The Forest Realm

No one knows from where Matonggini, the raging deity/demon, came. There are no scripts, only tales; and the tales get wilder with every telling. Her raging force, her enchanting calm, her expansive reach; everything about her tells you about the magic and power she has been imbued with at birth. Majestic and mystic, neither did she dwell in an abode ordinary nor has she walked a path well-trodden. Each tale about her is like a leaf from a mighty Banyan. It may be a part of her, but only the one with the wildest imagination or the greatest wisdom can see the mighty tree in a single leaf. And the tellers are as varied as the tales; there are traders and travelers, warriors and wizards. Traders who have travelled on great ships and travelers who have walked on feet, warriors who have dared impregnable forests and wizards who have passed fertile valleys. Suborna paused and pondered. Labonno waited, in anticipation but in patience. One thing we know for sure is that Matonggini swept past the other side of the Shaman Hills, Jogini Pahar, she continued after a while. But they are not her home though. As far as your eyes can see to the east, you can see the path she has made in her wake.

Perhaps somewhere down there she has her home, perhaps where the first ray of morning light touches Subornorekha. What is Subornorekha, rani-ma, Labonno whispered in breathless awe. Suborna smiled serenely. It is the great mountain, perhaps the greatest on Earth. It rises in steps and it rises towards the sky. It could have blocked the Sun if it could rise any higher. But the Sun do rise above its towering ridges, and when the rays touch its snowy peaks, it's like someone has poured a pot of molten gold across it. Have you seen it rani-ma, have you seen the golden peaks, Labonno asked, her eyes wide with excitement and amazement. Suborna sighed, it's so far, far, away; no one from my land has seen it. Its lower slopes are cloaked in mighty forests and its higher ridges are shrouded in misty clouds. But tales tell Matonggini hasn't made her home there either. Is it because she is such a proud deity and even the godly mountains are too humble for her? We do not know. Is it because she is such a raging dakini (demon) and the gods bade her away? We do not know. Legend has it that she forged her way through the foreboding Subornorekha to the other side.

The other side of Subornorekha is as unknown as the dark. There are no tales even, only fairy-tales. From the shores of Matonggini to the feet of Jogini Pahar is the realm of my Jongol-mohol. It's foreboding and hypnotic. The dappled lights don't give you a clear view, it only plays tricks with your eyes. The vastness makes you feel lost, even if you are on the track. The impregnable canopy and the tight-knit trees make you feel like you have been swallowed by a giant. But no matter how scared and intimidated you feel, no matter how your heart flutters, you will keep going, it will keep reeling you deeper and deeper into it. Because the beauty is just as mesmerizing. During the dry months, the canopy is ablaze with the flaming blooms of Palash & Shimul and monsoon is when the Kodoms blooms, hanging in clumps like celestial orbs. Suborna stopped and enjoyed the eager, excited, and awed face for a few moments. She smiled and softly ruffled the hair. This seemed to bring Labonno out of the trance. Don't you face danger living in the forest, she asked. Now Suborna actually giggled and gave a mild eye-roll, every day and every step of the way, she said almost cheerfully. Labonno looked concerned and her smile faded.

Suborna lifted her Ghagra (skirt) to show a scar above the ankle, this is from a Shapod (wild dog), she said. Hands over her mouth, Labonno was shocked. Suborna pulled her close, do you want to know how it happened, she whispered. Transfixed, Labonno merely nodded. Chotu (little one) was around your age and I was just bit older. We strayed a bit too far that day and it was afternoon when we were still far from our village. We heard the barks, and we knew we are in trouble because that was the bark of spotting prey, they have spotted us. We started to run, as fast as we could; but soon we saw them sprinting towards us. They are fast and we knew they will catch us in mere minutes. Labonno's nails dug into Suborna's arm, Suborna hugged her tighter in reassurance. Get up on that, I told Chotu pointing to a large tree near the track. I started to climb after him, but before I could go high enough the lead dog leapt and grabbed my leg. The pain was like I was pierced with a hot knife and I would have slipped if Chotu hadn't grabbed my hand. By now Labonno has sunk her face in Suborna's shoulder and holding her with all her might. Suborna squeezed her tightly and gently kissed her hairs. I gave an almighty kick and the dog let go, and before he could pounce again I hurriedly pulled myself on the branch. There, we waited. We knew our folks will come looking for us, but we didn't know when. The dogs waited too, they knew we have to come down. It was beyond twilight when we heard faint voices from far away. The dogs have heard them too, they became edgy but they barely moved. We are here, Watch out for the wild dogs, we shouted at the top of our voices. After a few long minutes we heard Baba (father); Hold on, we are coming. The dogs became really restless, but they weren't ready to give up such nice meals. But as the fires of the torches came closer and closer, they lost their nerves and started to melt away into the dark of the forest.

What would have happened if you had died that day. Labonno was chocking and her face was awash with tears. Suborna wiped the tears and kissed the little girl, profusely. Then she whispered like a conspirator, It's for nothing that they call me a dakini; she laughed out loud. Her chivalry and nonchalance sipped into Labonno too and the amazement returned to her face. Suborna removed her Orna (scarf) and showed another scar on her arm. This is from the talon of a Mecho Buzz (fish eagle), she said rather proudly. Labonno gave her the most contemptuous look. Well, it tried to rob my fish; Subonra said defensively. Aren't you the bravest person on Earth, rani-ma! The amazement and admiration were overflowing. But Suborna was dismissive; Nah, that would be Chotu. After all, he fought with a tiger. She enjoyed the mesmerized look for a few moments, then teased, You want to hear about it, don't you? Labonno gave some rapid nods.

It happened just a few years ago. By then Chotu had grown into a fine young man and was in charge of our herd. That day the herd was grazing on a clearing in the forest while Chotu and his Rakhals (cowhands) were guarding the perimeter. Suddenly, a tiger burst through from the forest and charged for the herd. Chotu charged the tiger swinging his machete, the tiger turned to him and the stand-off began. Tiger would slash his paw and Chotu would slash his machete, neither would back down. The tiger is a mighty beast and one swipe of his paw tore across Chotu's chest and he fell over. Tiger leapt to deliver a killer bite as a swipe from Chotu's machete cut across his face. The beast howled in pain. Chotu staggered to his feet, both the man and the beast were injured and yet neither would give way. Now the rakhals came charging with their spears and machetes and the tiger knew the game is up, in two mighty leaps, he disappeared into the forest. For days, Chotu fought with death; but he was a strong man and little by little he recovered. Oh, those were such frightful days and how I cried. For the first time, Labonno saw despair in those wonderful eyes.