Chapter 5

Chapter 5

05 May

Hermit had very disturbed sleep. As usual he woke up before sunrise and was always alone at the Ghat at this time. He took bath in cold waters in the Holy River. He sat cross-legged on the last step near the small temple and tried to meditate in vain. Again he begged mother Ganges for the forgiveness for the black magic he performed last evening. It was not the first time he performed black magic; he did it before but always with a justification. Rishi’s words were still echoing in his ears, “No Gangagiri. Never ever use the word revenge. Whatever happened today was arranged by the Ganga Mai”.
Of-course, everything happens with the will of God so who am I to interfere. If Ganga Mai arranged everything then my own act of performing the black magic was also arranged by Ganga Mai.
His mind was confused and restless.
No Gangagiri. Never ever use the word revenge. Ganga Mai arranged whatever happened today. Yes, Revenge! I wanted revenge. I was only looking for revenge, either I take the revenge or Ganga Mai takes. Revenge was the only thing I had in his mind. I am a holy man who was on the path to holy Nirvana. The ultimate freedom! And yet I am taking revenges with justification. I am not even free from the causes. I could not see God’s hand in good as well as bad.
Then he asked himself, “Did I get peace after I performed black magic”.
Reply came from within and he shook his head in negation. Last night his foot took him to Rishi to resolve the matter; and was the matter resolved? He nodded. Yes, Rishi resolved the matter.
Is Rishi is the person I am waiting for the last nine years? Rishi, he destroyed his concept of my will power. He does not look like a Hermit or a holy man. He does not fit to any definition of an enlightened person mentioned in Hindu Scriptures. But he knows that I used to drink. He told me to undo the black magic. He destroyed my concept of will power and gave me a sleepless night.

About four days ago Rishi came into his life. Many strangers visit Ghat each day and Rishi was one of them, nothing special about him. Only a slight unusual thing was that Rishi asked him for a loincloth that he gladly gave him. Anybody who wished to take a bath in mother Ganges was his friend. Rishi didn’t seem to be a poor man. He was carrying an expensive looking imported back pack but avoided wetting up his own clothes because pilgrims are always on the run to their goal and wet clothes are always a bit of nuisance to handle. But then Rishi came to Ghat almost each day.
Like I took over the Ghat maintenance Rishi took over Ghat washing in just these few days. He asked me the place where do I buy tea and he settled the bill with tea stall. He even asked if I need money.

Then events took an unusual turn. Yesterday Rishi was washing the Ghat and an unusual drama happened and he used his black magic skill after many years then he walked to hotel to see Rishi.
Have a drink Gangagiri. You used to drink. So everything was not coincidence. Rishi knew me and found me.
He muttered, “Yes! Rishi found me. Thanks Ganga Mai. It seems like my race has come to an end.”
He had another bath just to feel and touch of mother Ganges again. He felt delight in the bath and felt that he was happy after many years.
He sat cross-legged on the last step. Cold water was splashing over his feet. He decided that soon after the aartee he would go to Rishi and sit at his feet and beg him to take him as disciple and direct him on the path to Nirvana. Then he remembered what Rishi said last night.
Ganga Mai arranged whatever happened today. So let be the will of Ganga Mai. Who am I to interfere? Let Ganga Mai to run the things, I will accept whatever falls in my lap.
An instant peace descended upon his mind and he fell into deep meditation.

It was still early in the morning, few devotees arrived on the Ghat and Hermit rose and started preparing for the aartee. He washed a conch, brass plate, a small copper utensil and prepared new cotton wicks and dipped them in a cow’s butter oil. As he saw the first ray of sun he sang the aartee, devotees joined him. Today he found music and rhythm in his own voice. His whole body was singing and vibrating with joy.

Rishi woke up and came on the terrace. Sunlight was gradually filling up in the valley. Golden light was gradually replacing the dark shadows of the mountain. Bandage of his head was making him uncomfortable, he took it off and felt better immediately.

