Carbon Page #6

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my phone. It's fully charged.

lt's old

But vey clear.

Do one thing, write eveything

down on a piece of paper.

When the MD comes,

you can tell him directly.

l'm noting down eveything.

l'm not asking for too much.

But at least 2-3 people

should be able to stay here.

The bathroom is a problem.

And the electricity.

The MD will be here

after the 8th.

Call me ifyou need

anything before that.

l've been tying to

call you since l got here.

- There's no signal.

- How did you get signal no

By luck.

- Go to Muthalapara and call.

- Not Muthalappara. Cheenkannipara.

Have to walk 2 hours

to get there.

,

Dear son, where there's a will

there's a way.

l'll take care of it.

What about this month's salay?

- Hello...

- Hello!

- Can you hear me?

-What?

- It's gone.

- Gone!

You lost signal?

- l'm glad l could talk.

-Are you done?

Yeah.

The signal comes from there.

It is lost vey easily.

ls that Tamil Nadu?

That's all Tamil Nadu.

One can reach Tamil Nadu

through the forest, that way.

lt a 34 day walk.

- So where do you sleep at night?

- In the forest.

-ls it?

-Yeah.

- Have you been there?

- l've been to evey forest here.

-Why do you go?

- People have different needs.

- Do you want to go?

- l don't want to go without a reason.

lt's easy here. The Forest

department doesn't bother us.

-What can they do?

- They don't permit anyone in.

- Don't you knowthat?

- Hmm.

That's not a problem here.

We can go where we want.

Can we go to Thalakaani?

Haven't you heard of it?

Thalakaani?

lt's true. He has

been to evey forest.

- But...

- But what?

- He's ajinx.

-Why?

His mother, Thookkupalam Thankamani

is quite famous around these parts.

But no one knom

who his father is.

How can that be his fault?

l was just saying.

Done?

l've had enough.

Balan Pillai...

l casually asked

Stalin about Thalakaani.

- What did he say?

- He seemed uninterested.

That's what l said.

No one goes there.

He's pretending to be scared.

He changed his mind as soon as he

realized that it won't work with me.

Now he's willing to go anytime.

- Did he say so?

-Yes.

You're new here.

What if he takes you to some

mountaintop and say it's Thalakaani.

You'll have to believe it.

It's not a place for men to go.

Why would you

want to go there?

l want to see ifyour

stories are true.

Why would l lie?

So there's a lot of

gold in Thalakaani.

Why not go and see?

Remember, you're not the first

one to get this idea.

People have tried before.

l personally know of an incident.

Didn't want to scare

you with these stories.

Success comes only after

a series offailure, right?

Even a tiger makes a kill

only after tying and failing ten times.

l was talking

about human beings.

Tell me when

it's time for dinner.

Tipu died in the year 973.

We've got a palm leaf

from 3 years before that.

ln 970.

lt clearly states that grain

for 101 soldiers and porters,

will be sent to a nearby temple,

and was not to be used by anyone else.

Are you a Hindu?

No, no.

Shucks!

You're not allowed

to enter the temple.

l could've showed you

the leaf. It's still there.

So it's a true stoy.

Yeah.

So is the treasure still there?

The gold was safely carried

from here. We have proof.

But it didn't reach anywhere.

So we can be sure

that it was lost in the forest.

ls the stoy

about Thalakaani true?

Tribals tell that stoy.

It must be true.

lt's where their ancestors

were betrayed and murdered.

They still don't go there.

They don't even utter the name.

lt's completely forbidden!

l'm sure something

big happened there.

- Many people died.

- Have you been there?

Why do you want to go?

You're not interested

in this, are you?

- Intesrseted in what?

- The treasure in the forest.

What if it's true?

l don't have such desires.

Nonsense! Eveyone has desires.

They just don't say it!

l'm happy as l am.

l don't want anything more.

Balan Chetta!

What a pleasant surprise!

Where are you coming from?

l was wandering about here, so

thought of coming and visiting you.

Who is that?

He's our new manager.

Manager? But why?

Someone else bought

this place recently.

When Swami passed away,

his children sold it.

-When did Swami pass away?

- It's over a year now.

So l've to get his permission

to stay here no

Don't wory. Come.

lt's alright. Come on dear.

Come.

She's an old guest.

Hi, l'm Sameera.

l come here often.

l guessed, when

you barged in.

N4 name is Sibi.

l didn't knowabout the changes.

That's why. l'm sory.

That's alright.

You're our first guest.

Right, Balan Pillai?

Balan Chetta, there are

some groceries in the vehicle.

- Could you please bring it in?

-Yeah.

N4 plan is to renovate

and restore this place.

You'll have to put up with

it this one more time.

There'll be more facilities

the next time you visit.

That means l'll have

to pay next time.

You needn't pay this time.

Where will she sleep?

She used to sleep in

the room you're using now.

- But you've taken it now.

- Then l'll move out.

That's not necessay, Sir.

She's not bothered.

She'll sleep anywhere.

There's a lot of space here.

She won't be here for long.

Please ask her if

she needs the room.

Forget it. You needn't

move from there.

l knewyou would

be a photographer.

- l'm not a photographer.

- Really?

l'm neither a photographer

nor a researcher nor a scientist.

Don't wory.

So you'rejust a

nature lover like me.

No.

Then?

l am a...

Junglejunkee!

- Can hearthe elephants..

-Where? Outside?

Yeah... somewhere on

the opposite mountain.

Yeah. It was a distant sound.

Wow! This is cool.

Eveything sounds dierent.

Do you hear something?

Not really.

What did you say earlier?

Jungee... junglee?

Does it mean you

go into the forest?

Sheesh! l was just kidding.

l really wish to go to the forest.

What's the big deal?

You can go anytime.

But l need someone with me.

- Balan Chettan's there right?

- No way!

How about putting in an Ad in a

newspaper asking for a companion.

You're sure to find someone.

My goodness!

Are you going to sleep here?

- l love it here.

- No. No. You should sleep inside.

- Don't be scared.

- l'm not scared.

There's a lot of room inside.

Don't sleep alone.

Hey! Wait! Wait, Wait!

Are you worried because

l'm sleeping alone?

Then you sleep here too.

l have one more sleeping

bag. Do you want it?

We can look up at the sky and stars

and sleep. Do you want to sleep here?

l don't want you

to sleep alone.

Okay.

l'll just tell Balan Pilla and come.

Get me some water.

We're sleeping outside.

Just forfun.

lt'll be vey cold outside.

You go to sleep.

Just shut the door, don't lock it.

Okay.

-Are there mosquitos?

-We won't feel it because we're outside.

- Here! Rub this on.

- No, mosquitoes don't bite me.

They bite you.

But you don't know it.

ls this the first time

you're sleeping outside?

l've slept on the church

ground during festival.

Where's your church?

Paiga RC church in Pala.

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