“Guys, we are going to meet the Sadhu then we will go to Mrs. Chatterjee which will be tomorrow morning.” Ritu said like a matter of fact while adjusting her wristwatch. “Still, we didn’t get answer to some questions” Varshika shook her head standing near her packed luggage... while Aparna was also moving her luggage to the room doorway. “I know right? There are many unanswered questions… and I swear I will, we WILL find out answers for everything. That’s what at least I was saying to myself.” Ritu’s sighed deeply, “I don’t even know here our life is going now... looks like a dangerous fiction…” Varshika shared a hug with her, bending a little down and wrapping her arms. Ritu took out her small sticky notes in which she writes the stuff about her research and thesis rough, but now it is serving the purpose of unanswered questions of the situation. Ritu opened and glanced at those for once…
1.Why is he only after us?
2.Are there any others too throughout the history?
3.Why is the temple cursed along with Bhairava?
4.Where should we even start?
She sighed and put the note in her jeans pocket. “Ready?” Chandrika asked holding her hand.
“I will just follow you” Ritu said squeezing her hand. Both of them descended the hostel steps, for once Ritu closed her eyes remembering her safe space – Samay... and the girls travelled to the Kashi Vishweshawara temple.
Aparna leaned on the shoulder of Varshika “Will everything be normal again?” She asked looping her arm around hers; “Let’s hope for the best. Now the cab is here, let’s go” Varshik gently patted her back and both of them went downstairs with the packed luggage. They left the hostel to a shared room, starting a different life from now on. Because it will be no more our space, my space but ours…. A little kind of family, the money, the effort in the middle of this unexpected storm.
Now no… Ritu’s POV...
“This way” Chandu gestured me towards the steps of KashiVishweshwara temple and followed her in a hesitant step. “Where is this Sadhu whom you mentioned?” I asked her.
“Two days ago, when I and Varu came in here, he was at the yagna mandapa of the temple, from there he went into the sanctum of the temple; Oh, look there!” She pointed towards very old man in raged saffron clothes, face full of wrinkles, white long bun and beard reaching his chest, but I don’t know if Chandu could see it, his eyes were different like someone who knows more than. We walked towards him, his face was calm, and firm and I think he recognized us. He got up from the steps of Mandapa and stood up giving a knowing smile.
“What maata? You want answers? I thought you would visit yesterday but fine you came today, now sit down” He pointed to the place where he was sitting few minutes ago for us. We both looked hesitant. Not because of the place but the ambience of the temple. “Don’t worry, nobody around the temple or these many devotees or staff here don’t even know what will be talking about” he mentioned after watching our silent exchange.
I looked around the temple premises which was strangely peaceful yet chaotic. “How do you know about the temple?” That was my first question; He chuckled adjusting his ragged jute bag sitting comfortable on the stone floor “I don’t know about people like you maata, but for Sadhus like us, we have gurus who know the details or verbal knowledge about the places, philosophies passing from generation to generation and about the Shiva Kubera temple which you guys are asking about was told to be one of the spiritual hubs during ancient times. That place was hub of knowledge and everything, so that’s how we know that”
“But what about that Yaksha Bhairava?” Chandu asked in a doubtful tone. “Don’t worry I am coming to that point, do you know about the girl who loved him-”, “We do” I interrupted. “Then you need to know the full story- Shailaputri was huge devotee of Lord Shiva, right? Her name itself the name of maata Parvati’s. She had this soft nurturing nature just like maa. So, she used to bring injured creatures like peacocks, deer and yes, small creatures like squirrel and sparrows to the lake beside the temple and heal them with those waters” his gaze was distant almost looking at the gopura of the temple, while we both stared at each other. “She is a Disney princess?” Chandu made a poker face, and I nudged her arm.
The Sadhu chuckled again before continuing “She was a princess without crown, but by heart. Shailaputri’s beauty was also know to everyone. She was like an untouchable angel for the onlookers. Beneath this, every human has flaws right? Her weakness was Bhairava. She knew that he was a yaksha a demigod who don’t fit the human world. But she saw him as child, as an idol in front of the temple. It started there, once a year during the Maha Shivaratri time, he used to visit the temple, and she used to go with her parents not only for the god she prays to but also for him. He was also a quite a vision according to what we heard” As he was continued to say about Bhairava, I just gave a side eye to Chandu who was subconsciously biting her lower lip and straddling with her curly locks, I flared my nostrils and nudged her, but looks like she was actually reminiscing that one single glimpse she got from that day.