2

Helicopter pilot Vikram Thapa left Bareilly a little before dawn. By the time he was over the town of Haldwani he saw first lights of the day. He flew over Jim Corbett Park and near the town of Kotdwar he saw the Holy Ganges, he joined his hands in respect. Vikram Thapa revered Ganges. His father’s name was Ganga and his mother’s name was Jahnwi an alias of Ganges. To him the sight of the holy river in the early morning was a good omen. He had enough fuel to make a journey from Braille to Uttarkashi and then back to Dehradoon where just one night ago two rich rogues ruined his night by playing a police prank. He entered in the mountains and passed over the town of Narandera Nagar and then over the town of Chumba and reached Uttarkashi a little before six thirty. It rained at night; there was no whirlpool of dust. It was early morning so just few people gathered to watch the helicopter. He opened the door and jumped out. A person who was standing next to a taxi, walked to him.
“Well! Well! Well! Look who is here?” Vikram Thapa nodded several times.
“We have chartered this helicopter, take us immediately to Dehradoon,” Bishambar ordered.
Vikram Thapa remembered all the harassment this man and his son caused him just a day before. He was not a forgiving person by character.
“Can’t do. This machine is not airworthy. Take your business else where.”
“Think before you speak, you can lose your job,” Bishambar barked.
Vikram Thapa ignored Bishambar’s threat and walked away from his bird. Bishambar followed him and caught him by shoulder.
“Look, please.”
“Now please excuse me, It is my tea time. I have to find a tea shop,” Vikram Thapa said.
“I am sorry, I beg you to take us to Dehradoon, my son is badly hurt and we must reach to a good hospital. I will pay you more money if you want.”
“As I said the bird is not airworthy. Need repairs. You have money so you find other bird.”
Bishambar started weeping and took hold of his feet with both hands. “Please take us to Dehradoon. I ask for forgiveness. May God bless you, he is my only son.”
Vikram Thapa looked at the silvery Ganges and said to himself, “If mother Ganges can forgive and washes away the sins, why can’t I forgive this bastard.”
Pilot said, “Mother Ganges heard your cry. You are in luck. Let’s go.”
They helped pale looking Sonny to get on the back seat.
“Do you have any respiratory or other medical condition or any heart problem?”
“Yes I have.”
“So we ascend real slowly.”
Vikram Thapa started the helicopter and they took off immediately.

3

At 6am. Rishi came out of his room. Roger’s door was closed. Rishi walked to the edge of the terrace where scenes of the holy river were unobstructed. Mountains and valley were washed fresh with last night’s rain. In the silence of morning hours one could feel the vibrations generated by crashing waters. Morning air was crisp and birds were chirping on the pine trees. He sat cross-legged and watched the river and the valley.

Hermit was done with errands of the Ghat his feet dragged him in the direction of Rishi’s hotel. This time he found nobody at the reception and he took stairs leading to the terrace two floors above. He knew the way because he was here last night.
Rishi was sitting cross-legged on the terrace, he watched Hermit arriving at hotel.
Hermit shouted, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai,” Rishi echoed back in a shout.
Rishi went to veranda and dragged two chairs and sat on the one and asked Hermit to sit on the other but Hermit sat on the floor. Rishi left the chair and sat next to Hermit both were facing Ganges.
Gangagiri wanted to sit in Rishi’s feet but Rishi’s act filled his heart with immense love.
Rishi asked, “How are you Gangagiri.”
“Mother Ganges is taking a good care of me.”
“Thanks, that you came. It is good to see a holy person in the very morning.”
Hermit was embarrassed. They stayed silence for some time.
Rishi asked, “So Gangagiri, you have some medicine for me.”
Hermit’s heart was exhilarated, this time he was not surprised at Rishi’s clairvoyance. He took out a small polythene sachet from his cloak pocket. With his finger he took out some green paste and applied it at Rishi’s wound on the scalp.
“It was good that you took off the bandage, leave the wound exposed to air. This is mountain tobacco it will heal you like the magic.”
After applying medicine
“Gangagiri,” said Rishi, “tell me your story from the very beginning.”
So Gangagiri told.
They sat in the silence for several minutes.
“So you found me,” Gangagiri said.
“May by the finding has happened,” replied Rishi.
Hira Singh appeared with two cups of tea and a newspaper on a tray. He was surprised to see Hermit with Rishi. Hira Singh placed the tray on the chair and lay down on the floor on his stomach and placed his head in the feet of Hermit.
Hira Singh looked at Rishi. “See Rishi Sahib, I keep telling you that you brought luck to me. Today my place is blessed by the feet of a holy man.”

People did this to Hermit all the time but this time he was very embarrassed, he placed his hand on Hira Singh’s head, a gesture of blessing.
Hira Singh gave a bear hug to Rishi.
Hira Singh said to Hermit, “Maharaj you cannot leave without breakfast today.” He left to attend his hotel.
In few minutes Hira Singh’s wife and his two kids in school dress came and they all placed their heads in the Gangagiri’s feet. Vinita also came so she also followed the same routine.
Hermit was burdened with shame. He was sitting with his master but people were touching his feet.
Hira Singh’s wife and kids left but Vinita stayed and sat next to Rishi. They all sat cross-legged and were facing the roaring Holy River.

