Monu has grown up a lot since then. He doesn't fear his older brothers and sisters anymore. He boldly talks back to them. He doesn't like his Mother's lap the way he used to like it before. Everything seems very boring to him. He wants to do something new everyday. But he had no scope to get out and discover the outside.

One day Mother was immersed in some deep thought when Monu entered the room like a storm. Mother was surprised to see him so happy. He hasn't been that way for some time now. Monu was also shocked at first. Mother was looking absolutely elegant and delightful. The green saree gave her a heavenly appearance.

"What is it Monu?" - Mother asked.
Monu quickly recalled the reason why he came to Mother.

"Look at this Mother. See what I've found" - He replied extending his right hand towards Mother. Then he revealed a blue-ish stone in his hand.

"Wow. This is so beautiful. Where did you find it, child?"- Mother asked while looking at the stone with astonishment.

"I dug up the backyard and found this. I was making a water channel so that we don't have to carry water from the fountain anymore. The water itself will come to us" - Monu said with a big smile.

"I don't know. Is it necessary?" - Mother asked.

"Oh..you won't understand" - Monu said before he left the room.

Some days later Monu came to Mother and showed a tool he made.

"See Mother. I found a big piece of that stone I showed you earlier and made this. Now I can dig much more easily"

"This seems sharp. It can hurt someone dear" - Mother couldn't help being worried.

"Oh Mother, you worry too much. It is totally safe" - He totally ignored her concern.

"Okay. But be safe around it. "

Monu nodded and went back to digging again.

That evening Monu injured his older brother Bagha when Bagha tried to play in the water channel and therefore interrupted Monu's work. Bagha was bleeding. Mother quickly patched his wound and then looked back towards Monu. She didn't say anything but her eyes wanted an explanation.

"Bagha tried to harm me with his long claws" - Monu said in desperate attempt to defend himself.

"He would never do that. He is not that kind of a child" - Mother replied angrily.

Monu couldn't say anything else. He just stood there for sometime and then slowly walked off. Why did Mother scold him? Why didn't she forbid Bagha to interrupt my work? He was so much angry with Mother .

~To be continued...

© Avik Ghosh