Excerpt from the novel 'The Raavan Returns (Drumatulya Trilogy Book 2)'
Excerpt
from the novel 'The Raavan Returns (Drumatulya Trilogy Book 2)'
SYNOPSIS
Archaeology trip, Forty-Six Years, One Haunting Secret…
2019, Delhi -
The detective in search of the missing NRI businessman meets the old lady. She
reveals the blood-curdling story of deceit, betrayal, and violence.
5135 BCE, Panchavati -
Raavan, the mighty demon king, abducts Sita.
2018, Bareilly -
A newly-engaged couple visits Bankhandi Nath temple on a cold winter evening.
The girl dies under mysterious circumstances.
1300 AD, Jaisalmer
- Alauddin Khilji, the barbaric sultan of Delhi, hatches
a vicious plan to capture the Suryagarh fort.
2019, Ancient City of
Drumatulya - The demonic crime lord fails in his
sinister plan and finds that nothing is what it seems. Unknown to him, a master
puppeteer is playing a grand game.
What happens to the
missing NRI businessman? What was the haunting mystery of the archaeology trip?
What is the spine-chilling secret behind the mysterious death of the
newly-engaged girl? Read on to witness the epic war between light and darkness,
good and evil, Gods and demons.
INTRODUCTION
27th January 2019, Bareilly
Kartik, a rich NRI businessman, arrived in Bareilly, India from the USA along with his wife and children. He had come to attend the wedding of his niece Indu, the daughter of his cousin, Harish bhaisaab. Everything went fine for the first two days. On the day of the wedding, he went to visit the Pashupati Nath temple in the morning but didn’t return. He went missing mysteriously.
Harish bhaisaab hired detective Ajay – the best detective in Bareilly – to solve the case, as Inspector Rana suspected the involvement of the most dreaded crime syndicate of Europe in the disappearance. Upon investigation, Ajay found Kartik’s diary. He knew that it was an important clue, as Kartik was writing in it for a month just before he went missing under strange circumstances.
As expected, Ajay found valuable information in the diary. His sixth sense told him that the information could prove to be the missing key to unlock the mystery behind Kartik’s sudden disappearance. He named it, ‘The Raavan Key’, feeling thrilled to investigate the case which had a connection to the Ramayana era of the Treta Yuga.
11th August 1972, Thar desert, Jaisalmer
A group of five students went on a research trip along with Professor Saini. Four of them were archaeology students at the Banaras Hindu University. The fifth one was Shivam, who was studying engineering at the Government Engineering College of Banaras. Professor Saini was the Head of the Archaeology Department. They visited many historical places across India.
Their last stop was an old fort in the outskirts of Jaisalmer city. Upon reaching the fort, Shivam had a strong intuition that everything was not right that day. He could sense that someone was following them ever since they had arrived in the Jaisalmer city, and was keeping an eye on them. To add to his suspicion, Professor Saini had told them about the lost city of Drumatulya, which existed during the Ramayana era.
Shivam was confident that Professor Saini was hiding something crucial from them. While they were discussing the details about the lost ancient city, a mysterious man appeared at the old fort. He was tall and well-built. His piercing eyes were oozing a mystic vibe. He told them that without his guidance, they will not be able to reach the lost ancient city. He offered his help in reaching the city. Professor Saini readily agreed to the mysterious man’s proposal. The rest of the team also got ready, despite Shivam’s objection. Finally, Shivam gave up, too, and they all left in the search of the lost city of Drumatulya.
PRAISE
FOR DRUMATULYA TRILOGY
“The
integration of mythology and the present-day story is fantabulous.” -
Nishtha Bajpai, Blogger
“A
fast-paced thriller.” - Susan, Content Writer
“Phenomenal
narration of mythological fiction with a mix of mystery.” - Sameeksha
Manerkar, Graphic Designer
“Pravin
Agarwal is a master storyteller.” - Dailyhunt
“This
novel has all of it – mythology, legendary, thriller, mystery, suspense and
love.” - Sharimila, Tech Writer
“A
mind-blowing combination of mythology, mystery, thriller and suspense.” -
Hiba Khan, Author
PROLOGUE
Mission Drumatulya, 29th
January 2019, Thar Desert, Jaisalmer
Ajay
looked closely at the goons, and his eyes widened in panic as he immediately
recognized them. They were actually the world’s deadliest assassins. It was
almost impossible to defeat them in direct combat. Sweat beads appeared on his
forehead and rolled down his face.
“The
commandos that are surrounding them look lethal. Thanks to you that you saved
our lives. If you hadn’t stopped us from going down the staircase, then we
would have been dead by now,” Inspector Shamsher said, his voice filled with gratitude
and awe.
A
smile dangled on the corner of Ajay’s lips. “It’s my duty, officer... I get
paid for it,” he replied humbly.
