My Name is Tamra....

Chapter 29:

Professor Rastogi and Suraj Rathore were busy preparing the residence for the puja. Still Suraj was not clear about what the professor really wanted. He had promised wealth 10 times increased; life span up to 110. But how all these things could be achieved, not clear at all. But his past experience with Tantric people taught him to trust them. So, he kept Quiet.

Aditi AKA Niveda utilized this opportunity to sneak into Sukanya's room. She felt pity for the highly educated slave to men attitude. Sukanya simply stared at her. Because her mother-in-law was the last person she expected to see.

"What is happening in this house Maa? Your son is torturing me. Your husband is simply watching. I have a good mind to report to the police." Said Sukanya bitterly.

"Well! You can do that now." Saying she gave her the phone and key of the room. But Sukanya hesitated.

"Have they found Tamra? Is she safe?"

"Wherever she is, Tamra is very safe. Safer than you and me!" replied Niveda.

"What? What do you mean?" asked Sukanya thinking her mother-in-law had gone mad.

"There is no time to lose. You want to live? Run the business? Then escape from this house. Go to any hotel. Check in at Jodhpur. Not in Jaipur. You understand? Be quick. Grab your valuable and be off" said Niveda urging Sukanya to pack fast.

But Sukanya could not understand a word. For the past weeks, she was a prisoner, now her mother-in-law comes along and says go to Jodhpur I f you want to live. Who is playing a game with her?

"Please don't give me one of your stupid looks. I have never spoken to you all these years! Have I? Now for God's sake, follow my instructions. You will have explanation soon. But first thing you leave this place through the side entrance, engage a taxi, drive to Jodhpur. "

Something in her voice made Sukanya realize, it is better if she followed instructions. In silence she started packing.

"Sukanya, please don't let yourself be caught. We cannot afford another problem now. You please be aware of the fact that, your husband, and his father are in deep trouble. You are escaping from a dangerous house.. Please don't let your duty prevent you from escaping a doom. I don't have much time to explain." Said Niveda.

Sukanya stopped packing and looked at Niveda.

"You mean both of them are in danger? You informed the police? Didn't you?" asked Sukanya with anger.

"You are so simple you know that? I will tell you one truth. You deal with it, then decide which way to go!" challenged Niveda.

"Tell me"

"I am not what you think. I am hands maid of princess Aditi, who was murdered by Suraj Rathore. I was impersonating her because my life was also threatened."

With a thud, the bag in Sukanya's hand fell down. She sat on the bed starring disbelievingly at Niveda.

"Princess Aditi was murdered? By Suraj Rathore?"

"Now, no time is there to feel pity, or getting angry. Please go away Sukanya. This place is not safe for ladies. I assure you Tamra will come back to you. She is safe."

Sukanya had heard enough. After all she was a business woman. Suddenly, she acted very quickly. Carrying her bag, she started walking towards the side entrance.

"Whoever you are! You will always be my Mother-in-law. Thank you for helping me.

Finally, she vanished into the busy streets of Jaipur. With the other key, Niveda carefully locked the room.

Niveda thought she heard something in the front gate. When she peeped, she saw a car covered with dust. She knew they have arrived. Whether she was going to escape from this house alive she did not know. But it is her duty to help Tamra to take revenge. It is her Karma for this life. So, the sanyasi said. She knew exactly what she should do.

Form the car, Trikala and Kamal got down. Both were awestruck at the pompous building, its garden, fountains in the garden, chairs under shady trees.

"What a palace?" remarked Kamal.

Trikala smiled sadly.

"Yes! For this Tamra was sacrificed." She Said.

That comment brought Kamal to his senses. Shaking his head, he looked at the lemon and put in in his pocket again.

"Now! Listen Autiji! I will go and search for the professor and Suraj. Once I find them, I will call you. They will be preparing to invoke Tamra's soul. But we have to prevent it by any means. The professor should not say any Mantra at any cost. Got it?" asked Kamal grimly.

"I remember everything Babaji had told us! I will go and find Niveda. She would know how to stop them. "

Both went in different directions. By instinct Trikala walked towards the stairs. But due to the lemon in hand, she was not visible to Niveda. She was still at the window peeing down. But no one got down. For a fraction of a second, she thought she saw Birju. But he too vanished. With mounting concern, she again looked out.

"Why no one had got down? May be, it was the men of Suraj, not the sanyasi's. But he said, he will send 2 people." Murmuring to herself she turned from the village. She collided with something but nothing was visible.

"My God! The professor had started the puja? Is he trying to harm me?" she opened her mouth to scream. But a hand closed her mouth.

"No Niveda! It's me Trikala." Putting the lemon away, now Trikala was visible to Niveda. After so many years they have met again. Both women hugged each other.

There Kamal did not have an easy time like Trikala.

