Amma: Jithu...get up..
I woke up hearing mother shouting..
Amma: Jithu how long have I been calling you?
Get up, Sreeresh is here...
Me: Ok amma, I'm up..tell him to come upstairs...
Amma went down.
Slowly and lazily I got up from bed...
My mind was silently yelling at my buddy Thambran
I call him Thambran (lord) most of the times
After a few minutes..
Sree: Nipin open the door, it's me
Me: Wait, I'm coming.
Took some time to get steady, then went and opened the door.
Me: Don't you have anything else to do? why are you spoiling my sleep yaar ?
Sreeresh looked into his watch..
Sree: It's bloody 0830 ok, you get freshen up, I need to discuss something very important to you.
I looked at him.
Me: What happened?
Sree: Will tell you in detail..
I nodded and went to the bathroom.
Within half an hour, got freshen up, went down, had breakfast and came up.
I saw him lying in bed thinking deeply about something.
Me: I have never ever seen you thinking this much when we sit for studies bro, what is it?
Sree: I was thinking about what Pradheesh had told us.
Me: What, about the Grove?
Sree: Yes, why don't we plan for a visit?
Me: Are you mad, don't be so stupid yaar..
Sree: You can say that, you will pass with good marks, what am I gonna do?
(One week back at Sreeresh's house)
It was a normal day, me, my bro, Sreeresh and
his brothers were playing cricket. Pradheesh came and joined with us. After finishing, we were sitting in Thambran's room, talking about our combine studies and preparations for the exams.
Suddenly...
Sree: No idea, how I am gonna pass the exams..
Nothing is going inside my brain guys..
Me: How many times will you say the same thing?
Can't you see how hard we are studying?
We are all going to pass. You will see..
After a deep breath,
Sree: Really hoping if there was God so that I could convey my problems and take blessings to pass the exams..
Me: what do you think we are doing by praying then?
Thambran went silent
Prad: You know guys, I don't know exactly the details but, there is a temple nearby my hometown. The rumour is that during Sivarathri, if we go and light the lamp after midnight, God will appear in front of us and if we are innocent and sincere in our prayers, God will fulfill our wishes.
The room became silent for sometime..
Me: (broke the silence) You both know am a religious boy who goes to temple every day and pray but this,
I started laughing and skipped the topic. But one person was stuck with some strange thoughts in his mind, our Thambran...
(Back to present day)
Me: Are you serious?
Do you have any idea what you are saying?
Sree: I have made up my mind already, I want to go and you must come too
Me: Hahahahha, so that's why this appearance today.
Sree gave me a witty look
Me: You listen to me carefully ok, even if I come, I'm not serious about this and remember what Pradheesh said about being true about it..
Sree: We have to be serious...
You know, without you it's not gonna be easy for me yaar..
Finally we came to a conclusion.
Me: Ok, I'm in...
But before we jump into anything, we must have a proper plan in hand to execute.
First, we need to get Pradheesh to find out the correct location of the Grove.
Sree in full energy, got up from the bed.
Sree: Why waiting, let's go straight to Pradheesh's house, will tell him our plan
Me: Yes, you are right. Can't talk the same in phone, Amma will hear and that's it
Nobody should know about this except us.
Sree: Deal.
Me: Let's move then..
On our way down to the main door, I called out Amma.
Me: Amma..me and Sree, are going to Pradheesh's house..
Amma: Ok, be safe
Come back before lunch, you guys are going for the studies right?
I looked at Sree and he gave a cunning smile in return.
Me: Yes Amma, will be back before lunch.
I closed the door and we headed to Pradheesh's house.
Our quest to the Grove begins here...
Infront of Pradheesh's house gate
Me: Pradheesh, so you will get the details right?
Prad: Yes, that's not an issue. But are you guys really going for this. I was just saying casually when Sree mentioned about talking to God. I never thought you guys would become serious about it.
I looked at Sree.
Sree: Guys, I know nobody was serious, even me also. But now, this is serious ok. Pradheesh, are you in or not?
Prad: I'm in. I will get the details by tomorrow.
Me: Great, once we have the details, we will start working on our plan ok.
Guys, except us nobody should know about this. Either way it's going to get us in trouble.
We have three days more to Sivarathri. Let's do this.
Prad: I have a suggestion.
Me: what?
Prad: I think better we get Vishnu also in our gang. He knows those areas very well. He may come handy. Even I was thinking to ask him about the temple.
Sree: Ok, this is it. No more entries and surprises. Will he join?
Me: That I will take care...
lf we call he doesn't even ask, for what we are calling him. He is our boy, he will come for sure.
Sree: Great guys, so we are doing this.
