A horror story:
THE PEASANT’S BREAD
Dr. Jernail S. Anand
A peasant was ploughing his fields. Recently, the pathway had been lined with concrete and made into a road. A car halts nearby. A man with a hat comes out. He inspects the land. And discusses something with the other man, apparently his secretary. Another car follows in. A minister emerges. He hails to the farmer The farmer comes running and bows before the man of power.
This land I need, says the corporate. The leader looks at the farmer.
We will pay you for the land, he tells the farmer.
But it is my bread. How will I live without it?
The corporate takes out his pistol.
The leader to the Corporate: No no, Mr Daka. He is a gentleman. I have known him for years. He has lived a life of poverty. Today is his chance to leave this poverty behind, and become rich. He won’t say no.
Rich? How can I become rich by selling my land? Can I live on in the absence of my land? This is the only thing on earth that I own.
You will grow on this land the crops we want. And we shall purchase them. If there are rains or winds ravage the crops, we are responsible not you. Only you give away your land, for the security of your life.
The peasant’s wife was standing nearby who had come with his food. She was not very educated, but she smelt what was going on.
No. We don’t mind being poor. But we won’t give away our land.
The imp was disappointed. Devil was watching how the imp had worked on the wits of the poor farmer. Centuries back, the imp had succeeded in drugging the farmer with the dream of success which resulted in his fall from grace.
You have not done enough. Why is the woman not supporting you? Is she still insane? Devil was losing his cool at the Imp’s failure.
The car started and the corporate and the leader left the farmer and the land. The Imp now came back again. He placed a mobile in the food bag of the farmer which his wife had placed for him and left.
The Imp became a woman, and gave a mobile to the departing wife of the farmer.
The access to the outside world changed their mindscape. The woman was now dreaming of the city, the restaurants and parties, while the farmer had seen some films on the mobile showing rich farmers in their palaces, with weapons, and enjoying power and wealth.
The bell rings. The farmer receives a call. It was from the Corporate.
What is your decision now? Tomorrow I will come and you will have to decide one way or the other.
Next day, when the leader and the corporate arrive, it is not the farmer, but his wife, whom they have to encounter.
We are ready to give away our land. What will you give us in return?
The leader looked at her. She was entirely changed. The farmer’s resistance had fled. They were obsessed by dreams of a high life in the city.
Only you will have to leave this land. You will get enough compensation to live in the city, and you will get a regular income. The dream of high life was a great temptation. They were called to the Corporate’s office for documentation.
The deed was signed. The farmer had lost his land. And he became a landless worker, who lived on a few crumbs which he got from the corporator. His wife, who found him lose his land, and become a landless labour in a year or so, lost her interest in him. The leader was always accosting her to lead a wonderful life in his harem. And finally she submitted. She found it better to live and enjoy life, rather than suffer with her husband. Before taking this decision, she had put this question on google. The google auntie, after studying her predicament, had suggested: You get life only once. Live it. All other considerations are fake.
Bio
Jernail Singh Anand is President of the International Academy of Ethics. He is author of 161 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. The Academy of Arts and Philosophical Sciences, Bari (Italy) honoured him with the prestigious position of Honorable Academic. He was awarded Charter of Morava, the great International Award in Creativity by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade at the60th Belgrade International Writers Meeting (Oct 2023), and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Recently, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. His most phenomenal book is Lustus:The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahkaal Trilogy]. [Email: anandjs55@yahoo.com Mobile: 919876652401[Whatsapp]
Link Bibliography:
https://atunispoetry.com/2023/12/08/indian-author-dr-jernail-s-anand-honoured-at-the-60th-belgrade-international-meeting-of-writers/
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