LETHAL FIRE

It is said that news spreads like fire. The spread of the fire in the forests and grasslands of Kurungani set the new breed of trekkers on fire. While the defence was roped in to douse the fire, many tried to dodge the firing line as the debate on whodunnit raged. Condolences were showered and tributes paid with emotions running high for the battling survivors. This grievous incident took a nostalgic turn for yours truly.

In the infant days and through childhood we had shared a deep bond with another family.  The lady of the house remains a friend at heart till this date. No aunties for her, being a chum we address her by name. Having lost her son at an young age, the  two daughters were also friends with whom many things were shared. Exchange of visits, sweetmeats etc was not a tradition but a ritual. We had stuttered, stammered, slipped and risen together. The shifting of homes due to change in landlord reduced the frequency in physical visits but the mental frequencies remained on the wavelength.

As we moved into adolescence, the younger of the two daughters turned devout much to our merriment. The entire merriment was shortlived as a new tale unravelled. On one day the devout young girl stood at the pooja room and prayed to the Lord. Her longskirt kissed the benign lamp and she was engulfed in the fire. The screams brought the mother to the side of the Lord. Maternal instincts tried to save the daughter at all costs. But, the fire that took the Khandava forest as its meal did not rest till it had made sure of its victim. Bhakta Markandeya was no more an inspirational story but turned a myth. Solace could not be found for the well wishers let alone the immediate family and the mother. It is for not without meaning that one says that death teaches us the value of life. As death savoured its dessert, the loss stung hard. So hard that another visit to that childhood second home has not been paid.

Padmini's Jauhar is no more a fascinating read nor is the glowing lamp benign. Fire in whatever form remains lethal. The burning desire to find a solution to this still rages as fire has taken its latest toll. Will it not be the right thing then to tell all our firefighters how indebted we are to them? How many of us celebrate their lives and their deeds? Do they not willy nilly challenge the deathly fire to save others? Do our builders even care to respect their words even after "incidents" snuff out lives? Ponder on till the next muse.