“So Bhairava knew about her?” I asked him. “He did” the answer was simple, “But then what did he do?” Chandu asked; “He never expressed as it’s forbidden but used look at her in the shadows”, “When exactly he liked her?” I followed for another question. “When he saw he during… yeah that I was never told about the dynasty but, during Vajpeya yagna (the horse race performed by kings in ancient time for showing their power) performed by a formidable king in the Dakshinapatha(Deccan) he saw the young adult Shailaputri. He in years, avoided her but then -his heart fluttered for her. But he again composed because of the demigod and huma difference.” “That’s a huge age gap like Twilight”, “Chandu…” My jaw clenched. “Come on I love older, like Damon Salvatore, Edward Cullen…-”, “Chandu…” I sneered, she scoffed “okay, continue swami ji” I rolled my eyes, he laughed a little this time.
“Maata, the man of your dreams cannot contain you. Definitely has a trouble for him. Maybe you need to join us?” The Sadhu laughed and yes, she was tugging her locks behind the ear feeling shy like an idiot, I narrowed my eyes. Out there we don’t whether we are going to make it alive or not and here this girl is all shy?
{Author’s interruption: bombastic side eye... someone was hugging and having inside jokes with her boyfriend a chapter ago while her friends were dialing relentlessly and were scared if the Yaksha came in or something? Jokes on you Ritu.}
The Sadhu continued to say-
“But here is a thing her never admitted his liking towards her and this made her doubt him... until one day where she expressed her fondness openly but her rejected her out of lost to his position. He was scared about the reputation and, he lost himself and her forever”
“What does that mean?” I was genuinely confused. “She was dead in mysterious conditions, just after she went to meet him. Bhairava carried in his arms seeking her parents’ permission and took her away and he was never found again; And yes, about the curse, her death ignited it. The temple’s lake which was a healer became a poison on earth.”
“Then what’s the point of the-” before Chandu continued, he looked up on us, got up from the place and took his ragged jute bag. “He became a benevolent spirit, banished by the Parmeshwara himself and Kubera too, so for lifting the curse, he needs a young woman who would withstand his power. That’s why I told you he will make a Queen out of you.” He stepped down the mandapa. “I think he had already chosen her, look out and try to save or prepare for the greater good” He walked away, blessing them “But if you want peace and guidance, I will be here”.
After listening to Sadhu’s story, I took out the sticky notes, ticked the last two question because we already finished the start and curse but the first two- are still unanswered. What to do? I inhaled deeply rubbing my temples.
“This is insane! Who might be it!” Chandu squealed, while we both were walking to the exit of the temple. “Are you seriously excited?” I shot her a glare. “No! scared and excited! And you know what he was just like the fictional morally gray men with trauma, just my type and yes do you remember the ritual we did three months ago? We literally asked for what we actually want in life and we all-”; “Chandu? Firstly, it’s not a ritual just a strange recite from the ancient found script of a ruined temple which we even don’t know if it exists, and secondly, we never asked for this” I sneered.
“Ugh, whatever but one thing is for sure this is dangerously exciting” Chandu clapped her hands smiling softly. “How can you be this carefree? This is not book, reality! We may die!” I gritted my teeth.
“One word, can we escape from this? Or do you have any better idea? And…. Will this get solved if we sit and cry like how Appu does or feel anxious like you or overthink like Varu?” She questioned cooly while boarding the local bus. “So, no worries, Ritu paapa...let’s do our work and stay strong” she squeezed my hand. How can she be this practical? I can’t get this girl, once she will be acting so immature once she is the practical and matured girl, I have ever seen.
My mind is with numerous questions doubling up, so I started to scribble down in the moving bus itself as we were heading to our new rented place.
Hey people if you are reading this, please consider liking, commenting and following me here and Instagram? My Instagram ID is the same as my pen name in the profile, please consider too... more you will encourage me, more I will be writing... bye until we meet again!!
Write a comment ...