1957

Kutch, Gujarat (India)

"Maa, what happened to Raghu Kaka?" asked 7 year old Paras, pointing towards the man lying on the ground.

"Nothing dear, Raghu Kaka is ill. They will take him to the God." replied his mother.

"Will he be all right?" Paras asked.

"God can treat any illness." mother said.

"Then he will tell us stories of God", Paras said. His face lit up.
Mother realised that she won't be able answer any more question regarding what happened to Raghu.

"You shouldn't be here. Go back home and finish your homework." said mother, trying to distract the mind of her little one from the bitter truth of death.

Paras' mind was flooded with questions but on observing the tough face of his mother, he knew that he should leave those questions for some other day.

Raghu was the fifth farmer who decided to end his life after failing to feed his family. Since the last 2 years, Kutch had not witnessed any rain. Many farmers migrated to the nearby town to earn their living, but some of them believed that the coming year would be different. They worked hard in the sun and waited patiently for the rain.

Most of the farmers, like Raghu, had taken a high-interest loan for agriculture from the local landlord, Lala Dhanraj. And after one year, when they failed to pay back they had to work as a drudge at his haveli. In return, all they were paid, was a one time meal by landlord Lala. However, two rotis, one onion and a pinch of salt were not enough for their families. India may have gain its freedom from Britishers but it is yet to gain freedom from the greed of landlords.

***

Taking a bite from a roti, Paras asked, "Maa, Faguna said that Raghu Kaka has died? What happens when someone dies?"

"When people die, they are taken to Lord Rama and he heals them and sends them back to the Earth," replied mother trying to satisfy the curious child.

"If he will come back, then why were those ladies crying?" Paras asked.

"Because sometimes it takes too much time to come back from God's home as it is very far away."

"They can take bullock cart, can't they? They will reach faster" suggested Paras.

"You ask too many questions. Now eat your meal" mother snapped, as she continued cooking on her earthen stove.

***

At night when Paras was sleeping, someone knocked at the door of their small hut. Mother opened the door and let her husband in. Paras woke up by the continuous whispering in the other room.

"Got any job?" asked mother.

"I had a chat with a friend who works in town. He will let me know if his master needs more workers" replied father.

"The flour and dal is almost finished, and today even the grocer stepped back from helping us. He told me to clear the old debts first" mother whispered.

"Have faith in God. If it rains this year, we will have enough food and money for rest of the year," said father.

"I have also talked to Lala, he said that he has a job for me. I was just waiting for you, should I start working at his house" asked mother, even though she knew the answer.

"NO! NEVER!" shouted father. "What would the society say, that I am not able to take care of my family. My wife will work...? It is a man's responsibility to earn and woman's to take care of the home. "

In the other room, Paras did not open his eyes but was able to hear the entire conversation. He knew that his family was going through a hard time. He wanted to help but was not sure from where to begin.

***

Next morning after returning from school Paras found his mother in front of the small temple around the corner of his house, chanting some prayers. He was taught that nobody should be disturbed while worshiping. So he kept his slate and chalk aside and sat beside her joining his hands together. After a while, when mother opened her eyes, Paras asked, "Who is this God?" pointing towards the picture of God who was sitting on a white elephant. He had known about all the Gods and Goddess which were present in their small temple except that one.

"Indra, the god of rain. He lives in the heaven with beautiful fairies and rides on Erawat, his big white Elephant," replied mother smiling.

"Where is heaven, maa?" asked Paras with curiosity.

"It is a place above the clouds, very far away."

"Were you praying for rain?" asked Paras.

"Yes dear, if it rains this year, we will have good crops, your father wouldn't have to work outside for long," explained mother.

"Then I will also pray to Lord Indra", said Paras, joining his hands and closing his eyes.

mother smiled at the innocence of her little child and begged the Almighty to at least listen to an innocent soul.

***

One week had passed, but the prayer of Paras was not answered by God. Paras couldn't understand what was wrong.

