Bindiya

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…………