Nurungukal…3..

Ichirivettam..7….As we returned home after a social visit, I was surprised to see two constables and and a few of our neighbours waiting for us in front of the house. There were  four bunches of banana and a young man standing half naked between the police men. The sight of the police made my heart to skip one or two beats. I manged to be composed and enquired about the purpose of their presence. In their typical tone the senior one asked me whether  the banana bunches were from my field. I replied I am not sure. They confirmed that it was so, as the culprit who was standing with them had already admitted it. They examined the field which was nearby and confirmed the submission. As usual they asked for my statement, which I gave reluctantly. Because I pretty well knew the way it will be dealt in a court of law.

     I knew from them how the young thief was caught red handed. After cutting the bunches from our field he took another four from a heap collected by a trader in Kalpetta and ventured to sell them to the same trader. The trader had marked his bunches which the thief failed to notice. On seeing his marked bunches the trader cunningly informed the police and the thief  became a sitting duck. It made easy for the police to take an admission about my property. I was told that the bunches will be produced before the court and the value will be paid immediately, after the initial proceeding are over.

       As I knew the futility of pursuing such cases, deleted the whole episode from memory. After a lapse of three or four years I was summoned to appear before the magistrate  to record my submission. I was trying to visualise the events  with some nervousness which is usual  with any one, while waiting for the call. But just before entering the witness box, to my relief the constable on duty refreshed my memory about the sequence of events. I was satisfied with my performance in the box, as I saw the smile on the face of the constable. When I was about to  leave the box the magistrate asked me whether I have collected the cost of the banana bunches from the police. With all my innocence I blurted “no”, which invited a furious reprimand from the magistrate to the police. I once again looked at the constable who had suddenly lost his smile, became tense and was wiping the sweat. I just walked out without turning back and till date did not bother about the cost money …dum dum dum…..pi pi pi..