Chapter 17

Chapter 17

May 17

Mumbai Police concluded that there was a relation between the murder of three criminals and the dog saving drama because both were two unusual happening in the same vicinity, at the same day and at the same time.

Postmortem report of the 3 murdered criminals had also become a forensic puzzle, medical examiners could only guess that a probable cause of the murder was mainly due to two deadly alkaloids, strychnin and ricin. It was also believed that their murder was an organized effort of some serious criminal syndicate. Another puzzle was the rumor that the diamonds donated to the Prime Minister Relief Fund belonged to Mafia, were stolen from their possession.

Their prime witness Kalu Yadav was now untouchable because suddenly he became a famous leader. People who saw two dog rescuers were not cooperative in the beginning but finally police to make a police sketch of both men. Sketches were to go to television and newspapers the following day.

Inspector General of police, Mumbai got a phone call from Home Ministry to abandon the investigation and wrap up all files and evidences regarding the case to the Home Ministry Head Quarters, New Delhi.

2

It was a beautiful golden morning in the mountains around Uttarkashi. Rishi woke up and found Mahadev staring at the river. They went to Ghat, Hermit greeted them and brought tea for them. They washed the Ghat and then had bath in the thundering river, in the morning sun. When they arrived Roger was doing stretching exercises on the terrace. Rishi and Mahadev waved him. Hira Singh knocked on all rooms and started serving them breakfast. Rishi and Mahadev helped him.

After breakfast Rishi assembled Roger, his mother, Vinita, Hermit, Mahadev, Sonny and his mother for a meeting to decide Sonny’s fate. They all faced the Holy River and sat on the plastic chairs lying on the terrace.

Rishi spoke, “Mahadev why are you here.”
Mahadev pointed his finger at Sonny.
“He planted the bomb,” he said, “My boat is permanently damaged. Either justice or I will go to police.”
Rishi was smiling but everybody was nervous. Roger was sweating and Vinita gave him a handkerchief. He tried to buy out Mahadev in the airplane but Mahadev was adamant, later on he discussed this with Vinita but she suggested him to leave this thing too on the Rishi to decide.
Sonny was trembling.
“Rishi Sahib, you promised” Mahadev continued, “you will personally give me a chance to punish Sonny the way I want, the way I desire and the way he deserves.”
Everybody including Hermit was nervous.
Rishi was sitting relaxed. He was looking at a raven on a pine tree.
He said, “First tell us the way you want?”
“I ask for life sentence. Life sentence lasts about eight years in India.”
Rishi laughed.
“Now what is your desire?” Rishi asked.
“I want him to wakeup each morning in a prison cell.”
Rishi said, “And third is the way he deserves.”
Mahadev nodded.
“Sonny,” Rishi said, “What do you have to say?”
Sonny said, “I am really sorry. I ask for your forgiveness.”
Rishi turned to Hermit and said, “Gangagiri he tried to kill you how you want to punish him.”
They all looked at Gangagiri who was sitting with his eyes closed. Deep inside he was uneasy.
Hermit said, “Mahadev asked for the life imprisonment, most life imprisonments run about eight years in India. I punish him to stay in Uttarkashi for eight years so Ganga Mai has a chance to guide him further. After his recovery period, which is after few days, he must wash the Ghat everyday.”
Mahadev was spellbound to listen this, suddenly he calmed down and looked at the River Ganges, tears fell from his eyes. Sight of the holy river was so comforting and he forgot his revenge.
Ganga Mai, please cleanse my mind and heart. If a Hermit a holy servant of you can forgive, so do I.
Mahadev said, “Yes! Yes! Yes! I agree. If he wants to serve Ganga Mai, I reduce his punishment to four years.”
Sonny was sad but everybody else was smiling. Vinita was holding Roger’s hand; he felt a burden lifted off his chest.
Sonny said, “But I can’t wash the Ghat because my hand does not work.”
“That is why I want you to wash the Ghat so your hand is put back to work,” said Hermit
This time Sonny too smiled.
Roger said, “Rishi what is your verdict.”
“I have no judgment. Everything was an act of Ganga Mai.”
Everybody was silence. Hermit was stunned to hear this.
Another lesson. Who am I to decide? Who am I to judge?

