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Everybody were waiting so that somebody might bring their own document. For the moment, the silence felt like a heavy fog. The villagers looked at each other — the same hands that had been filled with tools in the morning were now clenched in helpless fists. Till there was a scream from faraway from Chintu, “I saved mine!” he shouted proudly. “I wrapped it in a plastic bag and put it inside the rice drum!”. He was the youngest of all in the village, not more than nine. Everybody turned to look at him, the officer also raised his eyebrow and asked,“ And, whose documents are those? ”. Chintu beamed,” Everyone’s”. Suddenly there was a smile on everybody’s face. Actually, Chintu was the postman’s nephew, he had once talked about the importance of the documents during the last monsoon. Since then, he had been quietly collecting copies of everyone's papers — storing them in what he called his “treasure chest.”. The villagers erupted with laughter and applause for Chintu. The officer also cracked a smile and then tried to look official again. “Fine. We’ll process the applications starting tomorrow. Bring what you have. Plastic drum files also accepted.”
Soon, the government officials left to visit the other villages for the announcement.
All the villagers of Azamgarh district were now relieved that there would no more be the tension of government. As soon as the village was filled with the laughter of children, a loud “MooOOooo!” echoed from the corner of the courtyard. All turned to see Mohan’s beloved cow, Lakshmi, coming straight towards the sacks of lime kept in a big cart. Mohan yelled and sprinted towards her by nearing falling in the mud but, Lakshmi knew no boundaries, before Mohan could do anything the sack limes had already been lying in the mud. The limes had come under Lakshmi’s long and the juice had been coming out of it. The lime juice started flowing through the trenches made by the villagers. The lime juice had evenly spread through the fields. Seeing this the villagers and the children were also surprised by the action and the contribution done by Lakshmi. She had nearly reduced half work of villagers. The children ran towards Lakshmi in excitement and dance around her in joy. Mohan was stilling lying in the mud while saying, “ No extra jaggery tonight! ”
While the village has dancing happily Raju came and picked up his brother while saying, “First Chintu and now Lakshmi the saviour, who needs superheroes when we’ve got our own team?”
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