Chapter 23:
Suraj Rathore and Prof. Rastogi were seated under the cool shade of shamiyana on the terrace of the palace. They were talking something very serious. A servant came along with shivering hands carrying the tea tray.
"Idiot! Why are you shaking? What am I going to do to you? You are not worth my attention!" shouted Prof Rastogi. With a clatter the tray fell down and the servant was in the verge of tears. Mr. Rathore was furious. "Get lost you fool! For God's sake don't come back to clean with your rags." He snorted. The servant fled.
"Looks like they got the wind of me!" said Prof Rastogi.
"Of course, they have Professor. The way the dog behaved; every one might have understood you are a kind of …well …wizard." Said Rathore with slight irritation in his voice.
There was silence at the place. Both men were staring at a distant building.
"Ok! Let's not waste time. What you said your problem was?" asked Rastogi in a whisper.
"It's a long story professor. I have committed some trivial mistakes in my past, they say they are affecting me now, might affect my future too." Replied Suraj Rathore in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Trivial mistake is a large term Rathore! It can mean from stealing to murder. Which one you did?" asked the professor viciously.
There was a hesitation. How could he possibly confess to Prof Rastogi whom he had met a few days back?
"You cannot afford silence Rathore. I am a well-known Pundit in occult science. If you have fetched me, that means you already had got the help of people like me in the past. Come out with that. I promise! I won't reveal anything!" assured Rastogi.
Suraj Rathore poured out everything, about his past. From the association with Tantric baba to the killing of Tamra.
"This was my past Professor. As the Tantric baba said, I have named first girl in my family after Tamra. But now, she had escaped a wedding arranged by me." Suraj Rathore Completing the narration.
"Your granddaughter had gone to Dantla is it not?" asked Rastogi.
"You are really a wonder prof!"
"There is no wonder in this. Just a bit of common sense." Replied Rastogi.
Suraj Rathore did not like the way Rastogi spoke to him. He spoke and behaved as if Rathore was a common man. But there was nothing more to do than to keep quiet. Silently he smoked, the fumes looked like coming from his heart burning with indifference.
"Well! What you want me to do?" asked the professor.
"That is exactly what I want to ask you! Is there any danger if I go to Dantla? Is there anyone who knows my secret and might split on me to the police on my arrival at the village? Please tell me what should I do?" said Rathore in a queer voice.
Professor Rastogi remained silent for several minutes. His eyes were closed and it looked like he was weighing the consequences. Suraj was restless, but dare not interrupt Rastogi. After almost 20 minutes he opened his eyes.
"You are at a junction Rathore! It's up to you to select the path! "Said Rastogi.
"But I don't know which path leads where? How can I decide without that knowledge?" asked Rathore with irritation.
Rastogi laughed heartily. "Well! You have done that before. There was a path of goodness, and another evil. Without knowing anything you chose the path of evil is it not? Why now bother?"
Rathore's face showed signs of insult. "I chose between wealth and poverty. That's all I did. I thought you will be on my side when I approached you. But it looks like you are sneering me. Probably you are not that skilled to tackle this situation." Said Rathore intentionally pricking the ego of the man.
Again, there was a laughter. "I won't rise and accept the challenge Rathore. But since you need help, I will help you, in a way I will also profit by these." Saying these Rastogi looked around to ensure no one was hearing. His eyes were red and his nostrils were swollen. Even the stone hearted Suraj Rathore was a bit terrified. He chose silence.
"Listen Rathore! Let me tell you about the two roads ahead of you. One is just Ignore your granddaughter Tamra's escapade and carry on as if nothing has happened."
But before the professor could finish Rathore interrupted "But How can I…."
"Will you listen fully? Then you can speak." Said Professor in stern voice. Again silence.
"Now! The second road is very difficult and dangerous. You have to take the bull by its horn. I warn you there is much more to it, than meets the eye. A very huge power is waiting for vengeance. Some other powers have also united. I don't exactly know who or what these powers are. But if you succeed you can live up to 110 years without any ailments. Adding to that your wealth will increase 10 times." Rastogi completed the sentence.
Suraj Rathore sat there thinking.
"Of course, I can give up the search of Tamra. But what would the people say? Rathore family has no pride, no dignity. They have left their girl to run away just like that. Yes! That is going to be the scandal or gossip of the society. I would not have that. Tamra must be found and killed to save the honor of the family. But she is in Dantla. I need not go there. I could send someone to bring her back! In this way, I need not go to Dantla at the same time family honor will be saved."
He came out of his revere.
"Um…Excuse me Professor, If, I send someone to fetch Tamra, that would do, right? I got the brainwave just now! What do you think about it?" asked Rathore eagerly.
"Do you think I am a fool? Have I not considered the possibility? But it won't work in that way. Once a man sent by you reaches Dantla, the situations will force you to go there. So…think it over."
Again, Rathore remained silent. As a person greedy to the bone, the prospect of his wealth increasing 10 times made his head swell.
