Bomma and Bommi
The Dwarf Family
Once upon a time, amidst the green hills of Assam, there lived a dwarf family. The man was known as Bomma, while his wife was named Bommi. They were a happy couple, leading a contented life together.
The Scarcity of Water
A time of acute water scarcity struck the village, prompting many villagers to pack their belongings and leave. Bomma and Bommi loaded their worldly goods into a wooden perambulator and followed the example of their neighbors.
The Encounter with Mischief
Their journey took them through a dense forest. After traveling some distance, they paused to rest under the comforting shade of a large tree. Little did they know, a pair of mischievous elves resided in the tree, planning to tease the dwarf couple. The elves transformed into identical replicas of Bomma and Bommi, and approached the real couple while pushing a wooden cart.
The Bewildering Mix-Up
The true dwarfs were astonished to see their own likenesses coming towards them. The pair of elves stopped before the stunned couple, with the elf portraying Bomma saying, “Hello there! My name is Bomma. This is my wife, and we’ve come to visit my father-in-law. Now we are heading back to our village.”
Recovering from his surprise, the true Bomma turned to his wife, intending to leave. To his shock, he found two women who looked identical standing side by side. Not knowing which was the real Bommi, he tentatively pulled the hand of one and said, “Come, dear, let us go.” The elf immediately protested, “Stop! That is my wife you are pulling at!”
The real Bommi exclaimed, “Oh my, husband of mine, have you lost your mind?” The false Bommi sidled up to the true Bomma and said, “Here I am, dear. Let us go.” At this, the real Bommi shrieked in anguish while the false Bommi hopped on one leg, insisting he was being robbed of his wife.
The Confusion Grows
Bomma was utterly bewildered. Passers-by stopped to enjoy the spectacle, and soon a large crowd gathered to bet on whose Bommi was the true one. Eventually, the two pairs of couples went to the local magistrate to resolve the dispute.
The Magistrate’s Dilemma
As it happened, the magistrate was also a dwarf and no wiser than the gathered crowd. In desperation, he ordered all four to be whipped until the false ones confessed the truth. After being beaten until they were black and blue, they could hardly speak, and still the truth remained elusive.
A Royal Intervention
Just then, the Chief Minister rode past and heard the desperate wails of the tortured couples. He halted his horse and scolded the tiny magistrate, “Is this how you serve justice to the people? I am ashamed of you.”
“Sire,” replied the magistrate, “this is indeed a strange case. Two pairs of couples are identical, and we cannot separate them.” The minister, amused, asked, “How can you solve the mix-up by beating them?”
“Oh, the guilty ones will confess when they can no longer endure the pain,” claimed the magistrate.
“Nonsense,” the minister snorted, having deduced the mischief was likely caused by forest spirits. “I believe this is the work of some spirit. Go and get Ram Ojha, a wise man who knows many spells. His mumbo-jumbo will drive out the spirits.”
The Elves Disappear
The magistrate ordered Ram Ojha to be summoned. However, when the elves heard a witch doctor was on his way, they vanished without a trace, leaving the real Bomma and Bommi standing disconsolately on the road.
The Resolution
Immediately, the minister declared, “These are the real ones!” Turning to them, he said, “Go your way, but do not tarry to talk to spirits on the road.” Relieved, Bomma and Bommi continued their journey, thankful for the satisfactory resolution to their ordeal.
A Curious Conclusion
Meanwhile, the magistrate was left perplexed. “But who is Ram Ojha? We know of no such person in the village!” he asked.
“Oh, I just invented that name to scare off the spirits. A name is enough. Why do we need a person at all?” replied the minister with a wave, galloping away in a cloud of dust, leaving the tiny magistrate scratching his head in confusion.