Durga | ✓

24. Trapped!

The day was perfectly calm in Mysore after heavy spells of shower. But things weren't calm in Rudra's room. They realised Rishab had perfectly trapped them. They had no option but to think of some other way.

" Ramaiah I had told you that something is wrong. Rishab gave the box so easily."

Durga looked at the page. The letters were not distinct. The page was torn at the corners. Reading a word seemed impossible, forget translating it.

Durga thought for a while. X ray was just a stupid reason. The archaeologists working on it have made use of some chemical treatment. They must have damaged those pages. This was the last book.

They sat in silence. The clauses in the agreement paper were against them. They could be sued for damaging the property of archaeological importance. Rudra kicked himself for not opening the box then.

Rudra looked dejected. There has to be some way. We must think of some other way. But how do we get any clue about it if we don't know what was written inside the book... until...

Rudra looked at the cover page of the book. Some faint lines are visible. Maybe this could help us.

Rudra started working on it. Durga and Ramaiah wrote the letters of ancient script and Rudra translated it.

Nadi Astrology

" Nadi Astrology? Why this sound so familiar?" asked Durga.

" Rudra!" shouted Ramaiah. He got a stern look from Rudra. " Okay, Sir, I think Chamundeshwari Temple has a priest who use Nadi astrology to predict the future of his clients."

Rudra's face gleamed. " That's great! But when had you seen it?"

" I don't remember it."

Durga said, " We must enquire about it. If we find any relevant information then that could prove useful."

" But Durga, won't they object about it?"

Rudra sighed. " Ramaiah, use your brains, which you already have. They didn't even know which script it was. They won't object it. If they object it, then we will tell them to meet the priest and clear their queries."

They got up. They had to visit the temple. But before that, they had to climb thousand steps."

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They gasped for their breaths. The sun was at its peak position. They felt their energies were dropping down. Yet, they were determined to find the answers.

Finally, they found their breath. They searched for a priest expert in Nadi astrology. One of the old priest looked at them. He approached them with a smile.

" What happened? Searching for someone?"

They folded their hands into a namaste. Durga asked, " Panditji, we are searching for a priest who is an expert in Nadi Astrology."

The priest looked serious. " You mean Pandit Bhadra?"

Rudra said, " Actually panditji, we don't know the name of pandit. We are searching for that priest because we need his help. Desperately."

The pandit pondered for a while. He said, " Come with me."

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They sat comfortably on the white plastic chairs. The room was very small. The pandit said, " The priest whom you are searching, is my dearest friend Pandit Bhadra. He used to practice astrology. But it wasn't flourishing well so the temple decided to discontinue with it.

You see, this hunted his self respect. So he left the temple. Around three years ago. You see, Nadi Astrology is famous in Tamil Nadu, so many people don't seek this technique here."

They looked dejected. Now, they may have to search for Nadi astrologers in Tamil Nadu. Where would they find them?

The priest said, " He may be very happy to meet you. If you wish to go there."

Durga squealed, " Panditji, are you sure? He will tell us everything?"

" Yes. I know Bhadra very well. He respects people who respect his art."

" Where will we find him?" asked Durga

" In his village."

" Okay. So, where is his village?" asked Rudra.

" His village is Madras II."

" You mean Chennai?" asked Ramaiah.

" No." smiled the pandit. " I mean Madras II."

" Are you joking?" asked Ramaiah.

" No. I don't like joking."

Durga frowned. He is very serious person.

" Does this place exist?" asked Ramaiah.

" When I say that I don't joke, I mean every word of it."

" How do we reach there?" asked Durga.

" Now that's the question I was expecting. I will tell you."

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Durga and Rudra got down from the bus. They were in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

" Now we have to find a bus which will take us to Madras II."

The panditji had said, you need to take a bus from Mysore to Hosur. From there you have to take another bus to Madras II.

They were lucky enough to find the bus. Comfortably seated in the bus, it was due to leave after an hour. Their previous journey was very long and tiring. Deathly silent.

Ramaiah refused to accompany them. He said he wasn't well. Rudra doubted it but he said nothing.

Rudra looked out from the window. This is so tiring. We need this information but I didn't want Durga to accompany me. But that detective said Indrajeet had expressed his desire to visit Mysore. I don't know when he will come. I don't want him to visit her when I am not here.

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Nadi Astrology: A type of astrology which predicts one's future with the text written in Nadi(palm) leaves.

Madras II: Pronounced as Second Madras, a small village in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu. This village does exist.

Thank you for reading.