Wizard Read Count : 130

Category : Stories

Sub Category : Suspense/Mystery
     Biraju puffed the Bidi and sighed , Oh! really it is a fatal end of Gyarasi. He died in anxiety due to kidney and liver dysfunction , his intestine burst in belly causing the death. The pyre had caught the flame and was quick to gut the corpse 
and crescendo of crumbling bone and burning flesh might be noticed easily. It is a custom to address the people attending the funeral , by the leaders of society or elites of the community as a condolence. Shyamji, Damodar and others narrated the reminiscences of the life of Gyarsi that highlighted the crude character , but one common point they told the people in the crematorium that Gyarsi was lion heart and broad minded but his conversation was filled with dirty abuses  
and indecent dialogues but deliberately he didn't want to hurt any person. this was the peculiarity in his character. 
      Sanju was the son in law of Gyarsi. Biraju and Shyamji asked him to address the persons in crematorium if he could face them. Sanju denied he wouldn't manage his position and ha was fearing that he would not only criticise his father in law rather he would blame or denigrate him. After two minutes he discussed with Biraju . Biraju! you know I am the so called son in law rather I am proclaimed as the elites described me prior to short while . I am neither the real son in law 
nor Gyarsi had adopted Harish as the legal adopted son in the court. Harish was imposed on his family from Jaipur 
against his will, Harish was brought in his family when he was 4 years old. It was Gyarsi's mother who determined to bring 
and adopt him, as Harish was the victim of the poverty in his family who was having three brothers and three sisters and his father was running a motel in four wheeled carriage so he was Gupchupwala. He couldn't deny to be sent him in such young age due to property. Gyarsi was angry with his mother . As he knew that Harish didn't belong to his clan but he was related with him in the term that he was grand son or nephew  so Harish's mother was his sister in distant relation . Gyarasi used to wear a black knickers or shorts and shirt and his mouth filled in with betel and tobacco , in little bit intervals he often abused his mother and wife in annoyance early in the morning as he saw this little Harish . This substantiated his inability for progeny in his family. 
       Sanju told Biraju that Harish's father Satish was very happy in this crematorium and he didn't realize any pain or trouble rather he was in cheerful mood and he was engineering a plan to misappropriate money and misuse the property of Gyarsi. Here Harish is a piece or pawn on chessboard and gambit had already started . He believed in talisman and heathen gods as he was successful to send Harish in Gyarsi's family . He knew sevsral enchantments and might send psychic commands. It is the behest of his will and heathen gods that Gyarsi's mother was agree to adopt Harish . He played a trick there,he coaxed the school teacher and enrolled Harish as  son of Gyarasi in school. The birth certificate was overlooked Gyarasi was quite crude and occupied a vast land in a village near the river bank and he cultivated cash crops like sugarcane and rice. 
         some persons were talking about Gyarasi's property and Harish's adoption . A few held it was illegal adoption against the will of Gyarasi who died intestate means without any will and direction so others were in dilemma what to comment about the legal consequence or liability. Satish was discussing about the Pagadi Custom [ Custom to declare legal successor] after the death of the family head as it is a social and customary declaration that a turban is tied on the head of the successor of the deceased. 
         After returning from the funeral Harish was clean shaved on head and cheeks. A group of persons opposed the ritual but it was Satish who murmured some enchantment holding his Talisman and a Dora or magical string on his right arm and whispered in the ear of Gyarasi's mother . Gyarasi's mother burst in to tear and cried my son departed and let rest his soul in peace ; it was his will or not for the adoption of Harish but he couldn't direct me and he was broad minded 
but crude in his behavior , he followed me always so this Pagadi Rasam [ Turban Custom] should be done according to my will that is the will of Gyarasi . All the guests saw her in disgust . In disdain they kept mum and some amok there. Biraju pointed out to Sanju - lo! the magic power of Talisman and heathen god. Gyarasi's moyher was throwing breads to dog gazing at sky. She was crying Oh ! Gyarasi where thy soul resides and departed from me , may God solace you. She also caught a golden Talisman and wept loudly . This Turban ceremony confirmed the legal adaptability and succession of 
Harish among the members of community . Community safeguards its own interest and laws by tradition and it doesn't 
worry about the framed laws of the government. 
