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"Our talents increase in the using, and every faculty good or bad, strengthens by exercise." Anne Bronte
Harry Potter in
With due apologies to JK Rowling, this tale was written to fill in the gap
between the last and last but one book on HP. Since my boys and I had enjoyed
them so much I decided to bring Harry to India.
Harry
is on a holiday having finished with school and finishing off Voldemort. He’s
on top of the world but a little tired of being a celebrity in the wizarding
world. So he comes to Jodhpur
“Ah there you are Robby” exclaimed Harry Potter to the thin air at the back of
his head. Slowly the peaked ears and sorrowful face of the masochistic
house-elf filtered in. The large saucer shaped eyes appeared accusing and just
waiting to burst into tears. He was a perfect lookalike of his
brother Dobby.
“Master, he began his voice on the verge of cracking up, you are going away!”
“Yes Robby and stop ‘Mastering’ me now. I am no longer your master. I had set
you free a long time back. Now all elves are free.”
“Ma.. Harry please don’t go away. You don’t know what dangers lie in India …”
Then
he clapped his hands over his mouth as Harry’s face registered incredulity if
that was possible. (Harry Potter had received yet another injury on his face in
his last fight with Voldemort. This time one of his eyebrows had been pulled
into a permanently quizzical look. A sneering one. No longer innocent. In fact
all Hermione’s attempt to get his face right had failed. People in the
wizarding world look at him in alarm and fear) Harry bound Robby’s arms behind
his back in a vice like grip.
“So its public news that I am going to Jodhpur
?”
Robby’s eyes were overflowing with tears and in a broken sobbing voice he
replied,
“No, no I came to know of it as I was dusting your table and the tickets were
kept in the blue file.”
“Robby stop snooping on me. And no I will not let you accompany me anywhere but
least of all to India
.”
Robby’s face turned a purple blue in an attempt to withhold his emotions, he
croaked,
“Harry I have heard there are sorcerers and witches more evil than Voldemort.”
Harry attempted to smile which made his face contort into a vicious sneer.
“Dear Robby you should know that our forefathers ruled that country for several
centuries and when they decided it was too cumbersome to rule divided them into
feuding states. If our forefathers with limited knowledge and resources could
not be daunted you think I should be frightened? Have some faith in my powers
of self preservation at least!”
“But why India
? Why not Europe , or America there
are people like you?” Robby persisted.
Harry’s patience was running out, “Robby you suggest I go to Paris which is burning with racial riots? America after
9/11 is as safe as a ticking bomb! Besides I didn’t know you were such a racist
Robby.”
“Hermione please take Robby off my hands,” pleaded Harry to his old friend as
she entered the room.
“Hi Robby just tell my driver not to wait I will get back by myself.” Hermione
commanded.
The sorrowful elf vanished and the room became perceptively lighter. Both
friends appraised each other swiftly and honestly. Hermione had grown thinner
almost anorexic but with her hair cut in layers there was an attractive
Investment Banker air to her.
“Oh Harry! You have changed!” She exclaimed.
Harry gave out a long deep sigh, “So have you. In the final analysis we are all
creatures of circumstances. Suppose I didn’t kill Voldemort and he had
destroyed my powers instead. I would have probably come back to seek revenge
and used all means available to me. Means justify the ends?”
“I understand Harry, all these innocent deaths of all our friends and teachers
have left you devastated. Of all the teachers McGonagall’s loss is particularly
hurtful.”
Harry nodded, “It’s terrible to watch her wandering around Hogwarts with a
silly smile on her face asking everyone the way to perdition.”
“I am glad Harry that you have shifted her here to Dumbledore’s Turret. She
feels most comfortable here. She has many happy memories of her time spent in
these walls alone with Dumbledore.”
Hermione
patted Harry on the arm.
“Yes at the end of the day you have to look for strength within. I still recall
how much awe and dread she used to fill in me. And in times of crisis I would
seek her out.”
Harry commented as evenly as he could as both friends stared at McGonagall
moving in and out of the flower beds waving her burnt out wand and muttering,
“Expecto Patronous”.
A small bent female house elf followed behind her discreetly.
