Yadin's day with a devil
 

Have you ever thought of spending a night in a cemetery? I know the very words "night" and "cemetery" would evoke fear, mystery and uncomfortable feelings.

Following is an account of a slightly mad ("Tikak pissu" like Silindu in "Village in the Jungle") man who lived in a village Down South. He was a middle-aged man who had no fixed abode. Although he was not a professional beggar employed by a mudalali, he begged for meals and plain tea - his favourite drink.

Without any worldly possessions Yadin, that was how he was known, never thought of the past of the future. He was concerned only with the present here and now. I did not know his educational background, but Yadin knew certain things which amazed those who happened to meet him.

Yadin had a long grey beard and his hair too was flowing down his shoulders. He used to wear a sarong which had not been washed for months. He himself never cared to have a bath. However, some village lads used to give him an "annual bath" whenever they felt like doing so.

He ate very little and drank water and plain tea. But he kept himself busy by carrying a heavy bundle of assorted things-broken cups, plates, spoons, rags etc. - up a hill every morning. Then he used to throw the bundle downhill. Again he would come down, pick up each item carefully and put them into the gunny bag.

He spoke very little but used to read some scraps of newspapers, magazines and books he had picked up from somewhere. Sometimes he would sit by the roadside and note down the numbers of passing vehicles. Or he would count the number of children ambling towards their schools. Parents paid no attention to him as he was considered a harmless 'Pissa."

One day Yadin felt hungry in the evening. When he looked round he saw a big fire burning in the village cemetery. He carried his bag, collected some pots and pans and got ready to cook his meals.

The fact that it was a funeral fire did not bother him. He removed some live coals from the fire and started cooking some rice. As everything was quiet he pulled out an old magazine from his bag and started reading it.

It was past midnight. Yadin yawned several times and thought of lying down on the ground. Before he could fall asleep there was a rustle in the nearby trees. Some branches were broken by an unseen hand. Then he heard the sound of a drum. He opened his eyes only to see what was happening around him.

"Ha...ha...so you dared to come here and spend the night?" A strange voice challenged him.

Yadin ignored it and closed his eyes in order to have a sound night's sleep. "Open your eyes and look at me," the stranger thundered.

Yadin saw a huge black figure with protruding eyes and teeth through his half-opened eyes.

"Now get moving. This is my province and the time is ripe for me to have my meals."

"If you are hungry, eat some rice. It must be ready by now," Yadin said nonchalantly. "Rice? Where on earth devils eat rice? I'd rather eat you," said the black figure in a threatening way.

"Eat me? Huh!," Yadin said ignoring the threat.

"Do you know who I am?" the black figure questioned.

"Some politicians also ask the same question," said Yadin.

"I'm Mahasona. don't compare me with politicians. We devils have better principles."

"I knew that you were Mahasona. But what does it matter to me?" Yadin asked.

"I'm the most powerful among the devils. Are you not scared of me?" Mahasona asked.

"Scared? My foot!" Yadin grinned.

"Now I'm going to chase you from here," thundered Mahasona.

"Do it if you can," Yadin said smiling to himself.

Mahasona came closer to Yadin and began to dance around him shouting and shrieking.

Yadin reached for the pot of rice and served himself a few spoonfuls of the hot stuff. Mahasona stopped his devilish dance and whispered into Yadin's ear: "I'm pleading. Please leave this place. Then I can have my meals in peace."

"Why should I leave this place simply because you want to have your meals?" Yadin asked in a subdued tone.

"I know... I know... but we do not have our meals in the presence of human beings," Mahasona pleaded.

"That's your problem. If you are such a powerful devil you should be able to solve it," Yadin said.

Mahasona at once realised that he had met his Waterloo.

"You know, I'm powerful enough to give you anything you ask. But I'm not powerful enough to eat in your presence," Mahasona said.

"Don't waste my time. Be off!" Yadin said.

"No, no. Please listen to me. Ask anything you want. I'm ready to give even a million rupees or valuable jewellery," Mahasona said.

"I don't need anything. I'm quite happy with what I have. Are you trying to make me unhappy by giving me worldly possessions?" Yadin asked.

"You are a strange man. In this era everybody is asking for more money and valuable things," Mahasona said.

"Let others ask for anything they want. But I don't want anything you are going to give," Yadin said.

Mahasona scratched his head not knowing what to do. Finally he realised that he had lost the verbal battle with the mendicant.

"You are a great human being. Even we become powerless when you make a stand against a powerful devil like me," said Mahasona disappearing from the scene.

"Nonsense," muttered Yadin and fell into a deep slumber.