Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Villagers

Francis woke up with such an excitement which he had not

had for some time . His habit was known to the staff as well

as everyone who stayed with him even a day. He always

had his coffee in bed at exactly 6.30 and would get ready

after a rigorous workout...Then he would come down from

his first floor master bedroom to the hall where he would

glance at few newspapers and watch few news channels

.

The villagers would come to see him if they knew he was

there to discuss about the various things . He would see

them if they came before eight if not he would give them

time only in the evenings .

On this particular day ,Philomena brought the coffee

instead of the usual helper Mary who had been trained

personally by her. Philomena was a cheerful and peace

loving woman who had never argued with anyone least of

all with her husband . she wanted everyone to be happy like

her without any wants but of course she never lacked for

anything in her life.

She was not happy as she entered her husband’s room as

she used the smaller adjacent room for herself . She

brought the coffee thermos and a mug , kept it on the coffee

table nearby and sat heavily on the settee ..

Francis was awake and waiting for his coffee but he did not

expect his wife... he asked her ‘what happened to Mary ?’

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knowing very well Philomena would go in detail about

Mary and the reason for her absence . But she did not

acknowledge the question instead she looked troubled .

Francis called her again for that she looked at him without

telling anything. Francis was truly alarmed and asked her , ‘

Philomena ,what is the matter ?’ he got out the bed and

came and sat beside her. She said ‘the villagers are waiting

to see you and they are all so upset’

‘But why? He asked with irritation as he wanted to do

something else ..

The villagers have told her about the destruction of the

previous day’s cyclone . while coming from capital

Chennai , she had seen the path of destruction herself and

she knew it would take time ,energy and money to bring

back the village to normal .

The cyclone had done such damage to the village . the

cyclone’s strong wind had ripped off the roofs of the

houses and brought so much of flying debris and water that

it would take a long time to clean up the mess. Most of the

trees were uprooted and the cultivated land had been totally

submerged in water .

Now she told all these to her husband who did not like to

hear anything negative early in the morning . The village

head Raman was waiting with men ,women and children

and she asked them to stay for breakfast . The breakfast

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was being prepared for everyone now in the kitchen with

few ladies as volunteers .

Francis was quiet for sometime as he was thinking of all

the work that would be needed to get back to normal . .He

started making plans ,calling the personnel who would be

needed immediately . Philomena left him there feeling

satisfied that now he would make magic and all these

problems would go away .

Francis called finally to some people in the media and told

them his son Frank Timothy would like to announce some

stupendous news and told them to bring all their associates

to Tim’s land …

Francis did all his morning rituals before he came down .

He could hear the villagers’ voices and he went .directly to

have his breakfast and Frank was already there . Frank

greeted him and drew the chair for him to be seated .

Francis gusto perked up as he saw his son was looking

good .

They had their breakfast quietly and then Francis asked

Frank , Why he was not there with the villagers and

suggested that he had to involve more with the local

community as he seemed to like this place .

Frank did not abhor the idea ,in fact he welcomed the idea

as he thought his father had forgotten his slip of words in

the previous night. So happily he agreed to his father telling

him he would go and talk to them and excused himself .

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When Frank entered the front door he could hear them all

talking in an excited manner and when he appeared in the

threshold , a hush descended down in the portico. There

were a hundred or more people gathered ,some of them he

recognised and he could identify his childhood friend

Richard whom he had not seen for some time . he singled

him out and Richard became visibly happy and came closer

to him with a broad smile .

Frank said, ‘ good morning folks .. nice to see you all after

all these years’

They greeted him in turn and Richard said , ‘ how are you

Frank ...? we have come here to discuss some strange

things that was happening as well about the cyclone’

Frank was all ears and he asked, ‘what kind of strange

things?’ .. Immediately all started talking at once and

Richard called them out to be silent and he said , ‘we have

been losing things’

Frank asked , ‘ you mean theft .. did you inform the police

or our security ?

Richard replied , ‘ we couldn’t tell . because we are not

losing any valuable things ..just some trinkets , kids’

dresses, spoons, plates especially made of ever silver and

cereals, pulses from our pantry.

Frank was getting goosebumps thinking of the possibility!

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Another old man interrupted him and said , ‘ It was written

in our old book that we should offer all these to the

mountain deity every three months but in the recent times

priests in church advised us not to offer anything. Now it

started again .. The old book says now youngsters would

die of some unknown disease and whole village had to

relocate as they had done earlier’

Frank said , ‘ did they try offering anything to the so called

mountain deity / What is the mountain deity called ? is

there any temple or monument or any such old things ?’

Frank’s excitement was taken for fear and Richard tried to

calm him down but now Frank was not listening . He asked

the old man again , ‘have you seen the deity at anytime in

your life time?

The old man said , no son… but I know where great

grandfather used to go taking all the offerings .. I

remember him taking pots of milk and food stuff…’

Frank was petrified now if he asked him here the old man

might reveal some secrets but before he could caution him

the old man pointed to the right of the house ,towards the

mountain and said , ‘ you can see the mountain , there is a

cave and some rock drawings .

