The story revolves around a mismatched couple, Punaba and Khatila, who met after a long absence. The couple was initially met with disbelief and disgust from the villagers, who were shocked by the disparity between their appearances and family positions. The man, Punaba, was a driver and had only read up to class five and could speak some Hindi and English. However, the woman, Khatila, was tall, fair, slim, and came from a good family.
The couple moved to a house and seemed to be leading a normal life. However, rumors began to circulate that the man was impotent or sterile, or the woman was barren. The couple ignored these rumors and appeared completely absorbed in each other and their household.
After a year of marriage, the entire land became caught in a wave of patriotic fervor, leading to a struggle for independence. The village became part of a network that supplied information, food, and occasional arms to the underground outfit. Young people spoke of their peers’ exploits and were eager to join the new band of ‘patriotic’ warriors to liberate their homeland from foreign rule. Skirmishes took place close to the village, and the atmosphere within the village became one of fear and mutual suspicion.
Khatila’s village was not affected by these horrors, as none of their boys who joined the underground movement were of any importance in the eyes of the government. One day, Punaba did not return from his usual trip, but Khatila did not seem unduly worried. Soon, the village grapevine brought news that their own Punaba had joined the underground army and was doing well for himself.
The village of Khatila, where Punaba joined the underground army, was surrounded by government forces who began questioning the villagers about his whereabouts. Khatila, a beautiful woman, refused to reveal her husband’s whereabouts, fearing that he would come back and raze their village. The village elders asked her to send word to Punaba not to visit her, but she agreed to try.
The conflict between the rebels and the government forces escalated, with even villages becoming more sympathetic towards the underground forces. Punaba’s fellow villagers became in total sympathy with the rebels, and the village became one of the main conduits for supplies and information. Punaba sent messengers to Khatila regularly, and she knew all about the underground outfit her husband was heading.
After only three years of service, Punaba became a captain in the rebel army and visited his wife several times. One such visit occurred when Punaba returned from a five-month absence, feeling healthy and happy for the first time in months. However, the next morning, the soldiers approached their house, warning them to run away. Khatila, agitated, bundled up Punaba’s uniform and gun, ordered him to get into his old clothes, and smeared his face, hands, and feet with ash.
Khatila also filled the water-carrying basket with empty containers and insulted her servant. When the soldiers reached her house, she yelled at the young Captain, who looked surprised at her manner. Khatila confronted the servant, who hurried out of the house and onto the path leading to the third well. She gave Punaba more choice abuses and pushed him out of the house, leaving him and his small party behind.
Khatila reveals her husband Punaba’s ugliness to the Captain, who reluctantly leads the search party away from the house. The village was saved from destruction if Punaba had been killed or captured that morning. The struggle between rebels and underground forces continued, and Punaba’s visits to see his wife were never discovered. Punaba’s escape was attributed to his shrewd planning and promotion to Major in the underground army.
When a general cease-fire was announced, Khatila persuaded Punaba to join her, as life became too lonely without him. Despite not possessing a regular certificate, Punaba was given a job in the State Transport Department as a mechanic and posted at Mokokchung. Years later, the real story of the incident became a favorite subject for friends, and Punaba would playfully ask his wife about the water he sent him to fetch that day.
Summary of Temsula Ao The Night
Summary of Temsula Ao The Pot Maker
One Reply to “Summary of Temsula Ao The Jungle Major”