“That’s Magi another of the gifts Dumbledore left me. McGonagall is used to
Magi. She used to serve her in the earlier days too.”
Harry informed Hermione.
“Initially I used to wonder where she spent her holidays. She was muggle-born
like me. Over the years as her parents died she really had no family left to go
to, Hermione stated in a faraway voice. She hardly took any break when we were
at Hogwarts. Occasionally coming here for a vacation. They were close
Dumbledore and her. Spiritually, soul mates. He never married after the untimely
death of his wife Agnes. She, Agnes was not from the wizarding world. Probably
ignorant about the wizarding world as well. Some say Voldemort was the cause of
her demise. She didn’t know anything about him and Dumbledore’s protective
magical shield was weakened when she went visiting her sister. Voldemort was
waiting for one such opportunity. One of the main reasons that Dumbledore
remained his sworn enemy.”
Harry appeared annoyed, “You cannot put such banal motives behind Dumbledore’s
lofty actions. It was a fight against the evil forces.”
Hermione smiled a bitter smile, “Really Harry? Suppose you had both your
parents alive and were muggle born like me. Would you react so sharply?”
As a look of frowning discomfort crossed his face she continued, “It was a
personal fight. A revenge. It gave you a rare high. A sense of grand
achievement.”
“You think so? Did I have a choice?” Harry appeared rather taken aback.
“I was thrust into it. But Hermione you had a choice and you decided to battle
Voldemort too?”
“I was too young to know any better. The thrill of learning magic overshadowed
everything else. To be recognized as a witch and to nurture the talent subsumed
all other goals. You were born a wizard. You and Ron took no interest in your
studies yet did so well because it was in your blood or genes. Whereas I had to
slog hundred times as hard to be anywhere near you.”
Hermione spoke rapidly as if the unfairness of it all appeared to drown her.
“Perhaps if Voldemort had his school and he had selected me I would be in the
opposite side of the fence.”
“But he didn’t. He couldn’t or wouldn’t tolerate any mud blood!” exclaimed
Harry triumphantly.
“The fool that he was. Coming from a father who was not from this magical
world. He turned his personal rejection into a racial hatred.”
“Had he also used the talents of mud bloods and mixed species like Hagrid he
would give Dumbledore a run for his money.”
This was blasphemy for Harry, he stared at her in disbelieve. “What’s wrong
Hermione?” Harry asked gently pulling her in his arms.
She tried to struggle but in the end she collapsed into sobs and tearfully
mumbled, “Withdrawal symptoms, I guess. I have been so used to fighting
Voldemort that now with his going I feel a sense of vacuum. Besides I had been
reading a lot about Christ. My parents felt I must not neglect that bit of
religious education. He forgave his enemies. Even those who plotted and planned
his crucification. Yes to forgive releases a lot of stress. I have heard it
somewhere…”
Sunny day in the desert
“Hermione, I am going to
They drew apart and Hermione asked slowly, “What will you do with all this
property?”
Harry appeared thoughtful. “Dumbledore’s legacy I will hold in trust for
Hogwart’s needy students. I have to seek some able lawyers from the magical
world. I am naming you and Ron as my trustees. With my godfather’s legacy I am
planning to open a Sirius Black Institute for higher Magical studies. I intend
to admit students from Asia and African
countries. The aboriginals of Australia
and Red Indians from America
. The Incas and people and cultures that have been marginalized and pushed into
a brink of extinction. They have a lot of ancient magical knowledge on healing
and life that our modern capitalist world has forced them to forget.”
Hermione looked at him in awe. “Harry I am so glad you are putting your
resources in the right direction. McGonagall had asked me to start an orphanage
of wizard’s children with her money. I think she had anticipated what would
happen to her. Hermione informed him. So that no child feels the pain of
rejection so deeply that he/she turns into another potential Voldemort.”
Ron appeared all disheveled. He had apparated in a hurry. His long shoulder
length locks which he prided in tying into a pony tail or a plait was uncombed
and loose. His feet were bare. Both his friends stared at him in surprise and
then broke into an easy laughter.
“Robby told me you were leaving Harry. You didn’t tell me even? What’s wrong?”
