Kecho ( The Tortoise )

" For months together there is no rains. The place where I had taken shelter since birth, got dried. How un-hostful became this planet Earth. When I had taken birth on this planet, I have every right to lead a healthy life in a beautiful environment. Am I responsible for the green-house effects created by the homosapiens. For days together I did not have a drop of water. I should find the new wet-land to survive on this hostile planet. Let me take the bold step. It is night hours, I got another seven or eight hours to find the new abode before the day brakes. Let me cross the state high-way. I am on the edge of the road. Oh my God, there is coming a 18 wheeler bulktainer of Vedanta Aluminum. Its not even blowing the horn. Let me hide inside my cell. Fortunately I survived one more time, but for how long I don’t know. These human beings even didn’t left the moon un-touched. Last week only they have bombarded the surface of the moon with a nuclear weapon. Are they searching water in the moon for me. "
- Kecho ( The Tortoise )
It was early hours of 21st October ' 09, I am being served by my mother a hot-cup of tea. Even before I could have the first sip of it, our attender came to inform there is an un-invited guest at the outer-gate. When I went to receive, it was a tortoise. I was overwhelmed at the sight of it, as if, it brings good fortune early in a morning. I went ahead to lift it, with my both hands saying kecho kecho. The moment I touched it, she withdraw its head inside its hard-shell. For a while I played with it. But soon the fun turned into doubts and fear. The immediate question raised in my mind was about its re-habilitation.
I thought of Tikarpara the nearest breeding center for Gharials (crocodiles) is just 200 kms off in central Orissa in deep jungles . But I cannot afford. The next best option I thought, why not to surrender this natures wealth to God himself. I thought of Gahir Bandh ( pond ) and the Siva temple on its bank at Nuapada. Me and Mr.Kecho in my hands were on a outing. On the way Fadu the young man intercepted. When he saw Kecho in my hands he asked, how about the idea of kecho-soup tonight for dinner. I was horrified on this thought. Though I know restaurants serve tomato-soup, chicken-soup, prawn-soup, but never heard of kecho-soup. We the human beings have got the hunger for one and everything, let it be food, money, image or se_ . The second person was Sunil. He wanted to have it in his well at his backyard. I said "NO". I want my baby to grow in its life. I don’t want it to be confined in a diameter of six-feet’s for the rest of its life.
For the first time in its life Kecho traveled a distance of 200 meters that too in just 15 minutes. By braking all the Hindu norms, I took this poor creature inside the temple to pour lord Siva's blessings. Than I took it to the pond. On seeing the pool of water, even before touching, it started moving its small legs as if wants to take a dip. The moment I released it in water it took a dip and returned back to surface of the water to see me off. With its twinkling eyes, perhaps it said "thanx". Soon it returned back to the depth of the pond and never returned back to the surface of this cruel world.
By the time I am back to home my tea cup was frozen, for which got a shouting from my mother.
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E. KIRAN MOHAN
C\o. Dr. E. R. Rao (M.D.)
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At\PO - BARPALI - 768 029
Orissa, India
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