“Sir,
it looks like these commandos belong to some deadly assassin group,” Jagan
commented, his eyes riveted on the laptop’s screen.
“Yes,
you are correct; the commandos surrounding them belong to the world’s deadliest
assassin group called ‘Hashshashin’. It’s almost impossible to win them in face-to-face
combat,” Ajay nodded and drew in a sharp breath. His mind was engrossed in finding
out a way to deal with the deadly Hashshashin assassins.
Inspector
Rana gazed at Ajay in disbelief, “as per my knowledge, the world most powerful
assassin group ‘Hashshashin’ used to exist in the thirteenth century. But
later, the assassin group was completely destroyed by the Mongke Khan,
Genghis’s grandson. After that, no one heard about them.”
“What
you said is true; Mongke Khan, Genghis’s grandson, had destroyed the assassin
group ‘Hashshashin’ completely in the thirteenth century. But not many people
know that the leader of that group ‘Sayyed Umrah’ had somehow managed to escape
from the clutches of Mongke Khan,” Ajay informed. “Since then, the lethal
assassin group is working covertly. They appear from nowhere, mercilessly kill
their prey and then disappear into thin air. They never leave behind any
trace.”
“What
shall we do now, Ajay?” Inspector Rana asked nervously, wiping the sweat off
his brow. “There is only one way to go down, and the world’s deadliest
assassins are guarding it without blinking their eyes.”
Ajay’s
gaze was fixed on the laptop’s screen. “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully and noticed
that one of the assassin’s eyes dilated. His forehead wrinkled. He leaned
forward to look at the screen with more concentration. He was sure that the
assassin had spotted the spy camera-fitted ball. Ajay’s heart was pounding
desperately. He was not worried for his life, but the lives of the five
constables, Inspector Shamsher, Inspector Rana and Jagan, were also in danger.
And then Kartik’s life was also dependent on them.
Within
a second, the assassin came into action and fired his gleaming black Beretta
92FS semiautomatic pistol. A bullet left the pistol and hit the ball hard. The
ball shattered into small pieces, and the laptop’s screen went blank.
Simultaneously, Ajay heard the loud sound of someone falling to the ground.
Ajay turned around, and to his utter horror, he found the five constables,
including Sangram Singh and Mahavir lying lifeless on the ground. Blood was
spurting out of their bodies at a rapid pace. Their eyes were open, but there
was no trace of life in them. Someone had shot them mercilessly in their head.
A
chill went down Ajay’s spine, and he froze out of shock. “How is it possible
that someone shot at the sanctum downstairs and the bullet hit the five
constables simultaneously here?’ He felt utterly perplexed. His mind went blank
and stopped working. He was sweating profusely due to nervousness. He felt the
drops of sweat leaving his upper back and dripping down his spine. He looked
around; Inspector Rana, Jagan and Inspector Shamsher had an expression of
intense terror on their faces. They were standing still without blinking their
eyes as if they had turned into stone statues.
‘Is
this really happening, or am I hallucinating?’ Ajay wondered. His stomach was
churning, and his eyes were burning with anxiety.
“Who
is this?” He asked in dread, turning his head in all directions but in vain. He
couldn’t see anyone.
A
few more seconds passed in acute bewilderment, and then Ajay heard the demonic
laughter of someone. “Hahahaaaaaa……...” the laughter intensified further.
Ajay
looked in the direction of the sound; a faint image appeared at the far end of
the pathway. He pressed his lips together, narrowing his eyes to see the faint
image more clearly, and he gasped in agony; he couldn’t believe what he saw.
The faint image moved towards them, and his eyes ablaze with indomitable rage
as he immediately recognized the person. Disappointment flooded him as the
person whom they had trusted blindly was the one who had betrayed them. He
hadn’t imagined even in his wildest of dreams that the person with whom they
had shared their foolproof plan would turn out to be the traitor. It was a
lethal blow to their rescue operation, Mission Drumatulya, and now only a
miracle could save their lives.
CHAPTER
1
BHAIRAV
NAKSHATRA
I
abducted Sita and took her to Lanka in Pushpaka Vimana. The vulture king,
Jatayu tried to come to Sita’s rescue, but he was no match in front of me, the
supremely powerful demon king. I cut off Jatayu’s wings and left him bleeding
and helpless. Back in the forest, Lakshman found Ram unharmed. Terror filled
his heart. He, too, had been tricked by Maricha. Ram and Lakshman returned to
their hut and to their horror, they found Sita missing. They both immediately
set out in the search of Sita. They thoroughly searched every bush and corner
of the forest. In the middle of an empty ground behind a hill, the two brothers
spot Jatayu, who lay there bleeding with both of his wings severed. Breathing
his last, Jatayu informed Ram that Sita had been abducted by me, Raavan, the
mighty demon king of Lanka. He described how he got wounded while fighting with
me. He also informed Ram that I had taken Sita towards the south. Upon Jatayu’s
death, Ram ritually cremated Jatayu in the funeral fire and performed his last
rites with full honour.
