Jagdish Prasad Mandal (Original Maithili Short Story)
Rameshwar Prasad Mandal (English Translation)
Thirty-Two Teeth
At dawn, as soon as I woke up, my mind began to race toward the days work. Lying on the cot, I started thinking about everything that needed to be done today. The moment these thoughts began, my heart filled with happiness. The reason for the joy was that at eight oclock in the morning Gopinath would be coming to buy cabbages. His daughters wedding was near, and just yesterday he had agreed to buy fifty kilos of cabbage at fifty rupees per kilo, which comes to five thousand rupees a quintal.
I calculated in my head and realized that fifty kilos would fetch me twenty-five hundred rupees. The thought of that earning filled me with satisfaction. I reminded myself that since I had fixed the time with Gopinath for eight oclock, I needed to have the cabbages cut and all their outer leaves removed beforehand. Still lying on the cot, another thought came to me that the day after tomorrow was the Janakpur fair, the Vivah Panchami festival. For years I had longed to visit Janakpur, but each time it had remained just a wish. One year I did not have the money, another year work was so overwhelming that I could not get leave. This time the circumstances felt favorable, with fresh income in hand and my other work already in order.
I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was six oclock. There were still two hours before Gopinaths arrival. As I planned the work, I realized I had to cut twenty to twenty-five cabbage heads and get them ready. Judging by the time, it seemed like an easy task.
Suddenly my mind wandered to the cabbage field. I had cultivated cabbages on two katthas of land. About twenty-five to thirty plants had heads weighing less than a kilo, but the remaining four hundred plants had heads weighing between two to three and a half kilos. Altogether, the yield would be at least ten quintals, perhaps more. Ten quintals of cabbage meant fifty thousand rupees. The thought of such an income made me smile inwardly with delight.
Happily, I got up, washed my face and hands, brushed my teeth, rinsed my mouth, and told my wife-
Hurry up and make tea. I have to go cut cabbages.
My wife already knew that Gopinath would be coming at eight in the morning to buy cabbages. As soon as I spoke, she, just as on any other day, did not linger by the hearth and quickly began preparing tea in the kitchen. By the time I had washed and dressed, she had the tea ready.
It was made, but because the milk was from a cow that had recently calved, it curdled. The curdling ruined both the color and taste of the tea. Somehow, swallowing my disappointment, I drank it, though instead of feeling refreshed my mood grew slightly irritated. Still, I did not take it out on my wife, nor did I speak harshly to her. Quietly, I set out for Subudh Uncles house.
Subudh Uncle was known as one of the most hospitable people in the village. He had built a spacious, welcoming doorway and maintained the dignity of that space. This meant that if travelers or strangers happened to be passing through and night fell, they could stay at his place without hesitation. The wide courtyard was always open to them, and there was never a shortage of food or drink. This was something known not just to the villagers but to people in the surrounding region as well, so it was common for lost or weary travelers to stop there for the night.
Of course, half the people from the village might have modest homes, but in the cities most people now had proper accommodations, so travelers rarely stayed elsewhere. In the villages, though, it was still the sameroads and embankments might exist on paper, but in reality only a fraction had actually been built. I mention roads and embankments here so that you do not confuse them with water supply or sanitation projects.
Subudh Uncle rose at four in the morning, went to relieve himself, washed up, and made tea for himself. After drinking it, he sat in the doorway just as the sun was rising. Soon after, villagers who had no tea at home would start arriving. One of his qualities was that he never looked down on anyone, and because of this most of the villagers saw him as a member of their own family. With people coming from all sides of the village, he naturally came to know nearly every bit of news in the community.
By the time I reached his doorway, four or five men were already sitting there. Uncle, my respects to you, I said as I entered.
Just then the first pot of tea had been brewed. By the second pot, Sumitra Kaki arrived at the doorway carrying six or seven cups on a tray. She set the tray down in front of us and went back inside. I stood up to serve the tea, and once everyone had a cup in hand, Subudh Uncle said- I hope you are well, Kisun. How are things with you?
I replied- Its the same as before, uncle. No new news.
Subudh Uncle said- I hear your cabbage crop is doing well.
I replied- How could it be called good, uncle? Good would mean a large crop, but thats not the case. Its only on two kathas of land.
I was just about to share my thoughts when Jiyalal spoke up-
Uncle, yesterday evening an incident happened in the village.