Rishi said, “Sonny, you are free to walk away from Uttarkashi at anytime, in that case you will be on your own, your family will not give you any money in that case.”
Mahadev and Hermit nodded in agreement.
Sonny said, “I will serve Ganga Mai with my heart.”
His mother said to him, “I want to spend rest of my life here in Uttarkashi. Mumbai never gave me peace and your life is not safe there. I have decided to run a free school for the children. Roger has bought me a large parcel of land here by the river. You are free to stay with me and you can teach in the school for a teacher’s pay. Or you can leave at anytime, you and your father both gave me nothing but pain and suffering. Your grand mother is accompanying your Uncle Roger and Vinita to New York.”
“Mother, I will live with you here and teach in the school. I cannot live without you, I will never abandon you.”

Hira Singh brought tea and they all had tea in silence. Sunny looked around the vastness of the mountains and tried to assimilate the fact in his mind that he was to spend at least four years there. He smiled.
His grandmother asked, “Sonny why are you smiling.”
“I am smiling at my luck. I like this place.”
Sonny felt his mind was free after many days, he smiled. Now he felt immense respect towards Rishi, Vinita and Hermit.
He said, “I thank you all for everything and I am going to Ghat to make acquaintance with Mother Ganges and the Ghat.” He rose.
“Give me a hug,” Rishi said.
Sonny hugged Rishi and wept on his shoulder.
“Jai-Ganga-Mai, Jai Kali Mai,” Hermit shouted, “my dear son Sonny give me a hug too.”
Mahadev said, “Yes Sonny, my son give me a hug.”
After Sonny hugged Mahadev, he found Roger too was waiting to hug him.

After Sonny was gone they had another cup of tea.
“Rishi you are a godsend to us.” Roger’s mother said, “We all have a question.”
“Yes mother,” Rishi, asked, “What is your question.”
“You said to Sonny that you have no judgment. Everything was an act of Ganga Mai. Then why you brought him to this poetic justice.”
Rishi said, “So you all want to know?”
Everybody nodded including Mahadev.
“I asked because I have a different answer to everybody.” Rishi said.
He looked at Roger’s mother and said to her, “Mafia was to use him as a pawn to reach Roger. Eventually he would have ruined himself. I did this because you have only one grandchild.” she started weeping.
“Rishi Sahib has rescued your son from Jail and as well Mafia.” Hermit said to them, “You don’t know how far Sonny had gone to deal with Mafia. He gave you back your son.”
“Roger, you have already written off your only nephew.” Rishi said, “Sonny is like your son.”
“Thanks Rishi, you have opened my eyes. He is my son. I am immediately correcting my mistake and going to sit with him on the Ghat. I will love him with my heart.” Tears fell from Roger’s eyes.
Hermit said to Vinita, “Rishi Sahib has put his life in grave danger so you could have a perfect family. Do not blow this up. When Rishi Sahib was going on a mission I wept and begged him to stop but I was on the path of Mother Ganges and she washed my sins and swept past me.”
Tears washed Vinita’s face and Roger pressed her hand.
“Rishi I promise you and mother Ganges that I will not blow this up.” Vinita said, “I will never let you down.”
Rishi said, “Vinita, just live without promises and constrains. Flow like Ganga Mai.”
First time in his life Roger found himself weeping.

