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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