The Long Hand Demoness- Lai Khutsaangbi




Long time ago in the remote side of Manipur there was a small village which remained hidden and covered with the fear of a demoness around who was believed to have long hands and who killed and eats children in the absence of the male in the family. People of that village called her Lai khutsaangbi.
In that part of the village lived a happy couple with their newly born baby whom they lovingly called ‘Sashi’. Though he was just a baby, Sashi was a stubborn child and often take up the whole day crying. Sashi’s mother had to take utmost care of him in order to stop him crying so as to avoid the so-called Lai khutsaangbi from hearing him cry.
One day, Sashi’s father had to leave the village for some days to carry some work and he warned his wife to be aware of the Lai khutsaangbi and to take care of Sashi. Sashi’s mother was a clever woman, she assured her husband that she will keep Sashi safe and not to worry about the demoness.
Later that night, Sashi’s mother fed him and they were off to bed early. After a while Sashi started his inconsolable cry and his mother was quite sure that the Lai khutsaangbi will hear him and come any sooner to attack Sashi. She closed all the doors and windows of the house and somehow manage to stop Sashi from crying and put him to sleep. After that very moment, she heard someone knocking the door and a voice asking, “Is Sashi’s father at home?” She knew that it was non other than the Lai khutsaangbi, so without any fear she wisely replied, “Yes he is home”. “Shall I wake him up?” Hearing this the Lai khutsaangbi walked away in disappointment. The following night, the Lai khutsaangbi came again and asked Sashi’s mother if Sashi’s father was at home? The wise woman again replied,Yes he is home’. The demoness walked away planned to come back the next night. The same incident happened on the third night and Sashi’s mother replied the same thing to the Lai khutsaangbi.
The next day, Sashi’s father arrived home and his wife told him everything that had happened the previous nights. It was for sure that the Lai khutsaangbi will return again that night and will ask the same question to Sashi’s mother. So Sashi’s father made a plan an told his wife that if the demoness comes back and ask the same question, tell her that I am not at home, Sashi’s father planned to make an end to the matter. The couple remained fully prepared that night and waited for the Lai khutsaangbi to come. Just as they got a hint of the demoness arrival, Sashi’s father stood next to the side of the door holding a long sharp sword on his hands ready to strike it on her.

As usual, the Lai khutsaangbi returned late in the night and asked, “Is Sashi’s father at home?” This time Sashi’s mother pretentiously replied in a fearing manner, “No he is not home today”. On hearing these words, the Lai khutsaangbi felt so happy that she started laughing dreadfully and started stretching her long hands from the door in order to grab Sashi. Immediately, Sashi’s father chopped her hands off with the long sharp sword. The Lai khutsaangbi cried out in pain and ran to save her life. In her agony she vowed never to return in that village again. The village people thus lived a happy and pleasurable life from that day onwards. All thanks to Sahi’s father for being brave enough to attack the demoness and also Sashi’s mother for her timely wit and wisdom.

pic courtesy: Internet

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