Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons (13 page)

When Patrick returned from factory in the evening he was looking disturbed. Ursula could read this on his face.

“Honey are you ok?”

“Yes so far so good” Patrick replied.

“Looking disturbed. Any trouble again?” Ursula asked

“These things in the house are affecting my performance in the factory “Patrick replied.

“Today there was a major rejection on the machine I operate “Patrick added.

“I can understand that. You have also lost your weight and also many sleepless nights” Ursula told him.

“Almighty is with us .everything will be normal honey “Ursula comforted him.

Patrick went for a quick shower while Ursula went to kitchen to make coffee for him.

While both of them were having their coffee Ursula showed the communication received from the travel agency.

“Dear congratulations... This is a fantastic opportunity for you. Please go ahead “Patrick looked happy.

“Yeh Honey but who will take care of you in my absence?” Ursula asked him.

“Mom is there, Kids are there. You need not worry “Patrick tried to cheer her.

“No, my mind is not allowing me to leave you alone here” Ursula was firm.

For a while both of them just kept mum.

Ursula broke her silence “Patrick, if you can accompany me to India then it would be a stress free assignment for me “

“Ursula but what about Kids “Patrick enquired.

“Anyhow they are going to have 3 week school break. They can go with Mam to Jersey.” Ursula replied.

“Let me check in the factory. If they can allow me leave then definitely I would be with you. I do not want to sabotage the chance you have got “Patrick replied.

By this time Kids also came to know that their mother would be travelling to a country called India. Of course they did not have any idea about India but what fascinated them was the air travel involved in the trip.

“Mom would you be travelling in the Aero plane “Victor asked.

“Yes Dear. It takes 24 hours in plane to reach India “Ursula replied

“Oh Great you would be in the air for a complete day” Victor said.

“What would you bring for us from India “Sophie Asked?

“Some sweets some toys dear “Ursula replied while cuddling her.

The night went without any issue. Ursula thought the cleansing ceremony had ended Patrick’s 2 month long ordeal. In the morning as Patrick got ready for going to the office Ursula reminded him to check with the factory about the 15 days leave. Patrick nodded in affirmative and left for the factory.

Ursula spoke to the travel magazine office in the afternoon. She thanked them for her selection to make a visual cover story on India. She enquired what other formalities needed to be done and the likely date of the travel. The office had asked her to fill up the business visa form and sent it back to the office as early as possible.

Ursula also checked with them whether her husband could join her on the tour. They did not objected but told all the expenses of her husband had to be borne by her. Ursula was ok with that. After the call Ursula had searched both Patrick’s and her passport and checked the validity. Both the passports were valid for 2 more years.

She also visited the local business center in the town and collected two visa forms. She was now eagerly waiting for Patrick to come home. She was sure that Factory wouldn’t mind granting of holidays because Patrick was a regular in his job.

As Ursula expected Patrick’s factory had allowed him to take advance leave of 15 days as requested by him. Ursula was really happy as now she wouldn’t have to worry about Patrick as he would be travelling with her. Besides the business work she would also get time with Patrick to do some local sightseeing.

After the dinner, Ursula and filled the Visa forms for both of them carefully. She had also collected the other documents which were needed as supporting documents. She asked Patrick to courier these to her office so that they could apply for their visa in time.

In the night, Patrick woke up midway as he heard some strange noises. However he did not get up and put on the light. He was just listening to the sounds lying down in the bed. The sound went on getting loud and loud. Patrick thought now it was almost near the door of the bedroom. He had a look at Ursula. She was sleeping peacefully. He wondered whether she was able to hear these strange sounds or only he was able to hear the same. He kept watching the entire bedroom. Suddenly the sound stopped.

Next thing he could sense was that someone was trying to lift him in the air from his bed. He resisted and got hold of one of the corner of the bed. But the force was much stronger. Patrick could feel he was lifted almost a feet in the air and suddenly again he was dropped on the bed. He could feel the back aching as he landed on the board very fast. Sensing his movement Ursula woke up and put on the lights.

“Patrick what happened? Are you alright? “ Ursula asked

“Yes dear some little discomfort “Patrick replied.

“Patrick tell me what happened..?” Ursula knew he was trying to hide something.

There was no alternative before Patrick to tell her the truth.

“Are you meaning you got lifted a feet in the air and I did not notice?” Ursula asked.

“Ursula before this particular thing, there was some strange sound for almost 4-5 minutes and you were sleeping without noticing the sound. It suddenly became loud and I could feel it is at our bedroom door” Patrick told Ursula.

Ursula literally started crying now. She had done everything in last one and half month. From doctor to Church everything was tried and still Patrick’s trauma was not seeing an end. She was angry and worried also. What could be behind this? If the house is haunted or had ghost, they did the cleansing in the proper way. How could some supernatural element dare to challenge the supremacy of the Almighty? When the pious cross was put in each and every room, how dare those evil elements enter the house and trouble Patrick?

She was still sobbing. Patrick was now in the reverse role. He was trying to pacify her.

“Ursula let me tell you, this time I was wide awake and even tried to resist being lifted from the bed into the air. I tried to gauge what could it be “Patrick told her.

