Chapter 18

Chapter 18

May 18


Omar was not enjoying his stay in the beech town of Pattaya in Thailand because he neither he was able to eat Thai spicy food and nor he was able to drink any liquor. He was having persistent die-hard fungal infection in his mouth. Initially anti-fungal mouth paints worked but recently everything failed. He was in deep agony; burning in his mouth took away his peace.

He went to see a doctor, who did thorough examination of his mouth followed by general examination. By the needle marks on Omar’s arms; he understood that he used drugs with needles.
Doctor knew what the exact problem was.
He said with deep sympathy, “My-Dear-Sir, I must send your blood for tests.”
Omar sobbed, “Doctor, do whatever you want to do, I am burning in hell, I cannot eat. I cannot drink. Smoking hurts me. Chewing tobacco is also out of question. Even tooth paste hurts me.”
A nurse drew his blood in three small bottles.
Doctor said, “My-Dear-Sir, I will call you tonight.”
Omar said, “But give me some medicine.”
Doctor prescribed him surface anesthetic mouth paint to suppress his burning.

2

Ruling Party leaders including Prime Minister and also Kalu Yadav were to arrive in Uttarkashi before noon to address a rally. Rally ground was near the helipad on the same side of the valley where Roger was staying. There was heavy police activity in the area. Snipers and sharp shooters were stationed on the high places with rifles and binoculars. Police swept the whole hotel. Terrace was now taken over by police where PM was to have lunch with Roger.
Now Hira Singh knew the true identity of Roger, and Prime Minister was visiting to his hotel, he was happy with joy. He repeatedly thanked, hugged and kissed Rishi because Rishi was bringing him more luck.
Since police guarded terrace, it was unpleasing to sit there, everybody was in Rishi’s room. Hermit was still on the Ghat.


Vinita announced, “Rishi has a joke to tell.”
Rishi started:
One pick pocket said to other, “today I had a very bad day, I picked Coalman Sethi’s pocket and found nothing and he caught me and insulted me in the crowd.”
His friend replied, “I too got caught many time but nobody ever insulted me. They beat me up, kicked me, hit me, police and magistrates cursed me and sent me to jail but nobody ever insulted me.”
There was a roar of laugher in the room.
“I am going to temple; I will come back after PM is gone.” Rishi was on his feet.
“Rishi remember you hugged Kalu Yadav and gave him money to return to his village?” said Vinita as he reached the door, “In just a week he is a Super Leader. He is coming to Uttarkashi with Prime Minister.”
Everybody looked at Vinita with a question. It was Hermit who told her about Kalu Yadav.
Rishi turned.
“That was other Kalu Yadav.”
“Hey Rishi, Prime Minister is visiting us,” said Roger, “Won’t you say hello to him.”
“Prime Ministers and Kings come to see you and you are my friend. What else do I need?” replied Rishi.
He left with his loincloth hanging on his shoulder.

3

Rishi walked to the direction of Indravathi Bridge and took the short cut trail to temple and reached there in forty minutes. Priest was busy with devotees.
Last day they all left some litter around the temple and priest had no time to do the cleaning. Rishi picked up a broom and cleaned up the area. With a bucket he started washing the verandah around the temple, where wedding took place.
Priest was embarrassed to see Rishi cleaning the area.
All devotees left and they hugged each other. Together they washed concrete platform.
A group of people arrived at temple to consult some astrological matters with priest, and Rishi resumed his position on the platform and submersed in the views of the valley.
Priest joined him after a while.
After a very long pause Priest spoke, “Yesterday after marriage, Roger asked me for my fee. I said that there was no fee because he is your friend. He insisted to give me money. Finally I asked ten rupee.”
Rishi was submersed in the scene of the valley; his whole body was listening to all voices including Priest’s.
He said, “Huh!”
“Roger gave me a check of ten thousand dollars.”
“Fifty thousand times above you asked.”
“Actually more, Roger is building up a big school complex down the river; he bought hundreds of acres of barren land, a lot more than a university needs. He says the price will double in a week. He will sell the excess land and the cost of the school land would come to free. Hira Singh has negotiated this deal in just one day. I gave the check back to Roger and asked for the partnership in this deal, Hira Singh is a partner too.”
Rishi said, “Roger is a Midas touch man. Any thing he touches becomes gold.”
“Rishi Sahib, you brought me luck, in few days I will buy a better home because I live in dingy home and my children were getting sick in the winter because we are not getting any sunlight inside.”
“Good for you Joshi.”
Priest rose and went to kitchen to make tea. Rishi missed his river bath, he took bath at the tap in his lion cloth.