28th
January 2019, Karol Bagh, Delhi
“Hi,
can we meet Richa Trivedi, the retired IAS officer?” Ajay enquired eagerly to
the old lady who opened the door.
She
looked at Ajay up and down for a moment. “Yes, I am Richa Trivedi. I am sorry,
but I didn’t recognize you,” she replied, her voice trembling a little. From
her expression, she looked fearful and suspicious.
Tingles
of relief ran down Ajay’s spine. His eye’s glittered with joy as the old lady
confirmed that she is Richa Trivedi. He thanked God that she was alive, and he
was finally meeting her. It took him and
Jagan six hours to reach Richa Trivedi’s house in Karol Bagh, New Delhi. They drove non-stop and took just a half an
hour break at a restaurant on the highway to have lunch.
“Hello,
Richaji,” Ajay greeted extra politely to make her comfortable. “I am detective
Ajay from Bareilly city.”
Richa
looked doubtfully at Ajay and Jagan. “Who?” she asked, her voice apprehensive.
“Do
you remember; I called you today morning to enquire about Kartik, the NRI
businessman? The one who disappeared mysteriously sometime back. You were
telling me the important details about him and his father Shivam. You had also
mentioned that you know about some deadly conspiracy, and then suddenly your
phone got disconnected. I tried calling you back many times after that but
couldn’t reach you as your phone was switched off. I was highly worried for
your safety as I heard your loud scream before the phone got disconnected. My
suspicion further increased as you were about to disclose crucial details
regarding Kartik’s case. I thought something unpleasant had happened; it felt
as if some goons had attacked you. Thus, we come here from Bareilly to ensure you
are fine. Also, we want to know the details regarding Kartik as the information
you know is crucial for us. Kartik’s life is in danger, and we need your help
to save him,” Ajay said and pulled out his identity card from his purse. He
showed it to Richa. “This is my ID card; you can verify my details in it.”
Richa
craned her neck, her dark eyes flickering with concern, as she edged closer to
inspect Ajay’s ID card. She then looked back at Ajay to ensure his face matched
the photo on the ID card. “Ah, so it was you who called me today morning to
inquire about Kartik. I am so sorry that I couldn’t inform you that I am safe.
I knew you will worry about my safety as our call got disconnected abruptly.
Especially, when I was about to disclose a critical detail about Kartik,” she
said, this time her voice at ease.
Ajay
nodded his head. “Yes, exactly; I am the one who called you in the morning. I
am a detective, and he is Jagan, my assistant,” he said and pointed to Jagan,
who was standing beside him. He felt excited as finally, Richa recognized him.
“Please
come in,” Richa invited them and stood aside to let them enter. She realized
that she had kept them standing for long.
Ajay
and Jagan went into the drawing-room, which was big and creatively decorated
with ancient monuments. There was an upscale sofa set and a wooden table in one
corner, and a bookshelf adjacent to it with books arranged neatly in it. They
both sat down on the sofa. There was a woman, who was cutting vegetables at the
dining table, and she looked like a domestic help or maid.
“What
would you like to have tea or coffee?” Richa asked with a smile.
“Tea
would be fine,” Ajay replied.
“Sure,”
Richa said and turned at an angle to look at the maid. “Geeta, please could you
prepare three cups of tea for the guests?”
“Ji,
Madam,” Geeta replied and left for the kitchen.
Richa
looked back at Ajay. “Yes, please tell me now,” she said.
“What
had happened this morning when you were about to disclose some important
information regarding Kartik’s abduction? I mean, how did your phone get
disconnected suddenly? Also, it was showing as switched off after that,” Ajay
questioned and looked keenly at Richa.
“I
was in the vegetable market when you called me. As it was too noisy in the
market, I quickly moved to a comparatively silent place. When I was busy
talking with you about Kartik’s abduction, two people came speedily on a bike,
snatched my phone, and run away. It happened so fast that I wasn't even able to
note down the bike’s number. They wore black helmets, and thus I couldn’t see
their face as well. Luckily, I keep two mobile phones with me, one for official
purposes and one for personal use. I immediately called my husband, and to my
relief, he arrived in the next ten minutes. I didn’t have your contact numbers
as I lost my official mobile on which you had called me. Because of this, I
wasn’t able to call back to inform you that I am safe,” Richa replied.
“Oh,
okay,” Ajay said with a sigh. “Thank God, they didn’t harm you. It looks like
the assailants are linked to Kartik’s abduction. There are fair chances that
Kartik’s kidnappers got to know about you and didn’t want you to reveal the
details to us. It might also be the case that someone is keeping an eye on
every activity of yours. You need to be very careful until we find out the culprits
behind Kartik’s abduction and put them behind bars.”
