Chapter 28:
In the middle of the desert, the sanyasi was giving orders to a group of people gathered around him. "First, Kamal and Trikala, must rush to Jaipur. There they have many things to do. First you must meet Niveda! She is in great danger. The professor and Suraj had targeted her to summon Young and old Tamra. If they perform the Bali Puja there, old Tamra's soul might be enslaved."
"Oh No! Why? Why would anyone want Tamra to be a slave to them?" asked Trikala.
"There are many things in this world which are really terrorizing good people like you Trikala. Now Please don't interrupt. We have no time to lose. We have only one day left for full moon day." said the sanyasi.
"Sorry Baba" said Trikala and kept quiet.
"Listen! I will give you a lemon which has some mystical powers. Once you have that on you, you may not be visible to others. Not for a lone time, but may be for an hour or two. You must enter the residence of Rathore and locate Niveda."
"I am sorry to interrupt, But we don't have anyone either in the family or in the servants named Niveda" said Tamra.
"I know! I am referring to your grandmother Aditi. Your real Grandmother is dead for many years. Now the one there is Niveda. You remember her Trikala?" asked the sanyasi.
"Of Course, I do Babaji! The maid who was very loyal to the princess Aditi. She is still alive? That to impersonating as the princess? She too is corrupted? Eh?" said Trikala with disgust.
"No! She is not corrupt at all! All petty tales later. We have to save her life somehow. Bring her here. That will automatically bring down the professor and Suraj to Dantla. Then what we should do? I will tell you then and there." said the sanyasi.
"Babaji! As you say, we have only one day left till the full moon day. How will Kamal and Trikala go and fetch grandma? She is in danger you say?" asked Tamra with concern.
"I appreciate your concern! But I will speed up things once they started rolling. The bus might go very fast or they might even get a taxi which speeds 150 Kms per hour. That is not the main concern! What you have to do after reaching the palace is the most important thing!" said the sanyasi.
Then he went on to give instructions to Kamal and Trikala. They were listening with concentration. After he finished there was heaviness and anxiety in their hearts. They wondered whether they will be able to accomplish the task? If failed, what would they do? Kama asked the question to the sanyasi.
"You won't fail, if you fail, then throw the lemon into fire. That will distract people for a couple of minutes, then you can escape with or without Niveda. Remember, you must escape live, even Niveda is not with you. Don't worry about her. She can manage." Replied the sanyasi.
There were untold fears in both their minds. But no time to waste.
"Babaji! How are they going to Jaipur. What is the mode of transport? Asked Tamra slightly concerned.
"Why? We have a car and Kamal could drive! Then why worry?" saying this the sanyasi started walking towards the direction of the desert. He walked as if he knew every corner of the desert. The others followed him. Tamra had a feeling where the sanyasi was headed. At a distance there was a sand dune slightly bigger than the others. She slightly remembered the place. Maybe it was the place where a look alike Ravi picked her up.
The sanyasi stood in front of the sand dune and started chanting some Mantras. As he was chanting, the sand dune slowly slid to reveal a brand new big sophisticated car. "This was the impostor's car" shrieked Tamra. "Yes dear! It is! You can use this for your travelling. Mind it, never stop for anything. Especially even Tamra or me myself stop you on the road. Fuel is filled up more than enough. Go straight to Suraj Rathore's palace, and bring back Niveda! May you succeed in your mission." Blessed the Sanyasi.
Tamra wanted to go with them. But the Sanyasi said a vehement no to that. He said, she has her duties to perform here. Sanyasi gave 2 lemons one each to Kamal and Trikala warning to keep tit always on them.
"Remember children! Never drink or eat anything in that palace. Even if you are dying of hunger and thirst. Professor Rastogi is a very learned man of black magic and occult. He might do anything to make you stop getting back to Dantla." Said the Sanyasi in a stern note. They simply nodded. Then he took Kamal and Trikala aside away from the ears of Tamra.
"Listen Kamal! I know you people are brave. But this is a suicidal mission. If you are not able to escape from the cruel clutches of Prof Rastogi, then be prepared to sacrifice your life. Niveda would know what to do? If you don't want to go, no compulsion at all. Please decide. The step now you are going to take now, is going to decide your future." Said the sanyasi with compassion.
"I know this is a suicidal mission the moment you explained. But need Trikala come with me? She is old and a woman too! I can go alone." Asked Kamal.
"No! Babaji! Kamal is young! I have seen life. There is no future for me. Please let me go alone. This is really only logical!" said Trikala fast. Her hands were holding Kamal's in a motherly way.
