2

“Sahasrapuram? Narasimha shrine?” I was stupefied. Raman Namboodiri’s eyes were fixed on mine. Anxiety lines were scribbled across his forehead. “Couldn’t I go to a Narasimha temple nearby? Is it absolutely necessary that I go to Sahasrapuram?”

“Is it the distance that makes you reluctant to go there?”

“Er…..yes.” He closed his eyes and appeared to pray. I suspected that he was playing the fool. There was a saying that astrology is 50% fraud and 75% deceit. Or was there ‘something’ in what he was saying?

“Yes. You are the guy. What took you so long?”

“Uh…..I’m on time,” looking at which to make sure. “You said 12 pm and I reached here ten minutes early.” He just smiled.

“You are the person I’ve been waiting for. When you walked into the room, I happened to just finish reading a Narasimha mantra. It is auspicious.”

“How do you interpret signs?” I asked curiously.

“Through insights. Sometimes certain things just flash in your mind.”

He took out a consulting notepad from the table drawer and began to write details about the rituals that needed to be performed for…..? I didn’t know what it was for. I had lied when I had told him that the distance was the problem. I didn’t want to go there.

“You must start tonight.”

“What? Why?” I asked peeved. Why is he pushing me?

“It is absolutely important. There’s no time to lose. By the way, another person will accompany you.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. But that pilgrim should be here soon. Okay, let’s do one thing, shall we have lunch together?”

This was getting out of control. An astrologist was inviting me to have lunch with him. He didn’t even know me. And he didn’t even know whom he was talking about.

“It’s the working of the sixth sense. Maybe that person will join us for lunch. I’ll tell my wife to prepare the table.”

“No way. I mean…..sorry…..uh…..I’m stuck. Look…..I’m not going to Sahasrapuram.”

“But you’re destined to,” he said shaking his head. “You can’t afford to even postpone let alone cancel your visit.”

“I’m not convinced. You don’t even know whom you’re waiting for.”

When logic met insight, it was better to agree to disagree and move on. Both constructs belonged to entirely different realms.

“Would you believe me if I gave you a reason?”

“If it is a strong reason, yes.”

He led me to his living room. Most astrologers used a part of their home for their consulting activity. He bade me to sit in one of two wooden armchairs placed beside each other. I did as told and looked at the floor which was coated with red oxide paint. I became completely distrustful of this man who called himself an ‘astrologer’. If he relied on insights, why did he need to study the positions of the planets and stars? And whoever thought he looked like Hanuman when he was in concentration? I thought he looked like a monkey all the way through. Though he had his astro-board and shells, he didn’t use any of it for me. He had neither prescribed any stone-studded ring nor read my palm with his magnifying glass. Should I give up my MBBS entrance exam attempt? Two years would be completely wasted. By the way, why did he offer to host lunch? I hadn’t heard of anybody giving lunch to a client, and that too, a stranger. As these thoughts flooded my mind like gremlins, I was taken aback by the dissonance from the chair next to mine. When I saw who the person was who had just sat next to me, I almost jumped out of my seat.

I couldn’t believe what I saw. I was speechless. It was Keerthana! Almost immediately, my eyes began to swell up with tears and I could barely see her pretty eyes and her smile. I felt embarrassed and girlish. As I looked away from her to hold back my tears, I noticed that the person whom I had been mocking was standing right next to me.

“Now do you believe?” he asked in a teasing tone. I looked back at Keerthana to find her still staring at me.

“Yes, I do believe,” I said after having a good look at her face.

“Good. Sit here for a while. Let me talk to this young lady.”

Keerthana followed Namboodiri to his consultation room while I sat in the chair. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a blouse having a loose neckline. With carefully shaped eyebrows, pearl white teeth, and an innocent smile, she was unbelievably beautiful. She hardly had any make-up on and was carrying a backpack which added to her cuteness. She was still the fair, thin girl with that gorgeous smile.

I could hear the clatter from the vessels being moved and placed on the table in the dining place. It took what seemed to be half an hour for the two of them to come out of his office. We then proceeded for our déjeuner. A table was ready with banana leaves spread out for each meal. Keerthi sat to my left at the table while Namboodiri sat facing me. I didn’t dare to look beyond my leaf—I nervously tried to concentrate on my food. And I was startled when Namboodiri powdered his papadam to mix with his rice.

“Shyam, this madam told me that you were classmates.”

“Yes, for BSc.”

“Hmm…..she deserves a lot of praise. Nowadays, we won’t find people like her. She has come all the way from Chicago with a purpose. A woman on a mission. During her last visit, she had introduced two of her friends to each other. They fell in love and married with her support. Now it seems they are headed for a divorce. She has come to make them reconsider their decision. I would say that many would be ready to stand as witnesses for a register marriage for their dearest friends. But after that the husband and wife only have each other to look up to. Later on, would these so-called ‘friends’ actually chip in to find a solution to a problem that the couple might face? Very few, I think. Our girl in question is different. She even spoke to them this morning and the next round of talks will happen after this trip. Right Keerthana?”

I finally looked at her face and saw her smiling in modesty. An old mate had told me that she had gone to the US. But I didn’t know where exactly she was. Perceiving things with an objective frame of mind, her present aim was consistent with the character I knew during our college days. She definitely was the sort of person who would set out to do a thing like this. I stole another glance at her. Her face was expressionless. Crunch! Another papadam turned to powder.

I hadn’t noticed that my steel glass filled with water was placed precariously along the edge of the table to my left. When Keerthi reached for the sambar, her elbow hit the glass from which the water spilled on to my jeans. In the midst of her apologies and frantic search for a handkerchief, Namboodiri called for a towel.

“You aren’t made for each other,” he observed, much to my annoyance. Maybe he was joking.

As it transpired, both of us were ready for the trip. After lunch, Keerthi revealed that her backpack had all that she needed for a few days except food and water. Namboodiri handed me a slip of paper which mentioned the name of the pooja which was to be conducted at the temple. He asked her whether she had the ‘sword’ and ‘chakra’ to which she nodded. I didn’t know what it was and decided to ask her during the journey, most of which would be covered by going in a bus. We were to embark on a twelve hour overnight travel to Agnipuzha via Thiruchal in a bus, in between we would have to change buses twice, then a boat-ride and finally a three kilometer long walk to Sahasrapuram. We would finally reach there in the morning or maybe at noon. This would be the second instance we were going to Sahasrapuram. Keerthi and I had gone there on an unforgettable trip before---our Final year excursion---and I wondered how we could go there again. We had camped at a landlord’s place. This time around, we were going to the same fellow’s place---landlord Siddharth. Namboodiri warned us that the law and order situation at the village was managed by the head of the village named Devarajan and the police had little access or even the will to access that place. We had had first hand experience about that.

“You must meet me on your return,” said Namboodiri with a loud burp.

We agreed and embarked on our journey.