Dear Nilu
I was ten when I met you and fell in love with you instantly.
It was the day I accompanied my grandmother while visiting someone in Kalinagar
village in Jiribam India. You immediately captured my attention. You
were so tiny and cute and playful.
I still
remember on the way to Kalinagar just at the side of the sugar cane field something
was going on. We could smell sweet and tingling hitting our nose. Grandmother
asked me “ Do you want to drink something sweet?”
“I don’t
know, is it good?”
“You can try”
So we turned
toward the shade where the villagers were busy making brown sugar from sugarcane
juice. Inside the ditch, logs of woods were
kept burning. On top of the fire is the large tin container for boiling the
sugarcane juice until it was solidified into Jaggary ( brown colored sugar).
The woman who was among those villagers handed me an earthen cup containing the
hot sugarcane juice . It was very good.
Then when we
came toward Tomba’s house that was when we passed your gate and saw you
following Moina the girl who just got water from the pond in front of her
house. (Moina had the hair cut of a bang on the forehead and on two sides of
her cheeks covered cut to chin length. That was the sign those days, in our custom to
show that the girl was now of marriageable age.) Moina just got her pitcher filled with water from
the pond and ready to go inside her house, my grandmother called her name.
“Moina , how are you doing?”
Moina turned her face and smiled and answered, “ Oh ---------where
are you going to, Aigyabok?” she asked, responding to my grandmother. (Agyabok
means grandma with respect)
“Going to Tomba’s house, we’re wondering about that little
thing following you?”
“Yes I found it when it was very small and lost its parents”
“ So cute” I said.
Moina then asked me “ Do you want to have it?” I couldn’t
believe my ears.
“Yes, yes” I shouted with excitement and looked at my
grandmother anxiously waiting for her response. She seemed surprised at the
unexpected outcome. The asked Moina, “What do you feed a squirrel?”
“Give her some corn and nuts, also fruits.”
Later we
came to know Moina the girl who took care of you was to be married soon. So she
wanted you to have someone who will take care of you. She put you in your
wooden box with some rags in it for you to sleep. You didn’t cry or try to run
away. Your fur so soft and fluffy tail, how I enjoyed touching it. You didn’t mind and played with me. Since that day you had been my constant
companion for nearly one year.
That was seven decades ago that I met you and lost you
one day without any warning. The terrible day you were crushed under the foot
of the 180 lb weight of our dear guest. He was unaware of your habit of
following people in the house and he stepped on you accidentally. The shocked
moment made me cry for days and I could never forget you.
This year
2012 during winter months, a couple of squirrels made their nest between the
roof and ceiling of our house facing backyard , bringing all the strings from
the nylon umbrella which turned into pieces ultimately becoming their nest. One of the couple always stood
looking toward our kitchen expecting some food. Because we had stopped feeding
birds and it was mainly their source of food. It stood as if asking us why no
bird feeds? We felt pity on it and gave cashew nuts and ground nuts and became
its regular waiting schedule sometimes even knocking on the glass door. When
Spring came it disappeared suddenly and never came back. I felt sad again bringing the memory of my beloved Nilu
of my childhood days. So it is to let you know that I always miss you and can
never forget you, my beloved Nilu.
Your friend, Jamuna