3

Priest calculated the best time for the wedding was at the late noon.
Vinita said to Roger, “I think you want me to sign a prenuptial agreement.”
Roger was embarrassed but he nodded.
Jennifer went to her room and brought an envelope.
Vinita said, “I will sign it on the Ghat.”
“As you wish,” Roger said with heavy heart.
Roger, Vinita and Jennifer came to Ghat and sat on the far steps, to protect the documents from water splashes. Rishi and Hermit were laughing near water.
Jennifer handed a stapled mass of documents to Roger, he flipped and glanced at each page. Jennifer handed him a pen, he signed at two places, and then handed it to Vinita.
Roger said, “It is a standard prenuptial document. I want you to read it first and then sign it.”
“Where do I sign it?”
Jennifer said, “First you must read it then sign at the x-marks.”
Vinita signed the document without even looking at it. Jennifer was New York State Notary Public; she counter signed the document and affixed her seal.
“I wish if you had read it?” Roger said.
“You can read mine if you want.”
Roger’s heart skipped a beat.
He said, “I think you should have shown it to me earlier.”
Vinita took out a paper from her purse and handed it to Roger. It was just a one-paragraph document. As Roger read it, his hands were trembling. He watched at the mountains and then at the river. Jennifer took that document from him and read it.
“Oh! Honey you don’t have to do it.” Jennifer looked at Vinita with sad eyes.
Vinita replied, “I already took an oath in the presence of Ganga Mai. It is just a signature ceremony. Mine is a one-way oath and if Roger feels, he can sign it as an acknowledgement. I already signed it.”
Tears fell from Roger’s eyes. His mind was not thinking anymore. He never expected this scenario. Jennifer had already packed the prenuptial agreement in the envelope.
Roger took the envelope from Jennifer’s hand, he went to the last step and submersed it in the rushing waters of Holy River and sat on the last step, Vinita sat with her.
He held her hand. “Your oath has nullified my agreement. Now it is my turn to take an oath in the presence of Ganga Mai.”
He entered in the knee deep, dangerous and freezing cold waters of the holy river with his clothes on. Vinita took his hand to support him. He closed his eyes and murmured, “Mother River, if I give away anything in my life, there will be no strings attached. I will never look back.”

Rishi shouted, “let’s wash the Ghat.”
Rishi, Roger, Vinita, Hermit, Jennifer and Roger made a human chain and took the buckets to the farthest end of Ghat and started washing it. They were enjoying every moment.
Joshi the Priest appeared on the footbridge.
He shouted, “Don’t forget that there will be a marriage today. Now you all take a bath in the holy river and come to hotel.”
Roger and Vinita were getting married in few hours.
They all started splashing water over each other and then they all held each others hands and took several dips in the roaring river.
Rishi and Hermit stayed on the Ghat and Roger, Vinita and Jennifer went back to Hotel to change wet clothes.

Hermit gave a loin cloth to Rishi, he wore it and put his clothes in the sunlight to dry. Hermit brought two cups of tea.
“Rishi Sahib, life with you is an adventure.”
Rishi laughed.
“You are an enlightened person?”
“Gangagiri I cannot argue against ready made conclusions.”
“Please direct me to the path of supreme freedom.”
“Gangagiri if you want freedom then just live free.”
“No Rishi Sahib, I may need to take several births to attain freedom.”
Rishi laughed.
“Why did you laugh?”
“Gangagiri why you may need to take several births?”
“Attaining the supreme freedom takes time.”
Rishi asked, “Gangagiri, you saw a ghost in Alipore?”
Gangagiri laughed. “Rishi Sahib it was your drama.”
“Joshi saw a snake?”
“That too was you.”
Rishi asked, “How long did it take you both to realize that false was false.”
“Well as we saw that it was you, we both realized it instantly.”
“What if you had not seen the truth of the matter, how long would it taken you to realize the truth?” Rishi asked.
“May be forever.”
Rishi said, “Actually you will stray farther from the truth.”
“So you say that with each life we are racing away from the truth.”
“Gangagiri how do you know that you have many lives?”
“It is all written in the books. All gurus tell this. You are enlightened and you must know this fact. What is the fact?”
“Have you seen a nightmare?”
“Yes. I saw one last night. I saw that police was after us and I was running but you were only laughing.”
“Then what happened?”
“I woke up and I was panting and breathless.”
“Gangagiri, you were not racing in reality, why you were panting and breathless?”
“Because I was racing in the dream.”
“Gangagiri, your race to the supreme freedom, in this life or the future lives, is racing in the dream, and you are breathless and panting. You think you climbed a step in each life, and you will climb another in this life and finally you will arrive at your destination in some future life. It is your entire dream. ”
Gangagiri was shocked to listen this.
“Was my race never happened?”
“You were seeing dreams within dreams? You are standing between two parallel mirrors.”
Gangagiri felt he fell in an icy lake. His body went cold and numb. He closed his eyes for long time.
“Rishi Sahib, please not be so cruel with me.”
Rishi laughed.

