Jackalines

Copyright © 2014 Shyamal Chakraborty. All rights reserved.

ISBN

978-1-4828-1535-1 (sc)

978-1-4828-1534-4 (e)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To order additional copies of this book, contact

Partridge India

000 800 10062 62

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

orders.india@partridgepublishing.com

06/11/2014

CONTENTS

Acknowledgment

Dedication

THE LETTER FROM OLD MAN

THE BLUE DIARY

PROFESSOR KUPERSWAMY AND SHREELA

MR. ROSE AND PROFESSOR KUPERSWAMY

KUMARSWAMY VILLA

THE SCIENTIST vs. MR. ROSE

PUNISHMENT ON ROSE

RAINA AND ROHINI

ROSE VS VENKOT

ROHINI VS VENKOTESH

Acknowledgment

I hereby acknowledge my heartfull gratitude to almighty for her endless creation of the beautifull hills, mountains and green forests with charming nature all around. I am oblized to my family members with my son sriman Sayar Chakraborty for contribution and support to complete my work. I acknowledge my gratitude, specially to Miss Shila Dutta, my sister cum friend and her parants, who chanced me to be inspired to write this fiction. I am oblized to all of the publishing jiant and the illustrators who directly or indirectly took pain to bring the book in light.

Dedication

I can feel the presence of my parants and their blessings to me, Their lives, their dedication, their pain , their advise inspires me every moment. So, in memory of my parants, Late Khagendra Nath Chakraborty and Late Smt Anandamoyee Devi, with full respect, I offer this book to my elder brother Sri Saibal Chakraborty

JACKALINES

When the bus stopped at the front of Ramgarh College Shreela got down with her luggage. She has got a new tune in her life with the job. She is pleased; she is happy and finds out the meaning of her life at the Hazaribag Hills.

She had started earlier, but the tracker that dropped Shreela here was too late for technical problem on the road. Shreela looked here and there in vain to find out a rickshaw and began to walk on foot through the Ramgarh College main gate. The cold wave of January night made her conscious about her illness and tried to cover herself with her red sweater all her body. She began to walk quickly the long way she has to cross to reach her destination, but she has not enough courage in her mind, her illness, her loneliness has made her weak and distressed in her mind. She tried to hold some courage, made her head strict and erect, and began to walk with her probable highest speed. She knows lots of eyes are looking her here and there in the hides of bush scattered walls and small mounts and any moment the soundless area will fill with an uncanny sense of fear all over the deserted area.

The lunar smile made the way a light and sound situation, the solitary atmosphere of the area makes her some time bored. Shreela brings out her cell phone to call her new friend to restore some courage in her mind.

Yes it is ringing, ringing and ringing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No. All the times she tried, she had no response. At last she got her friend.

Hallo!

Yes, Speak . . .

Why did you not receive my call for long time? I am trying so long.

Sorry, Shreela there was no ring at all.

Is it?

Yes. Why shall I speak false to you, my friend?

Hallow . . . here are many Jackals. I do fear.

Shreela could not complete her call a lot of howling of jackals made her bound to stop. She began to

She began to walk quickly the long way she has to cross to reach her destination . . . . . . . . . . . . .

run and soon she reached her destination. In the cold, also she was sweating. When Shreela could come to her reality, she became conscious that her phone is ringing again and again

Yes speak, asks Shreela.

What’s there? Her friend asks anxiously.

No! Lots of jackals I could not answer in fear.

Are you OK now?

Yes, I am.

Do not fear. Jackals will do you nothing.

Shreela—Yes, it will do nothing to you my friend, but I can’t restore so much courage in my mind. I am not so bold like you at all. Especially I feel myself a coward and weakest girl.

No Shreela you are not so. You cannot judge yourself properly.

‘Is it?’—Says Shreela.

Yes, you are too bold to face all adverse before you, but the weak and disturbed mind sometimes fails to realize the situation. You should have to overcome your situation. Please sweep out the odds, awkward and unpleasant, cheer up the old dreams, and go ahead my friend. You may ever get your friend beside you.

‘I know, but the jackals are really very serious. I have heard a lot about those in childhood so I fear them.’—Says Shreela.

‘Oh! Is that?’—A laughing sound came from the other end.

Are you laughing?

