Amavasya

The Year 1975

The morning rays poured through the large window, brightening the house. The recently released movie 'Deewaar' songs played from the cassette tape recorder perfectly themed the bright morning.

Carrying the food boxes, Preeti walked into the living room; her every step was careful. Her poised husband was leisurely reading the newspaper, sitting on a wooden chair. Although she was busy packing the food items and pickles into the bag, Preeti didnot miss her husband's furious glances directed at her. He is still not over yesterday's fight, Preeti thought and sighed.

"GAUTAM!"

Gautam jerked in terror, hearing the familiar voice. "Oh no! The devil is early from the temple!" He muttered under his breath, glancing toward the main door. His furious mother was standing with a Pooja Thali plate[1]. As usual, his father was standing behind her, as silent as the grave.

Without a single thought, Gautam threw the newspaper on the floor and dashed towards his wife. He grabbed the food boxes from Preeti's hands to load them into the bag. Preeti had to suppress her laugh seeing her husband's 180-degree turn theatrical performance.

"Ma[2]," Gautam began, his voice barely a whisper. "I_I was helping Preeti, but suddenly my back hurt_"

"Don't you have a limit to the number of lies you tell every day!" Urvashi cut his words in the middle. "Why are you letting my daughter-in-law do the household work? Amavasya[3] has already started, and didn't you hear Pandit[4] saying how bad Amavasya is for Pregnant women?" Pointing the finger at her daughter-in-law's protruding belly, Urvashi seethed in anger.

Gautam didnot utter a word, for he knew if another word travelled out of his mouth, his mom would be as dangerous as the nuclear bomb. He stood there silent, just like his father. He glanced at Preeti, silently pleading with her to handle his mother.

Preeti sighed. Her husband can handle a giant company effortlessly, but not his mother. "It's not heavy, Mother-in-law. Infact, Gautam Ji[5] wanted to help, but I insisted on doing it." Preeti came as a saving grace.

Taking the Pooja Thali from her mother-in-law, Preeti said. "Don't stress over the small matter and spoil your health. I will be careful next time. Come on, sit on the chair. I will ask the maid to bring hot coffee."

Although Urvashi wanted to protest, she backed off. Preeti had a point. It would be a waste of her energy to fight over her mute husband and deaf son. "Alright, child."

After the little coffee break, the maid called them for breakfast. Getting up, Urvashi glanced at her husband. ''Switch off the cassette recorder. The electricity bill has almost reached the skies from the day you brought this home." Having said that, she made her way to the dining room, Preeti trailing behind her.

Gautam and his father looked at each other, shaking their heads.

The silent breakfast was disrupted by a Postman who came to deliver a telegram. Gautam wondered why the post office operated on a Sunday. But he suspended the suspicious thoughts when Preeti screamed in happiness. "It's from my brother."

The happy moments didnot last for a while. Her heart leapt into her throat as the whole letter only talked about her father's condition.

"My father! How did this happen!" She couldn't believe her father was hospitalized due to a heart attack. He was doing fine when she last talked. "Why didn't my brother dial our telephone? Is his condition so bad that he didnot want to tell me?"

"Calm down, Preeti. Don't overthink. He will be fine." Gautam consoled, taking his wife into his embrace. "I will call your brother right away."

Gautham dialled his brother-in-law's telephone, but surprisingly, the call didnot go through.

"I don't feel good about this. Please take me home, Gautam. I want to see my father right away." Preeti's legs went numb; her mouth chattered in panic.

"You don't need to ask, Preeti," Gautam said. "I will get the car ready."

Considering Amavasya, Urvashi wanted to disagree, but she couldn't watch her daughter-in-law in distress.

''Preeti is pregnant. So, drive slowly." Urvashi told Gautam. "Don't take unfamiliar routes at any cost."

"Alright, Ma."

Gautham left along with Preeti.

The Ambassador drove on the road, zooming past the trees. The sun was setting peacefully, and they were only an hour away from Preeti's home town if they went by the plan. But sometimes fate doesn't care about our plans.

It was in a moment of surprise the rain started pouring. After driving for a mile in the pouring rain, Gautham had to slow down the car because the rain had left the road blocked by a fallen Neem tree.

"It must be due to rain," Preeti said. "What do we do now?"

"There is another route I know. Just that it is a little long." Gautham took a detour and sped the car. A few minutes passed, and Gautam met with the same situation. Another tree had fallen on the ground, obstructing the road.

"Is God testing my patience today, Gautam?" Preeti sobbed, wiping her tears with the ends of her Sari. "Please do not let anything happen to my father."

"Don't cry, Preeti. I will take you home no matter what," Gautham softly consoled Preethi.

He peeked out the window to seek help and spotted a lean man by the roadside, barechested. His head was covered by a gunny sack, and it looked like an inverted teardrop to shield him from the rain. So, Gautam couldn't see his face properly except for a strange mark on his chest.

"Excuse me, the roads to Kalasa are completely blocked by trees," Gautham asked. "Do you know any other alternate route to reach Kalasa from here?"

There was no reply from the man.

"Do you_"

"Take a reverse. Five kilometres from here, there is a bypass road. It will lead to Vikramgad town. Take the road. You will find your destination."

His uncanny voice scared the wits out of Gautam and Preeti.

Although Gautham was very familiar with Vikramgad town, he had never heard of this bypass road. So, he had to depend on the signboards for directions. Although his Mother sternly ordered him not to take an unfamiliar road, he couldn't watch Preeti in pain. It hurts him more than anything. With the thoughts running through his mind, he sped the car, not paying attention to the menacing smile that crept over the lean man's face.

From the darkness of the ending, the night ascended, completely blinding the world. The car headlights were pretty strong, so Gautam didnot find it difficult to drive. But one thing bothered him. Neither a vehicle nor a single soul passed by them. There were no street lamps.

"This road looks scary," Preeti spoke, breaking the silence. She looked past the dark groves hovering by the roadside.

"I don't feel good about this, Preeti. I doubt the man's words. We travelled for almost an hour, but not a single village or town passed. Switch on the torchlight and check for the signboards to your left. I will look to the right. We will return home if we don't find anything in the next ten minutes." For some reason, Gautam didnot feel good about this. He wants to take Preeti home safe and secure before the darkness completely drapes over the sky.

Although Preeti wanted to protest, her husband had a point. It's not safe to wander cluelessly in an unknown place. So, she didnot argue. "Alright."

As the rays from the torchlight brought a glow on the dark night, a few kilometres away, where three roads meet, a signboard 'Road not in service' fell over the ground with a big thud, mother earth drawing the cement board deep into her womb.

The sign pole that was pointing 'Vikramgad -7 km' to the right slowly turned left, awaiting its prey.

.....

[1] Puja Thali: Tray where entire Puja materials are decorated. They are used in Hindu festivals, religious occasions, and rituals.

[2] Ma: Mother

[3] Amavasya: New moon

[4]Pandit: One who performs prayer services in the temples

[5] Ji: Used at the end of the title as respect.