Frank left a sigh of relief and told them , ‘ I will

investigate it further and stop these silly thefts altogether ..

do not worry ..’

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My father has already asked for the construction company

to repair your houses and workers are coming to remove all

the debris and by evening everything will come to normal.

But I personally request you all not talk about these thefts

to others as they may create hype and horror stories will

start …’

One man said , ‘sir I am Joe and it is a horror story only.. I

wanted to find what comes to take all my kids’ playthings

so I fixed a CCTV and I have the clippings here in this

USB flash drive . you will be surprised’

Frank was curious and wanted to ask him but he did not

want to create hype so he told all of them he would get

back to them as soon as he would come to know of

something and would stop all these nonsense and he was

sure it was all some kind of pranks.

He asked them to have breakfast showed them the dining

hall nearby which was built for these kind of eventualities .

Villagers went there talking among themselves in a hushed

tone .

Only Richard and the old man stayed back . Frank looked

at the old man and immediately he came near and held his

hands and said, ‘ please don’t try anything. I will give the

old book that I have . It is really serious and so many

tragedies are written ..please don’t take it lightly son’

Frank was very touched and he told him in a kind tone that

he would be very very careful and not to worry .He thanked

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him for the old book and said he would return it as soon as

possible..’

Richard was looking lost as he did not go with the other

villagers to have breakfast . Frank told him to have

breakfast and then to meet him in his room in twenty

minutes …

Now he turned and ran back to his room without looking at

his parents who were standing and listening ..He went in

and locked his room and went to the balcony and closed the

door that led to the balcony .He wanted to connect with Re

to confirm his doubt.

He touched Re’s pendent and closed his eyes to concentrate

.

He could feel it slowly vibrating and he opened his eyes to

see it glowing .He simply wanted to connect with Re so he

kept on telling Re come on, Re come on …Re and Re

came on ..he clearly heard him calling Frank …

Frank said, ‘ Re I want to know something.. Do you people

raid the village ? I must know because the villagers are

complaining about these mysterious happenings .. Tell me

.

..’

There was a pause … then Re came on .. ‘ Frank we have

been raiding for our need and also for fun.. But we were

always very careful to take things of little importance ….’

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Frank was disturbed thinking about the enormity of the

problem.. If the world came to know these beautiful being

would be treated like guinea pigs .

Re caught on and he said , ‘Frank don’t worry

unnecessarily ..they can never find even a simplest clue’

The CCTV must have captured you and they gave me the

clipping’ he said loudly even though he knew the thoughts

only were transmitted but yet he found it was easier to

speak his thoughts ..

Re’s voice reached him like a screech and he thought he

was laughing, he heard him clearly ‘no one can capture us

least of all some CCTV..’

Frank was exasperated and he knew he was not able to

understand…

Re told him again , ‘ Frank you are worried for no reason

but I assure you that we would not go out for sometime if it

makes you feel good .. we are indebted to you’

Frank went blank and the communication got cut and the

glow went out of the pendant .

He remembered the USB flash and he took out his laptop

and inserted the flash and as the video started playing, he

observed it very keenly.

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In one frame a small toy started floating all around a room

where a small baby was on a cradle and the baby was

laughing looking at the floating toy..

In another a pot rose up and tilted and milk flowed out

and..disappeared.. Literally disappeared into the thin air..

In another clipping ,few spoons were floating here and

there then all ...disappeared …

Frank had goosebumps …He continued to watch..

Before he could connect with Re again , there was a knock

at his door ..he opened the door to see Richard standing

there .

Frank called him in and asked him to sit , he hesitated for a

fraction and sat on a chair.

‘Make yourself comfortable Richard …’ Frank said but

still he looked ill at ease and said , ‘ Sir it is a long time..’

Frank laughed and said ‘stop it Richard but you were my

school classmate and a classmate forever..’ Richard

immediately felt good .

Frank asked if he knew the cave where in the past offering

were made .. Richard said that he knew and it was to the

right of their house in the mountain in fifteen minutes walk

.

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Frank asked him to come with him and ran down the steps

in his usual manner but Richard walked slowly ,taking one

step at a time ..

Francis was seated in the hall and saw his son running

down before he could call him he ran away . Now Richard

followed him..He called Richard and asked him, ‘what is

happening son ?’

‘

Good morning Sir ! nothing to worry sir !’, he said pleased

with himself .Again Francis asked why his son was running

. Richard gave a broad smile and said very innocently ,’ sir

.

he wants to see the places where we played ..I will go with

him and bring him back safely .. Don’t worry sir !’

He heard Frank calling him so he excused himself and left

.

.

Francis was very disappointed …but he gave a broad smile

and made up his mind to call this imbecile again to ask him

about all the things related to that day’s events ..

*

******

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