The Death of a Mother!

I’m a dead mother. Killed as everybody watched. Like the witches in the medieval ages, I died with limbs broken by heavy rods, mouth bleeding, head broken apart and belly pounded upon brutally. All of them watched and clapped.

Of course they’ll beat us. I’ve no support nor shelter, neither any who I can call my own, other than my babies. I’m so ugly they say, dirt on my body, with the face that looks like a demon they say, with teeth so large and uncouth that stick out and make people think I’m hurling abuses even if I utter a single word. My voice is also not chocolate sweet as your cultured types!

Why did I have to die? I’ll tell if you don’t cry.

Sleep was blissful for me and my babies on the footpath. People passing by often stumbled against us, hurting us bad on occasions. I’d of course taught My babies that such hurt was nothing. My mother had also taught me. But why did that girl passing by had to yell wildly? That woke us up with a start. My babies groaned in fear. That was the beginning of my end.

I just didn’t know why the girl had to flail her arms like an insect and shriek. Why did the mom have to yell like a maniac and pull so sharply at the girl’s arm as if tearing her apart? I howled loudly, “Hey, what the hell! That’s no way to treat a child!” My children also jumped upon her, trying to save the child from falling. The thought came to my mind, “This is the end”. While thinking of it, blows of sticks and stones started raining furiously. Following that, the terrible pain made me lose my head. I Defended myself with all my power. When angered, none can stand against me; I fight with all my might. Must save the babies.

But I fell. Suddenly I saw myself lying dead on the footpath. Surprise and helpless shock hit me. Couldn’t believe that there was my body. I could make out, just because of my four remaining babies. They still didn’t understand anything and were drinking milk from my corpse.

I was merely a spirit then. Couldn’t call out to them. Couldn’t push them away from the path of a deluge called humans. Just then a bike came roaring on to the footpath and hit Kali, breaking her back instantly as I heard a crack. Kali was my favorite baby, jet black like me.

Suddenly I saw my Divine Father Kaal Bhairav. Just came and whisked me away. What remained down there was my body and babies. He said, “Don’t cry. Your sins as a human have now been washed away. You also beat a mongoose to death when you were human. Your kids will suffer less. They’ll be at your side in a while.

I asked my Lord Pashupatinath, “And those who killed me, what about them?”

Said, “Wait, wait. Their time will also come. They’ll not escape either. What for have I given 80 years life to man? On top of that, they’re increasing their lifespan day by day. Let them save themselves from COVID and show their might. All of them will answer”.

-Conceptualised and written by yours truly, Prasenjit Dutta-Former Secretary of Pashupati Animal Welfare Society–PAWS at Barasat.

Note: Dedicated to those mothers who frighten their children with “Dog will bite!”