They had tea on the concrete platform.
“Rishi Sahib, how big is your home?”
“My home is very big.”
“How big?”
“Very big and I have a deck too and scenes are spectacular.”
“Where is that home?”
“Whole world is my home and each mountain is my deck. I am at home,” Rishi replied.
“You are a swami, the owner.” Joshi said.
Rishi was looking at ice clad mountains in the north of the valley. Clouds were playing games with the distant mountains. He felt a brush of cold air followed by a brush of warm air, felt the cold of the concrete under him.

“I am leaving tomorrow,” said Rishi.
Priest was shocked to hear this. His tears fell down on the ground.
“You can stay here for some more time, whole world is your home.”
“Joshi, there is a time to work and time to leisure.”
Joshi cried in silence.
“Rishi Sahib, Roger has a Midas touch, and you have a touch of God. You are the confluence of creator and creation.”
“Joshi, there is only the dance of creator and creation. We all are it.”
Priest wept.
Rishi said, “Well Joshi let’s drink tonight. I am going to take a bath in the mother Ganges.”
He turned and descended down the path. Priest watched him with heavy heart till he disappeared behind the woods.

Rishi reached at the Ghat in one hour and Hermit greeted him. They took bath together and he lay under the sun, on the warm step.
Hermit brought two cups of tea.

4

From the height of the helicopter, as Kalu Yadav saw the holy river first time in his life, he bowed and joined his hands in Namaskar and murmured, “Jai-Ganga-Mai, Jai Kali Mai.”
They wander together and serve Ganga Mai. It they wander together and serve Ganga Mai. I will serve Ganga Mai too. I will take a bath in the holy river. Hope cases arrive here. I will submerse the contents in the river. I am also a suspect in the murder of Poppy and his gang.

They landed in Uttarkashi and first Prime Minister addressed the huge crowd, he wasted no time and a motorcade took him to the hotel where Roger was staying. Other leaders took turn to address the huge rally. After Kalu Yadav addressed the rally and left the stage in rush, Master ran after him.
A high-ranking police officer rushed after him. “Sir where are you going?”
“Where is the Ghat?”
“Sir that is not in your schedule, we have not secured that area?”
“I just asked you the way.”
“Sir one must cross the foot bride to walk to the Ghat.”
“Take us to the footbridge.”
Police Officer started barking on the handheld radio. Ghat was only fifteen-minute walk. Police motorcycles and jeeps raced to the secure the route, footbridge as well Ghat.
Kalu Yadav and Master were taken to a Police jeep. Jeep brought them to the suspension footbridge that was already cleared off all the pedestrians. Kalu Yadav and Master walked on the deserted bridge and arrived on the Ghat. They took off their shoes on the first step and walked to the roaring water.

On the horizon a huge military helicopter appeared and landed near three helicopters. That was the mail helicopter to the ministers, dignitaries and VIP’s.

