Bijoy

It was a frosty, foggy winter when the Indian government had just announced that it would respond to the pre-emptive strike by Pakistan and everyone in the Kashmiri region had been warned to take cover. Raj woke up in the middle of the night to deafening sounds of bombs, he turned to his mom who had his other siblings in each arm. “Mama, I’m scared.” Hot tears poured down his face. His mum stroked his ruffled black hair that seemed like the only thing that had grown the past 15 days they had been in the bunker. The bunker was a dug up hole in the ground She brought him closer to her and told him it was just a game of hide and seek and in order to win they had to be as quiet as possible. Her voice was hollow and dry but she sang a hymn softly in his ears while the bombs and metal pieces scattered above the bunker. Next airstrike exploded what seemed like a few feet near them, this time the sandbags that were placed over the hole burst open and sand and dust poured in. Raj screeched, “I DON’T WANT TO PLAY ANYMORE MA!” His brother leaped onto Raj and grasped his mouth, “Raj! Be quiet!!” His brother Mital looked barely recognizable; his skin was ashy gray the same color and the man who was sleeping in a distorted position up in the tree that Raj had seen the other day when he explored the area around the bunker. He buried his face in his mother’s arm there was a puddle of water that seeped through the cracks and every time he heard a loud blast the bunker seemed like it would eventually close in on them.

He pleaded with his mother to let him out the next day and only then he would be quiet. Eventually what felt like days, there was an official announcement that the air strikes had ended for the night and they wouldn’t start again until dusk. Raj said he would help his father collect sandbags to mount against the opening, since his brother had gotten to weak to stand. He wrapped some fabric from a torn piece of kurta around his feet as shoes and climbed the bunker. He poked his head out and the air was foggy and dense, there were metal chards, pieces of glass everywhere. It looked like a cemetery.

“Raj, where are you?” yelled his mother. Raj replied, “I’m helping Papa Ji!!” His dad had gone the other way so Raj started walking he found rupee, a single shoe, and a head wrap. He started to daydream about the taste of guavas and lychee juice and looked for nearby trees. There were only branches. He walked and saw other bunker holes, he came across one and yelled, “Is anyone there?” He was shooed away by a frantic voice. Raj surveyed the area and saw a small bush, maybe I can find a blackplum he thought to himself. He circled around the bush drawing a line with the long stick he found. He pointed the stick in the air and yelled, “I AM KING RAJ I HAVE WON THIS CHALLENGE.” Suddenly he heard a moan, Raj’s heart started to speed up, he stumbled and ran toward the direction of the bunker there was another moan that stopped him. He turned and pointed his stick toward the bunker, “WHO ARE YOU; SHOW YOURSELF, NOW” he screamed. Raj made his way to the edge of the bush. Laying amongst the twigs and dirt was a mother bull raging and turning from side to side. Her fur was velvety black and her eyes seemed sad but strong. She was breathing heavy and moving from side to side as if guarding something. Raj ran back to the bunker and told his family of what he had witnessed. His mother was in disbelief, and Mital said, “Raj, we know you have an imagination, but please, now is not the time; stop it.” Raj promised he wasn’t lying and begged his mother to come out to see for herself. Raj convinced his entire family to step out of the bunker and make their way to the bush. Gauri had brought blankets, suji and some water she had saved in a jug. When she saw the bull she immediately asked Raj to clear the dirt and twigs and placed the blankets nearby, she explained that the bull was giving birth. Raj noticed her voice was higher pitched and her eyes were less droopy. His father was excited and picked Raj up, “my son lets hope it’s a female calf.” After a few hours, Raj noticed the bull was pushing and she was breathing, she turned around and after 20 minutes the baby calf lay limp next to her, it was covered In a water substance and motioned toward its mother, the mother cow protectively faced the calf and licked it. My mother motioned toward the mother and offered her a suji ball-a stuffed almond packed with honey. The baby calf was beautiful, it tried to stand but limped and fell onto the blankets. Raj’s mother gave some water from her hand.

Dusk was approaching and so Raj’s family decided the calf and its mother needed protection from the upcoming airstrikes. My father guided them, he wrapped a blanket around Manglee-the mother. The bunker was barely enough space for the 6 of them, but the calf was important to protect as it would eventually give milk and help sustain the family Raj’s father explained. He was overjoyed that the calf was female instead of male. Raj’s mother named the baby calf Mitee-meaning sweet, and smoothed her fur over gently stroking the baby while Raj looked into the bull’s eyes and calmed her gently by smoothing her fur. Night approached, Raj, Mital and their sister Ruee started to tremor knowing that the airstrikes would be coming soon. Raj placed his fingers in his ears and clenched his teeth.

He moved near Mitee and her mother for comfort, unexpectedly, their was an announcement from the Indian government, the Pakistani armies had officially surrendered, after the Indian army had overtaken the Eastern Pakistani territories. Raj looked at all his families faces, their was a mixture of fear, intense relief, and no one said a word. For the first time his mother had tears in her eyes and she grabbed everyone in the room.

“My dear, its over, My little Raja you’ve won.” She sobbed. It was the first time Raj had seen his mother cry. The war lasted 17 days, it was the shortest but bloodiest wars in a succession of wars between Pakistan and India. Raj’s family began to rebuild her home and took care of Mitee her mother Manglee and eventually Manglee gave birth to a male bull 3 years later. Raj noticed his family did not have the same excitement they shared when Mitee was born. Gauri still showed Manglee compassion and gave her food but was not a happy. Raj asked his father about his, “My son, when a male bull is born he is used for labour, he ploughs the farm day and night, and is not treated as well as the female.” Raj comforted the young male bull Raj named the male Bijoy meaning victorious, and whispered, “Bijoy, you are the same as Mitee in my eyes, I love you baby brother.” A week later Bijoy was sold to Raj’s family friend, Krishan, whose family owned a farm. His friend promised to never mistreat Bijoy. That day there was sadness and separation in the air, as Bijoy drove off in the Tata watching Raj through the back.

Years later after Raj moved East to study at Guru Nanak Dev Ji college, he visited his friend Krishan. Krishan was overjoyed to see Raj and beckoned him toward his farm house. The city of Kashmir had grown green and lush, the mountaintops were covered in ice where fresh water would flow into Ganges. Krishna explained that his family sold most of their bulls but kept the hardest working most beautiful one. Raj wondered which one he kept, he walked enthusiastically toward the farmland and saw the velvety fur which basked in the sunlight, the bull was bigger than Raj and his horns were symmetrical like two crescent shaped moons. The bull raged, and gruffed toward Raj, his legs were muscular and chest was broad and brave. “Bijoy, you’re as majestic as I thought you would be,” Raj said. Bijoy locked eyes with Raj, there was a glimpse of recognition, he stopped in his tracks and silently observed Raj. Raj placed a garland of flowers over Bijoy’s neck and said, “Bijoy you will always be victorious to me.”