The sanyasi shook his head. "Both of you must go! There is no choice. But don't be afraid. Maa Kali will always be with you! She is the embodiment of motherhood. Already she is in rage, because Suraj Rathore and Anil Rastogi had used her powers for evil notions. So, no need to worry. But all the same be alert and prepared...." said the sanyasi.
Both of them understood, said good bye to Tamra standing at distance, and climbed the car. The moment Kamal released the gear, it started speeding. With difficulty Kamal gained the control of the car. As Tamra was watching the speeding car, she felt tears rolled down her cheeks.
There at Jaipur, the residence of Rathores were deserted. All the servants had been asked to go on leave. The senior servant signed to other servants not to ask any question. So, they all agreed for a paid holiday of 2 weeks. Suraj Rathore dismissed them with a wave of hand.
As they were preparing for a departure, Raghuveer signaled them to meet him outside the palace. Everyone nodded, in a few minutes they gathered near a park, where nothing would be visible from the palace.
"Why did you call me Kaka?" asked Nila.
"History is repeating Nila. The danger of which my father warned me seems to be very near." Said Raghuveer.
"But! Not to us! Then why would you worry?" asked the driver Hari. He was hoping for a nice holiday with timid Jothi, where he was planning to propose. But Nila intervened.
"We are Humans Hari. We have some moral responsibilities. I think this time Rathore has targeted both Aditi and Sukanya madam. I don't like this at all." Said Nila.
"True! Yesterday, about 9 'o clock in the night Aditi madam called on me. She gave me certain instruction to follow." Said Raghuveer again.
The servants were confused. Since this morning there was no sign of Aditi madam. Only Sukanya madam was there. Mihir Rathore ordered breakfast to be given to his wife. Even at the family table only Mihir and Suraj Rathore along with wicked looking professor were there. Adhrit had been sent to Mumbai. They know that, because Hari dropped him at the airport in the night. But what happened to Aditi Madam? Not something good for sure! But Raghuveer was telling about some instructions.
"Why she chose you? I am the secretary?" demanded Nila.
"May be because I know the past more than you do!" replied Raghuveer Dryly.
"She came to your house? Asked the wide eyed, Jothi.
"Yes! But that is not important. She handed over me a sealed envelope and asked me to give it to the police on full moon day. "Said, Raghuveer with concern.
There was silence after this extra ordinary announcement. How she managed to get away from that palace of iron, no one knew. Why all these fusses? Why sudden holiday with pay? Why Sukanya was kept a prisoner in her own house? Now where was Aditi? All these questions rose in their minds.
"What do you think it is all about?" asked Hari.
"I really don't know Hari. But one thing is for sure. Whatever may be the reason behind this, it is definitely not a good one. Suraj Rathore alone is a wicked man, now he has an evil looking associate. He reminds me of a Tantric baba my father described to me."
Again, there was a silence. Why Raghuveer asked them to stay back? What was in his mind? They wanted to know.
"I want all of you to stand with me. I am telling this for our own safety. We must have strong alibis to testify the fact that we were not in the palace at the time of whatever is going to happen. Otherwise, they might turn the blame on any one of us. "
This took them on guard. Yes! what Raghuveer was telling might be true. The person who would pull strings to murder his daughter-in-law would stoop to any level. They were the easy prey and he was one hell of a predator. They decided to listen to him.
"Now listen! Please plan your holiday after the full moon day. By that time something solid we would know. But before that, for the coming 3 days, go to nearby places. Take as much as pictures in your cell phones. Post it is FB, insta or whatever platforms you are familiar with. That will satisfy the police. Because Time will be recorded at the time of posting!" said Raghuveer.
All of them were impressed at his intelligence. But he said it was the idea of Aditi Madam. They felt a soft spot for her, as she wanted to save embarrassment for the servants. But still they were in dark as to what happened their Master's wife.
"What you will do Kaka?" asked Nila.
"I will also do the same thing I have told you do! But at the same time, I will keep an eye on the palace. But you people come back here, to this same place after full moon day. Today is Saturday. Full moon falls on Monday. We will meet on Monday evening here. Then together we will go the police station and handover the envelope Madam had given me. "Said, Raghuveer.
"I am Ok with this. I thought I never had any purpose in my life, but I will stand up to Suraj Rathore and his evil deeds. I am with you Kaka" said Nila with emotion. One by one everyone agreed. But Hari had something in his mind.
"Why don't we give that envelope now? In that way, we might even avert the tragedy. What do you say?"
Others thought that was a very good idea. But Raghuveer refused.
"I know how you feel. But Aditi madam had made me promise not to hand over the letter before full moon day. There might be some valid reason behind it. Remember we are not dealing with petty criminals. We are dealing with black magic and Tantric people. Others looked at him with terror.
They decided to do exactly as instructed.