5

Rishi was washing the Ghat. Suddenly many policemen appeared and Kalu Yadav walked down the steps to the roaring waters of Holy River.
Master sat on a step and pulled out a notebook and a pen from his bag, three poems were born in his heart; they were fresh as the water of the Holy River.
Kalu Yadav cupped his hands and splashed ice-cold water on his face. He came to the holy river first time in his life, he closed his eyes.
Mother Ganges thanks for showing me this day. They wander together and serve Ganga Mai. It they wander together and serve Ganga Mai. I will serve Ganga Mai too.
“Kalu Yadav it is a pleasure to meet you?”
Kalu Yadav turned.
Is this a dream? He slapped on his own face. No.
He was stunned with joy. Tears fell from his eyes.
“Give me a hug,” Rishi said.
They hugged each other.
Hermit also appeared. “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
As Kalu Yadav bowed to touch his feet, Hermit said, “Give me a hug.”
Kalu Yadav and Hermit hugged.
Rishi and Hermit were standing together and Kalu Yadav lay on the floor and started doing pushups in their feet. Rishi and Hermit were laughing. A lone newspaper man was taking their pictures. He assumed that Kalu Yadav was doing pushups in Hermit’s feet so he focused their cameras on the Hermit and Kalu Yadav.
Kalu Yadav did pushups till he collapsed.
Hermit went to the tiny temple and came with an old loincloth that Rishi used to borrow from him.
He ordered, “Kalu, now have a bath.”
Kalu Yadav took off his clothes and wrapped that loincloth and entered in the currents.
He spent his life in warmer parts of India, cold water hit him and he almost fainted. Hermit threw a bucketful of water over his body and then pulled him out. He was dizzy and shivering. Hermit threw more water over him. It took him a while to recover but he was still shivering and clattering his teeth.
Rishi bought tea for them. Warm tea and sunlight helped Kalu to recover from the sudden cold shock that the cold water caused him. Now he was feeling fresh and full of vigor.
Rishi said, “Kalu Yadav let’s wash the Ghat.”
Hermit brought another bucket; they made a chain, Rishi at the bottom, Kalu Yadav in the middle and Hermit at the top, they started washing the Ghat. Cameras flashed and Video cameras were recording this event. Master was still writing his poems. Suddenly whole Ghat was crowded by a herd of media personals; they were making films and taking pictures of the new Leader-of-the-masses Kalu Yadav. Police was having hard time to control the crowd of people pouring on the Ghat.

Prime Minister met Roger and Vinita and congratulated them for their wedding.
Media was in frenzy because two famous people were meeting and also Indian-born-American-billionaire Roger got married in Uttarkashi so it was going to be International class news. This meeting was not announced in advance.

Prime Minister, Roger, Vinita, Jennifer and Mumbai CEO sat on the chairs on the hotel terrace and lunch was served. They discussed many things. Prime Minister asked for more money to his election campaign and Roger asked for more favors and concessions.

Prime Minister’s political adviser appeared and whispered in his ear, “Sir Kalu Yadav is washing the Ghat and media is giving him more attention that you, you better go there and wash the Ghat.”
“Yes I must. Otherwise he would steal the show,” whispered Prime Minister, “how for is this Ghat?”
“We can get there in less than five minutes.”
“Mr. Roger,” said PM. “Would it be too much to ask, accompany me to the Ghat?”
“PM Sahib, this is An honor.”
They rose; police was again in the frenzy to secure the area. A car brought them to the footbridge and as they crossing it; they saw a huge crowd on the Ghat. Kalu Yadav was wearing a loincloth, washing the Ghat.
Media was giving all the attention to Kalu Yadav. PM felt that he was left alone. He too wanted publicity badly. He rushed to the Ghat, followed by Roger, Jennifer, Vinita, CEO, other staff and party members.

Kalu Yadav saw Prime Minister arriving but he was serving the Holy River so he made no effort to greet him so Prime Minister became a fourth link in the chain but most of the Ghat was already washed.
They were tired and sat on the steps. Master was done with his poems and now he also sat with them.
PM whispered in Kalu Yadav’s ears, “You are an inventor. A genius. Today whole country will see us washing the Ghat.”
PM said, “Kalu Yadav meet Mr. Roger richest Indian settled abroad. He is a hero of our nation.”
Kalu Yadav shook hands with Roger.
“Kalu Yadav you are my best friend.” Roger jokingly said, “You know how?”
Kalu Yadav shook his head. “No Sir.”
“You are Rishi’s best friend and I am his best friend. A is equal to B, C too is equal to B so A and B are equal.”
Kalu Yadav was astonished again.
“Rishi may by your friend but I serve his feet.”
This time Roger was astonished.
PM was getting late, he had to lay the foundation stone of the school complex, that Roger was to build, and then he had to fly to other towns to address more rallies. His Secretary whispered in his ears to speed up the things.
He ordered, “Mr. Roger let’s go.”
They rose.

