Mani and Loki

Joysree Das

There was a village named Jamboni .It was very close to a forest. The
people who lived in this village were not very rich but they were quite
happy with their life. But everything changed when it did not rain for
one long year. There was not even a single drop of rain. The crops dried
in the field. Trees did not grow in the forest. Grass dried up and looked
like hay. The fields dried and cracked up and looked like wrinkled faces.
Most of the villagers decided to leave the village and go to some other

land.There is a curse of some gods upon this village. That is why it is

not raining! they said and went away with tears in their eyes.

But Mani and his parents had nowhere to go. They were sad but hoped
that it will rain soon. Mani was a young boy who helped his father in
farming the small plot of land close to their small hut. He also helped
his mother by gathering fire woods and dry leaves from the forest with

which she lighted the fire too cook their food. Mani did not go to a
school because there was no school in their village or anywhere near it.

One night Mani woke up when he heard his parents talking .They were
sitting outside the hut .He heard his father say The seed has not
sprouted in the field this season. The land is scorching and the plants
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have all dried up. There is not a single rain cloud in the sky.Mani heard
his father sigh and mother weep.

Mani decided to go to the forest next morning and talk with his animal
friends about what to do to end this draught. He often played with
them and they could understand one anothers language very well.
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First he went to the elephants, who said that the leaves on the trees in
their area was still green and was enough for them to eat for another
two to three months. After that they may think of leaving the place but
not now. They were a selfish lot.

Mani next went to the place where rabbit and fox were playing catchme if- you-can. They stopped playing when they saw Mani and came
close to him. Mani told them what he heard his parents say the other
night. Perhaps they will starve to death. Rabbit thought for a long time
and said Perhaps you should go and meet Hudum Deo.He lives on the
top of a hill at the end of the forest. Talk loudly for he is short of
hearing.Mani left his friends and decided to go and meet Hudum
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Deo.He came back home, took his drum and his goat Loki with him and
set out for the hill at the end of the forest on top of which Hudum Deo
lived.

Hudum Deo was the god of rain. He kept the dark rain filled clouds
locked in a cave and when he opened the cave by removing the big
boulder kept at the mouth of the cave that served as a door, the clouds
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fled to the sky like big water buffalos and showered the earth with
rain.Hudum Deo had not opened the mouth of his cave for a long time.
Mani and Loki reached the foot of the mountain on top of which
Hudum Deo lived and beat his drum very very loudly. Rabbit had told
him that Hudum Deo was short of hearing.Drimi-drimi-dum-dum/drimidrimi-dum-dum ,Mani went on repeating his drum beats till HudumDeo
came out of his hut and standing at the edge of the hill peered at

Who are you? Why are you making such noise?he asked. Mani
stopped playing his drum, and bowing his head he said I am Mani. I
have come to you to beg for rain. It has not rained in our village for one
long year! Which village?Hudum Deo asked. It is JamboniMani
replied. Hearing the name of his village,Hudum Deo shook his head and
got very angry. You people have forgot the ritual of dancing and
singing before me on the first day of the Rainy season for three
years,so you must suffer,he said. Please,please god ,have some pity
on us.Every one is leaving the village and soon it will turn into a
desertMani pleaded.Hudum Deo was a cruel god and he was feeling
hungry.His eyes fell on Loki who was standing silently beside Mani,and
after thinking for some time he said It will rain ,if you sacrifice this goat
to me.Loki began to tremble and Mani touched him warmly. How can
I?He is my pet.Mani cried out loudly. Then go away!Hudum Deo
shouted and was about to go away, when Loki said in a soft voice
Please god, take me and let there be rain in Jamboni. Loki No!Mani
said. Loki looked at him and said There is no other way.Hudum Deo
gave a crooked smile and waited for Loki who climbed the hill slowly,
and stood before him and then both of them vanished. Mani could not
see them anymore. He walked back to his village alone and his eyes
filled with tears.
It rained heavily that night, and for seven more days. The small
brook flowing inside the forest and the puddles which had gone dry
were filled with water to the brim.

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The people who had gone away from the village returned and stood
before the small pools of water watching the small fishes playing in
them. The birds also came down from the sky to bathe in them, after
such a long spell of summer heat. Everyone was happy, only Mani
secretly wept for Loki.

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Name-Joysree Das
Age-55years
Language of Entry-English
Category of Entry-Above 16 Years.

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