"Why is God not listening to my prayer? ", asked Paras sitting in front of the temple.

"Don't lose heart child. He must be busy with something else. A lot of people pray daily. Keep praying, he will listen", said mother.

"But maa, how will God listen to us if we pray in such a mumble. Maybe he is not able to hear us," suggested Paras.

Mother burst out with laughter. Paras could not understand what was so funny.

"God can even listen to our thoughts, son. We do not need to speak out aloud for him to take note of what we want to convey," replied mother.

Although he had trusted everything his mother told him, but this time, he remained doubtful of her theory. So from the next day onwards, he decided to go under the sky and shout his prayers.

"Lord Indra, please give us rain so that my father won't have to go to town.", Paras cried with all of his strength.

But again, no result.

'Maybe the heaven is too high and even if I shout, my voice does not reach there.' Paras said to himself. He knew that he needed a new plan.

Just then, a yellow kite fell in front of him. Kids used to fly kites every evening during the summers. Paras picked up the kite and all of a sudden, he was struck by an idea.

Paras ran to his house, took a pencil and started writing a message to Lord Indra on the kite. His school teacher had taught him how to write a mail.

"Dear Lord"

Then he stopped. He realized that he didn't know how to spell "Indra".

'God may get angry if I do not write the letter properly.', he told himself. He decided that he would ask his master ji. He hid the kite under his bedding so that nobody would find it.

***

Next morning, on his way to school, Paras was thinking what all he could to write in his kite. Just then a realization hit him.

He didn't know how to fly a kite. He would have to learn that first.

On reaching school, he asked his teacher about how to spell "Indra". His teacher smiled and taught him that Indra was spelled 'I-N-D-R-A'.

While coming back from school, he saw Bhuvan wrestling with his friends. Bhuvan was a teenage boy who lived near Paras' house. Bhuvan did not go to school, so he used to spend most of his time playing Gilli-Danda, marbles and flying kites. He was best kite flyer in the entire village. Paras decided to learn kite-flying from him.

***

"I will teach you how to fly a kite, but it will cost you four Anna (1 Anna is Re0.25). Do you have that much?",said Bhuvan with a greedy smile on his face.

Four Anna, Paras never had a single Anna. Also, he knew that his parents won't give him so much money.

"Mota Bhai," Paras said, "I don't have any money. But I do have some fried peanuts"

He took out a handful of roasted peanuts from his pocket.

Bhuwan snatched the peanuts from Paras' hand and ate them in no time.

"That's for today. I need more tomorrow. Now give me your kite," said Bhuwan.

Paras handed his kite to Bhuwan. He had written his message on it in his best handwriting.

"What is written on this?" asked Bhuwan.

"N....nothing," said Paras nervously.

"Ma.. raa..." Bhuwan muttered some letters, trying to read. But it was of no use. As he didn't pay attention to his elementary school classes. He could not read even a single sentence. Soon he gave up.

"Where is your manjha?", asked Bhuwan.

"I don't have any", replied Paras.

"You stupid chap, how can you fly a kite without manjha? Go back! Come with manjha tomorrow," said Bhuwan and handed back the kite to Paras.

Paras took his kite and started to walk back towards his home.

"WAIT!"

Someone shouted from behind. Paras turned to see Bhuwan calling him.

"Today I'll fly your kite with my manjha. But bring your own from tomorrow", said Bhuwan.

He showed Paras how to wait for perfect wind before flying the kite when to loosen the string, when to pull and how to change the direction of the kite. Sometimes he gave the kite string to Paras. Paras nervously tried to control the kite but when it started to dip, Bhuwan took over.

Then Bhuwan tried to show his best skill. He tried to cut the string of other kites. As he pulled the string, his kite got cut. A distant sound cried, 'kai po che!'

Gone!

The yellow kite was now free. Paras ran with all his power to catch the kite. But after some time, he lost the sight of his kite. He had not only lost the kite, he had also lost the only source by which he could send a message to God. He returned home with a heavy heart.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Please vote and comment.