Last night Roger forgot to take his antacid medicine before the drink so he woke up with the sour bile in his throat. He took an antacid pill and tried to sleep but then tinnitus in ear got worse. A double dose of his barbiturates subdued him to sleep and he woke up at about seven in the morning. He saw his face in the mirror; swelling around his eye was better. He brushed his teeth and he opened the door. He was mesmerized for a moment by the views of the mountains. Hermit, Rishi and Vinita were sitting cross-legged on the floor in a prefect straight line, Rishi was in the middle. Their sitting in the line looked comic to him. He laughed and they turned their heads to see him.
He said, “Good morning to all of you?”
Hermit shouted, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai,” he shouted back.
He extended the straight line by sitting next to Vinita. They laughed.
Room boy came with a kettle steaming with hot tea and empty cups. He also noticed them sitting in a straight line so he arranged all four cups in front of them in a straight line and they laughed again.
“Hey Sethi,” Rishi said, “I am going to refer your ear to Gangagiri.”
“You mean black magic will cure my ear.”
Gangagiri was embarrassed, he asked, “What is the problem with your ear.”
Roger explained him about his tinnitus.
“Do you have wounds in your Medah?”
“What is Medah?”
Rishi touched the right side of Roger’s belly. “Medah means stomach.”
Roger said in astonishment, “Yes! Yes! I do have wounds in my stomach. I get acid reflux very often. I can eat simple foods only. I need to take medicine before taking a drink and last night I forget to take my medicine and acidity woke me up at night.”
“Your Medah and ears could be fixed today, but I have to find a herb and we must use it fresh otherwise it may not work, so you must come with me to find it.”
Roger was thrilled to listen this, “Today! Can you fix me today? If you fix my problems, I will pay you one million dollars.”
“Long ago I took an oath not to treat people but …. Anyway the oath has broken already. You need not to pay me because I do not even touch money,” said Gangagiri.
“Why you took an oath not to treat people?” Vinita inquired.
Rishi interrupted, “Gangagiri has his reasons.”
“But how do you survive without money?” Roger asked.
“Ashrams provide me food and boarding.”
“Please fix my problems and in any case I would be indebted to you,” said Roger.
“It’s not me, Ganga Mai does the curing. I am just her petty servant.”
Rishi asked, “Thanks Gangagiri, where do we find that herb.”
“It is a rare plant but I am sure we can find it. We must go to some lower valley. Uttarkashi is too high for that plant to grow. We need to search it in Yamuna valley.”
“Can we go today,” Roger asked.
“Yes we can go today.”
Rishi said, “Let’s go. Hira Singh will arrange us a jeep.”
“Thanks Rishi, thanks for accompanying us.” Roger said happily.
“Count me in too,” Vinita said.
Gangagiri said, “Actually we all are needed to prepare and administer the medicine. It is not a one man job.”
“So it is going to be the expedition,” Roger said excitedly.
Gangagiri was happy to be of any use to Rishi. A time spent with Rishi might bring him closer to Nirvana and also he liked Rishi, his heart wanted to stay closer to him.
Room boy started serving them breakfast.
Hermit said to Roger, “Today you cannot eat anything solid. You can drink milk or juice.”
“Fine with me.”
Hermit said to Rishi, “I am going to the Ghat, I believe you will be coming to take bath in Ganga Mai.”
Vinita asked, “Are you not going to eat breakfast.”
“No, please excuse me,” he stepped out from the new entrance.
“Why didn’t you stop him for breakfast Rishi?”
“I can not force him to do what he does not want to do,” Rishi replied.

Hermit was practicing self-endurance for the last many years. He deprived himself all joys of the life. He ate tasteless food without any salt or spices or stayed hungry. Initially he was miserable and saw food in his dreams but in few months he trained his body and mind. Some times smell of foods made him upset but he tried to use that time to test his endurance. He focused himself totally on the goal to Nirvana. That’s the reason he ran away from the breakfast. He only drank sweat tea occasionally.

