N. Francis Xavier
Part XXXIV, (Continued from last week)
Convict ship SS Satara gave a loud blast on its klaxon as it approached Ross Island. It was the break of dawn. It will take some time for the ship to come to anchor between Ross and North Point. But already many people have lined up the sea shore at South Point. They watched the ghostly silhouette of the ship as it crossed the huge orb of the sun rising out of the sea.
Colonel Cadell also watched the ship from the huge windows of Government House on Ross. He rose even before the bugler sounded the reveille and walked to the rear verandah. A huge brass telescope mounted on a tripod stood near the window. Cadell put his eye to the eyepiece and trained the telescope towards the ship. A huge plume of thick black smoke rose from the funnel of the steamer. Cadell scanned the foredeck. The Captain of the ship was already making preparations for landing. Convicts were lined up all along the guardrail, with guards and crew members behind them. The pilot ladder was down awaiting the arrival of Mr Portman who doubled as Harbour Pilot.
Cadell could see that many people were watching the ship form the forecourt of the European Infantry barrack also. He moved to the front. A liveried servant rolled up the blinds. Cadell could see a huge police presence on Ross jetty. The ubiquitous Sardar Baghail Singh was standing there, in his starched turban and uniform, the crossbelt and holster gleaming, issuing orders.
It was as if an important person or a dangerous convict was onboard the ship. Cadell, of course knew who was onboard. The amazing escapade of that convict made headlines all over India.
The man’sreputation preceded him long before he was brought to Port Blair. The Superintendent received special messages about this dangerous convict. He was the only person known to have been sentenced twice for the same crime! He is capable of escaping even from the strictest surveillance.
Cadell had issued strict instructions for the ship to be boarded by the police while it was still at sea and take custody of the convict, and a female convict, his accomplice in murder. The ship would then slowly progress towards Chatham escorted by the station gunboat and four steam launches. As soon as the prisoners disembark they should be taken away to Viper prison and lodged in the maximum security cells. All boats and launches should be vacated from Viper jetty. He didn’t want another Hemraj episode.
Once the pilot boarded more launches came alongside the steamer. Dr. Dougall and Capt Birch also boarded the ship. In the open space on the deck stood a man in loose pyjamas and kurta, hands and legs bound in chains. Other prisoners were also lined up, ready for disembarkation.
In the presence of the curious onlookers Dr. Dougall performed a strange inspection. As two hefty Pathan warders held the man by his arms he slowly lifted the pyjama on his left leg. Then he bent down and ran his hand over an old scar above the ankle, as if to make sure it was real. He mumbled something about an old woman doing the same in an ancient Greek poem. He appeared satisfied and spoke to Capt. Birch, who immediately ordered more irons to be clapped on his legs. The man was led away, under heavy escort to the launch waiting near the companion way. As soon as the party boarded the boat whisked them away to Viper.
Watching from afar Col. Cadell opened the convict roster before him. It was quite thick, received a few days earlier my the mail steamer.
The convict was Nayim Singh, a rich, powerful landlord from Kumaon. Twenty years before his arrival in the islands, a strange love triangle was developing in the Kumaon hills. At its center was Dulari, the most beautiful girl in the village. At eighteen she was vivacious, quite conscious of her beauty, and its effect on the onlookers. On either side were her latest suitors, Nayim Singh, the rich landlord and Johar the handsome but penniless young man. Both professed love to her. Nayim promised unlimited wealth. Johar tried to charm her with his magical flute on which he played enchanting tunes. Johar was the more passionate and more handsome, but Nayim was extremely rich, powerfully built, and, dangerous. There was a violent streak in him. Dulari was scared of him.
Dulari developed a mysterious reputation in the village even before Nayim and Joharhad started courting her. Most of her former suitors died under strange circumstances. People also wondered from where Dulari got all her fine clothes and expensive jewellery, although she lived in a hut with her opium addicted grandfather.
Both Nayim Singh and Johar knew that only one of them could get Dulari. Dulari too waited, unable to choose between the two. She knew she loved Johar, but was afraid of what Nayim Singh may do if she married him. She desired to be the wife of the rich landlord, with many servants and plenty of jewellery. But Johar had stolen her heart with his passionate promises of love.
Johar too was scared of Nayim Singh. He knew that Dulari loved him more than Nayim, but they can’t live on just love and thin air. He needed money to make a comfortable home for her. Perhaps they should run away — far from the menacing Nayim and try to make their fortune elsewhere. He must convince Dulari.
The opportunity came when Nayim went to another town for a few days. Johar spent every moment with Dulari, singing her praises and dedicating songs to her beauty. He also told her that Nayim cannot be trusted. They would spend hours in the wheat fields where he played his flute to please her. Johar’s flute was famous in the village. People thought it had magical powers. Fashioned out of a hollowed human thigh bone, and decorated with semi-precious stones it produced haunting melodies.
One day, as Dulari and Johar were engrossed in amours in the wheat fields, Nayim Singh sprang upon them. He had suddenly returned from his visit and was looking for Dulari. The sight of Dulari and Johar in each other’s so enraged Nayim. He drew the sword he always carried with him and struck a powerful blow, splitting Johar’s head in two. Johar died instantly.
To be continued….
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