“Yes,
you are correct; even my husband and I felt that way,” Richa nodded. “We were
worried about our safety after the morning incident, and thus we immediately
filed a police complaint at a nearby police station. We also asked for police
protection until Kartik’s case is resolved. My husband is a retired IAS officer
and has good contacts with influential people. Thus, they agreed to provide us
with police security for a few days till it gets clarified who was behind the
attack. Two constables are guarding our home for a shift of twelve hours. Also,
a police van is doing extra patrolling in our area to keep an eye on any
nefarious activity. So, we don’t need to worry much.”
“That’s
really nice; good that you immediately filed a complaint and took police
protection,” Ajay praised and gave a thumbs up.
Richa
smiled, “Thank you!”
“This
morning, you mentioned to me that when you saw Kartik on the flight, you knew
that he was getting pulled into a deadly conspiracy. And you were about to
reveal the details to me, but then your phone got disconnected. So, please
could you tell us what was that danger that you wanted to warn Kartik about?”
Ajay asked.
“Yeah,
I was already aware that Kartik is getting trapped….” Richa began but stopped
midway as she noticed Geeta, who had arrived with the tea. She was holding a
tray on which three cups of tea were placed neatly.
“Madamji,
tea is ready,” she said, interrupting their conversation.
“Hmm,”
Richa said and gestured her to serve the tea to the guests first.
“Thank
you,” Ajay said and picked a cup of tea. Geeta then offered the tea to Jagan
and Richa. She kept the empty tray on the table and returned to the dining
table where she was cutting vegetables.
“Geeta,
please cut the vegetables in the kitchen itself and also prepare the dinner,”
Richa instructed.
“Ji,
madam,” Geeta nodded dutifully. She picked up the vegetable plate from the
dining table and left.
“Sorry
for the interruption,” Richa apologized and took a sip of tea.
“No
problem, Richaji,” Ajay said and looked keenly at her. “Please continue; there
is no one to disturb us now.”
Richa
rubbed her forehead, unable to imagine a less congruous backdrop for the
blood-curdling story of deceit, betrayal, and violence she was about to reveal.
She wondered where to begin. It was a haunting story which took place forty-six
years back... the spine-chilling chronicle of the ancient city of Drumatulya
that had changed her life forever.
“It all started forty-six years ago when I was an archaeology student at Banaras Hindu University,” Richa said as she began narrating the sinister story of endless secrets and brutality.
1972,
Banaras Hindu University
All
was going well and then Professor Saini joined our college as the head of the
Archaeology Department. His dashing personality, handsome physique and charming
looks soon became the hot topic of our college. There was an irresistible aura
of mystery around him. No wonder most of the girls of our college had fallen
for him, and even I was not spared from his irresistible charm. I couldn’t
forget the day when he called me to his office to discuss a secret task. I
jumped with joy and knew that when I would tell my friends about it, they would
almost burn with jealousy. Some might even skip their dinner due to the shock.
“May
I come in, sir,” I asked excitedly as I reached Professor Saini’s office to
meet him. My heart was beating fast as if I had run for an hour non-stop.
“Hey
Richa, please come,” Professor Saini said, his voice deep and hypnotizing.
He
leaned forward in his chair, forearms on the table.
“I
am highly impressed with your performance this semester. Keep up the good
work!” He praised me as I stepped inside the room.
“Thank
you so much, sir,” I replied gleefully. I felt like dancing but maintained my
calm exterior.
‘Be
calm, maintain the decorum, Richa,’ I warned myself in my head.
“I
know that you have a very good knowledge of Vedic astrology, and so I want you
to do research on a particular nakshatra position,” Professor Saini came
straight to the point. “It’s a very rare nakshatra position that occurs just
once in a century.”
Everyone
at Banaras Hindu University knew well that Professor Saini doesn’t like wasting
his precious time on any kind of gossip. He was a highly to-the-point person.
“Which
nakshatra, sir?” I asked inquisitively. I was surprised as I had never heard of
any nakshatra that occurred only once a century.
Professor
Saini looked around, scanning the surroundings before replying. “It’s called Bhairav
Nakshatra.”
I
felt perplexed. “You mean Bharani Nakshatra, right?”
“No,
Bharani and Bhairav Nakshatra are different,” Professor Saini shook his head.
“Bharani is common, whereas Bhairav is very rare. Only a few people know about
it. Even the accomplished Vedic astrologers aren’t aware that any such
nakshatra exists. It’s not their fault as it hardly has any significance in
common people’s lives. In the Treta Yuga, it used to occur frequently like any
other nakshatra, but as time passed by, it became rare.”
