had disrespected him by stealing his books.

He will teach a lesson to them !

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Next day, Ayyappa reached his favourite spot earlier. Like a man on a mission, his senses are all activated. He is more observant of his surroundings. Anytime soon, those kids may come to snatch away his book. He must be vigilant.

Ayyappa read a few pages of Dan Brown’s Origin and closed his eyes. He leaned on the banyan tree and pretended to be asleep. He opened his mouth to add some naturality. A quarter of an hour may have passed after he had been acting. He opened his eyes now and then. And, it is then, he caught sight of a moment to his left.

The plant-bushes on the farm’s edge began to move a little.

Yes … These farm-boys usually sneak through and get away. He continued with his acting and saw something coming out of the bush … A dog !

The dog looked once at him and ran into the surrounding fields. At this point, he heard a twig snap to his right. Someone had stepped on a dry branch. He heard footsteps.

Immediately, he closed his eyes completely and waited. Now, the footsteps are more clear. They are getting louder and suddenly they stopped. He heard rustling sound very near to him. Someone is there … Standing … Watching him sleeping. Now, he can sense the person’s presence more closely. The person is standing very near to him.

He felt his book snatched away from his hands. He didn’t move. He heard the turning of pages. After sometime, the person left in the same direction.

Ayyappa didn’t moved a muscle. He still closed his eyes and let the minutes passby. These farm-boys are so cunning. He has to catch them red-handed. So, he waited. And, suddenly he sprang into action. He got up and tiptoed.

He reached the other-side of the tree. There’s no one there. And, more importantly … No sign of his book. They were quick.

Psst … They escaped … Ran away. Ran away with his book. He has to catch them no matter what.

This is the third book !

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Next day, Ayyappa is more determined. These boys, whomever they’re, they should mind thier own business – Which is handing-over of lunch and leave silently. Everytime they visit these fields, a mischief happens.

Last week, he saw with his own eyes, how the farm-motor is damaged beyond repair. The motor is meant to water the fields, while these kids had opened the air-hatch and and dumped mud through it’s opening.
Now, he will see how they will escape him. Today, he will give a fit answer.

And, as usual he went on with acting … Reading. He opened Shutter Island and began to read. He sighed. This is the fourth book. Four books on four days. He don’t know whether he can recover his lost books. By now, they must have been teared into pieces. Thinking of the fate of his books had made him feel sick.

With his mouth open, he went on snoring. After a minutes, he heard it: The person. The person is humming in a low-voice. The voice grew nearer and within seconds, his treasure – The book is snatched away from his lap. The humming is going away and along with it the book.

Ayyappa opened his eyes. Yesterday, the person came tip-toeing and now the same person came humming. So, the person has decided that no matter what, Ayyappa won’t wake up. No matter how many books are stolen, it doesn’t matter !

This had made anger return to Ayyappa. He stood and with lightning speed, he dashed into the direction, the person went. He reached the other end of the tree, when suddenly he heard it: Humming. He slowly bent and peered over an over-grown branch. He caught of a hand holding a book. He took a deep breath and jumped.

At this point, he heard someone yelp. He must have started the person. Suddenly, he lost his footing and fell facewards on the ground. He got up and strained to open his eyes. He spat the handful of dust he swallowed while falling. He rubbed his eyes and looked. His vision is now clear and he saw a girl standing in front of him. She is wearing a middy and her hair is full blown. Her eyes told that she is frightened to the core.

In her hand, Ayyappa saw a book. On the ground, he saw some books were neatly kept side by side. He looked at thier covers and immediately recognised them by their titles. They were his books.

“Who are you ? And, what are you doing with my books ?”

“I” Stumbled the girl and looked at his pants.

Ayyappa looked down at his dress and dusted the sand on his trousers.

“Can we please sit down ?” Asked the girl.

“OK”

“Hi, I’m Amelia” The girl extended her hand and Ayyappa shook it nervously.

“I came from Goa for a wedding in the nearby town. We are staying there” Ayyappa looked at the direction the girl had pointed and understood.

A mansion stood there at the end of the paddy-fields. It’s a guesthouse-cum-resort. Usually, some rich folks who are fed up with their busy urban lives and who want to take a break to enjoy the nature, will land there. They usually stay a week or ten days and go exploring the neighbouring woods.

Ayyappa looked at the girl. She’s a damn rich girl … By the look of it.

“So, you want to stay here for … ?” He dragged the question.

