The night of Loss

18th June, 1997

It was a terrible stormy evening. It seemed that a war was about to begin in the heaven. While on earth, Manu was covering the cow shed properly to avoid rain water from entering it.  

Manu’s Bua called him and said, ”Manu come back, it seems the night is going to be stormy.” Manu always loved and admired Kamla Bua for her strength and hard work.

She wasn’t the real sister of his father but, was the wife of a Palleydar (one who lifts goods and grains for merchants). 

 Her husband died of illness while, there were many eyes on the sanity of the widowed woman. All she had were her two sons, Dhananjay and Digvijay for whom she was living.

Manu still remembers the day when Major Suraj Bhan had declared Kamla as his sister and has been always proud of him. The only thing Manu hated about his father was that he used to torture his mother through domestic violence. But, it was normal for a family living in rural Haryana.

Manu’s father and mother were in Chandigarh that day. They had plans of returning to the village the same evening. Manu called up his father and said, “Dad where are you? What time you’re leaving from there? How’s Ma?”

Major Suraj Bhan said,” Son we’re fine. What happened to you? Why are you so trembling with fear and panic? You’re an army man’s son and you should be fearless and ferocious like a Lion. We’re just about to leave and till then, I want you to take care of your grandfather and Bua.”  

Manu said,” That’s right Dad. But, I’m scared from within for the first time in life. Something bad might happen and I can sense that. Please come soon.” His father said, ”Son don’t worry everything’s going to be fine. We’re leaving and we’ll be there in 3 hrs.”  

Manu was feeling restless from within. He was watching the storm and rain from the window of his farm house. It became dark and the storm became fiercer. He followed took the TATA Sumo’s key and went to the garage.

Manu started the car and left for the highway. He drove 20 Kilometers far from his village and stopped the car under a tree on the service lane. He decided to surprise his parents by receiving them at the point 20^th KM milestone. After 30 minutes, he saw his father’s car and from the opposite side a truck was coming on the wrong side of the highway.

Before Manu could do anything, his father stopped the car but the truck thrashed the car. The truck was pushing the car backward while, Manu’s parents were getting smashed in the car. Suddenly, Manu’s father opened the gates and he fell from the car.

The truck stopped and Manu’s father was lying on the road. Manu ran towards them, but till then the truck had already run over the head of his father. Manu shouted in his entire vein and ran behind the truck. He came back to the spot of incidence. His father’s corpse was into pieces and mother had bled to death.

Manu was left all alone in the world. He was in grief, shocked and wasn’t able to believe that the incident happened. He informed his grandfather and the police from the nearest telephone booth. He sat beside the corpses of his parents and was crying out loud in the rain.

Within ten minutes, help arrived.  The dead bodies of Manu’s parents were taken for post-mortem and he was taken to the Police station for his statement. Manu’s bua was with him and he narrated the whole incident to the police.

Manu was taken back home and was called in the immediate Panchayat meeting by his grandfather. His grandfather was the head of Panchayat and said, “Manu we’re very sorry about your loss. If there’s anything we could do for you, do let us know.”

Then, his grandfather narrated the goodwill and achievements of his son in front of the panchayat. Manu knew all the tricks of his grandfather. He also knew that it was a conspirator in his own family, who had planned this execution.

He also knew that his grandfather was extremely happy from within, as his father had stopped his grandfather to give farmland on lease to the brick makers. The brick maker was the friend of his grandfather and a known politician of the area. He had promised to pay INR 40 Lacks to lease their farmland.

Manu’s father was the only heir to the 44 acre farmland of Sonepat which had an estimated value of around INR 1500 Crore. Many people had eyes on the property. Manu had decided to find out the traitor.