Exodus

By Jaibala M Rao

Raj wondered if it was the same, when water was abundant. The year he was born, was the last time there was proper seasonal rains. After that the rains became erratic and the entire world population was slowly put in a nomadic state, moving in search of water from one place to the other. No one could know where when or how the rain would fall, and it was a matter of luck to find a good spot to settle.

Finding that land where his tribe could settle was his job. Raj was born with a unique ability that is what made him special. That is what made him the head of this village after his father passed away. He had the power to find water. They came from a family of Dowsers, or Well Witches. What that meant in especially in these times is that they were the most sought after people on the planet. The male member from the family of a Dowser was usually made the head of the tribe. Raj was young when he was handed the responsibility but, his maturity helped him handle the job well until now.

All his abilities were being put to a test and he was being forced to suspect wrongdoing in his small tribe and make some tough choices. He had had the chat with Saurabh, the reservoir in charge, and he knew the supply was dwindling faster than what they had estimated. The well they found, had enough water for six months, and now three and a half months later, it was almost over.

“Another month more”, Saurabh had said, “and then we have to move.” This was fifteen days back and Raj was no closer to finding out who was responsible for the dwindling water supply in the well. There wasn’t a problem with the rationing system like he had thought the last time this problem occurred. Now that he knew that the rationing was working fine, that meant only one thing someone was stealing water. He did not want to point a finger at anyone in his small tribe and accuse someone who was as close to him as family. He had taken his sister’s advice and come to a decision.

Riti was overseeing the packing, every time they had to move it was her job to oversee everything. They lived like the migratory birds, only instead of returning home they move to different places each time. They met the other tribes on their way and there were no boundaries and countries or differences. Not having roots, a place to call home, or stability could affect a person and trigger an emotional response in some people. This life took a toll one way or the other.

Riti knew there was a problem with the water rationing. She had overheard her brother talking to Saurabh, and knew just how grave the situation was. The water supply dwindling so fast was a major concern and raised so many questions. Raj had called Riti for her advice, her brother did that often. He respected her for the way she felt about the people. He was the practical one and sometimes tended to overlook the feelings of people. When he knew a situation would make him be overly practical, he would ask for her opinion and he did just that last night.

She knew many people in the tribe wanted to stay near the coast. There was a technique they used to recycle sea water and have unlimited supply for now. Staying near the coast came at a price, they would have to give up their rights and live by the rules of the tribe that had already inhabited the area. They would lose their identity, but gain stability. She had talked to Raj about it, they had also discussed the problem with the water supply and whether they should try and find the reason for the dwindling. But that would clearly divide the tribe. She told Raj clearly, “You are faced with a difficult choice. Either you find the person responsible and throw him out of the tribe, or you decide that it is time to stop moving and settle down without having to ration water, and erase the existence of this tribe. The choices are clear and its time you make one.”

*****

Nirja looked at the child and knew what she had brought upon the tribe; the child belonged to another tribe and was left behind during a move. When she had seen him at their last settlement, he had not had water or food for days; she couldn’t abandon him, uncared for and thirsty. She had taken him in, and the whole tribe paid for that decision. She realised that when they asked them to pack their things earlier. She was biding her time waiting for Raj to realise that she was the one. Nirja wondered what He would do.

She knew the risk she was taking, she knew they price she have to pay, she would lose her place in the tribe, causing water wastage amounted to treason these days. And being left alone in the desert without a tribe to care for was worse than death. But last night gave her hope. Nirja overheard Raj and Riti talking, when she had snuck out to get some water for the boy. And when she heard what was being discussed she felt that there was a silver lining. Maybe giving that kid shelter was a good thing after all.

Settling near the coast would give her the stability she always craved for and that also meant that she could own up to the kid, to having him here with her, granting him shelter and more than anything water. Their lives would change forever. When she heard Riti tell Raj of the other option though, she wondered what Raj would decide, but above all she asked herself whether freedom was the right price to pay for stability.

By Jaibala M Rao