Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons (19 page)

Patrick was surprised to hear that Baba could indicate his recent change of job and location.

“One good sign is that you have 1 square each on your fate and life line. That means some supreme divine is protecting you.” Baba Guru Nath continued sharing his observations.

“Brother, if my reading is current you have a very good balanced palm. The current issues faced by you are due to some force outside to your abode or you “Baba Guru Nath spoke confidently.

Shikha translated this for Patrick and Ursula. Both were looking elated after hearing this.

Baba Guru Nath posed for the moment. Next 5 minutes he was thinking by staring at the sky.

Meanwhile Shikha interrupted and asked “Baba could you also see my palm and tell about future “

Baba Guru Nath looked visibly disturbed by this question.

“Daughter, it is unwise to predict the future. We Nath never practice that. We use palm reading to understand the pain and issue of the people and help them to overcome the same.” Baba Guru Nath replied slowly to Sikha’s question. Sikha kept mum.

“If
you have already done the house cleaning under the supervision of my revered colleague, Father Agnel I don’t have any doubt that no evil will dare to stay there. Father Agnel had used fire and water which is similar to our tradition of hot and cold supported by Shabar sidhi (Mantras and slokas). This must have cleansed your house “Baba Guru Nath said confidently.

Sikha told the meaning in English to both Patrick and Ursula.

“In spite of the cleansing if the trouble is still continuing then it points to only one thing. The Evil or evil spell is coming from somewhere outside “Baba Guru Nath said confidently.

After Sikha told the meaning to Ursula and Patrick. Ursula asked her to ask Baba, the remedy to identify the outside source of trouble and fix it.

When Sikha translated Ursula’s question to Baba Guru Nath, he just smiled.

“It is not a difficult thing Daughter. Wait we will find a solution” Baba Guru Nath assured.

“If the evil force is coming from outside, generally it is someone who knows you and having some rift with you and is the person who is doing such things this to you “Baba Guru Nath said confidently.

Shikha translated the meaning to Ursula and Patrick. After understanding the meaning both looked puzzled. They thought who could be that person who knew them and wanted to harm them.

“Thinking on the incidences Patrick had undergone, it looks like a case of a magic spell based on the ancient black magic technique. In this technique the spell is initiated on an image, idol or similar object and it gets transferred as an experience to the person at whom this is targeted at “Baba Guru Nath shared his observation.

Though Shikha translated this for Ursula and Patrick they could not really understood the meaning and requested to tell this in simple language.

“It is simple. I make a small idol out of mud. Then attach any body parts like 2-3 hairs or Nails of the person I want to harm, to this idol of mud. Then I use magic power and induce certain actions like putting pins in the mud idol. Similar pains then get transferred to the person targeted. Another thing I can make idol to fall from height then the targeted person will also experience the same wherever he is “Baba Guru Nath tried to give an example.

When Sikha translated this to Ursula and Patrick, they could understand it this time.

“It means now you would have to find this person, follow him closely and try to destroy the dummy he had prepared may be a mud idol or a doll or similar object “Baba Guru Nath added.

Ursula and Patrick understood but were in a dilemma how on earth they would find out a person who is doing all this horrible things to Patrick. They were new to Mandeville and hardly knew very few people. They did not have an enmity with anyone so far.

Shikha told William’s dilemma to Baba Guru Nath.

“Nothing to worry.  Shabar sidhi would help you to identify the person as well as direct you to the place where the sinner is planning this “Baba Guru Nath told them

“ There are 2 small religious activities which both of you have to undergo tomorrow which will last for 4-5 hours and once this is completed  you will have do the balance work which I will tell you when you go back to your home in US “ Baba Guru Nath told them.

Ursula and Patrick understood the same and asked Shikha to enquire how much it would cost them.

“Baba what all things will be required for rituals and how much it will cost? “ Shikha asked,

“Daughter we do not do this for money. Naths do not trade their powers for money. We only do benevolent work without any expectation “Baba Replied.

“However there are certain prerequisites for these rituals. The first it had to performed jointly by Ursula and Patrick as Nath believe that husband and wife together stands for the Lord Shiva and Parvati. The second prerequisite is that the lady should not be under her mensuration cycle. “Baba Guru Nath told Shikha.

Shikha explained this to Ursula and Patrick. They did not see any problem in the prerequisites and confirmed their readiness to undergo the religious rituals tomorrow.

“You will have to bring following thing with you to support the ceremony. It is a long list but you will get all these items in shops near Ganges Ghats which sells religious ceremony items “Baba Guru Nath Said.