Harry shook his head, “Robby’s incorrigible. Ron I have decided to go to India . Just
for fun. Besides I want to learn yoga from a real yogi. The yoga guru Baba
Namdev, Madam Trelawney had sent was recently arrested in London for driving without a license.”
Ron looked unconvinced. “Trust her to mislead you. Although I must say she has
become withdrawn after her predictions came true. Now she no longer makes any
saying that her powers of clairvoyance have been destroyed in the battle with Voldemort.
Harry do you really have to go?” The last was almost a plea.
“Why don’t you come with me Ron? Traveling alone isn’t much fun.”
Stated Harry. Hermione and Ron exchanged swift significant glances.
“Harry, the problem is Ginny,” commented Hermione.
Harry
looked straight ahead keeping a wooden face. (If that were possible with the
latest disfiguration from Voldemort. This time one of his eyebrows has been
pulled into a permanently quizzical look. A sneering one like that of a satyr.
No longer innocent.) A sudden heavy sensation filled his body.
“Well what about her?”
“She is madly in love with a very tall, broad shouldered fair blonde with blue
eyes boy named Arjun. He is a muggle with a capital M. He plays soccer for the
local club and is some sort of a national hero.”
Hermione was being as objective as she could.
Ron burst out, “Now that this young man is equally besotted she’s the focus of
the media. Everyday some nosey parker is trying to figure out our Hogwarts
school and way of life.”
Harry tried to make his voice casual and asked, “Why don’t you put a spell on
them which makes them accept her background as a normal high school leaving
girls?”
Hermione let out a long sigh, “The reporters are not a problem. They
can be put under any spell. The problem is Arjun. Our spells don’t work on him.
He is aware that we are trying to bewitch him and there is an aura about him
which acts as a shield. I have discovered that his mother was under the
influence of Baba Nirmoha. She had studied Indian mythology and hence named her
son Arjun.”
Ginny arrived spinning like a top and landed on Harry’s chair. The chair which
was overloaded with books, notes, papers and Harry’s clothes groaned with the
fresh weight and toppled over. Ginny emerged from the sea of aforementioned
books, notes and pile of Harry’s clothes looking annoyed but radiant. Her hair
was streaked in various shades of blonde and reached up to her knees, set in
soft curls. Her eyes flashed angry green sparks.
“Oh so you have become my conscience keeper?”
She
directed her anger at Ron. She appeared extremely attractive despite her
disheveled state. Ginny had been signed on by a leading modeling agency and was
a well known model. She loved all the adulation and celebrity status. Her
parents had suddenly aged fighting the last battle with Voldemort. The huge
Weasley family had slowly drifted apart. Each son involved in his own life.
However, they remained united and concerned in providing comfort and solace to
each other. Ron felt a sense of deeper responsibility towards Ginny as he was
partially responsible for her meeting Arjun.
Ron began, “I was telling Harry about Arjun. He is the leading Soccer player of
England
. My editor had assigned me to cover the game. Ginny had accompanied me out of
curiosity to know more about the game. After Quidditch this was tame. But you
should see the way people were going wild with hysteria whenever a goal was
scored!”
“Since all my other friends from the modeling world had asked for Arjun’s
autograph I apparated in his dressing room just as he was entering. Well you
should have seen the look of incredulity on his face!” Ginny permitted herself
a half-smile.
Hermione and Ron exchanged looks that said Ginny needed to have her head
examined. She was going to flare up again when Harry held out his arms to her.
She flew into them and clung to him like a child in her mother’s protective
arms.
“Tell me about Arjun. I would like to meet him…” Harry peered into Ginny’s tear
drenched face.
She nodded, “I was meaning to get him, and he also wants to meet you.”
“Arjun knows about us?” Harry asked Ginny still comfortably ensconced in his
arms. “Yes he understands us to be some sort of exceptionally gifted people. He
says we have been blessed with certain special powers from birth. That we have
been able to enhance it through our studies. He’s not a typical muggle…”
“Hmmm… I have to meet him. He sounds interesting to me.”
Harry raised his hands in warning as both Ron and Hermione opened their mouths
to protest. Ginny appeared relieved and was busy making plans for the meeting.
She turned around to see disapproving faces.