4

Bishambar and his son Sonny landed at Dehradoon airport at eight in the morning. A taxi was immediately available; it took them to the best orthopedic clinic in the city. At nine a team of doctors examined the extant of injuries and took few X-Rays.
Leading doctor said, “I wish if you saw a doctor immediately after you got hurt first time. Even if you went to a layman medical practitioner you would have made our job easier. It is very difficult to operate on haemetoma and severally inflamed tissues. We must do a primary surgery; main surgery could only be done after the inflammation subsides.”
Bishambar said, “He was too drunk to notice the injury. Now what do I do doctor, money is no object.”
“A surgery is needed immediately to remove chips of bones which are cutting into the tissues; otherwise gangrene may set in. Who knows, we may have to amputate his hand, injury is so severe and complex.”
Bishambar started weeping, a doctor patted on his shoulder. “We will do our best to save the hand.”
They took his son to the operating theater.
Smoking was not allowed in the clinic lobby so Bishambar went out to smoke. It took three hours of surgery and a doctor came out looking for him.
“You should thank God that you are in luck. His hand is saved but most of his meta-carpal bones were dislocated and some are still damaged.”
Tears washed his face again; he wanted to call his home but had no guts give the news to his wife or mother. His son broke his hand in his presence when they both were drunk.
He asked doctor, “When would he be able to leave this hospital? My home is in Mumbai and I feel comfortable to be there.”
“He is still under anesthesia; you can take him tomorrow but under strict observation. He needs more surgeries but later on and then after intense physical therapy sessions, partial functionality of his hand may recover.”
“Thanks, I will take him to good hospitals in Mumbai.” said Bishambar.”
“Fine with us,” replied doctor.
“I have a very urgent piece of work in Delhi, can I go there, I would be back before night?”
“Sure! Your son is in good hands.”

Bishambar wanted to stay with his son but he was afraid if Roger may change his mind. Sooner he signs the stock transfer, better it would be. Only eight days were left to the deadline to pay of Sonny’s debt to mafia. He bought two cigarette packs and told taxi driver to take him to Delhi as fast as possible.

5

Hermit returned to the hotel.
He ordered, “No auspicious job can begin here before taking a bath in Ganges.”
Roger said, “It’s my third day in Uttarkashi and it is a shame that I didn’t’ take bath in the holy river.”
They packed their bathing clothes in Rishi’s backpack and walked to the Ghat.
As before Vinita bathed in her full dress, Roger wore a beach short and Rishi was in loincloth. He wore his hat and avoided wetting his head. They bathed in the river and Hermit threw a bucket full of cold water on each of them.
Rishi yelled, “Let’s wash the Ghat.”
Rishi stood in ice-cold dangerously fast waters and handed the full bucket to Roger who handed it to Vinita and finally Hermit threw water on the steps above. They washed the Ghat happily. When they were done Hermit brought four cups of tea and they sat under warm sunlight.

Hira Singh arranged them a Toyota SUV. They drove off down the road along the Holy River Ganges. At a place road was almost at level with the river, there Hermit asked driver to stop. He walked out and emptied Vinita’s mineral water bottle, she resisted her urge to protest. Hermit went to the Holy River and filled the bottle.
“Second thing I need is a clean handkerchief.”
Vinita pulled out her handkerchief from the purse.
“You keep it, and keep this too,” he handed her the water bottle.
Hermit requested many other stops to study the surrounding vegetation. He was looking for a dry valley. They left Ganges Valley and turned right to the road leading to the town of Barkot. Road snaked on the high mountains and climbed further to the top of a pass. Then it made a steep descent of many kilometers to the Yamuna river valley. Driver stopped the Toyota in the market for lunch in the town of Barkot. Roger was not to eat and to support his cause they all drank juice only. Roger insisted to them to eat but they were adamant. They went on the road to further down many kilometers in the valley along the Yamuna River.

Hermit saw a grove of cottonwood trees across the river, he asked driver to stop. They found a trail leading to the river in the valley. This valley was warmer than Uttarkashi so it was apparent that they were below Uttarkashi level.
“We must cross Mother Yamuna,” Declared Hermit.
Roger asked, “And how are we going to do that.”
Hermit said, “I think we all can cross the river except Vinita.”
Vinita was disappointed to hear this but didn’t say anything because she had no choice. They walked further at a place where river was spread out and no whirlpool or a deeper place was visible. They all except Vinita, put their shoes in a plastic bag and entered in the river holding each other’s hands, Yamuna River’s water was not as cold as the water of the Ganges, and actually it was pleasingly warm. They fought with water current and the rocks in the bottom were hurting their feet. Luckily water was only waist deep except at two places where it touched to their shoulders for few moments. It took them ten minutes to cross the river.
Roger said, “That was a fun.”
“Let’s do it again,” said Rishi.
“Why?” Roger said in surprise.
“To bring Vinita.”
They laughed and entered in the river again.
Vinita was watching them; she was surprised to see them coming back.
She shouted, “What did you forget?”
Roger shouted back, “You.”

