A TALE FROM THE HIMALAYAS

A TALE FROM THE HIMALAYAS

He had lost his way while returning to his village in the hills. It had suddenly started raining and it had become quite dark too because of the clouds that hung low over the hills even though it was a moonlit night. A little ahead of him on the narrow hill track he spotted a tall man in white dress. The man had also spotted him and had stopped.

The howling of a strong wind and the lashing of rain through the pine trees was eerie in the stillness of the night in the hills. It was the peak of monsoon season. He was a man known for very strong nerves in the villages around and was used to chilling scenerio and unexpected situations.

"you seem to have lost your way" said the man in white dress loudly over the deafening roar of the wind when they drew closure, " where do you have to go ?"

when he told him that he lived in nearby Mala village the man nodded his head as if he already knew the answer and then he quietly guided him to his house in half an hour. They did not talk on the way as the wind and the rain made any conversation between them impossible.

He found that the man had to go to a village that was far away. The rain had now become much heavier and the wind was a raging storm.

" you should stay with us for the night and go in the morning. Food is ready", he suggested.

He noticed a strange expression on the stranger's face at the mention of food. Perhaps he was very hungry.

The stranger came inside the house with him when his wife opened the door.

This was a big three storey stone house a little distance uphill from the shallow mountain river stream that one crossed by stepping over the rocks and boulders to arrive in the village. The motor road was on the other side of the river and it went up to Kausani, a well known hill resort nestled at a much higher altitude. It was a nice house with living quarters on the first and second floor. The ground floor was an area where they stored farm implements and other tools. And fodder too. It had a big area for the cows to live.They called it GOTH in their hill dialect.

They sat by the crackling fireplace. It was warm and cosy here.The housewife went into the kitchen to bring their food.

His attempt to engage the stranger in some talk did not succeed. There was a far-away look in the eyes of the stranger and he answered reluctantly in monosyllables.

When food was served the room was full of aroma from the steaming dishes particularly the strong and pleasant aroma of JAMBOO , a local herb used for seasoning the curry.

" I think we will need some salt, " the stranger said after tasting the curry,

" I have to get it from the kitchen," he said in a tired voice. The trek to his village had thoroughly drained him of energy. He looked reluctant to get up.

The stranger looked up. He thought the host was too tired and need not be bothered

"Do not bother," he said," I will get it myself" as the host was in the process of heaving himself up.

The next moment the stranger extended his hand towards the kitchen. The hand, in a flash, grew yards and yards long and stretched and travelled into the kitchen. The next moment there was the container of salt on the table and a loud scream followed by a thud came from the kitchen.

He dashed into the kitchen to see if his wife was alright. His wife had fainted when she saw an endlessly long hand entering the kitchen all by itself and grabbing the salt container from the shelf. He sprinkled water on her face and she opened her eyes. she was normally a woman of good nerves but this was way above her nerves.

He came back to the living room. The stranger was not there.He went to check the main door through which the stranger may have gone. He found it was firmly bolted from inside. He could not find the visitor anywhere in the house.

He came back to the living room and continued with his dinner..

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