“Our family insisted on staying on this mansion, so that we can enjoy the nature” She said the last word with a big smile.

“So, you are enjoying your vacation by stealing my books ?” Ayyappa demanded.

The girl stopped smiling “Hey, I didn’t mean to … Look … Where I kept your books”

He looked at the hollow in the trunk.

“I’m an avid book reader. It’s an addiction to me” Continued the girl.

Ayyappa thought of the farm-boys. He has been mistaken. But there’s a good chance that they may have stolen his books.

“Why don’t we Joint Read ?” Asked the girl.

“What’s that ?”

“You know in Goa, we have Book-Clubs. Two people sit side by side and read the same book. One will hold one side, while the other reads it loudly. In this way, they take turns.

Book Club ? What the hell, thought Ayyappa. Thinking of Goa had brought to his mind only two things: Clubs and Pubs. And, what on earth is a Book Club ?

Will people drink and read books ?

Holy Mackerel !

They both sat side by side. Ayyappa held the book, while the girl began to read by holding the other end.

The afternoon rolled quickly and the wind began to chase away the heat. The girl stood suddenly and said “I’ve to go. We’ll meet tomorrow. Same place”

Ayyappa began to pack and asked her as she saw leaving “What time should we meet ?”

The girl turned back, smiled and left without a word.

She knows the time !

After all, she’s the one who is stealing his books all these days.

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Next day, Ayyappa walked on the mud-wall and watched his step carefully. Last night’s rain had made it slippery. He reached the end and looked at the banyan tree. Someone is standing at his favourite place … Amelia.

As soon as he climbed the mound, she held him by his hand and dragged him to the reading-spot.

The buttress roots from the tree extended on the ground and went all the way down the mound. It is so wide that they both sat on it. As soon as they settled, they began to Joint-Read.

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Ayyappa is so overwhelmed that he had found a person who reads with him. Indeed, he had found a friend in Amelia. His world of books is extended. Yesterday, before he reached here, she’s already there standing for him.

Today, he had brought food for her, along with the books. “My mother made Kichidi for both of us”

They both spent the rest of the day eating and reading until the afternoon turned into evening.

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The third day rolled quickly like the pages they’re turning by reading.

“Which is the best book you have read so far ?” Asked Amelia.

“Angels and Demons” Said Ayyappa without a thought.

“Why ?”

“I like suspence … Fact-paced”

“And what about you ?”

Amelia looked into the distant field and said “Confessions Of A Shopaholic. It makes me feel more girlish”

“That’s the beauty of Chick-Lit” He added.

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“Before I leave for Goa, I will gift you the best book in the world”

Ayyappa pondered on what that book will be. On the fourth day, they both had completed the book by taking turns.

As the evening is closing in, they closed the book and began to chat. The workers in the neighbouring fields began to leave, as the setting Sun turned the surroundings into darkness. One last time, they want to read. So, they held the book and began to read the last line of Silkworm. They’re about to complete the line, when suddenly a hand grabbed the book from thier hands. They both looked in unison. A fat man with a pot-belly is standing before them … Chowdary.

For the villagers, this man who owns the lands from the village-creek to this point is always ‘Powerful’. For Ayyappa, ‘Power’ is always evil.

“Hmm …” The man looked at the book. “I’ve been watching you two idiots sitting under this tree and reading. What’s there in a book, I wonder”

As soon as he said that anger rose in Ayyappa.

“OK. But, bad news for you buddies … Play time is over. Now … LEAVE !!!”

He uttered the last word with full burst.

The girl looked more frightened and she began to leave. The voice of Chowdary had travelled across the surrounding fields and sensing danger, the farm-workers threw thier things and began to gather near the banyan tree.

Realising that his shout had alerted the people nearby, Chowdary’s face began to show arrogance. All the four fields in the trees vicinity belongs to him. He came here only to scare away the kids. Now, as the villagers began to come near the tree, he decided to display an ounce of his pride.

“Hey, little buddies … Wait a minute” He said to both Ayyappa and Amelia, as they’re about to leave.

“You know what … I have been thinking about this tree” And with that he produced an axe. He pointed the thing at the huge banyan tree. Now, it is crystal clear to Ayyappa and Amelia, what this evil man will do … He will axe the tree.