They all crossed the river and climbed up on a sheep trail towards the tree grove. They arrived under the tall cliffs at the side of cliffs a steep trail was going on the mountain.
Hermit pointed towards cliffs. “That herb grows in shady places and where no water could stay in its roots. We should take the slope and look at the cliffs but we may find it on any steep slope, or we may not even find it here in this valley.”
They walked over the steep slope on the sheep trails. Slope was full of rhododendron, lantana and berbaris bush, they had to walk around the thorny bushes. Slope was steep and walking was hard and demanding they were panting, they repeatedly stopped to rest. Roger was the slowest person in the group. Their wet clothes were already dry in the warm sunlight. It took them about half hour to reach at the top of cliffs.
Hermit glanced over the cliffs and shook head in the affirmation. “No, I don’t see it on the cliffs and going higher makes no sense I better look around.”

They walked back half way down on the same slope. At a place it was possible to go in other direction on the mountain where another series of cliffs was visible. Sky was now becoming cloudy.
“I bet my life that we will find our herb on that wall because it is facing south. Sunlight does not bake this wall so this is a perfect wall for our herb.”
They walked upon another steep slope and reached on a point, which was just below the cliff. There they rested in the shade.
“I found it! I found it!” Hermit hooted.
“Where!” all cried.
“There,” Hermit pointed his fingers and climbed on a rock and uprooted a plant.
“This is a beautiful plant,” Roger declared.
Hermit crushed a leaf in his fingers brought it under Roger’s nostrils, “smell it.”
“Ho! It stinks.”
They all laughed and took their turn to smell the plant.
Roger and Rishi were now helping Hermit to uprooted few more plants and Vinita’s job was to break out the rhizomes from the rest of the plant and wash them with Ganges water from the mineral water bottle. Hermit asked her to wash the handkerchief too and not to waste water. Hermit arranged those rhizomes on a clean flat rock surface. With the help of a small round stone he crushed them into the pulp. Whole atmosphere was filled up with a pungent smell. He placed the pulp on the wet handkerchief and rolled it in a knot.
He said to Roger, “Squeeze this pulp in your mouth and drink it.”
A drop of liquid was hanging down the handkerchief and Roger first licked that drop with his finger. He closed his eyes and his face manifested that he didn’t like it but then he squeezed the handkerchief into his mouth till no more liquid oozed.

There was still water left in the bottle, Hermit handed that bottle to Roger.
He faced Roger and said in a very serious voice, “If you want to stay alive, listen carefully.”
Everybody froze with fear.
“Soon you will feel like millions of needles piercing in your mouth, throat and stomach. Do not drink this water before you feel piercing or it would be too early and do not delay or it would be too late. You have five minutes to reach the river. You must walk fast and be careful and watch your steps. You can not afford misstep.
They all started walking fast with Roger in their middle.
In about half minute Roger had a dry sensation in his mouth soon sensation spread in his throat and stomach. Suddenly he felt millions of needles piercing in his mouth, throat, and stomach and beyond. He never felt this much pain in his life. He finished up the whole water bottle and felt relief. He muttered, “Wish I had more water.”
Relief was short lasting. He felt as he would faint with pain but he kept walking. They had to walk down the mountain so they were not panting but running around the thick bushes was the worse problem. Roger started lagging behind and Hermit and Rishi were pushing. They arrived at the Yamuna River in about six minutes and everybody was breathless. A wave of heat swept up Roger, he was lucky to make it to river because he fainted at the edge of water.

