Jatayu sits in the verandah keeping his face on his palm as the dawn comes to an end. The carts go into the village making creaking noise. This time wind becomes very heavy. The wind comes running from the vacant field. It seems to be thrown into Lodha village. People think that Lord Shiva moves in this wind. How uncontrollable the wind is ! Jatayu is too afraid. He looks afar. His eyelids become tired. He starts perspiring. The fear does not leave him. Madhav comes and asks, “Father, you haven’t eaten yet! Will you die out of  starvation ?” 
Rice does not taste good in Jatayu’s tongue. Madhav too is equally responsible for his suffering. Mahadev fits a pump-set on the bank of  Yampukur. He has promised people before election, “Make me win. I’ll fulfil your demands. Water of Yampukur will be pumped and fishes of the pond will be caught. We won’t leave the old turtle too. We will sell the fishes and enjoy a grand feast in the school ground. You will be fully fed. You will eat there to your heart’s content. No one needs to contribute.’’
People write with the blue ink throughout the wall for election campaigning which Jatayu cannot read. Madhav, a son of Lodha family reads upto class VI. Jatayu considers it to be the blessing of ancestors of the family. He is so proud of his son. Madhav got ticket to contest in election. He filled up the election form and submitted to the B.D.O. office. Mahadev was there with him. While returning home he bought sweets for his father and told him,
“Father, no one  can cheat us now. If our party wins Mahadev will be our village-chief. He read with me in school.
Jatayu, aged above 60, told with a great regret to his son, “I don’t need GR. May you be happy, son and I’ll be happy with that. Your mother would have been so happy today if she would have lived now. If she would have been treated by a specialist she would have escaped such a premature death. Son, these are all because of my misfortune.’’ Jatayu broke into tears.
Madhav wins the election and Jatayu cannot sleep out of delight. He tells the neighbours, “You’ll no longer have hardship. Madhav is a son of Lodha family. Now he’ll remove our hardship.’’ Jatayu starts dreaming from then on. 
Now Madhav is the most faithful worker of Mahadev. He goes with him sitting on the back seat of his bike. He talks with the babus so fluently. He often goes to the B.D.O office putting on the soda-cleaned shirts. He is over-burdened with anxiety. People have a great expectation from him. Madhav assures them, ‘‘You don’t need to worry. I’ll try my best for your welfare. I’ll plant trees beside the roads of the village. There will be cool shades of the trees. Police can’t charge and arrest any one of you. You, people who work in the field, please don’t touch the belongings of others without asking them.’’
‘Madhav’ is no longer a name of a particular youth. He is the embodiment of the spirit of the village. Still Jatayu feels no relief. He overheard them. The day before yesterday Mahadev came to their house. Jatayu told him to sit on the mat. He became pale to hear their conversation. But he could not protest. That day Mahadev behaved like a mad ox. He told Madhav, “Don’t get late. We must start pumping the water of Yampukur. I promised the village people, I’ve to finish the work.” They fit six pump sets on the bank of the pond which create ear-piercing sound. Jatayu wants to escape and avoid such sound. But, where does he go ? He can’t leave this village. 
He just feels that the old turtle  is raging and fuming in the courtyard of his mind. Blood-stained Jatayu with  the scratches of the turtle is getting restless for his relief. Ripples do not play in the water of Yampukur. The pond is no longer an attractive  one. Water of the pond is covered with water-hyacinth plants. Still Jatayu loves this ugly pond more than his son, Madhav. How can he make Mahadev feel this ? Why does Mahadev feel this ? Madhav, his own son does not feel, how can he expect it form Mahadev, an outsider ? Mahadev’s men bring the pump-sets from the market setting them on bullock-carts since morning. They bring the polythine-jars filled with diesel, and Madhav shows the way to the village to the drivers. Can’t he understand his father’s sentiment ? The bones seem to make sound in his inner-chest. He seems to shiver in this cold day. His old body usually starts shivering just out of fear which he often feels in cold days. How can he avoid the attractions of Yampukur? The old turtle hides somewhere in the mud-water of this pond. Every year it must appear itself taking aside the hyacinth plants. It spreads itself in the sun, testing air and light of the outer part of the pond and again it disappears in the mud. Jatayu loiters with a keen interest on the bank of Yampukur for the whole year just to have a glimpse of the turtle. Oh ! how beautiful the  turtle is! Satisfying his mind and eyes he returns home. The turtle has a back like the curved stone and yellow eyes where moss would gather. The eyes seem to be glittering more than the glass-balls. When it floats and appears in the pond, it seems to be Yama of Yampukur. Those who do not see this creature, can never be able to understand its glory. Jatayu heard from his father in his childhood that the turtle came floating in the flood-water and took refuge in the water of this Yampukur. From then on it has been staying here. His father often told him, “Turtle is an ominous creature. But it’s not so for everybody. May be lucky for some people.’’
