9. EVIL RAN AWAY
I reached home after the most happening day. It was pretty clear Tanvi was behind Ravi and Ravi wanted to run away. I simply wanted to be the mute spectator. After all who would miss the chance of Ravi being chased by a girl
Well my home as you must have known by now was a zoo.
I enter to be greeted by a strong smell and smoke. My mom held the vessel in front of my face. I coughed like hell.
"What the f**k is it?", I questioned turning around outside. My cough knew no full stop.
Mom had burnt chillies and coconut shells.
"It's for your good. The evil will die off", my mother came behind me.
" Ma are you mad?", I ran away to the back side of the house.
I tried to open the door bit no use. So I took the way through the window.
It wasn't that tough.
But as I entered, I found myself on the kitchen top.
My mum had rushed into the kitchen by then.
"What are you doing? No manners", she shouted.
Thankfully I had removed my shoes. I jumped on the floor and rushed to my room.
" Who has told you about this remedy?", I shouted seeing my room filled with the smoke. It was blur, smoky and did hurt my eyes.
"Guruji had come. He gave us a mantra to chant and told this remedy to keep the evil at bay", she stood with that bowl in her hand.
"You keep that beast away from me", I warned her pointing at the bowl.
" And what evil did you want to chase away?"
"There's so much you see. Your brother has a job but not a wife yet. You flunked your exam and are sitting on my head."
"Wow!! Am flattered. What reasons Ma '"
"And then we have this untamed dog"
"Don't take his name", I blasted.
" I didn't. I just said a dog"
"Ma I mean I don't want to discuss about the dog now", I flung open door of the bathroom and went to freshen up.
Yes I forgot to introduce you all to our dog. Not our, their dog.
A mix breed animal. God knows what breed. People ask us and we simply blink. He's one spoilt, aggressive and an untrained creature who would recognize only four people: my dad, grandma, my aunt Anjali and her daughter Roshni. And the other family members were more of aliens to him and wouldn't bear our sight.
" what's his name?", Ravi texted as he got to know that we had got a 11 year old grown up dog.
"Tuffy "
"Are you serious?"
"What happened?"
"The name is so clichd. Change it asap"
"I didn't name him by the way"
"Whatever it is. Change it"
"He's too grown up to get accustomed to a new name"
"Still try"
"Am not bothered"
The chat ended on an incomplete note. Well Ravi was pretty unaware of what kind of devil my parents had brought home.
************************************
"I don't understand what your sister is doing at Pune", my mom was in no mood to give up the debate.
" Let that be there. Who cares", my dad replied.
"Don't pretend. She's the sole reason of every problem. She'll do something and then you'll have to run behind to mend it."
"Who else will do it? Am the lone son of the house", my father explained.
" I don't understand your mother for that matter."
"She has never listened to us. Why do you expect now?"
"Am not expecting anything. Have you seen her age? And your sister is sitting there soing nothing and your mother is in the town alone"
"She will never come to us. You know that"
"Yeah after all we have been so bad to her. Isn't it?"
"What bad have we done?"
"That I think your mother will answer better"
"There's no use. You know that."
"Yeah after all her drug addict daughter is enough for her. She finds nothing bad in her. Am the only one who is a misfit everywhere. One thing I gave understood pretty clearly, there's no use to be nice with demons. I have given 30 years of my life to this family for nothing. Its not that I want anything, I only want her to stop troubling us"
The debate was a routine rehearsal. Nothing new. I went to the kitchen to drink water, after all they both had ruined my TV session. I heard my Father's phone ring. And after some time, I found both of them rushing in and out with clothes and bags.
"What is it?", I asked.
" Your grandmother has fallen sick"
"Who told you?"
"Anjali had called"
"How does that addict knows? Is she in her senses anytime?", I retorted.
" For God's sake shut up now"
"Why? You didn't stop then."
"Even you have to come", my dad instructed.
" I have my college. What's my use there anyways? I never asked your sister and mother do drama. They always do this and we have to bear", I stormed off.
After a few days of treatment my parents planned to get my grandmother at our place. My grandma didn't want to. Her protests went it vain. It was declared that she suffered a mild paralysis attack.
My grandmother's love for animals was never hidden. In fact that was a global news. Plus tuffy wasn't a dog who would adjust in a different. My aunt had kept the dog with my grandma. As she didn't take him with her and my grandma didn't want to leave him, my parents decided to bring the devil with them.
The news did create a havoc at my house. I never wanted the dog at our house owing to all my melodramatic vacations in our native town.
My brother saw no other option so kept quiet.
The truck came with all the belongings, my parents, grandmother and the four legged devil.
************************************
"The evil resides in our family itself ma. Why not show them to Guruji. He'll faint for sure", I chuckled as I combed my hair.
" Why can't you speak sense?"
"I always do. But no one takes it seriously"
"If we start taking you seriously we will land in jail", my dad quipped.
" Now where the hell did he come from?"
My dad worked out of town and would shuttle weekly.
"Today is Wednesday. You come on Fridays. Is everything okay?", I asked doubtfully.
" Why? Something has to happen for me to come?", he asked.
"No. I mean our house is a happening place you see.", I smiled sheepishly.
"Ssshhh!!!!", my mum signaled me.
" Chill nothing will happen"
"To whom?", my dad asked.
Mum thinks if I speak your bp will shoot up and you'll suffer a heart attack.
" I am tired of every circus. It will be good if I die", he said.
"Don't worry. You won't dir so early", I replied munching on the pakodas.
"Yeah!! After all more circus is remaining for me to see", he laughed off.
By the time my mum came with a black thread.
" Now what is this?", I asked.
She didn't reply, instead took my left hand, cut the old red thread on my wrist and tied the black one.
"So black repels black", I laughed.
" It will keep you safe from evil eye", my mom said.
"Yes after all, all the demons of this world are only behind us. They didn't find any other home on this planet", we all laughed.
My grand mom also enjoyed it thankfully I hadn't pointed a particular person. Had it been that way her face would have fallen.
" Mum I think you'll need one more thread for Ravi"
"Why?"
"A witch is behind him"
"Don't say such things", my grandma interrupted me.
I narrated the whole incident and we all had a good laugh.
" I think Ravi needs it more than us", my mom handed me one thread.
~~~~~ Believe it or not, evil resides in your mind. Never take the negative thoughts, deeds and remarks of others seriously. They do reflect negative energy but only your positivity can conquer it. Keep your mind free of evil: thread or no thread ~~~~~ : LET GO
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