Why not, Shreela? When you heard the stories about the jackals you was also a child, but I feel I am not speaking with a child now. I know that the friend at the moment hearing me is a serious adult and educated, having a vast experience to fight against evils in her life, isn’t. What a jackal will do her? Let the jungle stories left aside and be more and more courageous. You have too many ways to go more to establish you.

Yes I may, I may try my best to recall all my courage as per my friends advise, says Shreela.

Shreela changed her dress. She consoled herself by saying ‘Fight Kony fight’ i.e. Fight Shreela fight. You have all qualities to fight against evils. You have someone beside you.

The night Shreela had a beautiful sleep. The medicines her friend prescribed gave her total relief from cough and cold that night.

A soft sound tore out the sleep of Shreela. She opened her eyes and kept soundless to realize. She found none on the other cots in the room. She found all her roommates come one by one and took their bed. A curiosity raised in her mind so after a few minutes she woke up from her bed to drink water and found it was about to dawn. She goes to her bed again.

When the evening session finished at school, Shreela was tired. She took some sweets and fruits that her friend gave during his last visit to her. She liked to see the horizon from the roof of the castle. The big and small mountains all around her school prove there are some deep slopes between the mountains. She feels and enjoying the howling of the jackals. In the light shade of the mountain and slopes, Shreela lost her consciousness. She became nostalgic. Suddenly a gust of cold wind broke her stoicism. A gust of ugly smell slapped in her nose and mouth. She felt some nausea and she looked at the room door, which she found the cause of the ugly smell.

She took a deep look in the room where the heavy door was still hanging due to the wind and an awkward feeling made her nerves all over body very cool. A cold wave was still running through her blood. She came down quickly and went to her bed. She could not close her eyes easily.

When the secretary in chief called on her, Shreela was engaged in some urgent work. She soon prepared herself and appeared before Mr. Rose.

Shreela can’t basically tolerate her presence. As soon as Mr. Rose comes before her she feels that Mr. Rose is deeply measuring her. His style of speaking, his command, his through of voice has a specialty. His short queries, measured speech and deep command make all her blood cold at the very moment. Yet the man has proven himself very easy and attractive to all. Shreela came quickly, but entered the room very slowly and carefully.

May I come in Sir, asks Shreela.

Yes. Good evening.

Good evening Sir.

Is there any problem with you here?

No, answers Shreela.

But I have some important instruction to you.

What Sir, asks Shreela.

Hear me Miss. Shreela; the castle is a very old and large in the locality. And you know the old castles have their own history. Please madam, do not go out of your room after sunset. Suppose you will have not to face any unpleasant.

Yes Sir, but!

‘Yes you can’, Mr. Rose snatches out the words of Shreela’s mind. ‘You can enjoy the beauty of the castle in daytime, but you will never be able to go out of this locality without the prior permission’.

Shreela cannot look eye to eye with Mr. Rose. A deep sky is floating in his eyes which are cool, but glowing that is calm but deep like blue sea. That is small but can study the sky abroad. Shreela asks, ‘Sir.’

Yes madam ‘Mr. Rose pushes the bell, a lady came out of the side partition as if she was already waiting for this call. Mr. Rose says ‘It is Lara, who will work for you. She will do all you need all day around.

Shreela knows the lady whom she not only avoids, but also cannot choose.

Shreela likes to get rid of the unwanted lady, so says, No I need not Sir. I may . . . . . . ..

Mr. Rose does not allow her to proceed and says.—You need and she will be with you.

Sir, Shreela asks?

You can go now and be sure you will not be out of your room after evening.

Yes Sir.

The disgusting woman accompanied Shreela. She came in Shreela’s room and took her jug. Shreela tried to prevent her saying ‘No need, thanks.’

The lady took a deep look at Shreela, laughed a cruel, but silent laugh at her and went away with her jug.

Shreela had no alternative, when she found the lady is coming with the water she quickly entered into the toilet and when she felt the lady has gone out of the room keeping the jug she came out and looked at her footsteps.

The experience of the day kept Shreela fused for a few days and always changed the water after the lady placed on her table.

She now some time calls Lara to speak to make a friendship with her but in vain. She cannot tolerate her cold existence in the room. She feels much better with Bhima, Kamla and Sabana and also the other ladies of the palace.

Yet she ever feels uneasy until she goes into a deep sleep on her bed. She marked that all her co-occupants feels very uneasy after the sun sets on the hill.