“Ok I know that Harry should not be exposed to any unnecessary danger. I will
bring Arjun here tonight.”
“And the ever alert paparazzi as well?” Ron asked looking at his sister in
exasperation. “Don’t worry big bro nobody will be following him.” With that
Ginny vanished.
It was well past two in the morning when Harry unable to sleep was trying to
mend the pieces of Dumbledore’s Pensieve. This had broken into only three
pieces while warding off Voldemort’s all destroying arrows directed to
Dumbledore’s office. The bottles of precious pearly memories had been
destroyed, now only these three neat pieces remained. He wished Dumbledore had
access to computers. Then maybe some of his thoughts could have been preserved
on CD. Harry wondered why they didn’t allow such useful muggle inventions at Hogwarts?
A cool wave of breeze blew in. Some thing unusual was going to happen,
Harry’s straightened up and peered out of the window. Pitch black, with the
stars glittering in the sky. Was he imagining it? Ginny appeared with a tall
muscular young man. Harry stretched out his hand and received a warm
handshake.
“Arjun?” The young man smiled to reveal a shadow of a dimple.
“You know how to apparate?” Harry asked incredulously.
“No I know the yoga that teaches you to be in two places simultaneously. My
physical body is sleeping in my London
home, while my astral body is with you.”
The young man tried to explain. Ginny glowed with an ethereal radiance.
“Harry after meeting Arjun I am convinced that there are many more ways of
communication than what our five senses tell us. The moment I set eyes on him I
knew he was mine.”
Then she blushed rose pink and clung to Arjun. Arjun’s eyes were tawny brown
and on the football field glittered like an eagle’s to find the hair line
openings in the enemy territory. Now they were soft and returned Ginny’s glance
with equal warmth.
“Intuition, sixth sense they call it. But it is all preordained.” Arjun
commented quietly.
“Even this meeting?” Harry asked a little unbelievingly.
Arjun nodded again. “I had just finished reading a book on Hogwarts written by
Evans a Cambridge
historian out of sheer curiosity. Mom’s teaching philosophy at Cambridge University
Arjun added by way of explanation. It was Harry’s turn to nod his head in sheer
bewilderment.
Arjun took out a hardbound book with a glossy cover.
“In this book Evans has assessed the corrosive effect on Hogwart’s society of
the Voldemorts' network of surveillance and intimidation. The ghosts of
Hogswart equivocal but nonetheless meaningful opposition to Voldemort,( they
had all ganged up against Voldemort) the degree of popular support for him, (
many did), are some of the issues raised by Evans which I found interesting.
Arjun was still on the book. What accounts for the wizarding people's support
at times passive, at times fervent -- for the vicious and often ridiculous
thugs who ruled over them for nearly eleven years? Why was the only point of
resistance offered by Dumbledore?”
“So you seem to know a lot about my erstwhile enemy. But why were you keen to
know me?” Harry was perplexed.
Arjun sighed deeply. “My mother taught me that each of us come into this world
for a certain purpose. Your birth signified the death of Voldemort.”
As Harry continued to look puzzled, Ginny said, “It will be better if you meet
Ma Magdalene.”
Then she hesitated a little. “She’s Arjun’s Mom.”
“You must be feeling a loss of purpose. Questions as to what am I to do now
must be filling your mind,” Arjun stated quietly.
Harry was surprised. Was this footballer a mind reader as well? He appeared so
good looking that one was afraid of crediting him with any intelligence.
“You are nearly nineteen. Even I had my share of questions after I won all my
club matches and the world cup finals. Baba showed the way.”
Harry tried to raise an enquiring eyebrow but couldn’t as his face was already stretched
in this way.
As Harry strolled down the busy Oxford
Street casually looking into a book store, Ginny
appeared with a tall strikingly handsome woman of fifties with her.
“This is Harry, Ma Magdalene,” Ginny did the introductions.
Her piercing blue eyes seem to wash Harry with affection. She smiled and held
out her hands, the brief handshake filled Harry with a feeling of belonging he
hadn’t ever known before. He tried to smile but his lips twisted making him look
queerly mocking. Ma Magdalene understood and strode ahead.
