A Kali temple

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Note:- This is a short story.  Names of all places,persons etc. are fictitious.

‘A Kali temple’

-Ashim Kumar Kar

Madhu’s father expired when he was very young. He was staying with his mother. She too expired. When his mother expired he was just six years old.

He was alone. He had no other relatives to look after him.

He started staying near a temple. The temple was located on a hill. It was a temple of goddess Kali. Devotees had to go to the temple by climbing around three hundred steps.

There was always crowds of devotees in the morning and evening everyday.

Madhu was staying at the entrance of the temple. No body had any objection to this little boy. Instead all devotees were used to give him some money or food at the time of leaving the temple.

This little boy was happy with it. This way Madhu grown up. Slowly he understood the reality of the world. As Madhu was illiterate he had no other option. He selected begging as his job.

When Madhu was around eighteen years old one idea came in his mind. He started dreaming to build a temple of goddess Kali. It will be his own temple. He will take all care of the temple.

He had developed friendship with a grocery shop owner Lalu.

Lalu’s shop was near to the temple. One day, Madhu went to Lalu’s shop. It was around seven o’clock in the evening.

He said in very low voice,”Sir, …”

“Yes, tell… what happened..”, Lalu replied.

“Sir, last few days one idea is disturbing my mind, may you help me any way “

Lalu little surprised. He thought this begger may be asking for some money as a help.

Lalu asked,”What type of help do you want, tell me?”

“I need some suggestion from you, sir. I need your advice”.

“Ok, explain your point”

“Sir, I have one wish. I want to build a temple of Goddess Kali.”

“What?” Lalu laughed loudly, “Do you know how much money a person need to build a temple?”

“Sir, I know…. I know. But I want to build a small temple only for myself. I will take care of this temple. I will do the worship everyday morning and evening like others are doing.”

“Ok, Ok…, but even for constructing a small temple you need some amount. Where will you gat it?” Lalu asked.

Madhu opened a small box and he took out some currency notes from it.

He said, “Sir, last few years whatever coins or currency notes I was getting from the people or devotees, I am keeping in this box. Only the food or the old clothes whatever I am getting from the people, I am using for myself.”

Listening to this Lalu surprised. He surprised to see the will power and the confidence in this beggar.

Madhu continued,”Sir, still I have so many years. I will continue to deposit all currencies I get in begging in this box. When I become old, I will have sufficient money to  build a temple. Isn’t a good idea, sir?”

“Ok, if you have confidence in yourself, you can do it.”

“Sir, you have to do me a favour”

“What …?”

“Sir, you have to keep this box with you. Everyday evening I will give you all my daily collections to keep in this box. Sir, this box will be safe with you.”

At last Lalu agreed.

So many years passed. Madhu became old. Still there was not sufficient money to build a temple.

Lalu also became old. His elder son was helping him in the shop.

Lalu and his son were still keeping good relation with the beggar Madhu.

One day afternoon Madhu came to Lalu’s shop. He was looking very weak.

Madhu said in very low voice, “Sir, now I am old . I am sick. I don’t know how many days left. If I die please don’t forget to build the temple. Please build the temple with the money I had kept with you anywhere in the world.”

“Don’t worry, Madhu, I do promise…” Lalu replied with full of emotion.

After few days Madhu beggar left this world. Lalu and his son had done the last rites.

There was not sufficient money Madhu had collected to build the temple.

Lalu was a honest man. He kept his promise. Lalu decided to build the temple in a nearby small  village with this money.

The temple was built in a nearby small village. There was no temple in that village. The villagers were very happy as they got a temple so near to there house. Everyday they were going to this temple.

Nowadays, this temple of Goddess Kali is very famous. People from far distances too are coming to visit this temple.

-Ashim Kumar Kar