Tonight it was some incidents that created some hue and cry in the castle. A few days ago Shreela saw a girl was weeping beside the window. She wanted to speak with that girl but could not. Lara prevented her to speak with her and the girl also went away from her eyesight. Shreela had heard some shouting of the girl and could imagine that the new girl has revolted against someone here. Shreela tried to see what is the incident is going to take place in the castle. She could see only some man in a dress of Doctor is trying to stop the girl. Shreela could see from the glass window that two to three girls of the castle had held her in hand and pushed into a room. Shreela could not see more for she could feel the footsteps of Lara. She quickly left the glass window and sat on the bed pretending reading the papers.

Lara came and said—are you well Shreela.

Yes I am, says Shreela.

Why is so hue and cry in the castle?

It is a wicked lady. It is not your look out. Do you need something madam?

No, I need not.

Then go to your bed. I am switching off the lights. Shreela stopped and went to her bed because she knows Lara will go away and join in the company of her friends into the castle. So, it is safe to keep silence to realize the fact.

After Lara left the room Shreela got down from the bed and closed the door and came from the same window side but found no-one there. Only two old women were guarding at the threshold of a room. Shreela got disappointed and took out her diary. She wrote all the facts she saw all day long and went to bed.

It was about midnight, the entire hill area began to shutter for the yelping of the Jackals. Shreela heard dozens of Jackal jumps from here and there and running to some destination in the hill path. She felt all the jackals are running out of the castles.

She wakes up from bed, opened the door and came out to see. She found a flock of jackals running behind a woman. The woman is running to save herself from the claws of the hungry jackals. She found a gang of jackals coming from every corner of the hill. Their lust for the blood of the women made her spellbound.

The entire scene came to her eyes within a moment, but Lara took hold her head and scratched her in the room and said. Have you forgotten the order of Mr. Rose?

Shreela could not utter anything. She only looked at Lara anxiously and she had lost her sound at their unbearable scene before her.

She tried to say something but in vain. No sound came out of her mouth. All her body began to shiver in fear and an awkward feeling. Shreela sat on her bed broken and exhausted. She was feeling some hammering in her forehead. Soon she lost her consciousness.

The other day the doctor came to see Shreela. She had no problem within her. She refused to take any medicine, but the doctor told her to take bed rest and promised to see some time later. Shreela could realize that the man is not so hard or merciless. She could feel some humanity is still in that man and a curiosity arose in her mind about the man but could not say anything.

Shreela can’t forget the night-scene she had to see that night and even don’t know the fate of the girl. She could understand that she may also have to face such type of cruelty here anytime.

Since that day Shreela goes to her bed in day time after her class is over at her school. She tries to keep herself alert at night. She generally never gets her roommates in bed at night but always gets them in their beds in deep sleep at morning.

She sees the roommates become very restless as soon as the jackals howl. She can tell by god’s shake that the blasting sound of the jackals starts from this castle. Shreela can’t also imagine what had happened to that weeping woman, whom she saw weeping, whom she saw running by hill way to save herself from the claws of the hungry jackals.

Today, Shreela found another girl of her age in school. She has also joined in the school as a teacher. A very smart and brilliant student she is. She came ahead to speak with Shreela. But Shreela can’t speak much to her. An intolerable fear made her dumb. Shreela tried to tell her not to take her shelter in the castle yet an unknown suspense kept her silent. She stared with fear, but could not decide the right wrong at that moment so when she came to her bed after school she found that there was a new cot beside her. Shreela thrilled and at the same time hold high her courage. She could now wait for her a new roommate Faraha a convent educated girl who must have enough courage to go out of this hell.

When Faraha came into the room, she was exhausted and tired. She had no capacity to walk on her own foot. Lara accompanied Faraha and when Faraha unconsciously slept on her bed Lara went out.

Shreela had a puzzle game in front of her. She cannot work out the sum. She cannot think why Faraha, whom she saw in school a smart young girl, an expert and lively girl enters in the hall, is completely in a distressed condition. She could understand that it is quite impossible to leave this place with life from the claws of Jacklins, though her friend does not believe anything. She knows that her friend Harit had correctly said the childhood stories ever changes on the new platform. We are all fighting to wind out those evils only, but she cannot say the Jackal’s story to her friend. All the thoughts of Shreela suddenly broke down due to her cell phone.

Yes it is ringing ring . . . . . . ring.