Hearing the words an incident happened in the village, my ears perked up, and Subudh Uncle too leaned in, asking-
What happened?
Jiyalal said- Uncle, Jibach Uncle called Puhup Lal to his doorway, tied him to a post, and thrashed him thoroughly in front of everyone.
Hearing this, I asked- Jiyalal bhai, why did Jibach Uncle beat Puhup Lal?
Jiyalal replied- For no particular reason. While playing, there was a quarrel among the children, thats all.
I had only heard the bare details, but Subudh Uncle listened with grave attention and said- From the look of him, Puhup Lal is sturdy and strong, but?
In my own mind, I too was thinking that by his physique, Puhup Lal was the sort who could easily throw Jibach Uncle to the ground single-handed, yet he was beaten soundly and could not strike back.
I asked- But what, uncle?
Subudh Uncle said- Puhup Lal is under the thirty-two teeth.
I had heard this phrase before- under the thirty-two teeth, but until now I never understood its true meaning.
I asked- What does it mean, under the thirty-two teeth, uncle?
By then, Subudh Uncle had also sipped his tea and chewed his betel leaf. His mood had lightened. Spitting to the side, he said- Kisun, since youve asked, Ill tell you from the root of it. But it will take an hour to explain.
An hour, I thought, where would I find that much time now? Gopinath would be coming for the cabbages. I had only come here for a cup of tea. I drank it down and said- Uncle, Im in the middle of work right now. Ill come in the evening, then Ill listen to everything from the beginning.
Leaving Subudh Uncles place, I hurried back and cut twenty cabbage heads. Seeing the twenty heads, I was satisfied that they would weigh at least fifty kilos. I had just reached the doorway with them when Gopinath arrived carrying a sack. As soon as he came, I brought out the village balance and the five-kilo weights from the courtyard and weighed the cabbages. About two kilos overflowed, which I gave him as well.
Handing me twenty-five hundred rupees, Gopinath said- Kisun, if work is scarce, Ill come again.
I replied- Do not worry about that. If the work lessens, you may come yourself, otherwise I will send someone.
Even so, in my mind, Subudh Uncles words kept echoing, and I resolved to visit him that very evening. After all, he had said with his own mouth that it would take an hour to understand.
At sunset, I reached Subudh Uncles place. It was fortunate that no one else was around. By the time I arrived, he had already finished his evening routines and was seated at the doorway. As soon as I reached, I said- Uncle, my respects.
Subudh Uncle replied- Stay well. It is good that no one else is here right now. The meaning of under the thirty-two teeth is to work with strength.
I could not quite grasp what he meant. I said- Uncle, please explain a bit more clearly.
Just then, Sumitra Kaki arrived at the doorway with tea. The two of us drank together. After sipping the tea, Subudh Uncle said- Kisun, to do exactly what one says, that is manliness. From this comes immortality.
There was no concealment in his words, yet their meaning was not entirely clear to me. I began to hesitate, and he seemed to notice. Clarifying, he said-
Kisun, due to the pressure of society, meaning the pressure of social behavior, and the pressure of authority, meaning the pressure of governance, the common person has remained under the thirty-two teeth.
I had certainly heard his words, but still could not fully understand. I said- Please explain more clearly, uncle.
Subudh Uncle said- Kisun, throughout the history of humankind, meaning from the time human behavior advanced a little beyond animal behavior, the majority of people have fallen under the thirty-two teeth, and still remain there. One may say that humans are free, yet they carry such a burden of subjugation that they can do nothing entirely of their own accord.
I half understood and half did not. Still, I told myself that such a subject cannot be grasped completely in a single sitting. Even if one hears it once, if ones own practical life remains different from it, then hearing is not the same as understanding. True understanding will only come when one shapes life accordingly. I said- Uncle, please?
As if reading my thoughts, Subudh Uncle said-
Kisun, every person must shape their own habits, their own personality, and their own life.
I asked- How does one do that, uncle?
Subudh Uncle said- By bringing freshness into ones daily work, life itself becomes fresh. This attracts not only oneself, but also others around.
I asked- How can that be understood?
Subudh Uncle said- From a persons state of mind, one understands. As is the state of mind, so is the behavior and the work. It has grown quite late tonight. Go now. I will tell you more tomorrow.
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