Floating into my Memory -5

Scary Dream
I was sixteen years old. Class ten exam was just over and waiting for the result. Then I had to prepare for the SLC exam which was known as the iron gate for the  future study. We used to be busy in the farm working all day in our off days. My dad was a farmer who owned large chunk of land in three different places. On the to of the hill was the main farm and family residential house. At the middle of of the hill was a farmhouse. It was a seasonal farm house where we used to grow maize, millet and rice. Besides we used to grow pulses, spices and fruits.
I was looking after the farm house, the place called Jimi. It was surrounded by the saal and pine forest from everywhere. Other houses were far from our farm house. We had cattle in the barn. I had to look after the cattle, cut grass and feed them, cook food for me and so on. There was no water in the farm house. We used to fetch water from well that was located at the foot-skirt of the hill. I dad was with me helping out in the work.   One day, my dad went to Taksar Bazar for some reason promising that he would come home on time. Whole day I worked hard in the farm looking after oxen and a cow, feeding them, clearing the dung. Also I had to fetch water and cook food for both of us, dad and me.
After finishing my work in the barn, I started cooking food. I had already milked the cow so there was about half litter of milk. I decided to cook rice pudding. Preparing all the ingredients, I started roasting rice in ghee. Then I poured milk. When it was getting tender, I added some sugar,  coconut pieces, clove and cardamom. It was so tasty.
When I looked out of the kitchen through kitchen, the earth was already blanketed with darkness. I put grass to the cattle and looked the way if dad was coming home. There was no luck. Crickets were  chirping on the grass. I could see bats flapping in the tree near the barn. It was a dark night as fireflies could make a sufficient light to show the foot trail. I stood at the edge if the yard and summoned dad in a louder voice “ Baba Baba’. I called several times, but no reply came from the dark.
Then I went into the kutchen. It was like a room with one door and one window. There was no chimney in the hearth so that the smoke was fogged all over the room. I put off the fire leaving some red logs. Then i closed the door, put the latch from inside. I ate pudding. I turned on the radio.
Only I could hear was munching of the cattle and singing of the crickets.
I decided to sleep in the kitchen because I was scared of going to upstairs. Upstairs was open space  that anyone or anything could get in. I used to be scared of tigers. Everyday I used to hear the stories of farmers about how their cattle were attacked by the tiger. Classical music was on, I believe Narayan Gopal’s songs. I brought the mattress from upstairs to the kitchen, made a bed and slept keeping radio on. I also put two logs in the hearth so that any evil sprit would not hunt at night.
Soon enough I saw someone standing at the door. I could not trust in my eyes because I closed them earlier and latched. My heartbeat leapt like a frog. That was a known face. But the persomn who was standing was our close relative,’ we call Khode Dai’. He had a cut in his upper lips wide enough to show the gums. Due to this cut, he could not pronounce the words correctly. I whispered’ how the dead person became alive? I wanted to run away from there, but legs were not moving. He slowly moved towards me and sat on the pillow. I tried to voice’ help me...help me.’ No sound was coming through my mouth. He came closer and laughed. He opened his hands and put both around  my neck. I could not breath. I stretched my legs, erected my body. My hands touched the radio which was still buzzing. I opened my eyes. There was nobody. My one hand was still on my chest. I was sweating. Cattle were still tossing their horns on the wooden fender and munching.
Both the arms of the clock were at 12.00. I tossed the logs in the fireplace. Some flickers went up like fire flies in the field. No sleep rested in my eyes the whole night.