“Now I am used to this sort of trouble. I know someone is trying to hurt me but there is also someone who is protecting me. In all those incidences the evil or so couldn’t harm me. So let us not worry “Patrick tried to calm down Ursula.

“But Patrick it is affecting you. You did not get hurt that is blessing from our lord but I am unable to think now why you are targeted again and again? “Ursula was still sobbing.

“We never did anything wrong to anyone. We religiously follow what Lord Jesus had advised. Then why the hell this so called Evil is behind us? “Ursula was again becoming uncontrollable.

“Ursula, let us not think too much about the incidence. If this does not stop we will change the house ok? “Patrick assured her.

Both of them slowly fallen asleep.

In the afternoon Ursula alone went to the Hill point church. She did not inform her mother about the earlier night incidence. She explained the incidence to Father Angel. Father Agnel was surprised hearing the same.

“Daughter … It was really unfortunate that the trouble started all over again even after we cleansed the house with the Fire and the holy water. This is unbelievable “Father Agnel told Ursula.

“Yes Father  ...Even we thought the same way. How could an evil challenge the supreme power of almighty?” Ursula expressed her anguish.

“Let me consult some of my other colleagues in the town and then I will come back to you on the future course of action. “ Father Agnel said.

He had also given some holy water to her in the pot and asked her to keep the pot in their bedroom. Father Agnel also assured her that the sheer presence of the cross in each of the room would ensure that Patrick may be troubled by someone but wouldn’t be harmed anyway. Ursula felt reassured by Father’s statement. She thanked him and left for the home. She had hidden the holy water pot in her bad so that her mother shouldn’t notice the same.

After coming home, Ursula put the holy water pot in their bedroom near the night lamp. Cross and holy water presence was enough for her to boost her morale. She did not spoke about her visit to the church with Patrick either.

That night Ursula ensured that the cross and holy water pot is kept at Patrick’s side near the table lamp. Patrick through still on psychotropic drugs was trying to catch up with sleep. Yesterday’s event was still in his mind and as such he was unable to sleep. Ursula could also sense that Patrick was uncomfortable. In the middle of night Patrick thought someone is knocking the door. He could hear 4 to 5 knocks in a row. He was sure Ursula was not able to hear the knocks otherwise she would have woken up by now. Like yesterday he kept himself awake in the bed and was watching carefully all over the bedroom. He was determined to resist any abuse planned by the evil or the so called sinner today.

Suddenly he saw a big streak of bright ray piercing through bedroom wall and in few microseconds a hole appeared on the wall. Patrick got surprised as well as frightened to see the eerie light and the whole happening in few microseconds. Next thing made him dumb and he almost went into a shock. He wanted to scream and called Ursula for help but his voice trapped in his throat only. His eyes became wide apart .He could see a hand which looked like an animal claw moving towards him.

The hand cum claw was ugly with multiple joints or appendages. The hand was wrinkled and with long white hairs all over. The nails were looking long blackish and looked like stained with blood. The hand cum claw was almost near to him. He tried catching the hand with all his might but he was taken aback by the foul smell of old flesh and the sheer size of the claw cum hand. With all his might he jumped from the bed and ran towards light. By now Ursula was also woken up and he could see nearly shaken Patrick wet all over the body and trembling in fear. He was trying to speak but he could not. It seemed like he had lost his voice due to the shock of the events. He was still staring at the wall.

Ursula knew either Patrick experienced some horrendous thing or at least he had seen some worst dream. She however kept quiet. She took his arm and asked him to sit down on the bed. She had offered him water and asked him to relax, nearly for next 10 minutes Patrick was trembling with fear. He was trying to speak but it was all in blurred voice.

After half an hour ‘Patrick could regain his composure.

“Honey … are you alright? “ Ursula asked worriedly.

“No dear not this time “Patrick was still fearful.

“I had experienced the worst so far…” Patrick added.

Patrick narrated in short what he had seen and the chain of the event. Hearing the description Ursula could find chill going through her spine. So far the incidences were limited to the feeling but this time Patrick was claiming to saw something very ugly, dreadful and ghastly enough to take someone’s life.

She however comforted Patrick that the cross and the holy water by his side would protect him against any evil. The Evil could trouble, play pranks, create fear but wouldn’t be able to do the bodily harm to him. To assure him, she took the cross and asked Patrick to put below his pillow. This simple suggestion by Ursula gave Patrick a huge confidence and he had fallen asleep.

In the morning Patrick woke up late. He was looking pale and exhausted. Ursula checked his hand could sense he is running the fever.

“Patrick, I suggest you take an off today. You need rest “Ursula suggested.

“No this is minor. I will take some flue tablets “Patrick replied.

“Besides as they have given leave permission for 15 days trip, I could not afford an off in between “Patrick replied.

Patrick hurriedly prepared himself and left for the factory. In the factory also Patrick somehow managed to complete the allocated work. All the while he was thinking about the horrendous incidence which happened to him the night before. He was unable to decide whether it was mere nightmare or an actual experience. His mind was considering different hypothesis and was either supporting it or rejecting it. He somehow completed his work in the factory and left for home. Only one thing which was solace to him was that of his sanctioned leave of 15 days which was confirmed by his supervisor during the lunch time. He thought probably this break of fifteen days would help him to tide over the current crisis.