An Unreal Tale

The monsoon is the best time in Southeast Asia, more so in the sub-continent. In the continent, in particular England the rainy season is cold, dreary, and leaves a dull echo all around. In contrast in the subcontinent, it is the most romantic time. The best part is the hot summer months of May and June are a memory, and the monsoon brings joy and fun, not forgetting that love blooms as well.

The summer months are terrible, and the rains have a soothing effect like a balm that eases pain. The rains make the peacock dance and perhaps the tiger spares many of his prey, he can ford to as water is available in plenty and some of his targets are complacent and he has an easy time. For the tiger it’s a time of bliss. It is also a time for lovers to express their love, and the God Lord Krishna holds sway. Many poets and writers have eulogized about the glory of love when the monsoon is in full sway. It acts like an aphrodisiac and kissing in the rain with the water seeping into the mouth is a rare moment. The rain makes the peacock dance, and the herds of elephants raise their trunks and trumpet with joy.

Now many seasons have elapsed, I remember that it was the month of June, and the monsoon was resplendent in all its glory. I do not know where to begin as everything now has become a little hazy. My bungalow nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas close to the hill station of Mussoorie, is in the lap of the mountains. It is enveloped with greenery. The Himalayan Forest begins from here. I come out of my house and stand in the veranda. My maid has not come, and I can't blame her because with this torrential shower she must have decided it would be safer to stay at home. I was watching the rain as it splashed around, creating a dull patter on the earth. Far away I could see the mountains now hazy with the rain falling. I wondered whether I should go to the office or work from home; after all, with the China virus having engulfed India, working from home was also an option. I sit down in the rocking chair and looked at the rain falling in the small garden in front of my house. The flowers swayed gently as the raindrops fell on them, and I am wondering what to do.

The sky has now darkened, and lightning flashes across the heavens; suddenly I felt exuberant and took the decision to drive to my office. This is about 20 miles away in the city of Dehradun. I do not know what made me decide to go to the office in this torrential rain but decide I did. Through a side door that opened into the garage, I enter the garage. I see my Merc the black slick S 400 parked spik and span. I enter the garage and move to the car, open the door, and sit down. I press the remote and the gate opens and then the ignition switch.

The machine moves forward like a gentle giant; it has just come back from the service garage. I drove off into the rain, and the garage door shuts. As I drive the rain lashes my car, I look at the side seat and am happy to note that my Jeeves, the boy from Nepal had placed a thermos and I know it contains hot tea.

As I leave, dark clouds cover the sky. Lightning flashes and thunder booms and booms again. I had hear the echoes as they reverberated from the distant hills, as the rain pelted down on the earth reducing visibility to almost zero. I wonder what has come over me and why I should drive out in the rain to the office when I could have very well worked at home.

The road was winding more like a snake, as it moves through the hills and the forest.

I drive slowly confident that my Merc will not fail me would take me to my office. Through the haze, I could make out a Mazar just off the road. I had seen this monument many times but never stopped here. I was planning to bypass the Mazar when I heard a crunching sound; the engine seemed to sputter and all I could do was to pull the car to the curb. I wondered what happened. I tried the ignition several times, but nothing seemed to happen and here I was stuck close to do the Mazar.

I was wondering what to do and the realization dawned that very soon there would be a cloudburst. I engaged the handbrake of the car and put it in gear and came out. I planned to go to the tomb and take cover. At the back of my mind was the thought as to why the car had stopped. There was no explanation for it. I had no time to reflect and immediately rushed towards the Mazar but that did not stop me from getting wet. I entered the foyer and realized it was dedicated to a Pir, a man of God who had liven many decades back. I wondered why I had never stopped in this place before as I had been going every day to my office. Today the Merc had stalled right in front of this Mazar and at the back of my mind was the thought that some supernatural force had brought me to this temple. The rain continues to fall and all around the visibility is zero.

I look around and then my eyes took in the girl by the side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. She was perhaps about 22 or 23, but she looked lovely in her sari, which clung to her body. She held a small umbrella in her hand. I could not help feeling at that time that it was an enchanting sight. A lovely girl as created by the Lord and the rain thundering all around, creating an aura of magic. I was reminded of the poetry of the poet Kalidasa who had written lovely descriptions of the rain and lovers. The thundering rain all around created an enchanting world. Perhaps it was the will of Lord that this magical world was created. I wonder how many believe in magic, but I certainly felt that something magical was going to happen.

The girl also saw me. As I was totally drenched, without thought took off my wet shirt and used it to wipe the water from my torso. I looked at the girl again and liked her very much. Her age was perhaps half of mine. She was slim and lovely, and the sari enhanced her allure. Not a word was spoken as she silently stared at me. My eyes moved all over her taking in her back and slim waist and her raisings; accentuated by the wet blouse clinging to her body. The foothills of the Himalayas get cold and as the wind blew and the rain fell, I observed a tremor pass through the girl. The cold was getting to her and now I was a little worried.

