Located in the heart of Cherrapunji (Sohra), Meghalaya, the Nohkalikai Falls is an awe-inspiring display of nature's power and beauty. Cascading down from a height of about 1115 feet, it stands as a testament to the raw force of the natural world. However, behind this majestic sight lies a tragic legend that continues to evoke profound emotions. The mighty Nohkalikai Falls tells the heart-wrenching story of a helpless mother, and the very sight of it is enough to stir deep empathy and send shivers down one's spine.

NOHKALIKAI: The Jump of Likai

Many years ago, in the stunning valleys of Sohra, there lived a maiden named Likai in the hamlet of Rangjyrteh. She was a beautiful lady with a compassionate mind and a heart filled with love. Likai was known for her loving nature and modest behavior. She was soon married to a handsome young man of the village. Her husband was a loving and caring person, who did everything he could to make Likai happy. They shared many beautiful moments and were blessed with a lovely baby girl, whom they adored.

However, tragedy struck their happy life when Likai's husband tragically fell to his death from the cliff one day. His sudden demise shattered Likai's world, leaving her with only memories of their happy life together and their precious daughter. The once joyful home was now filled with grief and loss, as Likai struggled to come to terms with the sudden turn of events.

Years rolled on, and Likai decided to take up her late husband's profession of pottery and make both ends meet. In a life veiled by the clouds of loneliness and grief, her only ray of sunshine was her little daughter. Likai showered all her love on her and left no stone unturned to make her happy. She used to play with her little angel and see glimpses of her husband's memories in her activities. However, as her daughter grew up Likai realized that although she was trying beyond her capacity she was unable to fulfill certain paternal roles in her life. So she decided to remarry and give her daughter the love of a paternal figure as well, although she was never interested in getting another spouse as the love of her life was already parted from her for a lifetime.

Likai's only intention was to give her daughter a better and happy life. With a heavy heart, she remarried and her second husband started living with Likai and her daughter.

The first few days after marriage were very smooth and beautiful. The man showed genuine behavior towards the mother and daughter and tried to assimilate himself in their lives. However, the atmosphere of the household gradually took a different shape. Likai's spouse started to get disturbed by the fact that his wife was always occupied by the thoughts of her daughter and gave all her attention and time to her. Gradually, this insecurity transformed into hatred and hatred transformed into rivalry. But rivalry from whom? It was with that young toddler who had just learnt to take her tiny steps and utter a few unclear words. Whenever he saw Likai's daughter his eyes used to turn red with anger as he considered her to be the spoiler of his married life. Hatred is a malevolent force that slithers into the mind like venom, taking root and seizing control. Eventually, it transforms the person, turning them into a metaphorical cannibal, consuming their humanity. The same force was active on him and slowly his behavior towards his wife and stepdaughter started to become very abusive and humiliating. Poor Likai was helpless and had no other option than to tolerate all the mental torture and humiliation in utter silence for the sake of her daughter's happiness.

THE MOST TRAGIC AND HORRIFYING DAY IN LIKAI'S LIFE

One morning, as always Likai left for her work leaving behind her daughter with her spouse. Before leaving she fed her and played with her as she did every morning. However, little did she know that it was her last happy moment with her beautiful angel, it was the last time that she could touch her soft cheeks, her tiny little fingers and hug her tightly. Whenever Likai took her little world in her arms, she forgot all her distress and got a new hope to live her life.

Likai went down the valley and started working hard with the mere thought in her mind that the harder she works the brighter will be her daughter's future.

Few hours later, the sun set below the horizon of Sohra, however there was a different sense of gloominess in the air and a strange silence. This was much similar to the evening of the tragic day when Likai's first husband left her forever.

A tired Likai came back home. She was exhausted by the day's toil and had minimum energy to cook a meal for herself. To Likai's surprise, a tempting aroma was coming from the kitchen. When she went inside, she found a pot on the fire and a steaming flavor was emerging out of it. Her husband came in and said that he had cooked a chicken meal for Likai and insisted that she eat it with rice. Likai was delighted, not only because she was welcomed by a delicious meal after a tiresome day's labor, but also the sense of compassion she saw in the man. For a moment she thought that maybe her man had changed a little and might show some genuine love towards her and their daughter. However, the thought was as transient as a shooting star.

Before serving herself with the meal, Likai asked her man where their daughter was. "I have fed her and put her to a peaceful sleep", the man replied with minimum expressions in his voice.

Likai had the tasty chicken curry with steamed rice and after a hearty meal, she went to her bed. However, as a Khasi woman, Likai had a habit of chewing a betel nut(Kwai) after every meal. She used to keep the basket of Kwai under the bed. Although it was all dark, her hands voluntarily reached the basket. However, Likai felt something strange in her hands, it was some thick fluid. With a nervous and anxious heart, she pulled the basket and brought it near the lamp. As the gamboge light fell on the basket, Likai's eyes were wide open and red at the horrifying sight. She saw a tiny little cut finger soaked in blood. She wanted to scream but couldn't as if a sense of utmost terror had swallowed her screams in the throat itself. A moment later Likai screamed aloud pushing the limits of her vocal cords. Her scream soaked in utter plight, echoed in the valleys of the village. She wanted to cry but the tears refused to flow down her red eyes. She screamed aloud "I have eaten my own daughter, don't come near me."

Likai took an ax in her hands and started to yell and shout at whoever tried to console her. She lost her mental stability. Her hair was open, her face was helpless, she was no longer in her senses, and her consciousness could not control her anymore.

With a disturbed mental state, a heart filled with agony and helplessness, Likai stood at the edge of the cliff of the highest waterfall of Sohra. The villagers did their best to stop her but failed in their attempts. Likai looked towards the sky and smiled. A drop of tears started rolling down her cheek. Likai said to her late daughter, "Darling, you went to your dad, now mumma will also come to you and we three will live happily ever after. This waterfall will be the proof of a mother's tragedy. The big one is Mumma and the small one is you sweetheart!!!!!"

With this, the teardrop fell down her cheeks and Likai jumped off the cliff.

Today the same waterfall is named Nohkalikai Waterfalls which translates to the leap of Likai.

** DISCLAIMER: The above narrative is a folklore widely recognized among the local inhabitants of the Nohkalikai waterfalls. There exists no tangible historical evidence supporting this account or the actual existence of an individual named Likai in history. The intention of this article is neither to depict any form of disrespect or propagate misinformation concerning any specific tribe or community nor to encourage and glorify social evils like suicide, self-harm or cannibalism in any context .It is simply folklore conveyed with artistic license.

REFERENCES

• https://www.hotelpolotowers.com/blogs/nohkalikai-indias-highest-plunge-waterfall.html
• https://youtu.be/CgQyecJ-HjM?si=cZpUJ62Jhw3JyJvY