"This bugger says, even If I don't go, the situation will force me to reach Dantla. Then let it be on my will. Let me face the enemy who or whatever it may be. I have done before and will do it again. After all, like before, I have Professor Rastogi. Now I am 70. If I could live up to 110, then 40 years are still there for me. What else one want? But what was the profit, the professor would gain?" Rathore's thought wandered away.
"Well! It's about time. Have you decided?" came the voice of Rastogi. In his deep thinking, he had forgotten that, Professor Rastogi was there too!
"Eh? Yes! Yes! I have decided. I will fight the power whatever it may be." Replied Rathore fervently. He looked like the reckless 20 years old Rathore once more.
"Good! To tell you the truth, you never had a choice. The great power would have pulled you away from Jaipur. Now that you are willing to give a tough fight, my job will be easier." Said Rastogi with a twinkle in the eye. But the twinkle was not merry, it was dangerous and suited his personality somehow.
"But Professor! I would like to know, how you are going to profit out of this business?" asked Rathore.
"Typical business attitude. I profit hugely not monetarily, but otherwise. I will inform you, when I think you need to know about it."
Again, Suraj Rathore felt insulted and wanted to smack the face of this insolent professor. But he simply looked on. The Professor continued to speak.
"To begin with, whatever happens between you and me remains between us. No one including your son need to know anything. If you agree, I will proceed further."
Rathore simply nodded his head in affirmative.
"Good! Now I have felt certain force in this house acting against you. If I find out, we have to eliminate it whoever he/she may be. Is it ok?"
Even for a murderer like Rathore those words gave shivers. Again, a nod he gave.
"I don't need your money or gold, diamonds. But during the process If I ask you something, without hesitation you must give it to me. Agreed?"
"No! I cannot blindly agree to a vague statement. Why? You might ask my business empire, my palatial residence, or even my stocks which are worth several millions." Replied Suraj Rathore.
Professor Anil Rastogi guffawed at this remark.
"Indeed! What I really need is a business empire which I don't even know how to run. What is the use of stocks? I say, I don't need your wealth! Means wealth of any sort. But we may come across certain things, which are very precious to me but may not be to you. That's what I meant." Said the professor calmly.
Rathore needed some time to think. He had many questions in his mind. But he was sure, unless he agreed to the stupid agreement, the professor would not reveal anything.
"Yes Professor! I agree." Reluctantly said Rathore.
Suddenly Rastogi stiffened. He leaned to his right side, Rathore was afraid he might fall on the hard floor of the terrace. Rastogi closed his eyes and started chanting some Mantras. His face became darker and darker. The wind felt unusually cold! The household seemed to have frozen. No sound from anybody. The professor continued his chant. Suddenly there was a scream form somewhere in the house.
Suraj Rathore's hair stood on end. He was not able to locate the scream. Might be from the terrace, might be from downstairs. He did not know whether the shivering was due to the cold wind or the scream.
Suddenly Rastogi opened his eyes. It was red and his face was very grave.
"You have not been entirely truthful to me! You have hidden a very important factor. You fool! You have made my power a bit lesser. Lying, scheming cunning fox!" yelled the professor.
Rathore got really angry and worked up.
"Hey You professor! What are you thinking of yourself? It is not me who came to you. It is the other way round. You wanted my help. Somehow you found the hot soup I am in, now are you trying to establish nest here? Remember I am the man of this palace. Not you! I will be the one calling names. Not you! If you don't like, you can get out any minute."
There was silence in the atmosphere. He could feel the breathing of professor Rastogi. He looked as if he would explode any time. But instead, he got up and walked across the terrace. His mind was agitated. Shapeless worries and threats were floating in his mind. He looked at Rathore standing near him.
Rathore looked like a haunted man, who knows he might be at this moment. But, the truth? There was a remarkably powerful force here too! Who could it be? Who could know about Tamra and her vengeance here in this palace? Any servant? Not likely. If they knew, it would have come out long back. Any one from Rathore's family or friends? May be a family doctor? Why would he be interested in my business. I know someone was listening to our conversation. But could not make out who. The force was very much for him to know penetrate. Slowly his walking speed decreased. By the time Rathore also gained his composure. Both men faced each other.
"Listen Rathore! I seem to be indifferent. But I am not on purpose. That is my nature. But What I want you to understand that you are in a very serious situation. My life is also threatened because of my involvement and knowledge." Said Rastogi slowly.
Already Rathore was repenting his outburst. He made use of the situation. Apologizing, he assured in future such incident would never take place.
"Good! To gain your confidence, let me tell you how I came to know of your existence and predicament. Once I finish, you have to confide in me about the untold secret which you have not parted till." Said Professor trying to be humble. This definitely did not suit him.
"Seems to be a nice agreement. You gain my confidence. Then I will think of telling you, my secret." Said Rathore hiding the smile.
Anil Rastogi started telling.