Suddenly in one of the crowded by lanes they came across a huge gate, that
opened into a serene green garden. Harry felt a load of oppressive weight on
his shoulder vanish. He felt light, youthful and full of child-like curiosity.
The garden appeared to stretch endlessly and was filled with flowers in a riot
of colours. There were old trees that were laden with bright red fruit. Harry
recognized some blue berries but most other trees he couldn’t. Ginny pointed
out to some butterflies hovering around the trees. They had brilliant coloured
wings. As if some artist had deliberately designed them. One of them settled on
Ma Magdalene’s dainty hat.
Harry for the first time after a long time laughed out, “Ginny look, look at
that hat.” And for once was running chasing the butterfly. Harry had forgotten
that he could run very fast. Years of trying to run from Dursleys’ meanness and
then Voldemort’s evil had made him swift. He turned to see but Ginny was far
away and there was no sign of Ma Magdalene. In front of him stood a chubby
genial man wearing a white sheet wrapped around his lower half of the body. The
upper was covered in a long white kurta. He had shining black long flowing
hair.
“Harry
Potter welcome to Gyanashram.”
Harry halted in his tracks, “You are Baba Nirmoha?”
The
man nodded. “I have been waiting for you my friend. Do you recognize this?”
Harry
looked at the amber coloured stone which had a symbol etched on it. He nodded
his head. “Yes my mother used to wear it on her neck. I have seen her old
pictures.” Harry was intrigued, “You knew my mother?”
“It’s a very rare amber coloured diamond and the design is a magical
symbol etched by a yogi who had been living in the foothills of Himalayas for centuries. It was given to my guru Sri
Nabhachari for his long and arduous penance. This amulet protected my guru from
all harm. He gave it to me when he had decided to transit from this life. I had
given it to Lily when I learnt that she was fighting Voldemort. The amulet
always goes to its rightful owner.”
Harry
was amazed to find that stone hanging on a black thread on his neck!
“When Voldemort attacked her the stone was part of the magical shield she had
used to protect you. But with the confusion that followed Voldemort’s partial
destruction, the amulet couldn’t follow you. It returned to me the temporary
owner.”
Baba Nirmoha smiled gently. “Come beta there is much catching up to do?”
“You
knew my mother?” Harry was surprised.
Ma Magdalene had come up from behind, “Yes, she was one of his famous students.
I used to envy the ease with which she understood the more difficult yogas and
had moved to a higher plane of enlightenment. But your mother Harry was patient
with me and all the rest who were not so quick and guided us on the path of
Nirvana.” Ma Magdalene informed him.
Harry felt a sense of pride in his mother’s achievements. His stay with the
Dursleys had always led him to believe that his parents didn’t amount to much.
His stay in Hogwarts had revealed more about his father than his mother. Yet
his encounters with Voldemort had proved his mother’s magical shield had
protected him.
Unknowingly he cried out, “What was the magical shield that I have heard so
much about? Because of it even Voldemort faced his debacle.”
Baba Nirmoha led him inside a long cool hall.
“Sit,” he commanded.
Ginny and Ma Magdalene sat on the floor cross legged. Harry followed suit a
trifle uncomfortable.
The Baba began, “When you are mentally emotional and spiritually whole and in
tune with your soul purpose and the natural flow of the universal Rhythms you
are automatically safe from all harm. You were a small infant Harry when
Voldemort attacked you. You had a natural shield. Actual determined all out
psychic attack by Voldemort was a real threat your mother faced in protecting
you. So she quickly worked on the protective shield. She used Light and
Spiritual shakti (energy), invoking angels. Crystals can be programmed to bring in and
help amplify spiritual light and energy. That’s when she had used this amber
coloured diamond amulet. I know Lily (your mother) used another form of light -
the violet flame of Saint Germane for protection and evaporating negative attachments.
That also happens to be your guardian angel. Most of the time Harry your
angelic protection has remained as back up rather than being overt.”
“Before I entered Hogwarts and didn’t know about Voldemort, I remained
relatively safe…”Harry stated aloud trying to formulate his question.
