34. Maestri goes in search of Maesha

CHAPTER 34

Maestri goes in search of Maesha

          Maestri was sitting on the cot outside the house. It was 9pm. Sakamma was crying inside the house. Vasanti was also sitting with tears in her eyes. Ganga brought rice in a plate. She too had tears in her eyes. Maestri looked at her. Ganga kept the rice plate in front of Maestri and went inside the house crying.

Maestri got up and washed his hands and legs. He wiped them with a towel. The he put the towel on his shoulder and took a torch. He looked at the rice plate. Vasanti was watching him from inside the house. Mother and sister were crying. Villagers were still standing outside the house.

Govindappa andYedu were sitting outside in deep thought.

Maestri covered the rice with his towel and left the house with torch and rice plate in his hand. Vasanti watched him go and approached Sakamma. Villagers got up and went out of the gate. They all stood and watched Maestri walk on the street looking around for Madesha.

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          Maestri walked towards the hill searching for Madesha. He suddenly heard the sound of someone crying softly. Maestri went towards that direction. Suddenly he saw Madesha sitting on a stone crying. Maestri went near him. Madesha looked up and got scared on seeing his brother. He moved a bit away.

Madesha got up with fear. “I will do as you say brother. I will never enter the village or come home. I will leave the village early in the morning and never return.”

Maestri kept the rice plate down and ran towards Madesha. He hugged him. “If you leave, will I survive? Just think. I will die without you.”

He touched Madesha all over his body. “I have never hit you even once before. Please forgive me for hitting you.”

Maestri folded his hands. But Madesha caught hold of his hands. “You can not only hit me but also kill me. I won’t mind. I have cheated you, brother.”

“Forget all that. First you eat.”

He put rice into Madesha’s mouth. By the time everyone had arrived there. They all stood watching Madesha eat. Sakamma wiped her eyes.

Madesha finished eating. Maestri wiped his mouth with his towel. “Why have you become like this? I would not have been so sad even if you had failed in the exam. But you did such a terrible job that is why I felt so bad.”

Madesha said sadly, “I did not mean to do it......”

He explained what had happened and how he had been fooled by Michael. Maestri got very angry. Villagers were all listening to what Madesha was saying.

“Going with them is like putting your leg in the gutter. Not just that but like taking bath in gutter water. From now on you must not even sleep with your face towards that direction. I will teach you how to milk cows. Let us purchase four more cows and live happily with respect.”

Madesha nodded. “I promise to do as you say from now on.”

He put his hand on Maestri’s hand.

“You have made the mistake of taking the sword in your hands. For that you must be punished. You must remain in jail for one or two years. But you don’t worry. I am there for you. But never make another mistake.”

Sakamma came near. Maestri said, “Mother, Madesha has promised not to make another mistake.”

He folded his hands to mother. “I have never hit him before. But today I hit him a lot. Please forgive me.”

Sakamma patted Maestri’s head lovingly. “I am lucky to have a son like you and he is lucky to have a brother like you.”

Gowda approached them and said, “We are lucky to have a leader like you.”

Looking at Maestri, Vasanti thought, “I want you not just for this life but for many more lives to come.”