Shush! Simply a short story!{COMPLETED} - Page 2

"he looks normal " spoke Saraswathy's mother.

"yes..most of the time. He does that for four or five times daily" she replied.

"Then.. he might be afraid by seeing something. Take him to "puttarathi amman " temple. He will be alright" said her father.

"yes! Don't go for the doctor. They will grab all our money and suggest for unnecessary tests. They will give a long medicines list, but worth for nothing. Remember, only "ayirathamman "(lord shakthi) cured him from the fever" said her mother.

Saraswathy nodded her head, looking at her husband.

Temple 1: It was Friday. The temple was crowded by different sorts of people. A long queue was standing for the treatment. The young mothers carrying their babies were found mostly. Slowly the queue moved. The room is small without ventilation and they started suffocating. Slowly ,as they reached the sanctum sanctorum Saraswathy got goose bumps. The Goddess with big red eyes draped in red saree ,red garland, red chintoor in yellow face with two wild teeth poking out ,holding a big trishul in one hand and a head of some demon in the other hand looked really scary for subramani. He stuck to his mother.

The vigorous drums beat and the priest's trembling body, according to the beats looked even scarier.

"mom! Why the goddess is angry" asked meenu.

"she is our mother. She will not harm us. She is angry of the evilness. See.. she is punishing an evil demon." Replied Saras.

As they went in front of the Goddess ,the priest took a mug full of water from a huge vessel and threw it on his face rapidly. Subramani startled and stifled. The priest applied the holy ash on his forehead and said

"hmm! He is alright..all the evilness which possessed your son is now out ." he said. Subramani's relatives joined their palms with teary eyes.

Evening they went to the children's park. Subramani played well with his sister. He ran around the park with joy. He ate whatever he wished. Everybody felt happy and relieved.

But that does not extend till night.

This time he shouted " my body is aching..my limbs are paining..my eyes are scorching"

Saravanan felt dejected and saraswathy cried silently praying to her God" amma! Please don't abandon my child"

Friend 1: Bhasheer: " don't worry Saravanan. It seemed like he was possessed by some evil spirits. Come to the mosque. Our bhai' is the number one exorcist here."

The same water treatment in the mosque along with an amulet tied around his hip.

Relative 2: "Have you people gone mad? What all these ? Exorcist ..evil nonsense. First consult a psychiatrist "

Psychiatrist 1:

"As per your words, he may be affected by bipolar disorder or split personality or multiple personality disorder. " a severe fear curled up in the mother's tummy. Saravan swallowed the lump which rose from his tummy.

" what does that mean?" Asked saravanan

" is that curable " ? Asked Saraswathy..both in the same time. She was least bothered about the details of the diseases..she is not here for studying.

"Admit him. He must in the observation for two days. Lets see"

Nothing abnormal happened in those two days.. not even once.

The second day the doctor gave a big medicines list and asked to continue for 15 days.

That night when saraswathy tore the medicine strip she heard that

"Are you going to kill your son by giving medicines to him.. I will never allow him to take medicines "subramani spoke in a different voice..low and intense and a loud laughter.

"I am the one who guards the whole town. Won't I guard your son.. why are you chasing me out" again he spoke.

She dropped the medicines and ran to her husband. Now they all were panicked to the core and they stayed away from their own son.

Friend 7: we cannot trust all the psychiatrists. They speak technically and they drive a normal person to mad before we come out from their treatments. I know a psychiatrist personally. Just consult with her"

Psychiatrist 2:

"How many times he behaves abnormally in a day"? the doctor asked.

"three to four times" said saraswathy.

"rest of the time"?

"he is normal"

"is he aware of what is happening to him?"

"no"

The doctor looked intensely into his eyes.Subramani dropped his eyes.

"okay leave him outside with your parents. I need to talk to you in personal"

What is she going to say..anything untoward???

"he is acting" said the psychiatrist.

"what" exclaimed Saravanan.

"he is just making dramas. "

"but for what?"

"simple! to bunk his school" she shrugged.

"nothing to worry" she said.

Saravanan got angry.

"what..you mean to say that my son is lying to us.? What you well read doctors know about my son ? he is a child. How could a child act so perfectly. He is really suffering and my fault you people can't understand anything except money. " he stormed out. Saraswathy was stunned first then she followed her husband.

Saraswathy's father: that's why I said all the doctors are waste. Leave it to me. It seems like some black magic witchcraft. I will bring the experts here."

Exorcist 2: " this is not an evil spirit, but our son was possessed with some good spirits"

Subramani was really scared by seeing this old man with a long white beard almost covering the whole face except the two red big eyes.

"But he shouts like somebody is troubling him"

"hmm! That is because you have some unfulfilled prayers . Think well and tell. You have forgotten to pay something to the God which you prayed to pay."

The whole family pondered.

"yes" exclaimed saraswathy. All looked at her.

"once he was two years old I had prayed to walk all the seven mountains of Thiruppathi and worship the Lord. But We could not fulfill it because of my daughter's birth."

"hmm! Fulfill that too but Lord Vishnu is humble and soft. This one looks furious. Do one thing. Let us do a yagna in this house and visit this temple immediately which is situated at the top of a hill next to your town. Everything will be alright" said he.

The car travelled to the base of the hill. All got down from the vehicle.

"from here.. we have to walk" said the old man.

As they stepped the hill they found a huge black dog tearing something with its sharp teeth.

"see! " exclaimed the old man.

They all saw at the direction he pointed out.

"dog?" asked Saravanan.

"No! he is Lord Bhairavan" Worship him. He saluted the dog. Everybody followed it.

The dog stopped for a while and looked them strange. Then it ran away .

After a hectic climb in the hill they all worshipped the simple God who was standing under a single roof. Saravanan donated a huge amount for building a temple there, as per the old man's order.

Days were rolling but no improvements in Subramani's health. Every day dawned with a hope..then the hope shatters and ended with the tears and fears.

Relative 20: " Saravana! Our lakshmi's sister in law ,married a Christian guy. They said they have some good remedy for all these. Shall we try that too"

Church: " It is quite serious. Your son is possessed by all the hindu "vanadevathas" . The very first thing you have to do is get converted as a Christian. Join this holy religion. Stay here in the church. We will make him bath in the holy water. Everything will be alright. " he caressed subramani's head and said

" henceforth you will be called as Robert " the boy blinked. The whole family got stunned.

Saravanan hesitated. The religion is the one which was steeped in their blood. How could one change it? He felt impossible but saraswathy was ready to do anything for her child.

"okay father! We are not ready today. please let us come tomorrow"

Relative 25: " Who asked you to go there? Why don't we have gods? Saraswathy! I am saying take him to Adharvana Bathrakali's temple. No black magic or evil spirits could stand in front of her."

Relative 30: " why can't we try chotanikara once"?

Subramani: now stop all ! otherwise I will kill your son" he strangled his own neck.

Saraswathy was shattered.

" no !!! " she screamed.

"I know what to do! And whom to ask. I am going to ask the person who really concern for my child. The doctors saw him as a patient. The exorcists and priests saw him as a client and all the relatives and friends were more concerned about their temples or exorcists to succeed but this person really cares for my child"

"who?"

"His class teacher. Revathy Madam" she kissed her son's arms who was sleeping peacefully