          At home Sanju and Biraju were discussing -- Rita's father also not adopted any son and his father died intestate too, 
but Rita is his legal successor . Once Rita mocked at the life style of Gyarasi -- he was taking lunch and it was Gyarasi's wife 
who garnished Roti with ghee quite soaked wherein ghee was trickling drop by drop; as she was serving it to Gyarasi. He in a fuss threw thw soggy Roti [bread] on her face and plate outside the road . He in a wrath of dragon exchanged a volley of abuses quite indecent and caught hold her by shoulder and lock of hairs ,he was dragging her outside the kitchen hitting her on the back and he kicked her. It was Sanju who came to rescue and separated them requesting him not to do this derogatory and disgraceful act of expelling his mother in law out of the home. He was also hit on his back in their quarrel or scuffle or retreat. Rita laughed grossly  on the life style of Gyarasi as Sanju also observed that early in the morning gyarasi demanded hot Jalebi and tea then he called Dinu to bring tobacco and betel and for a short while , he 
asked to bring Kachori and ordered Dinu to bring bhajia and Samosha then he sipped tea little and rubbing his belly 
asked Dinu to pour water in the latrine ant flush it then fill the water in bucket and mug there , as he was feeling constipation . He spat catechu [ extract of acacia tree  consumed with betel] on the walls of latrine . after this he took 
bath and worshiped the God and cried Dinu to bring tea,betel and hot Jalebi . This crude behavior of Gyarasi imprinted on the personality of Harish . He also consumed a lot of stuff-- Jalebi, Bhajia , puri , Kachori and used to chew tobacco and 
didn't study . In his teenage he addicted to alcohol and started smoking .  He became dishonest, dastard and crook or shrewd like Gyarasi. 
      Gyarasi's mother and Rampyari both separated for three months on the issue of adoption. Gyarasi's mother wished that her daughter in law Rampyari would follow her command regarding adoption of Harish and succession of Harish 
in Gyarasi's family as his legal successor . Satish was happy to know that circumstances were favorable regarding right of property and succession and Ranpyari was gradually declining towards the will of Gyarasi's mother and members of community . as Satish made them to acknowledge the adoption and succession of Harish in several meetings categorically and all the elites were in his favor. He muttered -- it is his god and the grace of this Talisman perhaps some evil powers that paved the way. 
      It was quite nightmarish experience of Sanju that Gyarasi's mother the grand mother in law fell ill and as the doctor 
reported that she was a heart patient and she was suffering from hypertension . in midnight Harish awoke Sanju  -- sanju saw the clock it was 2:00 am perhaps his grand mother in law was collapsing ,he realized , she was sweating a lot her Saree [ cloth] soaked in sweat and she was whooping and restless , crawling with acute pain in bosom , felt thirsty. Sanju 
asked Harish -- whether you have some potion. Harish produced some tablets and showed the prescription of the doctor.
Sanju selected a tablet considering it a soporific drug and another tablet as pain killer then poured in her mouth with drops of water she gulped them . She murmured catching her mascot in neck the sacred string and she remembered the God. After two minutes she recovered and got asleep . Sanju knew very well it was a mild attack or cardiac arrest rather 
it would come back but she was in deep sleep and out of danger ; so he dared not to disclose it to Harish. As his grand mother in law was seventy five years old in this moribund . Sanju came to know that - this attack was quite a death warrant but she was saved however they couln't fetch the doctor in night. 
      after two months there was quarrel between Sanju's mother in law and grand mother in law regarding property and conduct of Harish and his father Satish who was greedy and shrewd. Grand mother had called Satish to assist her in the hotel. Satish wanted to transfer all the movable property either in his own name or in the name of Harish , as he speculated that Gyarasi's mother would die within two or three months. they had a long debate however Satish delivered encomiums in praise of Gyarasi to solace Rampyari . He wanted to posses the property or estate for Harish as he was guardian of that principality. It was rampyari who vilified the greedy character of Satish -- you Gupchupwala ! how dare you possess my husband's property -- you pauper dog. Her husband had augured the temptation and conduct of Satish 
and he often talked in umbrage about the relationship of Harish and Satish that revolved round the linchpin of money.