“You all help me to force more water in his belly.”
Vinita was pale with fear, she handed empty water bottle to Rishi, he filled it up with river water. Hermit forced it in Roger’s mouth till his belly swelled up. Then with the help of Rishi he pumped the water out of Roger’s belly by squeezing his belle and using Roger’s arms as a pump. Hermit repeated this process several times till fluid coming out of Roger’s mouth was clear.
Suddenly sky was lit by lightening and it was apparent that it was raining in the higher mountains. River started swelling. Then they lay down Roger with his head higher. In half hour his consciousness returned.
He said, “What happened to me.”
“You are fine, just fine,” Hermit said.
Rishi asked Roger, “How are you feeling now?”
“I have some dry sensation but pain is gone. Did I faint?”
“Yes but don’t worry?” Rishi said.
Roger opened his mouth and asked, “See if my mouth is bleeding or is all torn up.”
“It is little red but I don’t see any would or blood.”
Hermit said, “That is a deadly poisonous plant, but exposure to your body was minor it will trigger a huge defense reaction in your body. Now body will heal itself. You will be fine in few days. Just eat little and simple food and don’t drink alcohol for one week. I doubt if you will ever hear noises in your ear.”
“Well it is strange, and I am not hearing it now. After a long time I am hearing clear sounds. But time will tell the difference.”
“Why am I stinking?” Roger asked.
“We had to purge your stomach several times. You better take bath.” Rishi said.
Hermit nodded in approval.
Roger’s clothes were also stinking; Rishi started splashing water on him, Vinita and Hermit too followed. Roger went in the river with his clothes and took several dips. They all laughed. As Roger was done with his bath, suddenly clouds appeared and it started raining on the high mountains.
“Gangagiri I have a question.”
“Rishi sahib, what is your question?”
“That herb is all over in this valley, why you took us all around in circles.”
Hermit laughed. “Rishi sahib, I think you know the answer.”
Rishi laughed.
Vinita asked, “I want to know what is going on.”
“Yes me too.” Roger said.
“Well Gangagiri, I think that was the best spot to walk to the river in a certain amount of time. Otherwise one may drink water too late or too early.”
“Yes Rishi sahib that was the trick. I killed at least four people with my treatment, that’s why I took an oath not to treat anymore.”
Roger and Vinita looked at Hermit with fearful wild eyes but Rishi laughed.

Soon it started raining and they helped Roger to stand up because he was feeling week now. He felt no piercing feeling or any pain. Rishi and Vinita tried to help Roger to walk.
Hermit interrupted and said, “Let him take care of himself, he is little week because some poison went in his blood but it is good for the long term. With the grace of Ganga Mai and Jamuna Mai all went well, the treatment is complete and my job is done.”

Hermit was worried now. It started raining and he must reach Uttarkashi to perform Aartee. Second thing he was worried that he didn’t lock his room and pilgrims have already started coming. Good and bad, all kind of people came to Uttarkashi. Yamuna River was swelled and was dangerous but he was a good swimmer. He doubt if they all would be able to cross the river. He felt helpless. A rain in the mountains was never predictable. Their SUV was standing across the river on the road above.
Rishi said to Hermit, “Gangagiri, you can cross the river. You go and take the jeep to Uttarkashi. I saw a footbridge by a village a few kilometers away. We will walk upriver. We will hire a car or jeep and spend the night in Barkot. We love to see a new town. You need not to worry. We will reach Uttarkashi tomorrow.”
Hermit was worried about them, because it was improper to leave them in the jungle but wish he had a choice. He must reach Uttarkashi before sunset.
“It is highly improper but I must go to perform Mother Ganges Aartee. I will cross the river and bring the jeep to the footbridge. There I will take some public transportation. You will find the jeep waiting for you near the bridge.”
“No Gangagiri. You go and take the jeep. We booked him for today and we will reach Uttarkashi tomorrow. Some other party might have booked the jeep for tomorrow,” Rishi said.
Hermit was thinking, he had to reach Uttarkashi and was feeling guilty to leave them.
Rishi said, “Go Gangagiri, you may not find public transportation in this rain. You go. With no jeep to wait for us, we are free to decide when and where to stay.”
“OK, as you say. See you in Uttarkashi.”
Rishi asked Vinita for her cell phone she handed him with a question in her eyes.
Rishi said to Hermit, “After aartee please go to hotel and inform Hira Singh that we will be coming tomorrow and place this cell phone in my room. We have no signal here and this way we will know who called us. We can always use public phone in Barkot.”
“But your room would be locked.”
“My room is never locked.”
Hermit put the phone in his bag. They all said goodbye to him. To protect his bag from the water he raised it high and entered in the dangerous water of the constantly swelling river, but he crossed it skillfully and they saw him going up on the road and jeep left.

