Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons (17 page)

But for Shikha and Ursula the attraction was not shopping and tourist places but was to find a Nath Yogi who could give some insights to Ursula on her problem. Ursula cleverly asked Patrick to join Paul and Liz for moving around Haridwar. She told Patrick that she had to get some facial and waxing done so that she is ready for tomorrow’s shoot. Patrick agreed.

Shikha and Ursula did not take the vehicle with them but started their search for the Nath Yogi’s on the foot. Shikha from here experience first targeted the tourism department office which generally employ local people and generally have most of the information about the who’s who in the town.

When Shikha and Ursula entered the tourism board office, it was almost empty except one security guard sitting in the chair.

“No one in the office? “ Shikha asked the security guard.

“Madam today is Sunday and all the Government offices in India are closed on Sunday,” Guard replied

Shikha was little embarrassed at the reply. However she thought the guard may also know some information which she is looking for.

“Brother Do you know where the Nath Ashram is there in Haridwar? “ Shikha asked politely

“Madam, I know one which is situated near the ghat. But if you are looking out for some tantric yogi then be aware there are many quacks all around this town “Guard cautioned them.

“The best Nath Guru in the town is Guru Avadh Nath “Guard added.

“Where we can meet him “asked anxious Shikha

“Madam these are Yogi’s. They are always busy in their rituals and pooja .It is difficult to tell whether he will meet you or when can he meet you “Guard replied.

Taking the address of the Ashram Shikha and Ursula decided to take a chance and visit the Ashram. Shikha hired a local cycle rickshaw to go to the ashram. In next 20 minutes they reached the Ashram.

It was a typical Ashram. There were 5 to 6 concrete one floor building blocks besides 8 to 10 makeshift huts. 3-4 Different temples were there at the front side. The entire area was covered by lot of trees giving the ashram a scenic look.

Sikha and Ursula reached in the small office located at the gate of the Ashram. They told the guard that they wanted to have blessings of the Guru Avadh Nath.

“Nath baba gives his Darshan only in the morning and evenings. You will have to wait for 1 hour more “Guard told them.

Shikha and Ursula were having no option but to wait for an hour. They went inside the Ashram and got seated in the sermon room where Avadh Nath used to give sermons and meet the disciples daily.

Exactly at 6.30 pm, Avadh Nath along with his disciples entered the sermon hall. By this time around 50 devotees were already assembled in the hall. He started his daily sermon. Ursula and Shikha were listening to him. Avadh Nath was having an impressive personality. He was tall, well-built with traditional long hairs, beard and mustache. His complexion was whitish. His skin was glowing and a divine look was observed on his face.

He finished his sermon in next 30 minutes. Devotees started jostling in to take Avadh Nath's blessings by touching his feet. For a minute there was a lot of commotion as every devotee was trying to get closer to Avadh Nath to seek his blessing. However Baba’s disciples brought the devotees under control and forced them to form a queue. Ursula and Shikha purposely stood at the end of the queue with a hope that they would be able to get more minutes to speak to him.

In next 20 minutes Ursula and Shikha was in front of Avadh Nath. Both of them touched his feet from a distance as Naths don’t allow the women to touch their body. Baba offered his blessings to both of them.

“Baba, my friend Ursula want your help “Sikha pleaded

“My daughters what can I do for you “Baba Avadh Nath replied.

Ursula briefed Patrick’s problem in a hurry.

“Dear Daughter if you are looking for help on Shabar vidya, meet my disciple Guru Nath” Baba replied.

“I do not practice Shabar vidya anymore “Baba replied silently.

“But where can we meet him Baba “Sikha asked

“The whole Haridwar knows him. He returns to the Ashram once in a while. You will find him on the Ghats in the morning “Baba told Sikha.

“Tell him, I have sent you to him. He will help you in your problems “Baba spoke.

SIkha and Ursula hurriedly left for hotel as it was almost 7.30 pm by now and they thought other group members would be worried about their whereabouts.

On the way Sikha and Ursula decided that they would meet Guru Nath baba on Wednesday morning in Haridwar after finishing the coverage and shooting at Haridwar and Rishikesh.

The next day the group covered important religious temples and places in Haridwar. The group also had video shoot of some of the Sadhus, Yogis during their pooja at the river side. It was a good coverage than they have expected.

Tuesday morning the group left for town of Rishikesh in the early morning and covered the important places in the town. The group again retuned to Haridwar. The assignment was completed now. The group was having 4 days spared for their personal sightseeing and shopping.

While Liz and Paul decided to go back to Delhi and spent the next 4 days there, Sikha and Ursula convinced Patrick to stay back in Haridwar and spend 1-2 days here before proceeding to Delhi. Patrick agreed.

In the evening Ursula told Patrick about the Nath sect. She also told details of her meeting with Baba Avadh Nath in his ashram. She also told Sikha is helping them on this and tomorrow morning they have to meet the disciple of Baba Avadh Nath, Baba Guru Nath to seek his help in getting your trouble resolved.