Shikha started noting down the items. It turned out to be a long list and consisted of Sandalwood sticks , Desi Ghee(Melted Butter) , Flowers , Incense sticks , Camphor ,Salt ,Turmeric , Kumkum ( Vermillion) ,Coconut , Areca nuts ,Betel leafs ,Ganges water , Pooja lamp and Matchbox.

“All the three of you should get up early morning tomorrow take bathe. Then go to the Natha temple located near the Ganges Ghat. Offer your heartfelt prayers and flowers there. Then come back to this grave yard at around 8 am. I will be waiting here “Baba Guru Nath told them.

Shikha translated the same to Ursula and Patrick. They understood the requirements.

“Now I am going to Ganges Ghats for my daily rituals. You can go now “Baba Guru Nath told then.

Taking blessings from Baba Guru Nath the trio left for their hotel.

In the evening the Trio went to the Ganges ghat and purchased all the items as told by Baba Guru Nath for the ritual.

They all were eagerly waiting for tomorrow’s rituals.

Chapter 16

Running around Mandeville

The otherwise peaceful and tranquil community of the Mandeville locality was disturbed by the Rag Peter murder incidence in the last one week. Though there was no apparent display of the anxiety and fear by the community , somewhere in their mind there was a little sense of the insecurity.

Some of the prominent members of the community like the Watson’s , Wen’s and the Patel’s were in touch with each other for the last one week. Their main concern was about the security of the community rather than any particular concern for  the deceased. They were updating each other on the progress of the case, when nothing concrete had emerged even after one week of the incidence , they decided to approach the police chief and the Mayor.

Next day a team of 10 prominent community members met the police chief and the Mayer. In their memorandum submitted to them they had expressed their fear about their safety and the security. They also alleged that the police action in this particular case is not progressing satisfactorily. Even 8 days after the crime there was no clue on either the motive or the criminals.

When the delegation met the police chief and the Mayor , detective Bob was present there, He however was silently listening to the arguments and accusations levelled, He did not react to any of the arguments, and He was not having any concrete clue available with him till then so he preferred to maintain a silence.

The police chief and the Mayor was however in no mood to listen to detective Bob’s issues and challenges in tracing the culprits.Detecive Bob briefed both of them about the incidence ,evidences collected and investigations so far. However both the higher authorities were not in mood to listen to all this.

“ Bob , ours  is a close knit and small community. We cannot afford such criminal activity in such a peaceful and god fearing community . We want the culprits to be booked within next 15 days “ Police chief  told Bob .

Bob was not sure what to respond but he somehow gathered all the courage and replied

“ It will be done sir. We will soon arrest the culprits “

The day ended again without any meaningful development in the case,

Chapter 17

“ LION “ Mystery persists

Next day early morning Detective Bob arrived in the police station. The Political ,Departmental and community pressure to solve the Rag Peter case was experienced by him yesterday when the Mayor and the Police chief asked him to get the culprits to the book without any further delay. Thought he had assured both of them that the case would be solved soon , he himself was not sure on the same. Investigations so far had not given any vital clue to reach to the culprits.

Sargent Tayler was yet to arrive. Bob thought of changing the direction of the investigation. Till last few days they tried to trace out  based on the chit found in Rag Peter’s hand with “ LION “written on it. They also tried to collect information through the human intelligence in the community. However none of these could result in any significant clue in the case.

Bob was veteran in the crime investigation. He was aware that many times the culprits themselves leave behind some evidence to create confusion in the investigation team’s mind.

“ Was this Chit with “LION” written on it was really written by Rag during his dying moments or it is planted by the attackers” Bob asked himself. However Sargent Tayler had already checked Peter’s handwriting with that on chit from the handwriting experts from the department. The report confirmed that both the handwriting was of the same person.

Just then Sargent Tayler arrived in the police station.

“ Good morning Bob “

“ Good Morning Sargent “

“ Sargent we need to plan the future course on this case today. We are under watch for our actions” Bob tried to bring some seriousness .

“ Yes Bob. Did you find that I and my officers are not doing their best?” Sargent asked.

“ I am not saying that. We all did try our best in last few days but nothing concrete had emerged so far. We need to check whether we should change direction of our investigation “ Bob replied.

There was no response from Tayler on this. There was complete silence for few minutes.

“ Bob , currently we had no other clues available in the case to change the direction of investigation “ Sargent broke the silence.

Sargent Tayler was right. Rag Peter was having no relatives or friends. Community knew a very little about his day today activities. There was no incidence that happened before his murder or in the past few years that could be probed further. The evidence collected from the site and makeshift home did not give any other clue.