Answer: Venu had spent the day with his mother at the busy bazaar in Kodaikanal town selling their crops of fresh cauliflower, cabbage, garlic and onions. As they wearily made their way back to their village, Venu played his flute. He carried this flute everywhere and played exquisite music which always made his mother happy.
On entering their farmhouse in Vilpatti, Venu sat on a stool next to the bed where his father was resting. ‘Tantai,’ said the boy, ‘please eat some more rice. It does not look like you have eaten at all today and the doctor said you need to try and keep eating regularly so that you might keep up your strength.’
The old man looked lovingly at his son. ‘Venu, my sweet boy, the doctor says all sorts of things, but the truth is my health is getting no better. If only I had not worked in that mining factory for all those years I am sure my health would not be so bad. Poor Adhir’s wife has received no compensation from the company after losing her husband and he worked so hard. What does the company do? They just brush it aside under the carpet as if nothing happened. They are getting away with murder!’
Venu was always upset whenever his father spoke of his illness. ‘Tantai, please don’t talk like that, it makes me sad. I love you, Tantai!’
‘I love you too, my boy, but there is no future for you here.’ It was then that the old man’s face took on a very serious expression. ‘That is why you must leave this place. I do not want you ever working in the mining factory. Not ever!’
‘But I don’t want to leave, Tantai. I love the forest and have many friends here. I don’t want to leave.’
The boy was very upset at his father’s words and he began to cry, but the old man, despite his sickness and his frailty, remained stern. He said:
‘How many times have we discussed this, Venu? There is no cure that can rid my body of the damage done by the mercury pollution. No cure for me or for my fellow workers. These companies have no shame: coming to our beautiful land and taking over, destroying nature just for money. They do not care about the beautiful trees or the animals who make their home deep within the forest.’
‘But I care!’ said Venu as he jumped to his feet and stormed out of the house. His father knew where the boy was going: to his favourite place, his beloved forest.
Venu had always loved the forest, ever since he could remember. It enchanted him, made him feel alive, safe and loved. He felt a freedom within the forest that he did not feel in any other place in the whole wide world. And he loved to play his flute there, alone with the wildlife and the music.
Deep within the forest, the blue and purple flowers of the Kurinji were in bloom. ‘How majestic,’ thought Venu as he admired the colourful plants spread here and there between the big cypress, eucalyptus and acacia trees.
Venu’s favourite gifts of the forest were the wonderful fruits which he could pick off of the trees and eat. He spotted a tree with peaches on it and picked himself a plump, juicy specimen that he knew instinctively would be ripe. He bit into the red and orange flesh and the rich juice oozed out and ran down his cheeks.
How he delighted in this simple pleasure, sitting in his forest eating his peach while watching the nilgiri monkeys up above chasing each other from branch to branch. Vinu also admired a beautiful flock of Red-Whiskered BulBul birds that flew towards him out of the blue sky above. Then he saw Laila the baby elephant approaching. He had been witness to her birth the previous year and they had been close friends ever since.
Venu walked up to Laila and offered her the remaining half of his luscious peach which she accepted in one mouthful. The boy looked at his friend, his heart full of sorrow. ‘My father has plans for me to leave Kodaikanal, to leave my forest, but I don’t want to go! This is my home.’
Once these words had left Venu’s lips, the young boy began to cry. Laila looked up at the boy and said:
‘Venu, my mother and father are both dead after drinking from the lake where the factory dumps its mercury waste. It is not safe here anymore. They have spoiled our paradise and they are not stopping. You must leave, Venu. I do not want you to fall ill! When you arrive in your new home, tell them what is happening to our forest. Tell them that the forest needs help. Tell them that the factory and the mines must go!’
Venu wiped the tears from his eyes. ‘You are right, Laila. That is exactly what I am going to do. I will let people know what is happening here.’
Explanation:
