ENDEARMENT (ON HOLD)

Rectitude Artifice

It was a smooth drive.

And while driving, all flashed his mind. The thoughts of her, past return, Rajeev and Sumathi claiming her as their elder daughter and Bondita's unusual silence and yes to it.

He stopped at the Tulsipur border to look at the early morning chaos on road. On getting down was befuddled witnessing it, a young man probably with his parents beside a saint in front.

The saint in his typical orange religious attire and his fingers constantly rolling the spiritual mala, "Hara hara mahadev, ruk jaou wahin agar zindagi mein aas ho tho..." his voice much frightening.

The parents and the young boy all perplexed, the boy "kyun, aap koun?"

Saint fuming growled, "paapi, Hume nahi patha? Tuje. Hara hara mahadev."

Instantly, the boy's mother, "maaf kijiye swamiji. Ladke ko nahi patha aap bada swamiji honge. Maaf kardijiye mere bete ko." Her voice all surrendering.

The saint squeaked instantly, "hara hara maha dev... hara hara mahadev."

Anirudh for now was sure of saint being a filthy fraud trying to deceive them.

The boy asked "toh aap humare raste mein kyun aarahe hai? Kya chahiye aapko?"

The saint with his eyes wide, his body in full orange, tumbling. Bellowed, "Dusht, tere bhalayi ke liye...."

As all their eyes focused on him, extremely scared at his words. He continued, "rishta pakka karne jaa rahe ho na aapne maa baap ke sath."

His mother instantly, "haan, haan swami ji... sach hai."

The boy clearly annoyed, "aapko kaise patha?

The saint smiling mysteriously, "hum sab janthe. Joh huha woh bhi aur joh honewala hai woh bhi. Isiliye keh raha hoon wapas chali jaou... abi ke abi." His voice full of apprehension and intimidation.

Unbothered, the boy bawled "kyun? Muje pasandh hai ladki bahut pyaari bhi hai."

Displeased at his words, the saint howled back "toh kya tumhare maa ka jaan paari nahi tumhe."

His mother's voice full of nervous, petrified, "kya huha swamiji? Aap yese kyun bol rahe hai...?"

The saint still stumbling with his orange dhoti, roared back "kyun ki agar yeh vivah huha toh mar jayegi tu matlab var ka maa ka dehant hona nishchai hai... aab bhi karna hai tumhare bete ka vivah. Upar se inn dono ki kundali jodne se hi tuje dosh lag gayi.... abb tum Bach nahi sakthi."

Terrified at his words, his mother smacking him and hitting her only husband. She hit her forehead crying on her fate, thus worriedly asked "mein nahi hone dunga yeh vivah, har kisi nahi. Abb yeh dosh se azad hone ki aap hi kuch marg bathayiye... swamiji aap mahan hai aapke pass zaroor upay hoga."

Smiling assuringly, the saint still stumbling and rolling the mala, "hara hara mahadev, hai na, kasi mein tere naam ki puja karne se thu turant rahath ho jayegi... par yeh puja karne ke liye hazar rupaye ki zaroorat hai. Tabhi hogi. Hara hara mahadev."

Instantly, grabbing money from his son's wallet giving to the saint telling her name bent down to take his blessings, with her one glare both father son duo too bowed their heads to take blessings and soon drove off.

Watching all, it clearly reminded Anirudh of the Brijwasi, the fraud who used the name of God. His face clenched at their cheat, playing with people's feelings.

It outraged him.

With rage moved towards the fraud saint to teach him a lesson and thats when heard her squeak in joy, just like a child clapping her hand and jumping. It was her, his Bondita. It stunned him witnessing her fooling people for money.