The Crown of Creation

Hraday Koul Bharti

"What is this?” she said.

"A spider’s web”. I told her

"It is so fine”, turning on her side, she moved towards me.

"I had brought it for you”, I told her and she felt pleased.

"What is that?” She pointed to the shelf over the window.

"Cactus", I replied.

"What is that"? she asked again.

"Naagphani", I replied in an explanation, but the truth is that she did not take it in.

"What do you need it for"? she put another question.

"Its thorns are fashioned into a crown".

"What are the crowns of thorns used for"? she put her plump and smooth arms around my neck.

"That has its customers", I told her cutting the matter short,

"To what use do we put its leaves"?

"Don't you know"? I asked her back

"No", she shook her head.

"Scorpions are fond of its leaves", I made her understand.

"Well, how does it interest you"? she asked me again

"Their poison is very costly". I told he,

"Do you sell that too"?

"Yes", I replied briefly.

"Who will be its buyers"? she asked in surprise.

"Every one!"

"For what purpose"? she asked again,

"Some buy if for taking themselves still others buy it to make others take if, I replied.

She remained silent for a moment after this and I sported with her organs with my fingers. She remained motionless for a while.

Then her eyes fell on that wall where a lizard stood as if in a meditation on the prowl for a fly.

"What is there on that wall"? she pointed to the lizard on the wall.

"A chipkali", a lizard, I told her laughingly.

"A lizard!" she said with a start.

"Why are you surprised"?

"Do not you know? It is reminded after two and a half ghari (a measure of time)".

"Well, what then"? I asked her.

'Then what after when two and a half ghari pass, it will be reminded of..”

"Of what" I cut her in the midst of her reply.

"That it will have to give you a sting", she said opening her eyes wide.

"I will also give it a sting", I told her moistening my lips.

"Why do not you give it then"?

"Because I too will be reminded of it after two and a half gharis".

"What? What will you be reminded of”? she asked.

"Of my own nature".

"What would you do then"?

"Sting it, to be sure", I told her laughing.

"But it is possessed of venom", she made me aware.

"I, too, have that”.

"Then give it a sting", she suggested

"Not yet”, I told her

"When will you do it then"? she asked again.

"After two and a half gharis are over when I am reminded of my nature. The only problem remains whether its two and a half gharis or those of mine are over first".

"What does that mean"? This did not enter her head.

"That, my dear, means that if its two and a half gharis are shorter than that of mine, it will be reminded of that first and then accordingly bite me".

"Then?" she asked with some perturbation.

"Do not you worry", I consoled her.

"What will you do"? she asked.

"It will take to a swindle, I will move the hands of my watch back".

"It, too, can resort to a swindle!"

"No"! I said with a measure of confidence.

"Why not"?

"Because it is not the Crown of Creation' ;while I am. She felt pleased on hearing my reply She was contented. She folded the spider's web and held it close to her bosom with affection. I stretched my arm and switched off the bulb. Everything smoothed out in the darkness.