Shreela pushes the button and says

‘Hello . . . . . . ‘

‘How are you?’

‘I am . . . Her voice stops. She sees Lara in looking at her with a cruel sight.’

‘Hallo, Hallo’ . . . comes from the other end.

Shreela answers-’ yes I am well.’

‘Are you fit to perform your duties well?’

‘Yes I am.’

‘Is there any news?’

‘I have got another roommate.’

‘What are the Jackals doing with you?’

No nothing but. She looks at Lara with fear and says—’I shall call you later’.

‘Ok, good-bye.’

‘Ok’, Shreela stops her phone. She feels herself very unsecured but she cannot go out. She even fears to dream to run away from the hilly area since she can’t say if she tries what will be the conclusion of her dream. Will she survive or she will be running like the weeping girl. She draws the picture in mind that haunted her every time she goes to bed. It is that, all the jackals are eating her flesh and blood while she is alive, she can even see the Jackals are rejoicing of licking her blood.

Shreela sometimes looks at her new friend Faraha and feels herself luckier than another because she has not faced such type of problem till date. She again looks at Faraha. Yes she is coming to consciousness. Shreela rises from her bed and goes to the door to look here and there if there is Lara or anybody to see her no one is there.

She goes to Faraha touches her and calls ‘Faraha .. Faraha.’

Faraha groans. Faraha only changes her side but can’t respond.

Shreela stops. She goes to her bed for any moment Lara will come with her food.

After a short while Lara came with her food. Shreela pretends like a fool and asks, ‘Who is she?’

‘She is Faraha a new teacher of the school. Have you not met her in school?’

‘What has happened to her?’

‘Nothing, she fell down from some hill only. But she is treated and coming round very soon.’

‘Fell down? From where? The hill ways have no such place to fall down.’

Lara stairs at Shreela and says yes she went to a wrong route where she somehow fell down from a small hill slope in fear.

‘Fear, of what?’

‘I can’t say. Do you need madam? Shall I say to Mr. Rose to answer your questions?’

Shreela understood she is going to cross the limit of her unseen boundary so a straight threat is coming from Lara. Lara is cruel very cruel, but Shreela has changed her little in her favor. She does not like to miss her friendship. She got much relief of spying from Lara due to her good and obedient behavior. She also has come to know that if she remains such obedient she will have not to face any adverse situation, she is really in good books of Dr. Rose. However, all the reasons are higher education. They like to utilize her quality as much as possible.

Lara goes to Faraha sees her wounds and applies some medicine to those wounds and goes out with utensils saying Shreela it is better to have a deep sleep. No-one will disturb you here.

Shreela goes to her bed, but cannot close her eyes after a short while she found the door is being opened. Shreela closes her eyes to pretend sleeping. She knows her other roommate will come later. Then who it may be? Shale could feel someone is standing in front of her to observe she remained unchanged. When she understood the person has gone other side she slowly opened her eyes she began to see. It was Lara her room assistant is checking Faraha and at last again Lara looked everywhere of the room and raised the mattress and put something there and slowly went away. Shreela could understand she has kept something with bad intention so began to observe Faraha.

For last one hour or more Faraha was tossing in her bed, she was also moving one side to other restlessly, but after a few minutes Faraha went into deep sleep. Shreela realized the fact she began to wait for the next action, but she herself went into a deep sleep that night.

When Shreela got up from her bed she found all her roommates are in deep sleep. But a great peace in her mind raised today. She can claim that she has found out some clue to break through the mystery of the castle. She only requires some courage in mind. She must have to be bold enough to break through the unwritten confinement here. She goes out of her room for having a bath. She today takes bath for a long time and when she comes out of the bathroom Lara was on the door step.

‘It is a cold day. Too much water will disturb your health madam Shreela.’

‘Yes Lara, but today I am a little bit better from cough and cold.’

‘So, avoid cold water as much as possible Says Lara.’

‘Yes I may follow your advice in future. Thank you.’

Shreela enters her room. All her roommates except Faraha went out of bed. They will not come again before night. Lara was waiting for Faraha who sat on the cot with a deep sign of frustration and disappointment.

Shreela says,—’Are you better today Faraha?’

Faraha nodded her head to say yes. Lara helps her to go to toilet and bathroom.