“You are shivering,” I said,” but don’t worry I have a thermos flask in my car with hot tea I’ll just bring it.”

With the rain beating on my bare back and chest I soon returned with the thermos. I unscrewed the cup on the flask and poured the hot tea and handed it to her. She was hesitant to accept the cup, but I looked at her sternly and said,” drink, it will do you good.” There was magic in the air, and I had an uncanny feeling that some other force, a supernatural force was acting on us in this place. She took the cup to her lip and sipped the tea. Then she smiled and it was one of the prettiest smiles that I have ever seen.

"Yes," she replied," this was a good idea".

“What?”

“Bringing the tea”

“What are you doing here in this lonely [lace with the storm all around,” I asked

She was silent for a moment sipping the tea and I could make out that there was a storm in her mind.

“You better tell me,” I said,” what your purpose is to come here otherwise the Lord will never give you anything.”

“You are sure?”

“Absolutely”

She stared into the cup in her hand and then softly said, “I have been praying to God for the last four years ever since I got married but I have no child and now since the last one year my husband and mother-in-law beat me regularly. I just do not know what to do and so I started coming to this Mazar and pray here.”

“Why this Mazar?”

She hesitated for a moment and then softly replied, “this is a Mazar of the Pir Baba. Many people have told me that whoever comes to this holy place and prays the Pir Baba ensures the he or she will get her wish fulfilled.”

I thought for a moment wondering what to reply, because I do not believe in any Pir and my God is Lord Krishna, so I just asked nonchalantly, "Do they beat you often?”

“Yes, yesterday my mother-in-law was very angry, and she beat me with a small belt. Do you think the Pir will help me?”

“I don't know”

I did not wish to discourage the girl, so I just replied, "It is all going to change now.”

“Thank you for encouraging me I do not know whether the old sayings have any truth, but something is going to happen because after you give me the cup of tea, I feel there is magic all around.”

I wanted to say, that this is a beautiful sight all right, but I do not believe in any Pir, but I kept quiet for a moment before saying,” your wish is going to be fulfilled.”

“I don't know, but I have been coming and praying here for over a year and now my hopes are getting dashed but today I feel something will happen.”

The rain now increased in intensity and a howling wind began to blow, mind you it was a very strong and the umbrella held loosely in her hand slipped and the wind took it hundreds of yards away. Without thinking she rushed out into the rain to bring back the umbrella but then she slipped and fell on the green grass with the rain beating down on her.

Her sari had been pulled up to her knees and her blouse was wet and there was nothing to hide her body from me. It was a sight which reminded me of the writings of Somerset Maugham. In a moment I had jumped into the rain to help her back. I bent down to pick her up and then lightning struck a tree just about 30 feet away and the smoke began to emanate from the tree; but the clap of Thunder and the lightning made her clutch me more out of fear than anything else. I was wondering what had come over me as I began to kiss her feverishly. I hovered over her, and she was safe from the rain, but I continue to kiss her and the rainwater seeps into our mouths. She did initially resist but then the atmosphere was magical with lightning and Thunder flashing and almost a Gale blowing.

A thought occurred to me that perhaps this was something engineered by the Lord himself and I had lifted her sari to the navel and what followed was something which I can only say was a hedonistic delight.

What must rise must come down and it was soon over but not the rain and the Thunder. I lifted her up and brought her to the safety of the verandah and give her another cup of tea. She continued to stare at me wondering what happened. I was also wondering how I could have done such a thing; I was a bachelor, yes, but this is something I would never do not with a stranger, but the atmosphere was so unreal, and everything had happened so fast. I wanted to go away but I remembered that my Mercs engine had stalled and whether it would fire again.

I looked at her and told her,” I'm sorry for what happened but I must go now, if you want, I can drop you to somewhere close to your residence.”

She looked at me and lower her eyes and said softly,” it was the wish of the Baba.”

I didn't want to say anything as I give her another cup of tea leave the thermos and quickly move to my car. The rain has now abated slightly, and I sit wondering whether the car will start. I press the ignition and low and behold the car starts. I wonder how it could've stopped at this spot and now it has started on its own.

I drove away. I never came to this Mazar again. I do not know whether the girl got her wish but somehow, I had an uncanny feeling what happened was unreal and the girl could get her wish. I really don't know because I never saw the girl again. I wonder as to who the girl could be? a Muslim, Hindu, or Christian? Probably a Muslim but one can't be sure as in India many Christians, and Hindus also visit the Mazar and holy places of Muslims.