I'm really happy that you guys are doing this for me. But we all have to remember one thing. It's for us. We have to be sincere and serious about our visit otherwise everything will go in vain.
Me: what's the surety we will meet God?
I still can't believe I'm doing this. I will try my best to be serious but I don't know how much I will be engaged to this.
Sree: we will, I have faith.
Otherwise, how come Pradheesh mentioned about this exactly before Sivarathri. I see all this as a coincidence.
Me: Let's find out then.
(One day before D-Day)
We all in Sreeresh's house
Me: Guys, so let's get the plan straight
We all will meet outside at Pradheesh's house around 12 past midnight.
Everybody has to inform their parents that we will be staying overnight at our tution centre.
As per Vishnu, the Grove is exactly 4kms from Pradheesh's house. My suggestion is that we should keep our bicycles outside his house and pursue our mission on foot. Any kinda issue or problem comes our way, we will abort. Any doubt???
Room full silence...
Prad: My God, are we going to do some robbery or what, what a plan Nipin?
My confidence boosted.
Vish: Great Nipin, let's do this.
Sree: I have a question.
Everybody onto Thambran's face...
Sree: If all goes well and we reach our destination, then what ???
Me: Then what, we will wait for sometime. If nothing happens, we will return.
Sree: Nipin, have you enquired what to be done once we reach there or if we see the God?
I looked at Vishnu.
Vish: Guys, I talk to many local friends around there, but couldn't get much information about that. But there was one old man who told me that we are supposed to light the lamp there and pray for the god to appear infront of us.
Prad: This I have already told you guys.
Vish: There is one more twist to it.
Sree: What twist?
Everybody was curious
Vish: only one person must be present and that person has to lit the lamp...
Me: so, Thambran will lit the lamp...
What do you guys say? he is the one who wanted this the most!
Sree: But how am I gonna do it alone Nipin...
Me: Who said that you are alone?
We will stay away from the Grove, so that you can safely do it.
Prad: we will be just a call away from you Sreeresh.
Vish: Sreeresh, take a call buddy.
We are good to go with whatever you say.
Sree: What if something goes wrong?
Me: Don't make me angry ok, all this is kinda wrong only. We all are in this together. You are not alone, understand.
Thambran is getting tensed...
Me: Everything going to be alright, if we notice any small problem, we are done, we will get back to our houses.
Are we doing this, Sreeresh?
Sree: Yup, we are doing it.
Me: That's my boy.
Vish: So everybody must be on time at Pradheesh's house.
Prad: I will get a flashlight and water for us.
Me: Guys, so looks like we all know what's happening tomorrow.
Let's disperse then, see you guys tomorrow.
Pradheesh and Vishnu left, I was on my way to home
Sree: Nipin, wait
Sreeresh shouted behind from the door
Me: Now what Thambran...
Sree: If really God appears, what am I gonna say man?
Me: Hahahahahaha..Are you asking me! you were the one with questions.
I kept smiling
Sree: Stop joking yaar, I'm really losing my courage
Me: Dont be afraid, If God appears simply convey your issue and get the blessings. That's it...By the way, please mention about me too, don't forget your friends when you have your blessings ok. We all can't be togther, remember.
Sree: Ohh now everyone wants to have blessings, somebody was laughing when I said this at the first instance.
Me: Guilty accepted, I was smiling, I was not serious, but now feel like I'm also kinda engaged to this man.
Sree: Good Nipin, happy to hear that. I was wondering whether you are truly serious about this or you just doing this for me.
Me: Nothing to worry, we have each other's support. This is what we friends do, right.
Sree: Yes, brother.
Me: Friends forever...ok, see you later.
(D-Day) Finally the day arrived.
Me and Sreeresh, we were so excited but don't know why at the same time, some amount of fear too started crawling inside us. We both tried to be casual but it was not working out as what if something goes wrong and that thought started haunting both of our minds. We told our homes we will be staying with our tutors along with other friends for the festive day and then will head to Pradheesh's house.
Me: Remember, you have to be really calm when you head to the Grove.
Sree: Don't remind me yaar. I'm dead scared already.
Me: Comeon, you wanted this right.
Sree: Yes, I will try my best. You guys have to be close to me ok.
Me: We will. Just give a shout and will be there in no time, got you covered, ok.
We were in my bicycle and by the time we reach Pradheesh's house, they were already there waiting for us.
Prad: On time guys, shall we start then
Vish: Sree, you ready buddy?
Me: He is fine, let's start then.
We kept our bicycles inside Pradheesh's house compound.
Me: Pradheesh, you have the flashlights right.
Prad: yup, I have it. Water too.
Me: Excellent, ok guys here we go.
We all looked at each other, nodded and started walking towards our destination- The Grove.
"God be with us" I whispered.
©nn_nair