“Oh,
okay, even, I am not aware that any such nakshatra exists. It will be
interesting to find the details about this Bhairav Nakshatra,” I said
cheerfully.
“I
am confident that you will be able to do justice to this task as you are the
granddaughter of Pandit Jagannathji, the renowned Vedic astrologer of India.”
Professor Saini edged forward, eyes unblinking, “I know you can do it easily
and better than anyone else.”
He
knew that I was the granddaughter of Pandit Jagannath, and thus he cleverly
chose me for the task. There was nothing that Professor Saini ever did without
meticulous planning.
“Sure,
sir,” I nodded readily. I knew that the task was not that difficult for me as I
am an accomplished Vedic astrologer myself. It was in my blood to decipher the
celestial bodies and their messages. I had learnt astrology in depth from my
grandfather, who was the best Vedic astrologer of our time. Also, I could ask
for help from my grandfather if required.
Professor
Saini smiled warmly at me, “Thank you, Richa!”
“Sir,
can I ask you a question?” I asked hesitantly. I knew very well that Professor
Saini was not a person to be taken lightly or with whom you could have casual
discussions. There was an intimidating aura around him like those of royal
monarchs.
“Yeah,
please ask,” Professor Saini looked at me and said gently. Fortunately, he was
in a good mood that day.
“Sir,
what’s special about this nakshatra? I mean, why do you require the details
about it,” I asked politely. “As you mentioned, it doesn’t have any importance
in common people’s lives.”
He
looked into my eyes earnestly. “Yeah, but it has implications on the lives of
Gods. As I mentioned, it used to occur frequently in Treta Yuga when Gods existed
on earth,’ he replied cryptically.
My
eyebrows shot up in surprise, but I maintained my composure. ‘Hmm,’ I nodded my
head gently, though I didn’t understand a single thing that he mentioned. In
fact, I felt even more confused than before.
I
wanted to know what he actually meant by this statement that the nakshatra had
an implication on the lives of Gods. But I couldn’t muster up the courage to
ask him any further questions.
“Please
ensure that you do it accurately,” Professor Saini requested; his deep baritone
was hypnotic. “It’s required for a highly important task.”
I
felt enchanted by him. “Don’t worry, sir, I will do it accurately and provide
you with the details as soon as possible,” I assured him with utmost sincerity.
There was an irresistible charm in his personality, and it was almost
impossible for any girl to resist his bewitching aura.
“No
hurry, Richa, take your time, but the report you prepare should be precise,” he
cautioned me politely. “We can’t afford to have room for any mistakes in it as
it can lead to a big failure.”
“Sure,
sir… please don’t worry, I will do my best,” I said confidently.
“One
more thing, please do not reveal anything about this task to anyone. It can
create an unnecessary issue for us. You know how the people are; they will not
leave any opportunity to make a national drama out of it,” he requested gently,
his lips curled into a half-smile, and his eyes sparkled as he looked into my
eyes intensely. I felt spellbound for a second, unable to move or blink my
eyes.
“Rest
assured, sir, I will not mention this task to anyone,” I promised him
earnestly.
Professor
Saini looked at me appreciatively, flashed a brilliant smile, and gave me a
thumbs-up, “Excellent!”
“Anything
else, sir?”
He
shook his head slightly, leaning backwards in his chair. ‘No thanks, that’s all
for today; you can leave now.”
‘Okay,
sir,’ I said and left.
That
day I felt like I was on cloud nine. My friends couldn’t believe it when I told
them that Professor Saini had called me and praised my performance. They all
looked at me in admiration as if I had received the Padma Shri award from the
Indian government.
In
the evening, I returned to my room. My classmate Vedika, who was also my
roommate, was waiting eagerly for me.
“Tell
me in detail what happened exactly today morning when Professor Saini called
you to his office?” she fired the questions as soon as I entered the room.
“At
least, let me change my clothes,” I requested, chuckling.
She
nodded half-heartedly. “Okay, but please don’t take much time; otherwise, I
will die out of curiosity.”
I
quickly washed up and changed into a comfortable dress. “So, what you were
asking?” I said and sat down on my bed. I deliberately pretended that I had
forgotten her question. It was my day, and I was basking in the attention from
all of my friends.
Vedika
looked at me with an unrelenting stare. There was a glint of mischief in her
hypnotic eyes. “Did you both have…” she began when I cut her short. I knew what
her question was.
“Shut
up,” I snapped back and threw an angry look at her. “I went to meet him at his office
in the college and not at his home.”
“Haha,
I was teasing you,” Vedika laughed. “I know you very well.”
“Thanks,”
I said gratefully and narrowed my eyes at her, “but what do you mean that you
know me very well?”
“You
are not Professor Saini’s type,” she said and burst out in laughter. “He is so
handsome, dashing, and you are…”
“What
do you mean? That’s unfair,” I said, annoyed, and hit her with a pillow. She
hit me back, and we had a pillow fight until we were exhausted.
