THE CONFESSION OF AN INNOCENT CONVICT/ Story by Senganithene

” Appavin marana vakkumoolam” By Kadayam Balan- Translate by Senganithene

(கடையம் பாலன் எழுதிய “தண்டனை பெற்ற அப்பாவியின் மரண வாக்கு மூலம்” என்ற சிறுகதையை செங்கனிதேன் ஆங்கிலத்தில் மொழி பெயர்த்துள்ளார்.)

‘’Death Sentence’’ – an unbearable statement even for a cruel person who had committed a very cruel action .But he too will have soft corners from the judges. You know, I did not do anything cruel, but I am going to be killed for no reason in course of time. Before this beautiful world being separated from me, let me unfurl my deepest feelings. I know that you cannot save me from my death but a drop of your valuable tear will surely take me to heaven.
I was born of a mother and brought up by step parents. My biological mom who fed me had completely forgotten me. My step parents showered me with unconditional love and gave me whatever I asked for. They fed me with delicious and nutritious food and felt happy to see me grow. When I Jumped and played they asked their children to play with me .When I fell ill, they could not bear my suffering. Immediately they brought a doctor to treat me. They felt relaxed only after I became normal. They brought me up in such a beautiful way but, they were the one who sent me to guillotine. I could not see any trace of emotion in their eyes. My mom stood there with a merciless heart. I was eagerly searching for my step sister Anu, thinking that she would be the one to raise her voice against this injustice. Then only I realized that the little girl was locked in when I was about to be taken out from the house .So I left my flying kisses in the gentle breeze requesting it to deposit it to her and started moving.
‘’God Promise,’’ I did not commit any sin. They thought that I would run away so they tied me in a rope and dragged me along with them. They were taking me through a green pasture where they were going to execute the punishment. No law could stop my death.
I could not commit suicide nor would they poison me. They had decided to kill me in a different manner.
You would now have understood who I am.
Yes, I am a lamb.
I can understand what you feel about my narration.
‘’Oh! Don’t stop listening to me’’ My real pain lies in my further narration only.
Once upon a time, we lived in the forest like the early man. All wild animals loved hunting us. Since our main food were grass and vegetation of different varieties ,all the flesh eating animals started hunting us as they found us nutritious. We worried that our generation would soon be extinct. So, we started running away from the wild animals and took shelter under human civilization.
As civilisation took place, man built houses and buildings to live in. They started cultivating the land for food. They decided to keep us their domestic animals. You may ask me-, are they not keeping you only for meat? Yes it is true. It was the habit of mankind to consume us, when we grew old. But some would feel pity on us. So they would never kill us directly. Instead they would offer us to god (deities) and would consume our meat. Surely we could not find fault with them. But one thing was very true. If they had not provided us with shelter, our species would have been wiped away from the face of earth. So we are very grateful to mankind.
But at present, I am so upset with my step parents. First of all I have not yet grown to be killed for meat. Secondly, People who are coming to buy us from nearby villages will have large moustache and sharp knife on their belt. But this time some handsome officials in formal dress came and talked to my step parents. My step father showed them my large well grown uncle. As he cost higher, their eyes preyed on me and they picked me out for a low rate and forced me to walk with them.
If I had been a delicious meal to my step parents, I would have been very happy to die for them. Alas! I am going to die for strangers. I am brought near the murder ground. But to my surprise there are no knives, stove or any cooking utensils. I happened to see a large iron cage, covered with green leaves. Inside I could see my favourite food; Of course, that is my last supper.
I would have been happy, had I been food to men. Alas! I am going to be a prey to an animal.
Days back, a Jaguar had hunted some of our species and even tried to hunt mankind. So they are trying to catch the Jaguar using me as bait. So they are going to tie me inside the cage. Sure, the jaguar will come and fall for the bait.
‘’I don’t hesitate to sacrifice my life to save mankind. Will my death be the end for their problems?’’;’’No’’, when the Jaguar comes inside the cage, the door will automatically close. The Jaguar will try to escape. But he can’t.
The people will be overjoyed to see the jaguar being caught. They will further appreciate the forest officials who have done this and they will get name and fame.’’
‘’Do you know what will happen later?’’ The government will order them to send the wild animal back to the dense forest, as the law does not permit them to kill it. So the jaguar will be taken back to the forest and it will be left free.

The jaguar thinks – ‘’Ha-ha, I am back to my place. I’ve got delicious food and even freedom. How nice is this!’ Whenever I don’t get food in the forest, I will go back to human locality”.
By the time another innocent lamb like me will be a scapegoat .Oh! It is getting dark. They are setting a CCTV camera and leaving the place. I can see the birds coming back and playing with their younger ones. Every part of nature, birds and animals are happy. But I’m shuddering in fear. Oh! The Jaguar is coming…The monkeys are screaming… But I’m …. GOOD BYE.