But this turtle has been very lucky for Jatayu. Yampukur seems to be the heaven for him. The playful, cool wind scatters in these scorching hot days of Chaitra as there is the beautiful  pond at the threshold of his house. It revives his hopes and his old days twinkle at the expectation of happiness. The young boys fail to understand these. They are driven by their ego. They don’t have patience to listen to the babblings of Jatayu. Getting down in the knee-deep water of the pond fifteen labourers pluck the hyacinth plants. A leech sits on the knee of a labourer. The man feels pain when the leech falls down after sucking blood. Mahadev says, “ It is the habit of a  leech to suck blood. It has done its job, now you do yours. A lot of hyacinth plants are to be plucked yet. The pond needs to be cleaned before evening, otherwise we can’t catch fishes. The old turtle must be found out . The village-people are getting restless to have a glimpse of the turtle. I have promised them to show the turtle.”
Old Jatayu heard them and his heart contorted in some inexpressible agony. He sat still, lost and bewildered. Mahadev told him, ‘‘Father, please go elsewhere. The shrill sound of the machine will hurt your ears.’’ 
Still Jatayu does not move. Mahadev makes a sarcastic comment. 
“Your father must have a plan. Without having a plan he never goes anywhere.”
With folded hands Jatayu comes, says in a meek voice and downcast eyes, 
“ Babu, please listen to me. This pond was dug in the time of our fore-fathers. The water of the pond does not become dry in the excruciating drought. The village girls and women come to this pond for water. Why do you damage the pond ? What is the use of damaging the pond ?’’ 
“Definitely we’ll make profit damaging this pond. No one breaks stone without any hope of earning profit.” Mahadev continues, “There only water of two bighas remain and it is of no use. We’ll pump the water and make it a ploughland. Paddy will be produced and we will invest the money for the betterment of the village.’’
Jatayu’s heart begins to palpitate; yet he gathers courage and says meekly, “What about the old turtle ? He is the oldest resident of this village.’’
Mahadev replies, “We’ll chop the turtle and eat its flesh. We have not eaten turtle’s meat for a long time.The days of old and feeble have gone. This is the age of youth. We’ll do as we wish to do. No one can prevent us from doing anything.’’ 
Jatayu comes forward hesitantly, not daring to look up, and says in a meek voice, “Do whatever you wish, spare only the old turtle please.” They say, “So what ?” Jatayu is at a loss for words. People of the entire village have accumulated at the bank of Yampukur. They have’nt seen six pump-sets working at a time. They mumble among themselves only about the turtle. Everyone wants to see it. The mystery of the turtle seems to come to an end.
Jatayu does not prolong the debate. He breaks down completely and a deep cry rises in his throat. He is shocked into dull stupor. For whom ? For himself or for the old, feeble yellowish turtle ? He does not have the answer.
The flock of birds take refuge in the pakur tree as the dusk comes in Lodha village. Jatayu can find out heron, shamkhol, balihans with the birds. The water-birds are clamouring in fear. Jatayu feels pity for these birds. Raising feeble hands he tries to tell them, “Go somewhere else. Here is no one to look after you. Everyone is a slaughter here. They do not pay any heed to me.”
