The Yakshi and the Doctor

Chapter 3: The Meeting

Mohini had started observing passing of the Doctor through thr Palm Tree Road by walk on a daily basis. But she had ignored it till today as she had only good things to hear about him from other residents. One good thing about being a yakshi is that you can listen to everything or everyone from the comfort of your place on the Palm tree. She didn't want to trouble the doctor so she had ignored him till date. But his routine of walking in the night right through her road on a daily basis had started to get on her nerves. After all, literally no one uses the road on a daily basis at night. So today when Dr karna started his walk home after 9 pm, she felt he was challenging her authority. After all she had a reputation to maintain and if she let's him continue like this other residents might also be encouraged to follow his footsteps. She cant afford to let it happen.

As soon as the doctor passed in front of her place, she appeared in front of him in the guise of a old woman. The doctor was surprised by her sudden appearance in front of him as he was sure no one was present there before. But he couldn't say for sure as it was quite dark in absence of any street lights and it was an amavasya night (moonless night).  He had not seen her before in this place. After all as a doctor he was quite acquainted  with the local residents. So he asked her,

"Amma, what  are doing here at this time of the day?. Are you new to this place?. Dont you know that this place has a dangerous reputation especially at night? Go home immediately".

Now Mohini was flagerbasted by his reaction and didnt know how to respond. But she gathered his wits quite soon. She responded as follows:

" Sahib, I am from this place but after marriage I had gone to chennai, after the death of my husband I was staying with my son and daughter in law there. But last month they asked me to leave the house as they didnt have enough money to look after me. Since I didn't have any other place to go, I came back here. But here also I dont have anyone as all the people I knew here have all passed away long back. So I stay by this road side, under this tree. Today, I am hungry as I didn't get any job today, so I dont have any money to purchase anything. Can you give me some money to buy food?".

Now Dr Karna was in a spot of bother. As per his policy he did not getting money to anyone seeking alms and didnt encourage begging. But on the other hand, she genuinely seemed to be hungry and tired. As a compromise, he handed over the bag of apples he was carrying with him for dinner to her and asked her to have dinner with it. 

As he had passed the test, mohini had no other option but to let him pass through after taking the bag of apples. As he started to leave, he said 

" Amma, can you cook and clean my home. I stay as a bachelor here. After coming back from hospital, I am quite tired to do these things. All along I have been doing it alone. If you are interested, you can stay in the room outside my house and manage my house. I cant give you any salary. But you will have a place to stay and food to eat".

Now, this was not a reaction that mohini had received in all these years in her old age avatar. So she just said, I will think about it and let you know. Doctor didnt want to force her, so he left it at that and walked away saying ok as you wish. In case you are interested let me know. I walk by this road on a daily basis, both in the morning and in the evening.

Mohini felt that none of the objective she had planned had met as doctor passed all the tests. Being a virtuous yakshi, there was not anything she could do about it. But her mind was in a deep state of bother. This man cant be as good as he portrays himself to be. I need to test more. Should I actually go to his home to watch him closely. With these thoughts she went back to the top of her palm tree. 

As the doctor had reached the end of the road, he turned back to see the old women. But to his surprise none was to be seen below the tree. The doctor sighed and asked to himself, is my mind playing tricks with me today. It was a long and tiring day for him, so he just walked in to his house and laid down on the bed. He didnt not even know when the sleep had overtaken him.

To be Continued.