Baba smiled benignly, “Yes it is true that attention attracts energy and paying
attention to attack and fear of any kind can draw it to you. Once you entered
Hogwarts and you were exposed to people who feared Voldemort and they made you
aware of the threat. Your uncle and aunt didn’t know about such fears and so
you were impervious to it. You were unknowingly falling into the trap in
Hogwarts of the combined anticipated fears of others.”
*
*
*
*
Sand dunes of Jaisalmer
Driving down to a deserted village Kuldhara, Harry felt suddenly at peace! As if he was finally reaching his destination. Large undulating sand dunes dotted with tall sturdy cacti was all that he could see on both sides of the road. The whole world was bathed in the bright sunlight accentuated by vast unending stretches of golden sand. It was a relief from all the rain and fog ofLondon . Normally this
deserted village was later in the itinerary of the tourist. But Harry having
driven down late from Jodhpur
, his taxi driver cum guide insisted on taking him there instead of wasting a
day in the city. Chandan Singh the driver belonged to Jaisalmer was a talkative
young man in his middle thirties. With his thick handle bar mustachio and
pleasing smile he informed Harry about the history of the deserted village of Kuldhara
Driving down to a deserted village Kuldhara, Harry felt suddenly at peace! As if he was finally reaching his destination. Large undulating sand dunes dotted with tall sturdy cacti was all that he could see on both sides of the road. The whole world was bathed in the bright sunlight accentuated by vast unending stretches of golden sand. It was a relief from all the rain and fog of
As Harry was busy absorbing in the empty houses all interlinked to each other,
Chandan Singh began his tale.
“This village belonged to a very prosperous community of traders’ hukum.” Harry
found being addressed as Hukum the equivalent of ‘sir’ rather quaint.
“Yes, I know Jaisalmer was on the famous silk route,” Harry replied. He was
feeling rather proud of his knowledge supplied to him by Hermione. She had read
up the encyclopedia and was going to join him in a couple of days. He missed
Ron too. Ron would come with Hermione after his editor was cajoled and coerced
(in turn) into funding this trip. Ron had promised to snoop around the border
areas of India
and Pakistan
and do an investigative report on arms and heroine smuggling for the newspaper.
Hermione had taken a year’s sabbatical. She was joining Hogwarts in place of
McGonagall.
“The king Sajjan Singh took fancy to one of the daughters of the trader, hukum,
came the voice of Chandan Singh floating on to Harry’s thoughts. They feared
the king’s anger and cruel reprisal on the trader’s refusal. The traders
cloaked in the stealth of the night just fled abandoning their village. It is
said that they left behind untold wealth dug underneath the rooms.”
“The king must have taken the wealth?” Harry asked.
“No, no hukum, only the true inheritors can get it. Anyone else touching it is
cursed.” Chandan Singh appeared to have full faith in this folk lore.
Harry stood entranced at the haunting emptiness of this village. One house was
freshly decorated with the local paintings. Chandan Singh informed Harry
that this was done by the state tourism department. Many songs of Hindi films
were shot at this locale. The old derelict temple had also been partially
renovated. This was also used for attracting sightseers and tourists.
A gaunt elongated shadow fell on Harry. He turned around to face an ancient
tall dark thin man with large luminous eyes. He wore the traditional dhoti and
kurta. He had a colourful turban on his head.
“Bahut der kar di. You have come so late”.
Harry
and his driver appeared puzzled and bewildered.
“You
are Lily’s son Harry. I have waited so long for you.”
“You
knew my mother?” Harry was amazed.
He
nodded sadly. “Yes she was named Mrignayani. She had gentle beautiful eyes of a
deer.”
Harry felt a sense of belonging he had never felt before.
“You
are Baba Sadiva the eternal one?” Harry was sure that unknowingly his choices
were leading him to his destination.
The ancient sage smiled and held out his arms. Harry moved slowly towards them.
He was immediately ensconced in warmth he had never known in his life. No not
even when Hagrid had embraced him. He was soothed and rocked like a small
child. All fears, anxieties and persecutions receded. He felt tears running
down his cheeks. Pent up tears of loss for Dumbledore, his parents and for a
way of life he had never known. For Hogwarts that had changed beyond
recognition.