“Ursula are you sure this can help our cause?” Patrick was skeptical after trying the cleansing ceremony.

“What is the harm in getting the help? In life sometimes help come unasked and from unexpected corner” Ursula replied.

“Patrick believe me, I had listened to sermon from Baba Avadh Nath on last Sunday with Sikha and I am deeply impressed.” Ursula persisted.

“Ok Honey  ...As per your wish “Patrick replied.

It was getting late for the dinner so both of they left for the restaurant.
 

Chapter 14

On the trail of the ‘LION”

In Mandeville Detective Bob and Sargent Tayler were studying the Rag Peter case in details. For last one hour both of them were debating and discussing various possible motives of the murder,

“ Sargent  , is there a gang or a person in the locality known as “ Lion” “ Detective Bob enquired.

“Not to my knowledge in last 4 years since I am here “ Sargent Tayler replied.

There was a silence in the cabin for few minutes.

“ Yes there is a pair of lion brought from Africa and kept in the city zoo” Joked Sargent Tayler.

Bob was not happy at the remark but  he just pretended to be smiling at this joke.

“ Sargent ‘Listen , the chit with “ Lion “ written found in Rag Peter’s hand is definitely a clue. Probably in the last few minutes of his life he tried to indicate the killers “ Bob said confidently

“ The name can be of a person , or a gang , place or anything .We need to be smart and try to decipher it” Bob continued.

“ Bob , let us try figuring out this mystery. Let us first start with person or Gangs and try to figure out if such name exists “ Sargent was serious first time.

Bob liked that suggestion.

Sargent Tayler called the office clerk and asked him to examine all the crime records in last 15 years with mention of any names of either person or Gangs with direct or indirect reference to the word “ Lion”.

He asked the clerk that he wanted this to be finished and report to be on his table in next 24 hours.

During this time, Bob was thinking on other line. He shared his thoughts with Sargent Tayler. Bob’s idea was to simultaneously collect the names of places, houses ,Bungalows which has “ Lion “ in it. They decided to visit the New Orleans Municipal council and request their support to find such names. Accordingly they visited the council office in the afternoon and gave a written request for the information. The council assured them of the report within next 48 hours.

The day ended without any development.

Next day when Sargent Tayler reported for the duty at 8 am , the report prepared by the clerk was on his table. From the last 15 years crime records in the area, the clerk could found two references only. One of the reference was related to the gang called as “ Lion den “ and the other one was a case filed by the forest department regarding the nuisance of some Lions attacking the humans in the New Orleans area,

Bob arrived at around 10 am in the police station.

“ Good news for you. At least my clerk could produce two references from the last 15 years crime records “Sargent informed.

Detective Bob had a quick glance at the report. The second case filed by the forest department was of least important to him.

“ Let us drill down further into this gang “ Lion Den “ Bob remarked.

“ Yes , the information is ready “ Sargent informed Bob.

Bob was pleased at this information.

Bob and Tayler went through the report of “ Lion Den “. What came out of the report was that there was a gang of 6-7 New Orleans anti-social elements who were involved in “ Narcotics and Gambling “ business in the early 1980’s. The police raided there  two premises and arrested the seven accused. However in the court the police could not provide enough evidence and as such all the seven accused were released by the court.

“ We need to track those seven accused in the case. Where are they currently, what they are doing “ Bob  said calmly.

“ It is a tough task , but let me order my cops to look into it “ Sargent replied.

Bob was not very happy with this remark however he kept mum.

Meanwhile Sargent had ordered few off his cops and given them the names of seven accused in the 1980 case and asked them to check within the locality ,municipal council and senior citizen’s office to check for any information available on those seven persons. He has given them three days to come out with their replies. The cops were accustomed to such type of investigations and immediately swung into the action.

The report from the municipal council was also available the next day. The report could identify two public places in the areas. The first one was the “Lion Gate “ which was a some sort of a public garden and the other one was “ Lion enclave “ which was  forest area , a sort of a reserved sanctuary for the wildlife, However no private apartment or Bungalow with “ Lion “ name was identified in the area.

Bob and Sargent were disappointed to read the municipal council report.

They were now hoping on the reports from the cops who were trying to trace the so called “ Lion’s Den “ group,

Next week one of the groups of cops working on this assignment came with news that offered some hope to Detective Bob and Sargent Tayler.

The group of cops has traced one of the seven accused in that case in one of the nearby village community.

Bob and Tayler were excited at the news and decided to meet and interrogate the person.

The said village community was hardly a 30 minute drive from the New Orleans. Bob and Tayler reached there in the private car instead of the police van. They did not want the community to be alerted due to use of police van.

The identified accused by the cops was in his late sixties. He answered most of the questions posed by Bob and Tayler.

The questioning session did not yield any significant clue. Most of his colleagues in the crime at that time had left for other states and jobs after the court trail.. Except him there was no one staying in the area.

Bob and Tayler both of them got disappointed at the result.

“ Let us have patience “ Bob tried to comfort Sargent Tayler.