Friday, April 26, 2019

Sikharpur Days ( Bandit attack-5)

Parvati, the spirit girl, was swift with her feet. Partly floating, partly running, she was showing the places, or sites hidden from plain sight, or plainly ignored but could make a good site to plant traps. Traps were simple, as Dhanush knew to make some to catch smaller animals like rabbit or boar. Hunting was generally done for festivity and feasts, a event for the villagers to meet and have fun. 

Small branches were taken, Bamboo stalk, ropes to tie them up and conceal it as a trap. This time bigger and stronger branches were used as the target were men. It was only to slow down the pursuers or to prevent any reinforcements from the bandits if any. They had used sling mechanism, grasp the feet of any unsuspecting men and either tie them into the trees or pull them inside natural pits present in the forest. 

" I only wish that no animal get caught in it and interfere with our planning !" Dhanush said with a nervous smile.
"Don't worry, I have warned them off, and it's going to be evening anyway. They would have returned to their home." Parvati assured him.

The sun was setting and they had laid the traps. Their next task was to follow the leader, the big guy. Parvati knew his hiding place so the three children tread slowly near the location. Parvati went ahead to watch for their movement but couldn't find them.

"They are not here.' Parvati told Dhanush and Lata, ' The burly man with his associate were here near the rock."
" What will we do now, the villagers are in danger." Lata said in a worried tone.
"They won't attack until the reinforcement arrives. They need numbers and weapons." Dhanush added.


"Parvati, we are waiting here, you should go and check for Sambhu and Lochan and give any help if needed." 
" But I am concerned about Lata", Parvati protested, ' I had promised to protect Lata !"
" Thanks Parvati, but I can protect myself, you should go and save my father from them." Lata said in a gentle voice.

Parvati nodded and hugged Lata and left for the fields where their other friends Sambhu and Lochan were stationed. Sambhu had brought the village guard Sheru kaka as assistance they needed and if any attack comes from the bandit, the fields would have been first to be affected as the villagers would return in the evening. The bandits would have a surprise attack on them to stop them from reaching the village.

After Parvati was gone, Dhanush and Lata slowly proceeded towards the village from that location. It was not far, only few hundred meters, they could see the village gate. 

" The Bandit leader must have hidden somewhere, let's check around the place." Dhanush told Lata for when Lata simply nodded. 

They were silently moving between trees, slowly encircling around the village perimeter. They couldn't find the leader and Dhanush was getting impatient as he moved a little faster. Lata hold his arms tightly and pulled him back.

" What are you doing, " Dhanush was surprised by her sudden pull.
" Shhh, speak slowly, 'Lata requested Dhanush, ' look on the branches of the tree"

Dhanush saw the branches that Lata was signalling with her index finger. There they were, the two bandits sitting on top of a thick branch. They were cautious and looking intently towards the village area.

---- to be continued.----

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