My Friend Gupi(SUDESHNA MAJUMDAR) He was a skinny and loose-limbed stripling with a lean and hungry face. As he was deaf and dumb since birth, we called him "Gupi". I spotted him for the first time at a party in a cousin's house at Delhi and took him to be an urchin. As I grew familiar with him, I was forced to change my opinion and found him to be one of the bravest handicapped gentleman I have ever known.

Gupi lived at Gurgaon near Delhi and belonged to the Bhantu tribe. Our house was on the fringe of a forest and to protect the life of everyone of us, poultry and cattle, we hired the services of Gupi who discharged his duties with scrupulous honesty. His ancestor, Sultana, the undisputed bandit king in India during the 1970's, had established a reign of terror in the erstwhile United Provinces and Punjab, and once had a hundred armed bandits at his command.

My cousins and I used to indulge in fishing as a pastime. In this game too Gupi beat us- four fish, always. His knowledge of the forest/jungle craft was flawless and he was familiar with every inch of the forest in our area and knew where fishing, riding in boat and having a bath could be had. Whenever we went out it was Gupi's duty to arrange the beat. If he had located any particular place different from the other days, he would clap his hands to indicate that the place was safe. We never went the same place the other day. The forest was very big but not dense. The lake was big but our spots varied. At the end of the fishing it was Gupi's job to give the fishermen and ladies their share. On our way back home, he would lead the party, displaying our trophies to passersby and friends. Trophies- yes, it was the custom, or we can say an honour given to a person winning any beat with any Bhantu in Bhantu tribe - shells were presented - those shells which are rare now-a-days and which are many years old. I got two, my brother received four and my cousins received one each. Though winning was very hard, the rules and regulations, the rounds were very challenging, incredible and fun.

It still remains fresh in my mind the day Gupi proved himself that he was no less than anybody in spite of his physical deformities. On that day we and Gupi were strolling in the forest. Suddenly we heard a noise. We saw a wolf holding a child by the waist and running in our direction. The sight spurred Gupi to chase the wolf. Sensing danger, the wolf dropped the child and fled into the nearby bushes. The villagers who had now converged on the spot, were all praise for Gupi, for saving a human life literally from the jaws of death. The child is now a full grown man but still bears teeth marks on his back.

Several years after the chilling incident, I visited my cousin's house again. A party was in full swing but something was amiss. Later on, my cousin told me of the sudden demise of Gupi when he was barely on the threshold of life. There are some special moments in life which neither time nor tide can ever erase from memory. The beautiful moments I shared in the forest in the company of this man who showed exemplary courage despite his handicap are indelible; they are a part of my treasured memories.

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