Suddenly time stopped for Hermit. His whole body listened and felt the roar of water and all other sounds in the atmosphere. He heard rocks were rolling at the base of Ganges. A man waked past with a lotus flower on a stainless steel plate, he felt flower’s color, aroma and sparkle of the metal plate. Mountains were never so green and rocks were never so fresh. He felt the beatings of his own heart. His whole body felt the air.

Images crashed, dreams crashed and dreams within dreamed crashed, it happened in a moment but he saw it happen.
Noise in his mind came to a full stop or rather mind disappeared. Mind gone and its bourdon of conflicts, struggles, and thoughts disappeared and a state of weightlessness happened. Observation happened but observer was missing. Hearing happened but hearer was missing. Watching happened but watcher was missing. His all senses worked but the interpreter was missing.

Suddenly he was back to the old world and tried to figure out what happened to him. A vague vivid memory was left. Hermit rose and walked to the last step and entered in the holy river. He cupped his hands and touched water to his eyes. He knew that for a short time he became one with the creator.
He did not receive any answer but his questions were vanished. He arrived.
He walked out of water and again sat with Rishi.
They both laughed.
“So Gangagiri how many steps are left and how many lives do you estimate to reach at your goal?”
“There is no goal. Goal was false. Race was false. Dreams broke and then instantly a network of dreams collapsed. Waking happened. Arrival happened.”
They laughed again.

4

Roger, Jennifer, his mother and Vinita took car to the forest check post about the temple. Mahadev was also invited; he was to go with Hira Singh and his family, on a jeep with food. Priest went there earlier to make arrangement for the wedding, which was to be performed under the temple verandah.

Rishi, Hermit, Sonny and his mother opted to walk; they crossed Inderavathi Bridge and took the road. Hermit and Sonny walked ahead and Rishi and Sonny’s mother Sonali were behind them.

“Maharaj,” Sonny said. “I think you and Rishi uncle went to Poppy.”
Hermit laughed. “Sonny, didn’t you see TV or news papers.”
“My hand was operated that day, I was admitted in the hospital.”
“That day, you signed many death warrants,” Hermit said, “Poppy, Tony, Danny, his son and at least seventy people died and their properties and businesses destroyed.”
Sonny was stunned and his back was chilled. “But I ---”
“Son, You cannot go back to criminals and you cannot go to police.”
“You all saved me from the Police and also from the criminals.”
“Son,” Hermit asked, “what are you going to do about it?”
“Maharaj I --” Words failed Sonny.
“Do not reply me now? Let the reply come from your heart.”
Sonny was still in shock.
The found Rishi and Sonali were waiting for them at a turn, Sonali was still gasping for air. Sonny was also gasping due to steep climb. They all sat under deodar trees and rested. Butterflies were hovering on countless wild flowers. In the noon sun, Inderavathi valley looked like a bowl of green color with a shining Inderavathi river bubbling through it.

As they all assembled in the temple, a carpet was spread under the verandah. Priest started wedding rituals. Everybody sat cross-legged around a fire that was burning in a pot. Vinita and Roger sat next to each other. Hermit acted as Vinita’s father, Rishi as her brother, Hira Singh’s wife acted as her sister. Mahadev acted as Roger’s father and his Mumbai CEO his brother. Hira Singh volunteered to be the photographer.

First a simple ring ceremony was performed. Then Joshi performed the wedding, Roger and Vinita tied a knot with each other and made seven circles around the fire. As par Hindu traditions fire was the witness of their union. At the end they garlanded each other. Now they were married. First they touched all elder’s feet and then they stepped in the temple together. Hira Singh, his wife and Mahadev arranged snacks and tea on a table.