Kalu Yadav, Master Rishi and Hermit sat near water.
A man rushed to them.
“Sir, I have a message for you.” Messenger said to Kalu Yadav. “Courier helicopter has brought three metal cases for you, what you want us to do with them.”
“Rishi Sahib,” Kalu Yadav asked, “where do you stay?”
Rishi pointed his finger to the hotel situated at the upriver, across the river. “In that hotel where Roger is staying.”
Kalu Yadav said to the messenger, “Send those cases in that hotel.”
Kalu Yadav laughed. “I have a present for you.”
Police was still guarding Kalu Yadav but luckily media personal all left to chase Prime Minister and Roger.
Kalu Yadav asked a police officer to convey the message to the other leaders to leave without him. He will be staying in Uttarkashi with some friends.

They walked to the hotel and found Hira Singh at reception, he looked at them with bewilderment.
Rishi is a friend of another famous man. Is this a dream? He pinched himself.
Rishi said to Kalu Yadav and Master, “Meet my friend Hira Singh.”
Words failed Hire Singh.
“Our friend Kalu Yadav and Master,” said Rishi, “would be staying here at your hotel.”
Hermit said, “And we are hungry.”

They sat in Rishi’s room. Valley, river and mountains were visible from windows and open door.
Master said, “I just wrote a new poem on the beauty of the mountains.”
Rishi said, “Master, I will love to listen your poems but if you have not looked at the mountains, your poems may be lifeless.”
Master was shocked.
“Tip of you pen hid the beauty of the majestic mountains,” said Rishi.
Master collapsed on the bed with tears in his eyes.
Kalu Yadav whispered in Hermit’s ears, “Rishi Sahib killed another monster.”
Hermit too arrived.
Master was staring at the ceiling fan, in a catatonic state.
“Master,” Rishi said with deep affection, “stand up and look at the sunset.”
Rishi led him to railing, he gazed at the mountains; he was mesmerized.
“Rishi Ji, you have opened my eyes. I never looked at mountains but my mind was inventing the words.”
“Master, now that you are here, you drink the valley, Holy River and the majestic mountains with you eyes.”
They drank the view of the valley, tumbling Holy River and the mountains.
No new poem was born that day in Master’s hyperactive mind.

Hira Singh came with tea on a tray followed by Hermit. Hira Singh mentioned to Kalu Yadav that three metal case are delivered for him.
Kalu Yadav discussed this matter with Rishi. Stairs from the hotel lawn led to the holy river, Rishi instructed Hira Singh that those cases be brought by the river.

They were standing by the crashing rapids of Holy River Kalu Yadav broke the lacquer seal from the latches and opened the first case. That had envelops and documents.
Kalu Yadav was enjoying the moment; he started submersing one paper at a time.
Rishi had another idea; he piled up the contents of that case in a heap. Hermit had a matchbox in his pocket he set it fire with the match stick.

Vinita yelled them from the hotel, they looked up, and Roger, Vinita and CEO were looking at them.
Roger shouted, “What are you doing.”
Rishi shouted back, “Picnicking.”
“Can we come?”
“No.”
“Thanks, we are coming.”
“Mention very much.”
Roger, Vinita and CEO came down. They looked at the contents of the heap with curiosity.
Vinita saw some sketches in the heap, she pulled those out.
They looked at Rishi, Hermit and Kalu Yadav’s police sketches.
Roger and CEO felt their nerve chilled, now they understood everything.
Now they were emptying next box, it had clothes in polythene bags. Kalu Yadav tore the bag and a shoe fell down.
“Hey!” Roger shouted, “What my shoe is doing here.”
“I borrowed your clothes,” said Rishi, “and shoes, and an electrical cord. You can have it back.”
“Forget it.”
Kalu Yadav tossed the contents of second case in the fire. Third case had more documents, all went to bonfire.

