The magic and the punishment
Umesh Moramudali
Siridasa was at the river, looking for gems in the sand. He was
thinking about finding money to get a ‘drink’. He was a married man but
never thought about his family. It was all about how he could get his
next drink. He was working as a labourer in a gem mine for nearly ten
years and was acquainted with some of his colleagues whom he called his
‘friends’. They all have been among those wonderful gems but nobody has
any luck to possess those.
Just as he was scouring the sand for gems, he suddenly saw something
glistening. Siridasa thought lady luck was shining on him and that he
had found a shiny gem. Even though he knew he should have handed it over
to his supervisor, he didn’t want to do that.
He secretly hid it in a bucket but unknown to him, Nimal who is one
of those friends of Siridasa saw him taking the gem. Nimal did not utter
a word because he also wanted a stake in it and thought of coercing
Siridasa to giving him something for it too. As usual, after work,
everybody was checked before leaving the premises but nothing was found.
Nimal then went to have a chat with Siridasa, after a hard day’s work.
 “Where did you hide it?” Nimal asked. Siridasa was shocked by this
question.
“What are you talking about?” Siridasa replied feigning ignorance.
“Don’t lie, I saw you hide it inside the bucket,” said Nimal.
Siridasa was shocked but did not show his emotions. He knew he was in
deep trouble now.
“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?” he whispered moving his shoulders
in a funny way.
“Not yet but I’ll tell the supervisor if you don’t give me half,” he
said with a strange smile.
Siridasa looked at Nimal with an angry look and said, “I’ll give you
one-third of the price but nothing more.”
“Take your one-third and I’ll tell him!” he said and began to walk
away.
Siridasa didn’t want to loose this. So he thought something is better
than nothing rather than give this gem to supervisor, take a half is
better. A bit later he thought he could take the gem secretly. After I
sell it what can he do, he thought.
“Okay, I’ll give you half! Please don’t tell!” Siridasa hid the gem
in the river to take it the following night. As he planned Siridasa went
to river to take the gem. However, Nimal was more cunning and secretly
stalked Siridasa to the river to make sure he got his share. As soon as
Siridasa found the beautiful gem, he was mesmerized by its wonderful
look. It was glimmering and he could see its beauty since it was the
night. So he wanted it all for himself but suddenly, he saw Nimal
saying, “Good! I hope you don’t forget me!”
Siridasa didn’t want to give Nimal the amount he had promised because
he thought that he found the gem but was wondering what Nimal would do
if he didn’t give him his promised share. “I won’t give even a cent to
you because it was I who found it!” said an angry Siridasa. He was had a
deep desire for the gem. In a fit of anger, Nimal said, “I’ll make sure
I get my half!”
Quickly, Nimal tried to snatch the gem from Siridasa but he didn’t
give it. He fought for it. Siridasa wasn’t going to give up and fought
for his gem.
“This is mine as I am the one who found it! I won’t give this to
anyone!” He shouted.
Unable to control his temper anymore, Nimal was frothing mad. He
wanted his revenge and went to meet Podi Sarath, the village thug, and
related the whole story to him.
“Sarath, you can take two-third of the value of the gem as one-third
is enough for me. I want to teach Sira a lesson!” said Nimal, in a
temper.
Sarath realized this is a golden chance for him.
“You came to the right man, Nimal, I’ll solve your problem,” Sarath
said with a smile.
The next evening, after taking lot of drinks, Sarath and Nimal paid
Siridasa a visit.
”Sira, you know who I got to get your gem and you know who I am. So
better give me the gem! Otherwise your life will end,” said Sarath as he
went to Siridasa’s house.
Siridasa knew Sarath as he was a village thug and was accused of
killing some people and even served some time in jail. Killing him is
nothing for Sarath. But his attachment to the gem and the money that it
could bring outweighed all the consequences.
“I am ready for anything, come and take my gem if you can!” screamed
Siridasa.
After a huge struggle, Sarath took a knife from his waist and stabbed
Siridasa. Siridasa lay on the floor with the gem in the pocket of his
shirt.
Sarath searched his clothes, found it and took the gem. Giving
Siridasa a look of sympathy he took the gem and ran off.
A worried Nimal went after him and asked Sarath about the gem. Sarath
ignored him. Seeing the wonderful gem was the answer to all his dreams.
Then Nimal suffered the same fate that befell Siridasa.
Nimal was also stabbed in an instant and fell to the ground. Running
into the jungle, Sarath felt like he was a king with a lovely uncut blue
sapphire in his hand. As he walked along the path, he felt a sharp pain
in his leg. As he looked in the corner, he saw a snake creeping around
him and slithering off into the jungle. Sarath ran as fast as he could
to get help but it was too late.
He was instantly paralysed as the venom worked in his nervous system,
killing him instantly. After two days, people discovered the body of
Podi Sarath but nobody found the magical gem!
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