“Okay,
no more jokes,” she huffed. “Tell me exactly what happened when you went to
meet Professor Saini.”
“No,
I will not tell,” I said firmly.
“I
promise, I will not make fun of you,” she pleaded.
“Okay,”
I said and narrated the complete incident in minute detail. I even told her
that Professor Saini had given me a task, but I didn't reveal the details of
it. I only mentioned to her that he had asked me to check about a particular
nakshatra. Vedika also didn’t inquire much about it; she was more interested in
Professor Saini than astrology.
Vedika
was like a sister to me. We not only shared the hostel room but knew each
other’s deepest secrets. Vedika was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in our
college. It was hard for any boy to take his eyes off her. Many boys had
approached her in college, but she never accepted anyone’s proposal.
Unfortunately, she also fell for Professor Saini like most girls in our
college. I remember we used to discuss for hours about Professor Saini.
For
the next two weeks, I worked hard on the assignment Professor Saini had given
me. I even sought my grandfather’s help to ensure that the report prepared by
me was accurate. He was curious to know why I was demanding the details of such
a rare nakshatra, which hardly has any implication in our lives. I managed to
evade his probing questions. I told him that it was a college project
assignment. Finally, I completed the report and checked it thrice to ensure
that all details were accurate. Then I triumphantly marched to Professor
Saini’s office to submit the report to him.
“May
I come in, sir,” I asked as I reached his office.
“Hey,
Richa, please come in…”
“Sir,
here is the report you wanted on Bhairav Nakshatra,” I said and proudly
handover the report over to Professor Saini.
‘Hope
he will find the report meeting his expectations,’ I prayed. I felt nervous as
if my annual exam results were about to be declared. I had worked hard on the
assignment. Many times, I had even skipped my meals to complete it. I knew I
deserved appreciation for it.
“Very
good, Richa! I am proud of you,” Professor Saini praised generously as he
glanced through the report. ‘Thank you for such a precise report.’
I
looked at his face; there was genuine gratitude.
“Thank
you so much, sir!” I replied and felt the butterflies in my stomach.
Professor
Saini leaned back in his chair. “I hadn't told you earlier, but I already had a
report on this nakshatra which is prepared by two of the finest astrologers in
India,” he revealed to my surprise.
‘If
that was the case, why did he ask me to prepare the same report again? What is
so special about the Bhairav Nakshatra that he is so much concerned?’ I
wondered and felt a bit suspicious as well.
“Actually,
I wanted to ensure that the previous report is accurate, and thus I requested
you to prepare a report on the same,” Professor Saini clarified my unspoken
doubt as if he was able to read my mind.
“Oh,
okay…” I said, shuffling from one foot to the other.
“Now,
I have no doubt that this rare nakshatra will occur eight months later. The
last time it occurred was in the year 1892 in the 19th Century. After a long
gap of eighty years, it is going to take place again this year,” Professor
Saini said in a super excited voice.
Suddenly,
the window opened up, and a cold wind gusted through the room, rustling the
papers on the table and swirling my hair around my face. Professor Saini’s face
stiffened; he quickly stood up from his chair and closed the window.
“Who
the hell left the window open?” he grumbled and sat back on his chair. For a
second, he looked at me and to my shock, I noticed a hint of demonic gleam in
his piercing eyes. For an instant, I was frightened, and goosebumps sprang up
all over my arms. The look only lasted a second, but it chilled me to the bone,
more than the freezing wind.
‘Why
is he so much interested in the rare Bhairav Nakshatra? Also, the devilish
glint that I just saw in his eyes was actually there or just my imagination,’ I
thought and felt scared.
I
didn’t sleep well the previous night as I was busy verifying the report one
last time before submitting it to Professor Saini. I wondered if it was the
lack of sleep and tiredness that I was overimagining things in my mind. ‘Stop
thinking absurd things; it’s just your imagination,’ I chided myself, rubbing
my arms up and down to get rid of the goosebumps.
I
smiled to hide my perplexity. “Yes, sir, there is no doubt about it. I have
double-checked all the details at least twenty times. For absolute accuracy, I
have done every calculation to ten thousandths of decimal points. I have even
got it verified by my grandfather, Pandit Jagannath,” I assured in a confident
voice.
“Your
abilities and hard work are evident in the report. The quality of the report is
at par or better than the previous report. I knew you were the only one who
could do justice to this task. Very well done,” Professor Saini praised me
again. This time there was a glitter of delight in his eyes. I felt relieved.
“Richa,
one more request,” Professor Saini said and looked at me convincingly.
“Yes,
sir…”
“As
I requested earlier as well, please don’t disclose anything about this
assignment to anyone. Nor even to your family members or friends. Do maintain
complete secrecy about it. I hope I can trust you completely on this.”