They were done; they started climbing stairs.
“This Rishi,” CEO whispered in Roger’s ear, “This Christ has no cross made for him.”
“Enlightened and the holy river,” said Roger.

Police was guarding the area especially hotel terrace, because two VIPs Kalu Yadav and Roger were present in the hotel. People, photographers and media personals were still trying to peep from the walls.
They had privacy in the hotel lawn so they stayed there. Hira Singh brought them chairs and started serving tea.
“Rishi Sahib,” said Kalu Yadav, “Tomorrow I will resign from the party, I want to serve your feet.”
“Kalu you go wherever Mother Ganges takes to you.”
“She brought me here at your feet. I am at home.”
“Kalu,” said Rishi. “What appears to be the end may really be a new beginning.”
“Rishi Sahib,” Kalu Yadav said, “Either way I will serve your feet. It I become a minister, your shoes will sit on my chair.”
“Kalu,” Hermit said, “Mother Ganges will sit on your chair. You are a servant of mother Ganges. You take a bottleful of holy water with you. ”
Kalu Yadav touched Hermit’s feet but hugged Rishi, he wept on Rishi’s shoulders.
Roger said, “Kalu Yadav, cheer up. Man.”
They all laughed.
Sonny, his mother and Mahadev joined them; they just came from a long walk in the Inderavathi Valley. In few minutes Jennifer and Roger’s mother joined them, both ladies just had a walk to the famous Vishwanath temple. Joshi the Pundit also joined them.

Hira Singh again arranged a liquor party. All men and Jennifer had drinks in their hands.
Sonny assembled Rishi, Roger, Hermit, Mahadev, Vinita, his mother and grandmother.
He announced, “Today I had a long talk with Vinita Auntie.”
He continued, “You all said, I am free to walk away from Uttarkashi at anytime, in that case I will be on my own, my money will be released to me only if I sincerely complete my sentence.”
They listened to him with attention.
Hermit said, “Son, what are you getting at.”
“Maharaj,” Sonny said, “Yesterday you asked me a question, that what I am going to do about?”
Hermit nodded.
“Maharaj, I am setting myself free from your sentence.”
Everybody was astounded.
Sonny said, “I give all my money to school. I am free.”
His mother asked, “Son this means you are leaving Uttarkashi.”
“No. Mother I will never leave you; I will live in Uttarkashi but with my own will and freedom. I will wash the Ghat till my hand recovers.”
Hermit shouted, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
They clapped.
“Rishi Sahib, I thank you from my heart,” Mahadev said, “At that day I was so stupid to call police. You made me a member of your and Roger’s family. I feel blessed to be here.”

They all sat together again. Men had another drink. Sonny had two drinks and his mother snatched and spilled the third. Master was first to get drunk and he started dancing. Then Hira Singh started speaking English. Kalu Yadav was third in the line he started giving speeches. Hermit did tribal war dance, they all doubled with laugher. CEO and Roger got drunk at the same time; they challenged each other for a wrestling match.
Rishi said to Hermit, “I heard you can bray like a donkey?”
Hermit brayed, Rishi barked, Master bellowed, Roger roared, Kalu Yadav mewed, Hira Singh squealed, CEO made elephants sound, Jennifer barked like Chihuahua dog and Sonny crocked like a toad.
They were to drink more but ladies snatched the bottles and spilled the contents.
Hira Singh’s wife joined the ladies. “Are we in the zoo?”
They ate dinner and wanted to have a long walk to sober off but press and Police escorts followed them so they took the stairs and sat on the deserted river area around the ashes of the bonfire.

6

Night Manager of hotel ‘Golden Star’ was brought to the police station again, because was the only witness to the death of Police Inspector Daya Ram. Police had concrete proofs the he has regained his memory and now he remembers everything in proper order. Manoj Kumar helped a police artist to make first picture that was ready in two hours.
Everybody looked at the picture of a bald man.
“Are you sure that this guy was completely bald.”
“Definitely.”

