Song of the Firebird

Twenty three

When they're hit with boulders that were not made of rocks, they could see both the cause and outcome of their next move. They needed help from the previous generation but not the latter taking up the responsibility bestowed upon their children, believing that it would cause less impact on their sons and daughters. They let the younger ones to stay in their shadows, amidst resistance from their successors. According to them, 'youth' always answers to the word 'reckless'. They failed to see who they actually were in their youth.

Helping fix a screw was just enough to make the device run properly. However, screws alone cannot take up the entire responsibility of a said device.

Jay wished that they would let him speak at least to one of their children—be it men or women. Women could help manipulate using the right choice of words while men could carry out the rest of the tasks. When he had not met with anyone from the teens to thirties, he felt that his plan would not be good for either parties. He was troubled enough to believe that he was, at that time, on the losing side of the legal battle.

When he thought there would not be any hope, that woman before him, voiced out all of their concerns in one single go. With a heavy heart, he looked at her husband. He might be around his 50-60s, looking like a 3D image of an X-Ray report.

Jay was ashamed about not looking after his employees and sunk his head in shame. They deserved a sincere apology before their demands. He sighed and got up from his chair in their one room house.

'I am -' But the woman in faded cotton saree beat him to it.

'It is not your fault that my husband has turned this way. It is his fault for not considering our plight as a family and taking decisions that would let him alone to escape the battle that we all are fighting. I have no regrets with him being this way.'

He was both terrified and annoyed at the woman. She was able to read his mind and jot points accordingly. She was not letting him finish his sentences either.

She continued, 'Deepak told me that you are going to the houses to talk to people to save your lands and our jobs. After consulting with the fellow women, I came to know that their families are in need of financial support. For them, this is the best time to get hold of such huge amounts. Women are partial to it, as well.' She looked closely at him, her eyes meeting his, a grave tone followed, 'Years ago, there were many stories about you that flew across our community. Once, I have seen you break a brat's both arms with an iron hammer, with no remorse in your eyes. You stopped only when he wasn't able to pull himself from the ground. That day, I have also seen you save a girl from the very same brat's vice grip.'

Jay's eyes widened. It was the time when the girls in his village were abducted for brothels. He and his friends tracked a few and brought most of them back. The teen boys had no choice but to use the hammers and sickles against those well trained ruffians. The memory was crystal clear in his mind. He had, in recent years, stopped seeing the apparitions of the two girls that they couldn't save that day. He averted his eyes, refusing to meet the woman.

'Because of you, I am blessed with a wise and beautiful daughter-in-law. It is time I owe you my support and my son to aid you in your battle.' Tears pricked her eyes. She wiped the last ones with the hem of her saree, 'If your lands mean more to you, the same goes for us. All our families. They have made quite a fool of themselves with the bribes. I hope you will make them understand things in the long run. You know, we elders do not know a thing, but farming.'

Each of her words hit him hard.

Jay admired her resolve and walked towards her. He cleared his throat and said, 'It means more to me. Thank you for opening up.' While standing, he bent down and touched her feet, out of reverence. Deeply touched by his actions and the respect he had in her after her being so rude since the beginning, she pat his head. 'You are like a son to me as well. Mullai amma must be proud of what you are doing right now.'