I call myself a radical thinker. I jeer at people who attach importance to time, date and period. I take lightly the beliefs of our ancestors. The one , which completely made me break into laughter was the trusted belief in the evil sway of certain person’s eyes.My relative ,used to swear on me that the evil effects got transmitted whenever an unwanted , a jealous , individual looks at you. I just brushed aside the whole narration, as a light hearted devolution. I did conceal my suspicion , lest my relative should not feel let down.
This being so, I led a life of my own, not penetrated by superstition, not disturbed by astrology, distanced from numerology and adamantly resistive to superstition. On and off, the good hearted relative of mine gave me advice ,as to keep away from the vicinity of a person who is related to me by my martial ties. I said , “go ahead with your job,do not bother about me.I know how to keep myself intact.” My attitude did not deter him from warning me .and cautioning me when I happened to come across the evil eyes of that specific person.
A fortnight back, I was in robust health. I had to attend a function of the priest in our temple. I made myself available all the two days . The function went on with ease. I took part in all the important rituals along with my husband. The evil eyes followed me , wherever I went. I did not mind it. The next day, I could not get up from my bed, I was down with high fever. I was in a sort of delirium. My eyes were watery, my hands and body were shivering. I was totally sick. The next day, it worsened, and the discomfort and fever continued to rage high. My Physician made two visits daily . He was perturbed about my depleted comfiture.I was tied to the bed. Incessant cough was rocking me. Nausea was crippling me. There was an irresistible turmoil in the intestine. My husband was shocked , as he had seen me in such horrible state all through our long married life of 36 years.
Hearing my condition, the good relative of mine ,rushed to me. He stroke my head with care, and whispered. “How many times , I have pleaded to you to keep out of those evil eyes?You never took it seriously. Now see the suffering you undergo”.
My mind is at cross roads. I recline with exhaustion. Have I to believe my good samartian’s thoughts.?I feel dizzy. I am drowsy. Well, slowly , I am accepting my good hearted friend’s words. There is some truth in what he says, I conclude.
Meenas Poems 