TWENTY SIX
The call came from an unknown number. Though it was dangerous, Sanjay attended to it as that much risk taking was unavoidable to survive in such business!
Sanjay was happy.
It was a supplier… unknown to him. The new supplier wanted to show some unique merchandise in return for ready cash… immediate delivery on proper transaction.
There is a river island near Delhi- Haryana border on the river Yamuna. Snjay had never heard of it and wanted to check with Google maps.
Sanjay didn't wish to take his own car but to avail the public transport.
The day was very hot and sultry, not a little breeze was there to shake a single leaf of the trees… an indication of a severe storm ahead.
Sanjay was happy to get a seat by the window.
Before the bus could go any further, a hot and dusty wind made him blind. There won't be any rain, it will stop after blowing some dust. Sanjay was relieved as the passengers started closing the windows. He couldn’t stand the stormy wind at all, he got panic attacks.
Sanjay took the ferry to reach Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
What a wonderful place, he had never been there before though it seemed somewhat familiar to him. The river island was gifted with unconditional bounty of nature.
The supplier was supposed to meet him in a villa there.
Sanjay reached the villa hidden behind thick and big trees. The compound wall was broken in places. As he touched the big wooden gate to enter it which opened with an uncanny creaking sound. The house was damaged severely with the growth of big trees and thick creepers.
Could it be haunted? Sanjay was scared. To Sanjay's surprise, he could visualize the inner setup of the unknown house.
There would be an open courtyard as one entered the house, one had to climb down two steps to reach it. The stairs on the right hand went up to the first floor.
Sanjay looked for the calling bell but he thought who would be there to answer the doorbell… and to his surprise he found there was no lock on the door.
He pushed the door with a soft touch and it opened. Sanjay had goosebumps to find that the picture of his imagination matched reality.
He went inside and sat down on the dusty staircase. It seemed there was no one inside though the possibility of the presence of some wild animals was there… snakes, wild cats and some other.
Sanjay was worried.
The place was astonishingly clean, it must be visited by people.
Sanjay was about to fall off the stairs as he got startled by the loud thunder. He went down to the threshold and looked at the sky which was covered by thick black clouds. Flash of lightning was splitting the sky. He was worried about his return… the ferry mustn't be there at late hours of night, he hadn’t inquired about it even.
Sanjay became restless, it was getting late. When would the supplier come? He tried calling him but the phone was either out of reach or switched off.
It seemed he was to spend the night at that lonely place and return by the early morning ferry. He felt he was a stupid to act with an impulse after being in that field for such a long time.
The beginning of sin is sweet but its end is bitter.
His childhood days appeared to the fore.
… Why did you leave me mom? You left me to get drowned in endless darkness… Sanjay's eyes got wet after a long time.
Sanjay climbed the stairs with his tired and shaky legs to reach the first floor. There were rows of unlocked rooms.
He pushed one of the doors lightly and entered a beautifully decorated room. The bed was nicely made with a clean sheet on it. A glass of water was kept on the bedside table. Sanjay was surprised… did someone know that he would be there… was someone waiting there for him? He looked around.
He was hungry but where could he get food in that barren house? He took out a packet of biscuits from his backpack, had some of them and drank water to feel better.
No one seemed to be coming. He thought of going to bed… he would decide on his next activity the other day.
Sanjay fell asleep.
... Sanjay was crossing the desert on a jet black horse. With the scattered sand dunes, the desert looked so confusing… he read that many people had lost their lives in deserts… wandering to find their way out. Would his horse lose its way too?
The horse crossed a beautifully decorated archway and stood still in front of an ancient temple. Sanjay looked at a huge pond next to the temple. The water there was at a very low level, down many stairs. Was that the famous step-well… then Sanjay must have reached Rajasthan.
A veiled woman held Sanjay's hand and urged him to come down the horse. Sanjay tried but failed to see her face.
The whole desert area was flooded with moonlight.
He heard her soft voice saying "This is our oldest temple."
Sanjay entered the temple with the lady and in the shadowy darkness inside the temple, an idol was seen… she was Mahishasura Mardini with a trident in her hand.
Maa Durga's eyes lit up with the lamp light held in the lady's hand. Her eyes resembled someone's but Sanjay could not recall.
As soon as he came out of the temple, his eyes caught the vermilion smeared sacrifice- altar… someone dragged him to the altar to tie him up there...
Sanjay woke up in the discomfort of the sweltering heat. His whole body was soaked in sweat… Oh my God! It was only a dream.
It was pitch dark in absence of slightest light anywhere just like the impenetrable darkness of Sanjay's life.
A strange feeling enveloped his whole being. Chilled shivers flowed down his spine. He was badly in need of water to quench his thirst… his throat was dry.
He felt someone's presence there through the ice cold breathing by his ear… some known fragrance... though he couldn’t see anything else in the room. Sanjay's eyes started getting adjusted to the darkness.
He left the room to go out to the balcony.
The moon was not seen as it hid behind the dark clouds. In that gloomy light, the forest and the river both appeared enchanting.
Suddenly the mild breeze turned into a storm and the moon peeped out of the cloud.
Gradually the cloud took the form of a lady… her saree and curly hair were flying… her eyes were fixed on Sanjay… those eyes which looked very familiar but he was unable to recognise her.
The silhouette figure came down slowly, she was sobbing as she looked straight into Sanjay's eyes which wanted to ask something.
Sanjay's severely wounded, naked body was discovered in the balcony of a bungalow, on the Yamuna river island.
There was not a drop of blood found in his deeply bruised, pale body.
