The Lady with the Secrets

Nalash, Patiala, India

 It was evening.

“Rajat, I will not tell you everything. I will take you to someone’s home tonight. We have been here since a long time. You haven’t eaten anything since morning. On our way, I’ll get you some dinner. This place is famous for food-though not the south Indian food that you are used to, but something very different from that. The Jaggi’s is just on our way back, and  the food tastes awesome – that is what I have heard.” Jai smiled at him. “We’ll take a cab, but remember, there’s just one person.”

Rajat laughed. “You aren’t dead Rajat…um…Jai!” He said. “Here we meet- in this way – halfway across the country..” They left the woodlands.

By the sunset, they were in the suburb of Nalash- which was once a village centered on an old Shiva temple. The locals said that if you want to meet Shiva, it can either be at Kailash or at Nalash.  On the 87^th street was a moderate home, where Jai took Rajat. He pressed the doorbell. A lady, seemingly of European decent emerged out.

“Oh my boy!I have been waiting for you!” She said as she opened the gate and led them in.

Rajat felt confused. She led them to the drawing room, where strangely, he saw Vikas.

“Mother, its time for evening prayers.” Vikas said the lady. “The guests shall also join in if they so like.” He added.

Jai and Rajat followed them into a room which was essentially empty except a cupof  burning guggal in the centre that sent up clouds of smoke – making the room fragrant and smoky. In one corner he sawa small  photograph of virginMary. It was all confusingly alien to him.

The woman took up  conch from the floor while Vikas got a huge bell in his hand. She blew the couch loud as Vikas rang the bell rhythmically and broke into Sanskrit chants. Something that reminded Rajat of that night at the crematorium.

Galadha Raktha Mukthavali Khanda Mala,
Maha Gora Raava, Sudamshtra Karala,
Vivasthra Smasanalaya Mukthakesi,
Maha Kala-Kamakulaa Kalikeyam

Wearing a garland of skulls drenched with blood,
Having a fearful form, black in colour with externally projecting teeth,
She is nude and lives in cremation ground with fully untied hair,
And she is Kali busy in love play with the great Lord Shiva.

Rajat felt the vibrations in his mind. They were more intense than ever.  After they finished the prayers, they returned to the drawing room. The woman looked at Rajat.

“I’m Vikas’ mother, Rajat. You can call me Anuradha. I was born Annie though. It doesn’t matter what you call me.” She said.

Rajat nodded his head.

“Well, Jai – your friend might have told you a couple of things. I’m going to tell you a couple of other things, that you must listen attentively.” She continued.

“Your father, the great Rama Uthhappa had an elder brother named Shiva Uthhappa, was; well, to say it mildly – having a psychiatric ailment since he was a child. The treatment was started early, however, the symptoms worsened. By the time, he was thirty two- he had to be confined to a room. Your father was the one taking care of him by now. At NIMHANS, he was admitted on a long term basis and was let out of his room only for two hours in the day and two in the evening in order to walk in the lawns and meet people, and that too under observation. Rukhsaana was a newly admitted Turkish patient, who was probably under chronic depression that was triggered by her traumatic past in the England as a student when she was reportedly defamed by her boyfriend who scandalized a sex session and spread a video involving him and her. Both the patients met each other and surprisingly, since they met- they would long to meet each other all the time. Their symptoms improved as well. The doctors allowed them to meet each other more often and visit each others at their time. That was till the time that it was found out that Rukhsaana was pregnant with Shiv’s baby. The boy was born in the hospital, but sadly, the mother died while giving birth. The father could not endure the loss and lived just a month after her death. The boy was adopted by the brother Rama Uthaappa – your father. That child was you. “

Rajat kept listening attentively.

“ As for Pankaj and Chandrashekharappa – the accountant – they were both killed – by Rama Uthaappa’s men.” She stopped. “Rama is not the man he looks to be.”