Binisha and Puntey

Mahesh Karki Kshitiz

Binisha lives with her family in Ramkot. Her father works in an office. Domestic chores keep her mother busy all day long. Her brother is a college student.

Herbs, shrubs and trees surround her house. She likes seedlings, plants and trees with strong barks. She enjoys watching birds, nestlings and the beasts under the canopy of the branches.

After school, she rushes to the window wherefrom she views lives entertaining themselves in nature and  enjoys the panoramic view of the Kathmandu city. Her boredom vanishes immediately.

One day, when she was licking ice-cream sitting at the window, she could spot a lean and thin monkey Puntey gazing at her. She liked the monkey especially for its mischief. Her classmates often told her monkeys are bad, ugly and mischievous; they trouble people at the temples. They snatch and scamper, taking away the things people carried in hand for worshipping. Her friends always frowned at her for her interest in monkeys. But she believed every being has its own characteristics. Mischief was monkeys’ characteristic. Nature gave them this character by birth.

She observed the monkey and the monkey also kept gazing at her. She doubted that the monkey was vying for her ice-cream.

“What are you looking at, Puntey?” she asked.

Puntey showed no response. In no time, his eyes got filled with tears.

“Ah! What happened to you, Puntey?” she eagerly asked and beckoned him: “Come a little closer.”

He pressed closer.

“What a sad thing; this ice-cream has been tasted!. Or, won’t you mind leaking it? Binisha asked, her voice filled with sympathy.

“I am suffering from fever. I won’t take ice-cream. Instead…” Puntey paused without completing his sentence.

“Instead what, Puntey?” Binisha asked immediately.

“It has been a week I have eaten nothing. I have no one to feed and support me. May I get medicine and some morsel of cereals?” Puntey said, briefing Binisha with his problem. 

Binisha’s eyes got soaked in tears. She rushed to the kitchen and brought a few carrots and doughnuts and a glass of warm and offered to Puntey.

Puntey gulped all in a trice. He drank the water from the glass as a human does. Binisha was observing him keenly. She was left astounded.

“Sister! Now I take leave of you.”

“Not yet! You have not taken medicine. Mom will find some medicine for you after she returns. Just wait for a few more minutes.” 

“You have your mom! How lucky and blessed you are!” Puntey burst into tears.

“Father, mother and brother too! But don’t you have yours?”

Puntey did not utter a word. He dropped tears and wept. 

Binisha’s mother showed up in the meantime. Binisha narrated the story to her mother.

With love, the mother pulled Puntey to their guestroom. 

“Mom, he is suffering from fever. Shall I bring medicine from your drawer?” Binisha asked.

“Never! That medicine is for stomachache. How can we give that for fever? Don’t you know we should not take medicine without consulting a doctor?” the mother said.

We must take medicine according to the doctor’s prescription. Binisha learnt that we must not take medicines in haste.

A veterinary shop was close to Binisha’s home. Her mother fetched medicine and gave it to Puntey. He took it. 

“May I go?” he asked.

“OK! You may go now. Your parents must be waiting for you,” the mother said.

“Let’s allow Puntey to stay with us for today. He is sick. How can he go alone?” Binisha said, requesting her mother.

While Binisha and her mother were discussing the issue, Puntey’s eye got filled with tears. He could not control. He broke down.

“Why are you weeping?” Binisha asked immediately.

Her mother said, “He is weeping for he has to part with you. Isn’t it?” She looked towards Puntey and said, “Binisha will take you to your parents, wont it?”

 “No Auntie! I can meet her sometime later. I am weeping for I have no place to go!” Puntey wept bitterly.

“Puntey, what happened to your parents?” Binisha asked.

“A week earlier the forest I live in caught fire,” he said.

“Then!” the mother asked immediately.

“Many birds, nestlings, reptiles and animals died. We were about to fall into the flames. We all—my father, mother and I.  I was running in the front. After a while I turned back to make sure if they were following. They were not with me. They were lost and I arrived here,” Puntey said.

“Mother! Let’s go to search for Puntey’s parents,” Binisha said and rushed to the statue of God. She prayed to Him to keep Puntey’s family safe. She promised to offer a laddu as well.

“Puntey! You be here. Now onwards you will be Binisha’s brother,” said Binisha’s mother, reassuring him.

Puntey wiped his tears. Binisha watched him do so. She understood the harm wildfire does to the lives of wild animals.

“Mother! Puntey needs us. Let’s keep him with us. It is our duty to help others in need,” said Binisha remembering her teacher’s words.

“Binisha! Always love you parents. Without them we have no support in life,” Puntey advised Binisha.

Binisha who used to fight with her parents for her whims promised not to trouble and argue with her parents anymore.

All of them went to the statue of God and prayed for the wellbeing of Puntey’s parents.

— Trans: Subodh Khanal

[Mahesh Karti Kshitiz (b. 1984) is a noted critic and poet. His published works include Byavharik Samalochanaka Kehi Aayam and Nayanraj Pandeyka Upanayasma Subaltern. He is a regular contributor to several national dailies and journals, and his pursuing his PhD in body politics from Tribhuvan University.]