     The day came for fatal end at last. Sanju's grand mother in law fell ill again after three months as she was disturbed 
much and in great strain regarding the question of property and future of Harish . As Satish had gone back to Jaipur by the interference of the elites of community and Rampyari. But the position of harish was strengthened and Rampyari gave consent that Harish would inherit the property after her death. It was a declaration among the guests and relatives
but not a will on paper. Sanju's grand mother in law fell ill again and he was out of city and was not having any information about it. Actually the second attack occurred in day time and the doctor attended her and advised for total
rest. she was saved again but he knew that another attack would be fatal . The last attack occurred after a week . Rampyari was angry with her mother in law as she blamed his son Gyarasi couldn't adopt Harish legally. This denigration 
created hatred among them. Rampyari and harish didn't care for nourishing the milk, biscuit and potion daily as advised by doctor. she remembered several times to Sanju wherein she wanted to entrust him the property and legal guardianship of the property for Harish. It was totally an insult for Rampyari . She didn't call on Sanju. Rampyari said, " you believe to your heathen gods and mascot and Satish too then why do you call your son in law Sanju?"  In a fit and sleep grand mother in law shouted -- throw bread to dog. My god will see. In morbid condition she muttered enchantment and she was talking with spirits in sleep. it looked she was talking with Gyarasi in necromancy . Harish neglected serving milk, biscuit and medicine to her . Biraju attended her and served water . For three days she was not fed biscuits and milk but only water and medicines and breads were served to her. She in morning threw the bread for the dog and it was hunger that caused her fatal end next day; she collapsed and breathed her last. that day the dog came 
and gulped the bread . Harish was stunned , he had informed his father Satish immediately. 
       After noon, Sanju got the information that his grand mother in law breathed her last . He arrived there within two hours but the funeral had done and all the guests had returned from the Funeral Ground[place of crematorium] . His conscious did not allow him to remain in the house of bereaved family . He was hearing the voice of the Wizard who was calling him to the funeral ground. He was alone and was weeping but couldn't cry rather he was moaning . He wanted to visit for the last time the dead body of her grand mother in law that was burning in pyre. any how Biraju was ready to go along with him to the funeral ground where the funeral was going on.  As they arrived there he saw only the skeleton in
burning pyre and the skull was separated from the skeleton -- as he was hearing the voice -- lo, now see me , he realized 
that it was the will of his grand mother in law to survive till the marriage of Harish . as she was saying to him , she couldn't survive but she would see the marriage from the abode. Sanju felt that the voice was generating or emerging in air beyond shadow of the tree near river bank. He felt that the wizard was laughing at Sanju and Biraju was smoking Bidi . 
Sanju was horrified he felt a bad weather with dirty smell of Bidi and burning flesh there -- perhaps the Wizard was talking to her ghost and specters in pyres and heathen gods. Sanju prostrated down to the burning skull and it was his last salute
he wanted to elope with Biraju instantly and he didn't turn back and proceeded towards the city. 
 ---- Kamal Kishore Sharma Behind Hotel Midtown Sneh Nagar Ward number 27 balaghat [MP] India 481001 
+91 9424614441 8966088853 date : Wednesday July 03,2019  
Word notes: 
Crescendo -- the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound
fuss -- a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement , activity or interest 
Soggy -- wet and soft [mushy] pappy, slushy, pulpy 
Derogatory -- belittling , showing a critical or disrespectful attitude 
Dastardly -- wicked and cruel 
dastard -- a dishonorable or despicable man 
Scuffle -- a short confused fight or struggle at close quarters 
Nightmarish -- very frightening, ghostly, unpleasant 
Mascot -- a person or thing that is supposed to bring good luck 
Moribund -- at the point of death 
Encomium -- n. a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly 
Vilify -- v. speak or write disparage or denigrate 
Augur -- v. portend a good or bad outcome [bode] 
n. soothsayer, seer 
Umbrage -- n. offence, annoyance, be affronted -- archaic - shade or shadow especially cast by trees 
Elite -- best , pick, cream, a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of the group or society 
Necromancy -- n. the supposed practice of communication with dead especially in order to protect the future 
Bereaved -- deprived of a closed relation or friend through their death 
wizard -- a man who has magical power , sorcerer, warlock, magus 
Specter -- a ghost, phantom , apparition , spirit, wraith  
----- Kamal Kishore Sharma Balaghat India 481001 +91 9424614441 8966088853  Date; 03/07/2019


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