For Ayyappa, the tree had become his life. This place is very sacred to him. This is the only place in the whole world, where felt alive. Under this cool shade, he reads and reads until his death. And now, as this evil man is about to cut it down, Ayyappa knew that there’s no one in this whole village who dares to question him. Good or bad, whatever he does, it only increases his ‘Power’.

Amelia left the mound from the other-side of the tree and went towards the mansion. Ayyappa walked away from the banyan tree and as he went, the oncoming villagers looked at his teary-face. As Ayyappa went towards his home, one last time, he turned and looked back at his favorite place.

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Ayyappa rolled on his bed and looked at the table-clock: 12:00 AM. He sat on his bed. This evening is the most painful in his life. Part of his soul is left there at the tree. There won’t be anyone who stops Chowdary. By now, the tree must have been cut down. He alone may not have cut the huge banyan tree. He must have employed others.

Ayyappa doesn’t know what he must do from tomorrow. From tomorrow onwards, there won’t be anymore life left in him. Actually, he died yesterday. He sat on his bed weeping and after a few hours, he curled on his bed and slipped into sleep.

********************

Ayyappa woke very late in the following morning. As he got down from the bed, he realised that his eyes had swollen. He climbed the stairs and sat on the terrace. From this point, he can see the fields and the banyan tree that is at the midst of them.

Ayyappa didn’t want to look at that direction. He doesn’t had the strength to look. The evil and powerful Chowdary may have completely flattened the place. But he was tempted beyond his will and turned to look at the direction of the tree and as he did so, he was shocked to the core.

The banyan tree stood there … On the midst of the green-fields !

He saw a huge crowd of people gathered there. His mother stood next to him and began to look at the tree.

After Ayyappa had left the place yesterday, he didn’t know what happened afterwards. He woke up late this noon but as words spread fast in the village, his mother learnt everything about what happened.

After Ayyappa and Amelia had left the tree, people began to gather at the tree, hearing the outbursts of Chowdary.

For them this man Chowdary means ‘Power’ and ‘Power’ summarises to danger. After seeing the gathering crowd, this evil man swelled with pride and arrogance. He raised the axe and as he was about to strike, a buttress-root rose from the ground and darted straight into the man’s neck. The sharp edge pierced his throat and he was halted in mid-air.

The onlookers didn’t understood what happened at first. The bent buttress-root that Ayyappa and Amelia sat reading had actually cut-off from the tree many days ago. As one end of the root is deeply rooted into the mound, the other end which is usually intact with the tree is teared at an odd angle.

On the surface, the root appeared normal but in reality, it has been unplugged. During it’s lifetime, the banyan tree sheds many such roots and aerial-roots as well. This is nature’s way of ageing. So, inside the soil, the cut-off root is bent in a U-Shape.

Though, Ayyappa and Amelia sat on it, they didn’t realise it. The rains of the October had eroded the soil and the root’s edge is about to be exposed anytime. As Chowdary raised his axe at the tree, his overweight body had shifted the root and the other end with it’s razor-sharp edge is propelled like a bullet into his neck and killed him instantly. The man froze in mid-air and till late-night, until the villager elder came, his lifeless body stood there like a statue. With his eyes struck in horror and mouth wide open, the dead Chowdary is loathsome to look at.

His mother went downstairs, but before leaving, she gave him a cover “Your friend Amelia had left for Goa this early morning. Before leaving, she gave this package to me to hand over it to you”

As his mother left, Ayyappa looked into the cover and took a gift-wrap from inside.

Before I leave for Goa, I will gift you the best book in the world.

Ayyappa did a guess-work … Best book … According to Amelia … Wuthering Heights … Jane Austen books … She likes Chick-Lit … Isn’t it … ?

Ayyappa opened the inside cover and looked at the book. The book’s cover is lilac in colour and the edges are coated in gold. He read the words on the book … The Holy Bible. As a book-reader, Ayyappa had read many things about this book. But he never got a chance to read it. Yes, even after more than 3,000 years, the Bible still remains the best-seller of all times and continues to dominate the position as the most read book in the world !

He opened it and immediately his eyes fell on the following lines:

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

He looked at the edge of the page and the word Proverbs is written on it. It may be a chapter in the book, thought Ayyappa. He closed the Bible and thought of Amelia’s words of ‘Best Book’ in the world is indeed true, atleast in Chowdary’s case.

He is about to go downstairs, when one last time, he gave a look at the direction of the fields … There … The banyan tree stood gigantic … Unmoved … Mocking power and evil !