Professor was making the house ready for a sacrifice and to call a burning soul. The hall looked very fearsome. There were black curtains on the window. Utmost care was taken not to let any sunlight inside. In the middle of the hall, a big statue of ferocious looking Goddess adorned with human skull stood erect. At her feet a small human like statue was placed, on the small platform some patterns were drawn by the professor. There was a big needle and some other foul-smelling things. Kamal could see a small platform again drawn with patterns. He wondered what was going on. Still a day left for full moon. But what this man was doing? Wondering he simply watched.

Professor Rastogi hesitated momentarily and looked exactly at the direction where Kamal was standing. He could feel some presence. Was it Tamra already? Not at all possible. He had not yet started the rituals and sacrifice was still pending.

Kamal got sacred and once again felt for the lemon. It reminded him of the time limit. Already half an hour had been wasted. He became impatient. But the professor started his rituals. He wore a black dhoti and a red Angavastram. (A piece of cloth to cover the upper body while performing certain rituals).

He sat opposite to the statue. "Bring the lady". He ordered. "If she resists knock her on the head. Only to make her unconscious."

Obeying, Suraj walked towards the stairs. Kamal's heart was racing. So this was it. They were going for a human sacrifice. My God! Who would have thought this was in practice still at this era? These people are real threat to the society. Thought Kamal adrenalin pumping inside him.

"No need professor! Here I am"

With a jerk Kamal looked from where the voice came.

An Old lady was climbing down the stairs. She had no fear. Wearing a pink saree, she looked very distinguished and respectable. She must be Niveda. Thought Kamal.

"Oh! So, you knew?" said the professor.

"Of course, I do! And I am willing to sacrifice myself for Tamra!" said Niveda in a cool voice.

"Who is with you? Tell me! Who told you? Asked the professor with panic.

"Relax professor, you are planning to kill me. Instead, you are getting tensed up. Not at all like Rastogi. Is it not?"

By then Kamal sensed Trikala was standing near the professor, ready to bounce on him.

"Let us not waste time professor. Make Tamra's soul come here, by sacrificing this maid. "Urged Suraj.

"Still not satisfied with the amount of wealth Suraj? Even after death you want to punish Tamra because she trusted you and gave herself to you?" asked Niveda. The voice, the effect of the house all made Kamal's hair to stand on end.

"I am not prepared to talk to you. Do the rituals and be done with her" said Suraj to the Professor.

"There is some power behind her Suraj. Else she won't be like this. Let me find out"

Rastogi closed his eyes, and started chanting different mantras.

"Come on Kamal, no time to lose. Throw this root on Suraj!" shouted Niveda.

Bewildered Suraj looked around to see whether someone was standing near. But there were none.

But Kamal acted instantaneously. He grabbed the foul-smelling root at the feet of the Goddess Kali, threw it on Suraj. It hit him on the chest. Next minute he fell down unconscious like a statue. He hit the ground with such a force, his head got injured, and blood oozed out.

"So, there is someone. Is it not? I am least bothered if Suraj is dead. All I want is Chintamani. That could be fetched only by an agonized burning soul. That is Tamra." Yelled the professor and started the ritual again. Now one hour was up, Kamal was visible to the professor.

Niveda ran to a shelf and got down a paper full of ashes.

"Trikala throw this on to the human figure. Please be fast!" cried Niveda.

Trikala got the ashes and threw it on the figure, but even before that, the professor had inserted the big needle in the figure's heart. With a scream Niveda fell on the floor. Like a fountain blood came out from her chest. Trikala now visible ran to her.

"No! Don't worry about me. This man might kill you too. Run fast and take Kamal with you! Go Trikala go!" Niveda urged. Her voice was becoming feeble every passing second. But Trikala wanted her take to a doctor. "Please go Trikala"

Kamal was standing like a fool and watching these. But the professor was very swift, he took out another figurine and tried to prick the needle inside it. On seeing this, Kamal practically flew and snatched the figurine. But still a small part of needle pricked the figurine on the toe. To his horror Kamal noticed that, Trikala's toe was bleeding.

The professor started chanting Mantras, and Trikala screamed with pain.

"You cannot escape me! you fool. I will be the most powerful person on earth. I will sacrifice this lady" shouting like a mad man he pricked himself to get a drop of blood.

Kamal was all panicky. He did not know what to do? Niveda was dying, and Trikala might follow her. Suddenly he remembered the words of Sanyasi. There was a fire going on before the Goddess. He threw the lemon at it. With a big noise, the fire emitted blue smoke. The professor was not able to keep his eyes open.

Kamal Grabbed the situation and took Trikala by hand speeded towards the car. His heart was beating very fast. He thought it could burst any moment. Within seconds the car was on the road. Still Kamal was not sure, whether they have escaped or not. But he was more worried about Trikala. But no! It was not the correct time. If he stopped, again the professor would do something.

With thirst and hunger Kamal drove on.