THE ARTFUL PATH

I am Pratim Paramanik. I am a resident of Purulia. A news came to my attention a few days ago. The news is that a 12-year-old girl stabbed and killed a 55-year-old man by hitting him on the head and was sent to a child home. After reading the news, I was worried for a while. But later it got out of my head and later I became normal.

After that time passed naturally and I got busy with my work. But a few months ago I suddenly saw a painting in a magazine and got worried. The painting was about child crime. In the painting, a child is inside a prison holding prison cells with tears rolling down his cheeks. Seeing the two eyes, the mind became very sad. How could a child do such a thing? A child who has not yet experienced the world well but has experienced crime. After that he will not be able to return to the normal world. Because then everyone will look at him as a criminal and this look will make him a complete criminal. The age of his sports studies will be spent in a criminal environment. His mind will be filled with guilt. He will become a complete criminal. But there is no way to return him to the normal world? Normal people like us do not have any responsibility for them? We can not bring them back to us if we want? Where is their fault? Are we not responsible for them? These words kept running through his head. Suddenly the news about the 12-year-old girl came to mind and looked for the old newspaper. When I found the paper, I read the news by heart.

The name of the 12-year-old girl is Anita Mondal. The person she killed was named Surjit Mondal. Surjit was Anita's paternal uncle. No more special news was available from the newspaper. But why did Anita kill her paternal uncle? Did this girl do this on purpose? And this girl came up with this plan or what? These thoughts continued for two days. Unable to do so, I went to the police station in their area. After a short introduction at the police station, the second officer of the police station told that after the death of the girl's parents, her uncle brought her up. But the beginning and end of this incident surrounds a particular conflict. The girl is now in a child home in Kolkata. When I expressed my desire to meet the girl, the second officer said he would arrange it. But when the second officer asked the reason for meeting my girl, I told him that it was curiosity and a desire to do something for society.

I came to Kolkata with a reference paper of second officer. I came to the child home. After spending a long time there, a call came from inside. I went to the meeting room and sat there. After some time a girl appeared and sat in front of me. Look at the beautiful face of that 12-year-old girl. Love arises from seeing her face. As I asked her about herself, she started talking about herself. She says her name is Anita Mandal. Her parents died in an accident when she was a child. Her distant uncle took her to their home. When I asked her about this incident, her face suddenly turned cold. She starts feeling insecure. To her relief she gradually became normal and started trusting me. She slowly begins her biography. She says she doesn't remember any of her childhood stories. Her knowledge saw that uncle as her guardian. Her aunt loves her like a mother. She has a 10-year-old son and loves her like his own sister. On asking her what happened that day, she says she did nothing and she doesn't know anything. And started crying in front of me. I realized that he had no idea what had happened. She does not even know why she is here. And at the same time telling her to reach her aunt. Then I left with my heart broken without getting any answer. I did not get peace of mind. Again and again I remember the painting in that magazine. I went out to meet Anita's aunt.

Next day met Surjit's wife. There she said that she had gone to her father's house with her son a few days before the incident. Her mental condition was not very good. According to her statement, she does not understand why Anita did such an incident or what happened that day? The whole thing is a blur to her. What will she do now? On one hand she loves Anita very much and on the other hand Anita has killed her husband. She wants to know what to do in such a situation. I told her that Anita also loves her very much and is eager to come to you. Then I left with my mind asking.

After returning home, I kept looking at that painting again and again and kept remembering God. Many questions in my mind, but not knowing what to do, I went out the next day to satisfy my curiosity towards the area of Anita's house. After much inquiry I was unable to find any news there. Tired of wandering around the area for two days, I sat down at a nearby tea shop and ordered a cup of tea. And in my heart I am praying to God that my curiosity will not be quenched, Anita's life can not be normalized. As I sipped my tea while thinking these things, a fakir came to me to get his bag for alms. If I put some money in his bag, he wishes me well. I told him about my worries. He said he was aware of the incident. I was shocked when I heard him. It seemed that the truth of the incident would finally be revealed to me. I want to sit him next to him and know the incident. He said that on the day of this incident, he went to Anita's house to ask for alms. After many calls, when no one came out, he pushed the door and found the girl sitting in shock holding a hammer in her bloody hand and a bloody lifeless body lying beside her. The girl's clothes are torn in some places. He told me he could see what had happened from the scene. I said what happened? He told me that maybe the person was trying to force the little girl to do something with her, and at that moment the girl hit the person on the head with a hammer. And the girl seemed to have no idea what she had done or what was about to happen to her. Then Fakir told me that he advised her should change the clothes which she wearing. Then I told the Fakir to go to the right place at the right time and tell the whole story. He assured me that he would.

Then I satisfied my mind by taking the messenger of God (fakir) and returning Anita safely to her father with the help of law. But one question keeps coming in my mind that those who are not well informed about this world should be punished? Can those who do not know the meaning of sin and virtue be criminals? All they know is love.

Thanks to the artist who depicted the painting with a meaningful honesty.