Valley of Death Page 23

  “Depression is a disease and stupidity. The sun beating on your face in winters, the breeze mixed with fragrance of flowers in Spring, the wet grass of a park on a summer evening, the scent of scorched earth on a rainy day and sight of a road filled with fallen leaves on a autumn morning; it is these things that tell you that this life is a boon, a blessing, a gift, for which one ought to be thankful for powers-that-be or God. It/He has given you this life to enjoy, not complaint, to use it to further your improvement by cleansing your soul, discarding your vices and accepting the virtues and when you fulfil your desires to the hilt; you realize their futility and are ready to move on, to the next level of existence.”

  “As Lord Shri Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita (Song of divine/Celestial Song) – We are not only body or mind, as we mistakenly believe ourselves to be, but are pure spirit or atma. That itself is a tiny part or amsa of God – the indestructible, eternal Supreme spirit. Only when we realize the truth that this world is a house of misery where the endless cycle of birth and death (Samsara) continues, can we understand the true meaning of existence. To escape this endless cycle and reunite with God's head, Bhagavad-Gita shows us four paths; namely Raja Yoga or meditation, Karma Yoga or work, Jnana Yoga or knowledge and Bhakti Yoga or devotion. Every soul is given the freedom to choose its path as per its capability and temperament. For the Supreme Being recognizes and accepts ‘free-will’ of every soul and allows it to decide for self. But in the same vein, no soul can escape the consequences or fruits of its actions – whether good or evil – this is what is called Karma.”

  “Heard that Abhay?” Payal asked her husband, moved greatly by the golden words of the wise man.

  “Be a man, my son,” Colonel Narang said to Abhay, “and take responsibility for yourself and for your wife’s life and well-being. Never again should I hear the dirty word of divorce from your mouth. You are, how an ideal man ought to be, a complete opposite of that evil Warlock, Rudolf. This is why Payal has chosen you, not Rudolf – a fact, which made the latter so jealous of you. Because he resented the fact that he could never be a straight and upright person like you. I understand that it will take some time for your wounds to heal, but time is the greatest healer. So go on, and live the precious life, which God has gifted you both with, and be grateful not complaining about it. And if you can, try to be like a tree that gives shelter from the sunshine on a hot day and fruits to the needy.”

  “I…I’ll try, Sir,” Abhay said with a choked throat.

  “Good, that is what I expected of you.” Just then the doorbell rang and the Colonel added, “That must be the ideal parting gift which I have found for you two. Or you could say, it is the dowry I am giving to my daughter Payal; when she’s going to start a new life with her lost and regained husband. This gift is also an old man’s lifelong blessings for you my children and it will show you how mysterious are the ways of God, who’s more omnipotent than the Devil and his cohorts in the whole Cosmos, not to even mention pygmy Warlocks!”

  From the doorway came Harish, accompanied by a couple that looked like poor labourers. The woman was holding a child in her lap, looking at the face of which, Payal’s mouth hung open with disbelief. She plunged forward and almost snatched the child from that woman, for it was Anshul – her daughter! Anshu was wearing clothes worn by the children of labourers, had local eyeliner (kajal) under her eyes and a black mark (spot) put on her face. Still, it did not take even a second for Payal to recognize her, as any mother would, the child she has borne. Payal held Anshul tightly against her bosom; the child smiled with delight, finding herself back in the familiar embrace of mommy.

  Payal’s eyes were filled with tears of joy, as she looked at Colonel Narang, with gratitude that came from the very depths of her soul. Abhay was flabbergasted; he didn’t know how to react. “How? How did it-” was all that which came out of his mouth.

  “Tell them to wait in the outer room, Harish,” ordered the Colonel. After the couple was gone, he said, “there is an old saying my children ‘Jako rakhesaiyan, mar sake nakoye’, or, which the God wants to keep, no one can kill. Who can extinguish the flame, if the hands of the Almighty are protecting it? I told you, God is always compassionate and forgiving to men, who repent their sins and vices sincerely.”

  “But how did this miracle happen?” Abhay asked in astonishment.

  “When you threw Anshul in the drain, she did not sink in the black filth. Instead, her body hit a discarded tyre& tube of a car; which began to sail on the impact of the hit. Sailing in that manner, it reached a slum area, which overlooked the drain someplace farther from that spot. A woman spotted her, who took Anshul out of the drain with the help of her husband, and brought her to their shanty hut in that slum, and decided to make her their own daughter. Unfortunately, the woman is childless; since no secrets can be kept in such slums, the story spread throughout; everyone came to know what had happened. One such man turned out to be a friend of the brother of my male nurse Harish and from him the news finally reached me.”

  “I immediately sent for the man; and first asked, then cajoled, finally threatened him with Police action and made him agree to hand over the child to her real parents. Not taking the risk of their eloping from the city, I sent Harish and a familiar Police constable also to bring the child yesterday night itself. I then invited the couple to themselves hand over the child to you both. I did nothing extraordinary; if there was a miracle, it was the wish of God to save Anshul and the way he devised for the child to come back to you. That childless couple, Harish’s brother, his friend or even me, we were only instruments, through which was manifested the will of the Lord!”

  “But that newspaper report? That a child’s body was found in the drain?” Payal asked remembering what Rudolf had shown him.

  “Sheer coincidence, another child of roughly the same age as your daughter was found from the drain, near the place where Anshul fell. Because of his guilty conscience, Abhay jumped to the conclusion that it was Anshul. Tell me, did you go to see and claim the body of that child?”

  “No, I mean I went to the morgue to find out but I was told that it was an unclaimed body that had gone missing. Maybe it was stolen by some workers of the hospital who steal and sell corpses, maybe to tantriks or to illegal and unauthorized research fellows in the scientific establishment.”

  “Stealing of corpses! Even after death, one cannot find peace and solace. Horrible people who do such mean things. That is why I was saying that there are many evil people out there, besides Rudolf and Rohit. But sooner or later every evil person is brought to book or faces the justice of God.”

  Abhay’s eyes turned moist, as Payal handed him their lost daughter. He felt and remembered the time he had first held her when she was a newborn. He had a hard time stopping himself from crying, so emotional he had become, as he repeatedly kissed the face of the beautiful girl, who was her Papa’s darling. “I…I…we can never repay you, Uncle!” his throat was choked.

  “Nonsense; look after both my girls young man. I don’t want to hear any complaints against you in the future. Now get going, start your new life with the blessings of this old man, and of the Almighty. May you always be happy and never know what sorrow or want is.”

  Touching the feet of that sage of a man, Abhay went out of the room, holding his daughter with his left arm. He emptied his wallet, giving all the money in it to the couple, who had brought back their child. The latter took it after some persuasion by Payal and insistence of Abhay and they both came out of the building and walked to their car. As he was walking holding his daughter outside, with his left arm and his wife with his right hand, Abhay noticed how bright the sunshine was.

  It was a new world, a new day and a new beginning. Flowers of all colours were blooming and butterflies flying, as the world welcomed the spring with open arms. After a harsh season of prolonged, bitterly cold and dark winter of evil, the spring had yet again come in their lives. It was a new start, full of promise and happiness and both Abha
y and Payal were determined to make the best of the second chance that destiny had given them. It was a chance and promise that no Warlock could ever snatch away from them.

  THE END