“Of
course, sir, you can trust me on this,” I said firmly. “I haven't told anything
about it to anyone. Though I took help from my grandfather to verify the
details in the report, I didn't reveal anything to him. When he asked about it,
I only mentioned that it was a college assignment. In future also, I will not
disclose it to anyone.”
Professor
Saini tapped his fingers on the table. “Brilliant!” He exclaimed. “You can
leave now.”
“Sure,
sir,” I said and left.
For
a few days, I felt intrigued to know why Professor Saini asked me to prepare
the report on that rare Bhairav Nakshatra. His cryptic reply that this
nakshatra used to occur frequently in Treta Yuga and has an implication in the
lives of the Gods, added further to my curiosity. Also, why did he ask me to
keep it a secret? But as time passed by, I completely forgot about it. Hostel
life is like that only, very fast-paced and happening; there is so much noise
around you that you even forget what you were thinking five minutes back.”
Richa
was so engrossed in narrating the details of the mysterious archaeology trip to
Ajay that she didn’t realize when Geeta arrived in the hall from the kitchen.
“Madamji,
is it ok if I prepare rice as well for dinner?” She asked, interrupting their
conversation.
Ajay
noticed Geeta closely this time; she wore a white salwar and blue kameez. Her
light pink zari dupatta was draped diagonally across her lean frame and tied at
her waist. She was holding a spoon in her hand. A Rajma bean was stuck at the
tip of the spoon. Despite the freezing winter evening in Delhi, tiny sweat
beads were visible on her forehead.
“Why
rice?” Richa questioned, sounding irritated. She didn’t like the sudden halt in
their conversation due to Geeta’s query.
“I
have prepared Rajma in today's dinner, and sir is fond of Rajma-rice. Last time
also, he told me to cook rice as well whenever I prepare Rajma,” Geeta replied
and dapped the loose end of her Dupatta to clean the tiny beads of sweat from her
forehead.
“Hmm,”
Richa said and looked thoughtfully at Geeta. “Leave the rice to me; it will not
take much time to prepare it. If the rest of your chores have been completed,
then you can leave. It’s already six-thirty in the evening.”
“Madam…
let me wrap up the kitchen work in five minutes, then I will leave,” Geeta
said.
Richa
rubbed her neck and took a wheezing breath, “Okay, do it quickly as it’s
already dark outside. If anything is going to take more time, then leave it. I
will take care of it.”
“Ji,
Madam,” Geeta nodded like an obedient school-going girl and returned to the
kitchen.
‘How
is the rare Bhairav Nakshatra linked to this case? Also, what did Professor
Saini mean by the statement that the nakshatra has implications in the lives of
Gods? How does it link with Kartik’s abduction, and what is the horrific
mystery of Drumatulya that Richaji was trying to warn Kartik of?’ Ajay wondered
and was anxious to know the complete story. He was eager to know what had
happened forty-six years back that had such wide-reaching consequences.
“Sorry
for the interruption,” Richa apologized as she noticed impatience on Ajay’s
face due to the sudden halt. “Even I didn’t like it and thus asked Geeta to
leave for the day so that she couldn't disturb us again.”
Ajay
smiled, “No problem at all, Richaji… honestly speaking, there are a lot of
questions in our mind, and only you can answer them. I am highly curious to
know the mystery of Drumatulya and how it links with Kartik’s abduction.”
“I
know you are eager to know what Bhairav Nakshatra has to do with Kartik’s
sudden disappearance and also the sinister mystery of Drumatulya. I can
completely understand it as Kartik’s life is in danger, and you need to know
everything in order to save him. But before I continue again, just excuse me
for a minute; I need to go to the kitchen to ensure that Geeta has completed
all the work.”
“Sure,”
Ajay said and folded his arms across his chest.
Richa
got up and left for the kitchen.
Ajay looked around and noticed a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was placed on a table in one corner of the drawing-room. The statue reminded him of his grandfather, who was also a retired army officer like his father. Often, he used to fondly narrate the incident when he met Mahatma Gandhi during his school days. It was one of the most memorable events of his grandfather’s life, which also left him with the biggest lesson of his life.
1930,
Bareilly, India
When
his grandfather was a little boy, Mahatma Gandhi had visited Bareilly and
stayed at their house. Gandhiji had come from Allahabad to attend a session of
the Indian National Congress. A crowd of twenty-five thousand people had
gathered at Bareilly Railway Station to receive him. Ajay’s great-grandfather,
who was a prominent freedom fighter, had escorted Gandhiji home. His grandfather,
who was in awe of Mahatma Gandhi, had excitedly volunteered himself to remain
by Gandhiji’s side to take care of him during his visit. Ajay’s great-grandfather
had readily agreed. Gandhiji then delivered a speech at the famous Parade
Ground of the city and appealed to the throngs of people gathered to support
the civil-disobedience
movement and make it a huge success.