After wedding, Roger, Vinita, Rishi and Hermit decided to walk to the hotel.
Roger said to Hermit, “I want to give you some money. How would you like to have it?”
Hermit said, “I live my life without any money.”
“Well Rishi, I owe you some money or actually a lot of it. Remember Dr. Shah.”
“You do not owe me anything.”
Roger said, “This means that I took your money as dowry. This is unacceptable to me. This will not happen.”
Rishi said, “If that is the case, consider that money a gift to the school.”
“Look Rishi,” Roger said, “I pledged money for the school, actually it is a big school complex, Vinita has expressed her desire to start a vocational training center for students who are unable to pay.”
“My joy is earning my own living,” Rishi said.
“Well Rishi and Gangagiri,” Roger said, “I accept the defeat and consider the money is gone to school but on one condition.”
Vinita asked, “What is the condition.”
“School complex must be named after Rishi.”
Hermit nodded in agreement and Vinita clapped
Rishi laughed.
“Rishi is a very good name,” Rishi said, “but I got bored with it I am searching for a new one.”
They all laughed.
“Roger, bomb had damaged Mahadev’s boat’s frame, It still runs but steers to one direction. Poor man can’t pay for the repairs,” said Rishi.
Roger said, “He is now my father.”
They laughed again.

Short cut trail crossed the road.
“Well Roger now you are married.” Rishi said, “You are fired.”
Rishi split with them and turned to the trail, Hermit followed him.
Roger said, “Batman and Robin.”
Vinita smiled, “Stop it Roger.”

5

Big time Leader Kalu Yadav, his secretary cum poet Master, Prime Minister of India and his Deputy and many other big leaders they all had a long and tiring day. They stormed the state of Uttranchal on a helicopter and made a half-hour stop at fifteen places and addressed election rallies. PM, Kalu Yadav and PM’s Deputy each gave a brief speech and Master sang a fresh poem at each stop. Helicopter brought them to Dehradoon for night stay.

Home Minister’s secretary personally informed Kalu Yadav that three large cases had arrived from Mumbai. Kalu Yadav had checked his schedule; following day they had to make a three-hour stop at Uttarkashi. There first they were to address a rally and then PM was to have lunch with American billionaire Roger who happened to be having a private vacation there.

Uttarkashi was the only place where they had two hours of time. Otherwise they were busy each minute for the whole month.
Kalu Yadav remembered Gangagiri’s words to Inspector Daya Ram: We wander together and serve Ganga Mai.
If they serve Ganga Mai, I also serve Ganga Mai. I will submerse those boxes in the Holy River in the holy town of Uttarkashi.

Kalu Yadav called Home Minister’s secretary and instructed him to send boxes to Uttarkashi. Indian Air Force’s helicopters were scheduled to make a daily delivery of important documents to PM, while he was away on election campaign. Boxes were handed to Indian Air Force to be delivered to Kalu Yadav in Uttarkashi before following noon.

Kalu Yadav settled in his room and as usually Master intruded.
“You must listen to my newest poems.”
Kalu Yadav had a smart plan. “Master would you do me a favor.”
“Any thing you name it but first you must listen to my poem.”
“OK. Let’s listen to your poem.”
After ten poems Kalu Yadav protested, “Master I am getting late.”
“Late!” Master said, “Where are we going?”
“Master I have a girl friend in Dehradoon. I must see her because she might have heard on the TV that I am here. You know how these girls are?”
“You have a girlfriend in Dehradoon?” Master looked at him in suspicion.
“I am going to see her alone; I may spend my night with her. I want you to give me a best poem for the occasion.”
“I will come with you.”
“No Master, listen. It is a boy-girl thing. I must have privacy.”
Master was in thoughts.
“I will accompany you to her home, I must read you poems.”
“This is not wise Master; she may think that I am showing her off, bringing my secretary to her. Actually I will sneak out from here, otherwise escorts would follow me and love needs privacy, you know.”
Master had no choice.
Kalu Yadav sneaked out of hotel.
Police didn’t care about who left the hotel but entering into it was heavily restricted.
Kalu Yadav walked on the road. He was very happy and singing with joy.
He remembered that he had some money in his pocket but not enough for expansive hotels. He never had enough time to wash and load the poisoned bills in his pockets; they were hidden in his official residence in New Delhi. He had eleven hours of freedom because they were to address a rally in Dehradoon at 9am.