It took another two hours to make another picture.
One Inspector said, “This guy looks like Bill Clinton.”
Everybody agreed.
“That is the reason.” Manoj Kumar replied, “I have remembered his face so well.”
Now we got a bald guy and a Bill Clinton look alike. They all laughed.
Manoj Kumar said, “And they said they were from Amway, they had lots of money.”
Police Commissioner was gaping at him in surprise because he too was an Amway agent.

Manoj Kumar said to the Chief of the police station.
“I ask you to do me a favor.”
“Do you a favor!” Doing favor for free was never Chief’s character.
“Please,” requested Manoj Kumar.
“What?”
“Two men saved my life, I request you to make their pictures. After the bomb, they entered in the hotel and pulled me out of the fire.”
Chief thought for the proposition. If I don’t do him a favor he might mislead us in the future.
Chief nodded to police artist.
In a rush job he made Rishi’s and Hermit’s pictures.

Detectives were dazed to see both pictures.
A Police Inspector yelled, “These ghosts keep coming to us again and again.”
Another police inspector tapped at Rishi’s picture. “Inspector Daya Ram shook hand with this ghost and his only that hand was left in the explosion. Only one hand was found before hotel building came down.”
A detective who was standing with the help of two crutches closed his eyes. “Just one look at these guys brings me misfortune.”
Other said, “These two guys are haunting us like ghosts.”

Manoj Kumar said, “These both guys endangered their lives to rescue my life. They jumped in the burning hotel from the outside and pulled me out.”
Chief said, “Get out and take these pictures away from us we don’t want to see them again.”
Manoj Kumar walked out with two pictures.

“I bet my life,” Chief said to all Policemen, “these two ghosts have nothing to do with three murders.”
He continued “and great diamond robbery.”
“They were just two equal-opportunity-rescuers and that night they hit double luck,” his deputy agreed, “And their good luck intercepted our luck.”
Commissioner of the Police said, “Anyway we are told to close those files.”
“Any reason they gave us?”
“I can only guess, national interest etc. etc.”

7

Omar was sitting with young a prostitute in his air conditioned hotel room in Pattaya, Thailand. He painted his mouth with surface anesthesia ointment.
Phone in his room rang.
“My-Dear-Sir,” Doctor said, “I have to tell you some thing.”
“What thing Doctor?”
“My-Dear-Sir, please come to my office. I am waiting for you.”
Omar ordered prostitute to scram, wore his clothes and walked to doctor’s clinic that was just half mile away.

“My-Dear-Sir.” doctor clapped at Omar’s shoulder with utter sympathy.
Omar looked at Doctor’s face, Buddhist doctor was heartbroken.
“Yes Doctor.”
“For the last several years,” doctor broke the news, “you were an HIV carrier.”
Omar started weeping. Doctor too had tears in his eyes; he clapped at Omar’s shoulder again.
“My-Dear-Sir, you have AIDS.”
Both hugged each other and wept.
Omar sobbed.
“My-Dear-Sir, doctors may treat your symptoms, that’s all they can do. Put your mind in the God now.”
“That’s exactly what I am going to do.”
Doctor prescribed him next generation anti-fungal, painkillers and surface anesthesia.
“My-Dear-Sir, painkillers may not work on you because you are heroine addict.”
They hugged each other and wept again.
Omar left.
Doctor pulled a dog’s picture from his front pocket, kissed it and wept more, because poor animal died at the same morning. Weeping made him relax.

Omar came to his room and wept more.
He muttered, “I will spend rest of my life to serve the Almighty God.”
He called Pakistan Embassy and operator switched him to a man.
“I am Omar.”
“Omar who?”
“Remember me. Remember Afghanistan.”
“Oh Yeah! Omar how are you, long time no see.”
“I want to serve the cause. Our cause.”
“Welcome home, actually we were looking for you?”


End of Chapter 18