2023-08-03 20:47:46
Sugar cane, drops of blood, pearls of sweat, his life on the plantation is far from arid.
*
-You have blood here. Nagamootoo places a kiss on the neck marked by the red marks left by the bloodied mundanai. He runs his tongue over his lips without letting go and finds himself enjoying the salty metallic taste of blood, sweat and sugar cane juice.
Mmmm…it tastes like urukka. He closes his eyes to remember the taste of the condiment.
-Make me something to eat while I wash myself, my belly, he screams. Feigning anger, Panchami pushes him away and takes the path to the Ravine de Saint Gilles. Surprised to hear him speak Creole, Nagamootoo smiles and leaves for the noise. The absence of his beloved suits him, because he had decided to prepare a real feast for her this evening.
*
The spirit of Panchami escapes along the Bruniquel Canal. She was only 16 or 17 years old when she followed her husband Samikannu to settle in Reunion Island. After his second contract, the latter returned to Pondicherry to find a wife, and it was only natural that he married his niece Panchami. The latter would never have imagined that her life would take such a turn. Going away from his family to an unknown destination frightened him. But these distant lands were not foreign to her, however, because she lived in Coolietheruvu which was near the Draupadi temple, at the entrance to the village of Murungapakkam, south of Pondicherry. Called this way because of the inhabitants who had a link with indentured labor, the rue des coolies lived to the rhythm of the departures and returns of the indentured laborers who unchangingly defied their destiny. Panchami was just a young girl dressed in paavadai-sattai when Samikannu returned from Maurise theevu the first time. His sturdy body and big mustache frightened him. She hid behind her mother whenever he tried to lure her to him to have fun with her. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, not daring to approach him. She never felt close to him despite her family’s jokes, because she was Samikannu’s betrothed. Her destiny dressed in daawani waiting for her return, left draped in sari towards Reunion.
*
Panchami abandons his memories for a moment at the entrance to the first tunnel dug in the rock. You had to be careful because the slope of the ravine is steep, probably due to a scree. It crosses the second tunnel then a narrow fault, and finally arrives at Bassin Malheur. Tired from walking, she sits down on a rock at the foot of the waterfall.
“Pāzha pônè Mascareignes!” Tears flow when she thinks of the ship which had transported this accursed disease which took away her Samikannu. She was angry with Captain Joseph d’Agnel and his supercargo Joseph Menon who disdained the cholera raging in Kilwa from where the ship left loaded with African recruits. She had prayed to all the gods, had walked miles and miles to go to the new La Salette chapel in Saint-Leu to save her husband. Of Hindu denomination, this double religious practice was not foreign to him, because for generations, his family went frequently to the church of Our Lady of Health of Ariyankuppam. But fate decided otherwise… Samikannu succumbed to the disease and left her alone without a family.
Panchami’s first instinct was to go home. But knowing the fate of widows in Indian society, she dismissed the idea. She would have been dressed in white, she would have been cloistered in four walls without any social life, and at 20 her existence would have stopped at the gates of forbidden paradises. Panchami did not want to bend to this unjust tradition, so she decided to stay in Reunion and continue the life she had started. Come what may!
*
-Néna nothing ke your tooth ke white white kom a grain of rice. Nagamootoo hands the plate to Panchami who was enjoying his favorite rum.
-You have surpassed yourself today my gate. It is a real feast that you have prepared for me there.
– Sosso rice, sautéed pork curry, sausage rougail with bird pepper and boucané bringel rougail.
A melancholic sillarai pāttu rises towards the misty sky to interrupt the sad silence of the plantation.
“I feel good in your arms” Curled against Nagamootoo, Panchami draws insignificant shapes on his chest.
-So why don’t you stay with me Panchami? His voice becomes pleading.
-Don’t spoil this nice Nagamootoo moment. She, like you, is also part of my life. I can not choose…
*
Panchami hurries, she’s late for the big day. We were going to open the Chapelle Massalin Karly, which was the first temple on the plantation, and everyone was thrilled. Panchami finished his day earlier than usual and went to take his usual bath at Bassin Malheur. On the way back she is still invaded by doubt. Should she go with Raharianne or Nagamootoo? The latter would have been the natural choice since he was a Hindu like her; but Panchami was not afraid of ladilafé. Everyone knew she was a liberated woman.
*
A smell of suruttu greets her as she crosses the edge of the sugar cane field. No doubt, it’s Virassamy! Displeased by his presence, she tries to avoid him, but the man gets in the way and blocks her way. He’s been hovering around her for a while. Her lustful gaze had followed her from a distance since the first days of her arrival on the island. But after Samikannu disappeared, Virassamy was no longer hiding. He often came to annoy her. The man did not seem to give up his advances despite Panchami’s multiple refusals.
– This is not Virassamy time, I am in a hurry.
-You have time for the whole world, but never for me. he said mockingly. His cheerful voice irritates Panchami who tries to get around him.
-I’m not in a joking mood. Finally, what do you want from me? Be reasonable, you know very well that I am not alone.
-Exactly ! Why refuse me when you have more than one person in your bed.
-What I do in my bed is my business. I sleep with whom I want and how I want. It is not your problem.
-That you’re sleeping with Nagamootoo is one thing, but sharing your bed with that cafrine bitch is disgusting! Am I less than a slave?
-I don’t allow you to talk about Raharianne in this way! I do what I want, no one has the right to judge me. Especially not you Virassamy! Panchami tries to push him with all his might to force his way through. But the man is strong. He grabs Panchami’s hand and twists his arm behind his back.
-Let go of me, you brute, otherwise I’ll stir up the neighbors.
– You can shout as much as you want my beautiful, there is no one left. They all went to the temple.
Panchami understands at this moment that she is really in danger. The villain had well planned his offence. The sound of Thappattai resounds in the distance, the party has just begun. There is no way anyone will come to her rescue. The smell of Virassamy’s putrid breath mixed with rum and suruttu disgusts her. She feels his hard cock swollen with bestial desire when he serves her against him. Panchami chokes. She frees herself from his grasp and claws at his face.
-Thevudia mundai! Virassamy rushes at her and slaps her repeatedly until she falls to the ground. You depraved! Sleeping with a man is not enough for you, do you also need a woman? What do you have between your legs bitch? Come, I will satisfy you for good! Virassamy looks around in search of something. Panchami takes advantage of this moment to get up and runs to her house. The man follows her with a long cane stick. She barely has time to get into the hustle and bustle when Virassamy joins her and grabs her by the hair. He knocks her down on the ground, lies full length on top of her and spreads her thighs with his legs. With his left hand he holds her arms, while with his right hand he tries to push the stick of sugar cane inside the young woman. Panchami screams and struggles. Virassamy lets go of his arms and puts his hand over his mouth to stifle the screams. Panchami’s hands grope and search for something. The rhythm of Thappattai is more and more frantic. Karly came out of the koilu for the procession. In a last gesture of despair Panchami seized what she was looking for.
Headless Virassamy’s body lies on the ground
Pāzha pône maschettou!
Cane juice, drops of blood, pearls of sweat
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