It is the story of an old house inhabited by a man who was famous for witchcraft, a tantrik to be precise. By the time he and his house got known far and wide for the thrilling episodes both had grown old.
It was a house that was nicely built and located in the midst of the district HQrs township of a coastal district.
A major canal passed by the house which enhanced it's beauty and charm no end. As the canal was a major one, it almost always overflowed with water throughout the year. So, the ambience it provided to the house and of course to the town as a whole was quite attractive.
Added to the overall beauty of the house was the fact that the house presented a picturesque scene as viewed from a nearby bridge over the canal placed at 90° to the house.
As it is, the bridge catered to the main arterial road of the township. Thus, all visitors to the town which incidentally were quite numerous too due to reasons that the town besides being the district HQrs is also home to an important deity of the state, had invariably had a glimpse of the house albeit from a safe distance since it was advisable not to go near the house.
It was a forbidden place so to say and comparable to the house of the Selfish Giant of the Oscar Wilde fame.
In the later's house only a single giant was supposed to be living but in this house of our tantrik numerous giant like aerial entities lived who did all sorts of errands to their master.
Now, I think, I have given a fairly sufficient picture of the mysterious and enigmatic house around which many fearful but hilarious episodes circulated among the local populace on hearsay basis.
I can't, however, tell you more than one such episode, because actually I don't know more than that and secondly, even if I did knew, it would all be of the same variety only. So, in effect it doesn't really make a difference either. And the story goes as under.
Once upon a time, in a fine day our great and famous tantrik had a visitor. After the initial bonhomie and serving of snacks and teas, the host took him for a visit of the beautiful garden in the backyard of his house.
Before entering the garden, the host, our tantrik, warned his guest not to touch or pluck anything in the garden. The garden was a well kept one populated with various exotic trees laden with fruits and flowers.
As normally happens in such situation, the guest was almost mesmerised with the natural beauty of the garden. But he was still conscious of the host's advice and didn't fall a prey to the usual human fraility of breaking the rules for the sake of it.
But not able to resist his temptation, he requested his host permission to pluck one particular fruit that appealed to him the most.
And permission was granted without hesitation but it was made clear that only one fruit would be plucked as desired by him. After giving permission, the host moved on to another part of the garden leaving his guest behind to pluck a fruit.
Now, greediness gripped the guest who throwing away all cautions to the wind desired to pluck more than the number permitted. And the penalty for it was instant.
The moment he plucked the second fruit all hell broke loose on him. There were heavy blows and beatings from all sides and he was running for his life.
Hearing his cries, the guest appeared on the scene and with the wave of his hand dismissed his aerial friends.
He now explained his guest why he had told him not to do anything for which he was not permitted. His garden was guarded by his invisible servitors all the while and anybody tresspassing or dojng something without due permission from him wouldn't be spared.
It isn't necessary to mention that the guest had learnt the lesson of his life that breaking the rules may not always end up in legal trouble but surely isn't good for health.
Friends, this is a story as is learnt through hearsay only and, therefore, can't vouch for it's authenticity. But it is safe to assume that the said garden of our tantrik didn't see any pilferage.
Viswamitra (11.02.2023)
