It was about ten years
ago, when our buffalo gave birth to a beautiful kid (calf). As soon as
we saw her (yes, she was a female kid), we noticed that she had a white
spot on her black forehead. It looked like a ‘bindi’ (speck) on bride’s
forehead. She was very cute as all animal kids happen to be very sweet and
innocent. We decided to name her and after great debate and arguments we
settled for a name ‘Bindiya’, as she had a ‘bindi’ like structure on her
forehead.
She was like her
mother; broad forehead, long bushy tail, fleshy and smooth skin, and small in
stature. She leaped and ran from place to place after drinking milk. She was
very jubilant and it was almost impossible for us to catch her. We all siblings
loved Bindiya so much that we requested our Mummy to leave ample milk in
Bindiya’s mother’s udder (breast). We could see milk-foams in Bindiya’s mouth
while she sucked milk. When she sucked milk, her mother licked her back and
fondled her. She enjoyed it and gave a sweet look towards her mother
intermittently. It was a great sight and we enjoyed and amused while watching
the whole phenomenon.
When she turned 6
months old, she ate grass and fodder and in search of lush grass, she often
went to a fair distance from our home. However, in the evening she came back
every day.
One day, it was 9’o
clock in the evening and she was nowhere to be seen. We all started worrying
about her. We reminded our parents for at least ten times about Bindiya. For
some time they assured us that she would be back after some time. However,
after 10’o clock they also suspected something wrong with Bindiya. Papa, mummy,
grandpa and we four children, with our torches, started search operation for
Bindiya. We saw in all pastures and farms where she could have been found, we
asked everyone we met in our way about Bindiya’s whereabouts, but all in vain.
After searching for two
hours, we came back to home with sullen face. My little sister even started
crying. Our parents told us to have our dinner but none of us was hungry.
Everybody went to bed, but we couldn’t sleep for the whole night. After every
one hour or so, my little sister requested mom to check if Bindiya was back or
not. But she didn’t come back. Even her mother felt her absence. She fidgeted
and bellowed through the entire night.
Somehow, we passed the
night. Just after waking up, we set out to search Bindiya. Till 8 A.M., it had
become news in our village. About 9 A.M., two shepherds informed our father
that a buffalo was dead on railway track. The railway track is one km away from
our village. We were stunned and our hearts came into our mouths. We went there
with the little hope that it might be other buffalo. We saw nothing but a
crushed carcass on the railway track. Papa looked for any recognition but there
was nothing distinct left by which we could say that it was our beloved
Bindiya’s body.
When everyone was
standing around the dead body, my sister noticed something 10 meter away from
the track. When we scrutinized closely, it was blood stained Bindiya’s face.
Nothing was clearly distinguishable, but then we found the white spot on her
forehead. We were heartbroken. The inevitable has come out finally. The same
white spot which had given her the name ‘Bindiya’ finally became a recognition
point. She had been recognized. All bones and immortal remaining of the body
had been collected and we bade final adieu to our dearest Bindiya, with eyes
full of tears and heart full of anguish. Bindiya has a special place in our
heart. She was like our fifth sibling. Now, I have grown up, but still whenever
I cross a track, I can’t help myself remembering her…and there comes a smile
for her sweet memory…..and simultaneously, tears in eyes, for she is no more in
this world , between us…………