The birds fly away eastward. The birds, unlike the human beings, follow his words and he feels delighted at this.  He learns a lesson from the birds. Everyone should escape when he is in danger. Every creature can defend himself to evade death. 
The pond is cleaned before evening. There is a little more water left to be cleared off. The work will be finished if these six machines will go on for three hours more. It’s not easy to calculate the exact number of fishes in Yampukur. This  thought brings smiles to the lips of Mahadev. Now his mind is filled with happiness and hope. He says Madhav, “Bring bottles of country liquor. Today we’ll eat roasted fish. Go and search for enticing women. I’ll give them money  whatever they demand.’’ 
Jatayu is standing in the verandah with a glum face, his efforts are of no avail. His heart starts lamenting. Not for the fishes, but for the turtle. His old father told him in his death-bed holding his hand, “The turtle is lucky for our village. It never leaves us. Save it from every kind of danger. If it is endangered, you all will be endangered too.” Jatayu tells this to Mahadev too. He laughs on hearing this and says in sarcastic tone, “What the hell the turtle is ! All worthless babblings!’’
Jatayu says, “No, no, don’t say like this. It would be utterly irreligious!” “Irreligious ?’’ Mahadev exclaims. He tries to make his point clear to his father. “This pond is of no use. No one can bathe in it. No one can drink its water. It would be better to pump its water and turn the pond into a productive plough land. It will be used for the betterment of this village and that would be a real religious work.”
As the evening comes, Mahadev’s men lit the earthen lamp on the bank of Yampukur. A swarm of small insects are coming towards the light. Now Madhav gets drunk. Mahadev too.They are too drunk to walk. Jatayu makes a wry face. Madhav asks him, “Father, how long a turtle lives ?” Jatayu replies, “It lives as long as a banyan tree.” Madhav mocks at him, “So you’re a turtle!’’
Now he casts a glance at his son’s face suspiciously. People say truly, “It is the Kaliyug.” Tears rain down his eyes. He sees the full moon in the sky and from there his old, dead father seems to implore him, “ Don’t let the turtle die. This creature seeks betterment of the village. Don’t make all the villagers endangered.’’
Yesterday a meeting was held in the primary school ground. The leaders came from the town and gave speech. They told, ‘‘The real progress of the country lies in the progress of Lodha village. We want the backward Lodha village to come forward and take the administrative responsibility of the country. Madhav is our own son. You must cast him your vote and elect him.’’
Madhav does not join politics for the betterment of the village. Mahadev assures him the job of nightguard of the high school, if the result of election is in favour of him. He says more, ‘‘I’ll show the people that I’ll make them nightguards who are often accused to be thieves and it will be my greatest achievement. Madhav has doubts in it but he cannot express his mind. The people of ‘babu’ class of the village beat them just out of false suspicion. They are arrested without any evidence or witness. They are thought to be the born-thieves. The sin is in their blood. They say that whenever the Lodha people have the chance, they make the society of the gentlemen poisonous. He can never forget the incident when the people killed Samaru’s old father in the crowded fair and no one came to save him. On a sudden impulse, in blind rage, Madhav shouts, “The man who steals for the sake of assuaging his hunger, is called a thief. Why are not they called ‘thieves’ who make scam with common people’s money ? Why are not they punished in this society ?’’
As the night advances the shrill sound of the pump-machine scatters to every corner of the village. Staring at the moon he thinks about his old father and he calls up his last words. By hook or by crook the turtle has to be saved. The birds taught him the lesson how to save the turtle. Jatayu knows that the people who make tents on the bank of the pond will be touched shortly by the deity of sleep with her magic-stick. He is waiting eagerly  for that and stares at the bank of the pond. Diesel of the pump-machine is going to be finished. Someone says, “The engine gets hot. It needs rest for a while.” Another man replies, ‘‘That’s better. Let’s go to sleep. It’s too late.’’ Jatayu stands with the folded hands and says to the moon, “Father, I’m going. Give me strength.”
