The Last Flicker

Book excerpt: Long Ago Dharam SinghýS Father Had Brought Thola To This Village. He Treated Him As His Own Brother And Had Even Gifted Four Bighas Of Land To Him. After TholaýS Death, Dharam Singh Took Sole Responsibility Of His Son Jagsir And His Mother Nandi. Over The Year, However, Things Changed. The Position Of Dharam Singh Weakened In His Family. Bhanta, His Son Who Had Always Opposed Dharam SinghýS Affectionate Regard For Jagsir Took No Time To Grab Back The Land Gifted By His Grand Father To Thola And Also Raced To The Ground, The Monument Erected By Jagsir In Memory Of His Father. The Aging Nandi Dies Of Shock. The Tragedy Of Jagsir Is Not Confined To This. It Is Also A Tragedy Of Unfulfilled Love For Bhani, NikkaýS Wife. Though His Long Years Of Loneliness, It Is Opium Which Somewhat Alleviates The Storm Raging Inside Him.