The Last Wave by Pankaj Sekhsaria

Author:Pankaj Sekhsaria
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Felix had now grown animated as he told Seema of the Jarawa honey method. He lowered his voice in a way that was both dramatic and full of conspiracy. Seema found Felix’s manner more than mildly hilarious, and worked hard to prevent a smile from escaping her lips. She did not want to short circuit Felix at this point.

He explained in detail how the Jarawa used the leaves of a plant called tomale, the juice of which worked as a bee-intoxicant. ‘After applying the juice to their bare bodies, they scamper up huge trees like monkeys did back in my village in Jharkhand. Tomale juice has an unbelievable effect on the bees. They get drowsy and tipsy, exactly like our Mathew uncle,’ Felix chuckled, ‘gets high on aunty’s handia. You see,’ he looked at Seema, with an excited look in his eyes, ‘the bees lose all their aggression and all orientation. They are all around you, but they don’t sting. You can easily get all the honey you want. It is a simple and efficient method and completely risk-free. I don’t think,’ he emphasized, ‘anyone in the world extracts honey in such a fantastic manner. In some matters these Jarawas are ustads.’ The admiration was evident in his tone. ‘Real ustads. Sometimes I wonder how they know so much. Who taught them all these things? And you know,’ he continued with pride, ‘they even taught me. I can extract honey just like the Jarawa themselves, and I am even better than some of them now,’ he concluded with a wink.

‘That I must say,’ Seema smiled, ‘is amazing.’

‘What am I telling you, Madam?’ Felix quickly took off as he was wont to do. ‘We have been living here for so many years. You live here with me for three years and you will also learn. God alone knows what else the Jarawas have knowledge of. They don’t take our medicines even. They know everything about the forest. It’s like their bazaar, but here everything comes for free.’ He sighed as if to signal he was finally done, but then suddenly started off again. ‘Arre, I forgot in all this talking,’ he said, getting up. ‘I’ll just be back.’ He went into his house and came back with a small plastic bottle filled with a golden-coloured fluid. ‘Pure honey, from the land of the Jarawa. The best honey in the world. Give it to David babu also!’ he said, thrusting the bottle into Seema’s hands.

‘No,’ Seema tried to resist. ‘It’s okay. I don’t want it.’

Felix insisted. ‘I know what you are thinking. I agree this is honey from the land of the Jarawa, but this is the honey that I have collected myself.

‘Please take it,’ Felix pleaded, leaving Seema with no choice.

‘Thank you,’ she said taking the bottle, ‘but Felix, can you tell me something about this Tanumei as well? What is his story? You know him?’

‘Tanumei? Everyone is talking about that Tanumei, his fracture and all that. We always knew him and his band – absolute rascals.

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