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 Ranjit Sarkar Murshidabad, Contents | Shankar Naiya was a seasoned and experienced man. The dense forests of the Sundarbans were as familiar to him as the palm of his hand. His power of intuition was so sharp that he could sense danger long before it arrived. He could detect the presence of ferocious wild animals. By looking at the color of the water, he could tell where fish or prawn fry were likely to be found in abundance. He had turned this talent into a profession. Those who went to catch prawn fry, crabs, or fish in the creeks near the forests around the Bidyadhari and Gomoti rivers often took him along. Before dawn one morning, Matangini came and called out, “Shankar-da, are you home?” Shankar pushed open the door and stepped outside. “Why, Matangini! Is that you?” “Yes, brother. Today you must come with me to the creek in the Pirkhali forest.” “What! Haven’t you heard? The Forest Department people were bursting firecrackers all night near Nagenabad. A tiger has crossed the river from the dense forests of Maipith and entered the villages. They were even making announcements over loudspeakers, warning everyone. Go back home quickly. Don’t stay outside. Until that tiger is caught, there’s no reason to feel safe.” “I know all that, brother. But what can I do? Hunger is a terrible thing. I haven’t been able to go out for three days because of all this. I simply must go today. You know the troubles of people who live from one day’s earnings to the next.” “Forgive me, Matangini, but I can’t go with you today.” Despite all her pleas, Shankar refused. Disappointed, Matangini returned home and told her sons, “Come on, let’s go.” Her elder son, Sudhir, said anxiously, “If Uncle Shankar isn’t coming, why don’t we stay home today, Ma?” But Matangini paid no attention to him. Her thoughts were occupied by the rented dinghy boat. Three days’ rent was already overdue. If she failed to pay and the owner took the boat back, everything would be lost. Their only means of livelihood would disappear. “Come on, let’s go. Don’t worry so much. Just keep your eyes and ears open. We have experience too, don’t we?” There were three of them. Sudhir sat at the bow with an oar. Adhir rowed from behind. Matangini sat in the middle, her eyes alert and watchful. Although this area was fenced with nylon nets, stopping the world’s most agile predator was no easy task. The rivers, channels, and creeks here were full of mysteries. Whoever could unlock those mysteries would fill their basket with fortune. Luck would turn in their favor, and they would see better days. But Matangini’s fate seemed buried beneath a stone. Despite constant struggle, she could barely gather enough to survive. Suppressing a sigh, she sat silently. “Adhir, row a little faster, son. It would have been good if we could reach the Sajnekhali side today. We haven’t earned anything for three days. If we could catch plenty of prawn fry, it would help.” As Sudhir adjusted the dinghy’s direction, he said, “But Ma, we don’t even have the proper permits. Is it right to go fishing in a restricted area?” “I know it isn’t. But where does obeying every law put food on our plates? All right then, let’s go to Bharani Creek instead. We’ll catch crabs today. The competition here is so intense that it’s hard to catch many crabs anyway.” With a swishing sound, Sudhir expertly positioned the dinghy at the mouth of the creek. Adhir drove a pole into the mud and secured the boat. The tide had not yet come in. Once it did, Matangini would lower her crab lines and begin fishing. Dense mangrove forests lined both sides of the creek. Breathing roots protruded from the muddy banks. A careless step could easily leave someone bleeding. Thick groves of goran, gewa, sundari, and hental trees crowded together. An eerie silence hung over everything. There were no cries of herons, no songs of birds. Only the intoxicating scent of the deep forest lingered in the air, enchanting anyone who entered. And it was in such moments that many people fell prey to the deadly Royal Bengal Tiger. Unequal battles between humans and tigers were common news in this region. The river water...
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