He found a cheap hotel and drank three beers. He ate food in a cheap restaurant and then walked around. He was drunk and forgot that he was a now famous man. He roamed in the markets; he chewed a beetle-leaf and then from a shack drank a cup of tea.
He walked back to hotel and found a huge crowd there. Police was trying to control the crowd. Hotel manager recognized him and spread it to the world. People crowed him and took him on their shoulders and formed a procession. Police intervened and dispersed the crowd. Due to security concerns he was brought back to the hotel he left. Master welcomed him and read him his torture begun again.

Reporters and TV crews were now on the hotel he planned to rest, they were interviewing people there. Many people claimed that they had a nice chat with Kalu Yadav. A poor tea stall owner claimed that, Kalu Yadav the Charismatic leader and Messiah of poor drank tea at his stall.

Deputy Prime Minister entered in Kalu Yadav’s room. “Congratulations! You are an Engineer, a gong-kicker and an object-oriented person.”
Master said, “We are both sons of guns. Let me tell you one thing we both are long race horses.”
“I do believe you.”

6

A group of secret police officials arrived at the hotel in Uttarkashi. Purpose of their arrival was to discuss confidential security arrangements at the hotel, because following day Prime Minister was to have lunch with Roger at the hotel terrace. So far public was unaware of the Roger’s true identity. Few people knew him as Sethi the coal man. Roger asked his Mumbai CEO to handle the situation and also warned them not to expose his identity till PM comes.

7

Ex-Prophet-of-Doom-of-Mumbai called his wife in Vancouver in Canada but Danny’s wife answered the phone.
“Sister is everything alright?”
“Big brother, you are alone, we are worried about you, we have some news for you.”
“Please, I beg you not to give me any bad news?” he asked his sister-in-law.
She sobbed, “Abdul visited here.”
He screamed, “Stab him with kitchen knife, even if you have to spend your whole life in the jail. He abandoned me.”
“Big brother, we should kiss his feet, last evening your Begum Sahiba had a massive heart attack. Luckily Abdul dropped in at the exact time to say us hello. He was with his friend Dr. William. They saved her life. We have no medical insurance Doctor William used his influence to get her best medical attention in the hospital.”
“So he has paid off his debt, now you can kill that swine.”
“Big brother never say this, because his friend Dr. William has used his influence and admitted your sons and my daughter to Simon Frazier University, he is trying to get their tuition fee waived. He has a heart of gold.”
“It is not Abdul’s doing, it is Dr. William’s doing. Kill this Abdul pig, I have score to settle with him.”
“Big brother, don’t be so upset, Abdul is now your son-in-law. We asked him to marry my daughter and he gladly accepted, his refugee petition was accepted and approved in Dubai, he will get his landed card in two months, our Aiysha will get immigration status in six months.”
“To marry our beautiful daughter, you found an ugly bastard who is at least fifteen years older then her,” he screamed in anger.
“Who will marry her,” she screamed back in anger, “her father and brother died a criminal’s death. Her uncle is merchant-of-death, deported to Pakistan. Abdul abandoned you and arrived in Canada, just in time to save the mother of your children, it was God’s wish.”
“He is infidel,” he yelled, “he does not belong to our religion, and if you kill him you will go to heaven.”
“Big brother,” she yelled, “Like you are in heaven after killing countless people.”
“Heaven is after the day of judgment,” he shouted, “I prayed, I paid alums to the charities. I followed the book.”
“You are a murderer and a thief,” she shouted back, “does not the book praise justice against the wrongdoers?”
“Calm down sister, we all are under the grindstones,” he said, “Almighty is testing us.”
“By the way Abdul handed us your cell phone,” she said, “He went back to return it to you but you were already removed out of Dubai.”
“Mail me the SIM card in Pakistan because I need the numbers stored in the memory, I emailed you my new address,” and he said “and throw away the phone in the Frazier River.”
“Big brother, Abdul said that all people in your phone memory are now dead.”
Don had another epilepsy seizure.

End of Chapter 17