They moved under a cliff where an overhanging rock gave them some shelter from the rain. They were wet. They stayed there for some time and in half hour rain stopped. They took a shepherd’s trail was going in the direction of upriver. Anytime river entered in a narrow ravine or touched a wall of cliff, trail ascended and it passed over the cliff and then returned near water. Rishi and Vinita were hungry. Roger was not feeling any pain or hunger and actually he now believed that Hermit’s treatment would work. He was in delirium and feeling very hot even in the cold wet wind, Vinita touched his forehead, and he had high fever.
“We could use the phone,” Vinita said to Rishi.
“I though you hated it.”
“But we are in the jungle, we needed that cell phone. Roger’s condition may get serious and we may need to call for help.”
“There is no signal before Barkot? We can only use landline phone in the villages.”
“What if Roger’s condition gets serious in Barkot.”
“Calm down Vinita,” Roger said.
They walked in silence.
“Rishi,” Roger broke in, “How in the name of Ganga Mai, these people like Gangagiri find you.”
“Oh! Gangagiri says that he was waiting for me for several years.”
They again laughed.
Vinita asked, “Was he really waiting for you?”
“I don’t know if he was really waiting for me but I made him believe that his wait is over.”
Roger asked, “Why?”
“Hey Roger, have you ever waited?”
“Yes Rishi, one time or other we all wait.”
“Do you enjoy waiting?”
“Hell, no way.”
“I too hate waiting.” Vinita said.
Then she said to Rishi, “Hermit looks to you as you are his guru, he reveres you. Didn’t you see this in his eyes?”
“When a disciple is born, a guru is born too.”
They again laughed.
They walked for two hours and saw the village and the suspension footbridge was hanging in the mist.

6

Heat was relentless and Bishambar arrived in Delhi at about five thirty. At the law-firm his paperwork was ready; he didn’t bother to read the papers but signed them in haste. He had not taken bath in the morning and he has not eaten anything in the whole day but smoked thirty cigarettes. He smelled foul with sweat and cigarette smoke. A Lawyer said that bank drafts would be couriered to his home in a day or two. Finally the same lawyer gave him a friendly suggestion to invest the money again to avoid paying taxes and bade him good-bye. At 6pm Bishambar took the same taxi back to Dehradoon. He was hungry but instead he smoked more cigarettes. Luckily driver too smoked and they never ran out of cigarettes. Now they were out of the metropolis traffic, car sped up.
Bishambar said to himself, “After all Roger is not a bad person. He gave me more than I always expected. If he is one of the thousand richest in the world, today I am one in thousand richest in India and that is just the beginning.”
Suddenly his heart was filled with compassion towards Roger. A Brother has come to help a brother.
If I straighten up the strained relations he will stand with me forever.
Bishambar said to himself, “Never burn your bridges; you might have to go back.”
He decided to call Roger to express his thanks. He only had that girl’s cell phone number and apparently she has access to Roger, so he rang Vinita. He braced himself to apologize first to the girl and then to Roger and maybe to Rishi also.
Apology is the best policy at this time.

7

Hermit crossed the river and climbed up to the road and found Toyota SUV driver waiting. He sat in the front passenger seat next to driver.
“Let’s go back to Uttarkashi, they will come tomorrow.”
Driver wanted to ask many questions but he was happy to leave because rains may cause landslides and make the roads impassable and he was booked for tomorrow.
Hermit took out the phone and out of curiosity started playing with the buttons, Driver said, “Maharaj, it will not work here. It may work only in the Barkot and then in Uttarkashi.”
“Oh! I don’t even know how it works. It is not mine.”
In about forty minutes they were in the Barkot and the phone rang, Hermit handed the phone to driver.
Driver pressed the call button and said, “Yes.”
“Who are you?”
Driver did not know exactly whom the cell phone belongs.
“I am their driver. You can leave a message and I will pass it to them, and they will call you back tomorrow.”
“I will call again tomorrow.” And line went dead.
Thousands of feet below and hundreds of kilometers far away in a non air-conditioned taxi, Bishambar wiped the sweat from his forehead and kept nodding, “Huh! Their driver! I will pass it to them! So they are all together! Devil and his advocates! All together!”

8

Nearer they got to village other trails from the mountains converged into the path and village was full of activity. People were staring at the three strangers. Roger’s pale looking face and black around his eye and a lady with two men, made the villagers more curious. It was apparent that the path was leading to the bridge. Finally they saw the superstructure of the suspension bridge.