Shreela was waiting for this chance when no-one will come in the room. Now she went behind Faraha up to the door and when she saw Faraha had gone to the toilet far from the room she came to Faraha’s bed. She raised the mattress. She saw Lara put something under the mattress. She found a piece of fresh green herb. She could understand that the herb is being used to keep Faraha in deep sleep. She also understood why she has not taken medicine yet she also sleeps like drunker. She quickly comes to her own cot and checked, found the same thing. Yet it was almost dried up. She left all the pieces of herb in their proper place thinking she will have to find out a tactical solution to come out from the impending danger. And have to rescue themselves along with others ill-fated girls from the grip of these dangerous persons.

When Shreela made her dress to go out for school, Faraha returned with Lara. She looks a little bit better now.

Faraha says ‘I shall go to school’

‘If you can you may go, if your own body permits to do so’ says Lara.

‘Yes I may’

‘Are you able to go to school Faraha?’—Asks Shreela. ‘It is better; you take rest for this day. Have a deep sleep’

‘Now I shall go. I shall be weaker if I stay here alone.’

‘I may be with you when required’ says Lara.

‘No thanks. I may feel better with the little children in the school. I very much enjoy it. So, I shall go.’ You can go now. I shall go with Shreela. Will you not wait a bit for me Shreela?’—Asks Faraha.

‘Yes I may’ We have enough time to reach school’ answers Shreela. Lara goes out

‘You are right Faraha the little children of the school are better companions than here.’—Says Shreela, ‘What has happened to you yesterday?’

‘Nothing Shreela. But why do you ask me?’

‘Nothing!’ Exclaims Shreela

‘Will you believe if I say it is the wound of love?’

‘Wound of love’ says Shreela ‘I cannot understand.’

‘If I say it is the sign of some acting’ smiles Faraha.

‘Till I can’t believe and understand’

‘If I say it is the result of my imprudence.’ says Faraha. ‘I know you will agree it.’

‘Yes it could be believed.’

‘But Shreela, suppose I say it is the prize of some self confidence to achieve some goal’ asks Faraha.

‘Sorry Faraha, I am really puzzled and I need not to know anything from you.’

‘Don’t be frustrated or disappointed’ says Faraha ‘I know Shreela you will know later when the time will come.’

Shreela did not say more. She thought she would speak Faraha about the night. But she kept silent. She controlled herself saying in mind ‘Oh Shreela, be patience. You have much more way to go ahead before you sleep peacefully. She must have to judge Faraha also here before taking any decision whether she will be with you or not.

At afternoon Shreela accompanied Faraha to return to the castle from school through their regular way. Did you not return the castle in this way yesterday?

‘No, I didn’t ‘

‘But as I have come to know that there is no other way towards the castle.’

‘Is it, are you confirmed?’

‘Yes, as I believe it is the only way here’.

‘Who confirmed you of it?’

‘Lara. Lara confirmed it when I asked for’.

‘Lara, the ugly beach!’—Asks Faraha with a great abhorrence.

Shreela smiles at this reaction. ‘Do you not like her?’

‘Do you? Suppose you are also disliked the ugly beach’

‘It is right, but we have no other way here Faraha’ asks Shreela ‘Is there for you’.

‘It’s true, but has to find out.’ Faraha kept sometimes silent and began to think something.

‘What are you thinking so deeply?’ asks Shreela

‘Can I believe you as my friend here Shreela?’—Faraha stares in the eyes of Shreela.

Shreela was also hunting the million-dollar question from Faraha from the first encounter. Now she got some way out to solve it and returns her the same question ‘It depends on you, Faraha’. Can I think you my friend?’

Faraha extends her hand towards Shreela. ‘Yes, we have no other way, without having friendship within us.’ She continued, ‘It is a trap, a great puzzle and we are not at all safe here without our own courage and witness.’

‘We have to go out of this trap.’

‘No Shreela I have not come to go out of here.’

‘What will you do here? They will kill you.’

‘No they will turn me into a Jackal’

‘Turn you to a Jackal? Do you know all?

‘Yes, I know all from the beginning. I have come into this trap knowingly.’

‘Knowing to become an ugly Jackal? Are you a mad? Then how can I believe you as my friend I have no intention to live a life of an ugly Jackal here. I am to fly away at the moment I may get a chance.’ Answers Shreela.

Faraha with a smile ‘If you get a chance, isn’t? But you will get no chance at all.’

‘Then ‘

‘We have to create chances. We