During a private moment after the event, Ajay’s grandfather asked the great
leader, ‘Bapu, what gives you the conviction that you’ll be able to fight the
British?
Mahatma
Gandhi smiled affectionately. He said, ‘We shall win because we’re in the third
stage of our four-stage struggle.’
‘The
four-stage struggle?’ Ajay’s grandfather wondered aloud and looked
inquisitively at the Mahatma.
‘First,
they ignore you, second, they laugh at you, third, they fight you, and fourth -
you win. That’s the fourth stage, son,” said the Mahatma simply.
Ajay’s
grandfather listened to the wise leader attentively as he kept pressing his
feet. He hesitantly asked further, “Bapu, the British have guns and policemen.
I’m but a little boy. How can I fight them? They are so much stronger!”
Mahatma
Gandhi fondly placed his hand on Ajay’s grandfather’s head, who was a little
boy then and said, ‘Son, always remember, strength does not come from physical
capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.’
From
that day on, Tauji made it a point to follow the principle that the true mark
of strength is the indomitable will to succeed. No matter how powerful the
enemy is or if all odds are against you, if you have the conviction and a
strong will to win, no one can stop you from emerging victorious.
Ajay
felt a surge of energy within him as he remembered the powerful lesson Mahatma
Gandhi taught his grandfather. He knew that the deadly crime syndicate behind
Kartik’s abduction was enormously powerful and much ahead of them. But even
then, he was confident that his unflinching will to save Kartik’s life and
honest intentions would make them successful in their mission.
Continued...
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More Novels by Pravin Agarwal
The Raavan Key (Drumatulya Trilogy Book 1)
SYNOPSIS
“I
am Raavan, the mightiest demon king…”
2019,
Bareilly - A rich NRI businessman goes
missing mysteriously. The detective found a clue in his diary and named it, The
Raavan Key.
5135
BCE, Golden City of Lanka -
Raavan, the mighty demon king, came to know of a chilling secret about his
half-brother Kubera. Enraged by the revelation he fiercely attacked Drumatulya
city.
1972,
Thar Desert, Jaisalmer - An
archaeology team was searching for the lost city of Drumatulya, which existed
during the Ramayana era. They couldn't believe their eyes when weird events
unfolded one after another.
2018,
Antwerp, Europe - The overlord of Europe’s most
dreaded crime syndicate received a phone call from a mysterious man.
What was the terrifying secret of Kubera that enraged Raavan? What connects the missing NRI businessman to the lost city of Drumatulya? What was the horrific mystery of Drumatulya city? Read on to witness the epic story of Love and Betrayal, Gods and Demons, Deceit and Violence.
“Pravin is in the league of Ashwin
Sanghi and Christopher C. Doyle.”
- Bijetri Roy, Author
“Pravin Agarwal is a master
storyteller.”
- Dailyhunt
“With compelling narrative style,
Pravin is the next literary phenomenon.”
- PunjabMetro
Novel ‘The Raavan Key (Drumatulya Trilogy Book 1)’ continues to be on Amazon
bestseller list. Tap the below link to buy.
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The Girl in the Dream: A Love Story Planned 500 years Ago
Synopsis: The Girl in the Dream
2017, Los Angeles - Vivaan, a NASA scientist has a strange recurring dream of a mysterious girl. His engagement with Riya turns into a nightmare when his dream starts turning into reality. He flies to Madhya Pradesh to find himself at the center of a 500-years-old enigma.
1500 AD, Kingdom of
Ujjain - Shrinika is
heartbroken when she is betrayed by Rudra, the king of Ujjain. After the
unfortunate incident, she mysteriously disappeared.
2017, Madhya
Pradesh - Dhiren, the evil
son of the village sarpanch is in desperate search of the ancient Statue of
Lord Shiva which is hidden somewhere in Shivgarh Fort and worth a billion
dollars.
2011, MNIT Jaipur - Rachit fall head over heels in love
with Swara when he is asked to propose to her, as a ragging prank, by his
seniors.
What links Rachit and Swara to the complex puzzle of Vivaan’s dream? What is the secret of the ancient Shiva temple? What connects Vivaan to Shrinika, the missing girl in the 16th century? Read on as you travel through a saga of love and passion, betrayal and conspiracy, hope and ambition.
"Enthralling and
thrilling, a mix of romance, mystery, mythology and fantasy...The story has the
visual effect of a screenplay...a magnum opus!"
Ashvamegh
"Full of mystery,
thrill, entertainment, and unexpected turns...A nail-biting romantic
thriller..."
Indian Book Critics
Novel ‘The Girl in the Dream: A Love Story Planed 500 years ago’ continues to be on Amazon bestseller list. Tap the below link to buy.
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