At the other side of the footbridge they found a teashop. Hot tea was very refreshing. Goods were being unloaded from a beaten up jeep, Rishi negotiated with the driver and booked it to Barkot. Way was foggy and they arrived in the town of Barkot before sunset. Driver tried to rid of t them in the town center but Rishi asked him to take them to Tourist Guest House. Rishi instructed Roger to sit in the jeep and once they got two adjoining interconnected rooms, Rishi allowed the driver to leave. Reception clerk assumed that their luggage was in the jeep but when jeep left he was bewildered. “No luggage?”
“That’s right, no luggage.”
He regretted giving them the room but now it was too late. They three came in the room.
Rains have knocked down the power lines so there was no electricity. A room boy came with a candle and a jug of water. Vinita ordered a glass of milk. Roger was feverish and not feeling well, Vinita forced him to drink some milk but he vomited and went to sleep immediately. Rishi and Vinita went out to have a long walk on the road passing through a heavy wooded mountain.
“Had you known what Hermit was going to do with Roger? It was a very dangerous act; Roger could have lost his life.”
“No, I had no idea but I am sure that Roger would be fine.”
“You had no idea but you set this whole thing up.”
“I have no capacity to set anything. Neither I set anything nor can I. I am like a dry leaf and creation is the air, I offer no resistance.”
Vinita tried to evaluate Rishi’s words but then she gave it up. She wanted to argue with Rishi but Rishi always walked away from arguments skillfully.
“Why did you give my cell phone to Hermit.”
“I am expecting a call from Roger’s brother; I want Roger to know that he called. We had no signal there and I was not sure if we would have signal here.”
“After all they did to Roger or to us; you still want Roger to know that his brother called.”
“Man is never in peace unless there is love in the family. Roger must not miss any chance to forgive his brother and nephew,” Replied Rishi.
Vinita asked, “Did you forgive them?”
“My conscious never registered any offence from them.”
“You have no anger for what they did.”
“No.”
Vinita felt it useless to argue with Rishi so she walked in silence. They were hungry because they skipped the lunch, they turned back to the town and went to market to eat dinner. They bought juice for Roger and returned to the Guest House. Roger was still sleeping. Both rooms were connected to gather with a door, Rishi asked Vinita to sleep in the other room and he slept with Roger. Roger had temperature but they decided not to give him any medicine.

9

Bishambar reached back in Dehradoon a little before midnight. His son had just come out of drug-induced coma and was looking at the lizards on the ceiling in a catatonic state.
Son said, “Dad, my cell phone doesn’t work.”
Bishambar replied, “It belongs to company. It seems like they wasted no time in taking away the privileges.”
“Do you think money is coming really?” Sonny asked.
“Yes, I just came from Delhi and singed the papers. We have lots of money.”
“Doctor says my hand would never be the same.”
Bishambar sat in silence; he was feeling guilty. He was blaming himself.
“We have money; I will take you to the best hospitals in Germany or America. They will fix your hand.”
“Can you light me a cigarette?” said Sonny.
Bishambar locked the door of the air-conditioned private room and opened the window, and they both smoked.

10

Heat of the Arabian Desert vanished in the evening and a cool breeze was blowing from the desert to the sea.
Don of the Mumbai underworld was pacing nervously in the verandah and Abdul was pacing behind him with a cell phone pressed to his ear, Don’s brother just called from Mumbai. Abdul finished the call and looked at his boss.
Don asked, “What?”
Abdul gave him the whole news, word to word.
Don’s brother gave him the news that Sonny’s father was now one of the richest people in India. Sonny’s uncle gave tons of money to his brother. Don celebrated the good news by lighting a cigar. He quit smoking a long ago but good news prompted him to celebrate. He never touched liquor in his life, he was a devout Muslim.
Sonny is the only son of his father and his father’s wealth is his and his is mine.
He smiled.
“Abdul, what are you cooking today, a good smell is coming from the kitchen.”
“Sir, remember, I bought fresh baby-goat-meat from the butcher.”
“Oh yeah, oh yeah. Good. Good. Bonito. Bonito.”
“Sir I have to chop garlic, onions, ginger, tomatoes, green mint, green coriander and rosemary.”
“I am hungry I will help you to chop these things. Bring knife, cutting board and everything here.”
“Yes sir.” Abdul turned.
“And listen.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Plug CD player here in the verandah and put that Spanish songs CD which I bought today.”
“Very well sir.” Abdul left.
Don muttered, “I will buy more uncut diamonds.”
More diamonds. Mucho diamante. I would have much more money. Tengo mucho dinero. Mucho, mucho.
He laughed.
Abdul brought him a chopping board, knife, garlic and ginger.
“Lots of herbs, condiments and spices. Mucho, mucho hierbas, condimentar and especiar.”

End of chapter 5