Thief Poem by Auro Bhattacharya

There is a theft in neighbor’s house
the thief has taken away all jewelry
and cash breaking the large steel trunk..
Manu & her husband cried aloud
in the mid- winter early morning.
All neighbors of this small township
assembled & acknowledge the big loss
whispered “seems some insider’s hand..”
“Report immediately to police” someone
in the crowd suggested loudly..
Dad of Manu is an intelligent old man
recently retired from Railways Department
advised Manu to call Maulavi fakir Saab
instead..


All his “Paan” stained teeth appears false,
reddish long hairs colored by crushed
Mehndi leaves;
White moustache dissolved in white beard
flowing till half of his chest.
Wearing a small round cap carved in golden
red and yellowish threads; partially hiding
his baldness..
matching his ugly wrinkled face, red eyes
& boney crooked fingers..
Wearing a long black apparel till his knees
white dirty pajama covering his shrinking legs..
Feet inside the cracked long “Kholapuri” shoes.
A beaded talisman of all colors hanging from
his weak slender neck
while fingers are full of precious rings..
A long heavy cotton bag hangs on his drooping
shoulder making it lower than his right one..
He is a tall man when he straightens up
otherwise he stoops, full bent from his waist..
His all limbs tremble and his voice is screeching;
He looks like a living ghost at ninety years old.
The great man arrives at Manu’s house…
on next Sunday morning.

All neighbors gathered in the big ground
as ordered by the trembling Maulavi;
A tiny cot of bamboo- frames tightly netted
in coconut ropes;
A rectangular Kashmiri Pashmina carpet
spread just in the centre of the cot;
Kept in the middle of all known & unknowns.
Maulavi Saab ignites a small fire
between two bricks,
Placed 13 small bronze bowls putting
little mustard oil and unknown seeds
beside the Human Skull.. & two femur bones;
Enchants some mantra loudly
in his screeching voice…
The cot starts floating in air few inches above
& slowly moves to northward;
People moved away worriedly one by one;
the cot moves little speedily…
& hit the neighbor’s servant; Mukul.
Amazing display of his skillful black art…
Fakir now stood up straight in more vigor
called the “ catch ” near.
He took out a mirror…
& placed it inclined against one bowl
containing little Mustard Oil & seeds to re-confirm;
Manu & others are asked to peep inside the bowl;
Mukul’s face appeared in its reflection;
Fakir now enthusiastically directed all neighbors
to see Manu’s thumbnail;
Again the face of the servant appeared..
“thief is caught” is once again confirmed.
Now the police is called
and Mukul is beaten mercilessly;
he disclosed the theft was in fact carried by him
in connivance with the eldest son of Manu.
All the materials are recovered intact
& police case amicably withdrawn…

Intelligent dad of Manu presented 2 gold rings
to Maulavi Saab
out of the recovered jewelries & touched
his feet proudly seeking his bless forever..

16th September 2011.