Jatayu is strolling and pondering that he has to carry the turtle to the pond behind the school. This is a secluded place. There it can live peacefully till death. No one can notice him to do it in this dark night. He is strolling silently. He hears the snoring sound of the drunk men. He feels relaxed. The sense of duty is haunting him now. Crossing the tent he stands now near the ghats of Yampukur. He takes a deep breath. His heart aches to see the dry pond. He wipes his eyes with the corner of his dhoti and gets down in the mud of the pond. The dirty, filthy mud is filled with the moonlight - it seems to be a dark girl having bright make-up. She can’t be recognised for her bright make-up. Jatayu is searching for the turtle restlessly. One koi fish passes him giving him a cold touch. Here is an abundance of old snakes. He is reminscing his childhood days even in this adverse situation. In those days this pond was not so dirty, full of water-hyacinths. The water was clear like crystal. People drank its water and quenched their thirst. He used to dive deep into the pond and his father told him, “Gods live in the pond. They are outrageous. They drag the young boys to the middle of the pond and suck their blood.”
As he thinks of the blood-sucking gods, he starts trembling, his vision gets blurred. Another fear has been haunting him for hours. If the people get up suddenly they will not leave him.
Now Jayatu is panting for breath. His eyelids get heavier. Where does the turtle hide ? Does it get afraid ? “I’ve come here to save you ?” -murmurs Jatayu. He tries to find it out.
The banks of the pond are filled with moonlight as well as the light of earthen lamp. The whole muddy pond is seen distinctly. Now he rubs his eyes with both hands. He gropes and tries his utmost to find the turtle. He thrusts his hands into the mud. His body is now full of mud-stains. His white hair is marked with mud too. Now he looks like a primitive man. He crawls on the mud and looks for the old creaure.
At last he finds the turtle beside the bank of the pond. He breathes a sigh of relief. He runs to the turtle. It gets afraid and tries to escape but in vain ! I’ll take you to another pond. These young people will kill you here. He stands in front of him and entreats it, ‘‘Please don’t escape. A great danger ahead!’’
Jatayu squats and tries to touch the turtle. It gets afraid and hides its mouth into its hard carapace. Jatayu can’t restrain his emotion yet. He tries to grasp its neck. It seems to be a stone, immovable. Now it tries to hide in the mud. Jatayu becomes lunatic and says plaintively. “Don’t get late. Night has come to an end. I need to take you so far. There we may meet some danger on the way. Hurry up !’’ Living stone does not pay any heed to him. Now Jatayu is compelled to carry the turtle on his back. The scared turtle exposes his mouth from the carapace and bites angrily Jatayu’s neck. His body gets curved in pain. Still he says earnestly, “Leave, leave. This is not the right time to quarrel. I’ve come here to save you.’’
The turtle does not leave him. He is not able to struggle against this old creature. Now he grasps tightly the neck of the turtle. Now it tumbles headlong  in the mud. Jatayu is bleeding profusely. Still he goes to the turtle. He pulls the turtle up to the bank of the pond.  Joy is radiated from his old, weak eyes. He stares at the full moon and cries exultingly, “Father, I’ve done it.”
All of sudden a pack of dogs starts barking. They can identify Jatayu but cannot identify this old creature. The men slept in the tent get up suddenly. They come out with sticks. Jatayu now starts running swiftly. The people run after him shouting ‘thief! thief!’
Jatayu tries to run more swiftly. He falls near the pond of the school and starts panting. Moving back he sees the people approaching.  Accumulating his entire strength Jatayu pulls the turtle to the water of the pond.
Floating for a while the turtle dives deep into the water of the pond. Now Jatayu behaves like a jubilant child; tears glisten in his eyes.
The people, burning with  rage, reach Jatayu. Their sticks break his head. A blood-stained dawn is seen in Lodha-village.

প্রয়াত দলিত কথাসাহ্যিতিক অনিল ঘড়াই-এর গল্প ‘লোধাগ্রামে সূর্যোদয়’-এর ইংরাজী অনুবাদ।