40. Death of Churi and Madesha

CHAPTER 40

Death of Churi and Madesha

          Churi’s dead body was lying in front of Chakri’s house. Rowdies were standing all around. MLA too came there.

Chakri looked at his men. “Before we bury this fellow, that Madesha and Maestri’s body must fall.”

“Brother, we are ready. If you give the order, we are ready to go now itself.”

One rowdie said, “Brother, if we try to touch that punch Maestri, our dead body will fall first.”

Chakri got angry. “If you want to survive in the field, you must have the guts. You must kill or get killed. Only one of the two options. If you want to be in my gang, you must be like that.”

“True brother. But we need a good plan if we want to finish a man like Maestri. Now we need Madesha’s dead body. If we want to bury his dead body with that of Churi’s, we must go when Maestri is not in the village.”

Chakri was serious. “Tell me when he will not be at home.”

“He comes to the city with milk cans on cycle. He returns home only at 10. If we go in the morning, we can finish that Madesha.”

Chakri said angrily, “Let us bury this fellow after that Madesha’s body falls. 10 of you go in the jeep and make his body fall.”

“If we go again by jeep, villagers will come behind us with swords. Let us go by car.”

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          Early in the morning, rowdies were waiting inside a car with dark glasses at a cross road. Maestri appeared on the road riding his cycle with milk cans hung to the cycle.

Driver pointed to Maestri. “Sanjeev, that is Maestri.”

Sanjeev looked at Maestri from the car. “Looks like a body builder. He is a hero material. But his face looks innocent.”

Driver winced as he felt body felt pains due to the blows given by Maestri the other day. “I am lucky he did not hit me too much. But I am not able to lift my leg even now.”

Car moved ahead. Driver said, “It is still dark. Let us finish our job before the sun rises.”

Car moved towards the houses in the village. Villagers were still asleep.

Ganga was giving water to the cows. Mother Sakamma was giving grass. Car stopped in front of their house. They were shocked. Rowdies open the car door and get down.

Sakamma said, “Madesha, you run. They have come to kill you.”

Madesha heard his mother shout. He got up and opened the back door. Then he ran as fast as he can. But the rowdies ran behind him.

Sakamma shouted in fear. “They will kill my son. Please help.”

She too ran behind the rowdies fearing for the life of her son. Ganga was watching from the door of the house. Rowdies caught up with Madesha and surrounded him ready to finish him off.

Madesha folded his hands. “Please leave me alone. I will never come to trouble you in this life time.”

“We will leave you only after your dead body falls.” Said Sanjeev.

Rowdies hit Madesha with the sword. He fell down. “Mummy.”

Sakamma came running and fell on her son’s body. She folded her hands. “Please don’t kill my son. He will never trouble you in this life time. I promise you.”

Sanjeev got angry. “Eh old woman. Will you move aside or not? Because of the blow he gave that day, our man has fallen dead. Before we bury him, this fellow must die.”

One man pulled Sakamma away from Madesha. Seeing this, Ganga shouted loudly, “Ayyo, they are killing brother Madesha. Come and help. Come and help.”

Villagers heard this shout. They became alert.

Sanjeev looked at his men. “What are you waiting for? Finish him off.”

Rowdies hit Madesha with their swords. He breathed his last. Sakamma watched this from far and fell down unconcious.

One rowdie put his hand to Madesha’s nose. “This fellow is dead. Let us move out of the village before the villagers get up.”

They all climbed into the car. The car moved away in high speed. Ganga was still shouting. Villagers came running. People crowd around Maestri’s house. They saw Sakamma fallen down near Madesha. There was a pool of blood. People took Sakamma into the house. Madesha was dead. People were all in a great shock. Vasanti too came.

Gowda came to see what happened. He phoned to Maestri and told him what had happened. Maestri was shocked. “Ayyo, Madesha.”