Harry was flooded with a sense of compassion. He thought of his cousin and felt
sorry for his obesity and the resultant health problems he was already facing. Dudley was the result of an obsessive greed. His aunt and
Uncle he forgave them. Thoughts swirled down his head Voldemort?
Immediately he stiffened and pulled away. Voldemort had killed his parents.
Baba Sadiva just shook his head. “Come beta. See what Mrignayani left for you.”
Harry was looking at a bead, elongated wrinkled brown.
He
turned it around, “What is it?”
“Ek
mukhi Rudrakhsa, hukum,” replied his talkative driver Chandan Singh
in an awed voice.
“This
is a rare seed of the Rudraksha tree. The word Rudraksha, in fact, comes from
the two Sanskrit words Rudra, a synonym for Lord Shiva, and aksha, meaning
“eyes”. Botanically, the Rudraksha tree is known as Elaecarpus ganitrus Roxb.
Baba added gently. Ek Mukhi Rudraksha is extremely rare. It represents the
Supreme Self. Its wearer is bestowed with worldly comfort and spiritual
fulfillment.”
Harry observed that it had one prominent line like latitude running down from
the top.
He felt a strange affinity to this wrinkled brown bead.
“Mrignayani
had gone to the Himalayas .” Baba stated.
Harry
nodded his head. He knew his mother was fond of trekking. He had seen snaps of
her skiing on the Swiss Alps. He was unaware about her Himalayan Odyssey.
Almost involuntarily he slipped the bead on his neck. He didn’t feel anything
unusual. The sun just shone more brilliantly as it climbed in the sky.
“This Rudraksha was given to her when she looked after a holy mother Ma Ananda in
the foothills of Himalaya . She had blessed
her with a son who would make her famous one day. But Mrignayani had prayed for
deliverance.”
Harry
felt the rough edges of the bead. “Why is this Rudraksha with you?”
“At the time of Voldemort’s attack, Mrignayani was actually with me. She knew
the yoga of being in two places simultaneously. Her actual physical body was
here in Jaisalmer while her astral body was fighting Voldemort. In her hurry to
protect you the infant she had left behind in England she dropped this Rudraksha.
Had she worn it the tale might have been different.” Baba Sadiva’s face usually
tranquil was shadowed with pain. He raised his hand in blessing as Harry got up
to leave…
*
*
*
*
*
sonarkila.jpg)
Shonar Killa
Harry looked at the beautiful yellow sandstone fort in Jaisalmer with a sense
of disquiet. The golden fort glowed in the winter sunlight. He had a distinct
sense of being followed. He was part of loose tourist group being shepherded by
a guide. Harry watched the others clicking on their cameras and hand held
camcorders. He also took out his new digital camera and focused on the window
above the handicraft shop. He got a fleeting glimpse of Lucius Malfoy! The evil
glint was still there al though weakened. There was a young man with him who
appeared a local. Harry fingered his magic wand hidden beneath his jacket and
felt safe.
He had grown in the wizarding world and knew so much magic that was forgotten
or derelict and many he was not aware of that came to him after he had
destroyed Voldemort. It had made him invincible. He also knew that there was a
danger in misusing these powers. Hermione had said, “Power corrupts and Absolute
power corrupts absolutely. Harry you don’t know your own potential. There will
be temptations and once you fall in the trap, there is no coming back.”
“O.k.
I solemnly promise never to misuse my knowledge.”
Harry
had taken out his wand and Hermione had taken hers out in a secret and symbolic
gesture that tied them together against abuse of power.
The other tall man with a beard returned his stare for stare. After a while he
smiled menacingly from the window above. Harry ignored and followed his group
right to the top of the fort. They entered the terrace and again everyone was
busy clicking the panoramic view of the city. Harry spotted Malfoy grown thin
and gaunt hurrying down the cobbled stone road below.
“Harry
Potter?” He whirled around to face that same young man.
“Yes?”
“Don’t
think that you are the undisputed king of the wizards. Malfoy has all the
hidden treasures of Voldemort.”
With
that the man just mingled with the crowds and in a second vanished! Harry felt
disturbed.
Getting to Pattuowen-ki-haveli distracted him as he soaked in the
delicate filigree work done on stone. Yet he was sure he was being watched from
behind the hidden windows of the top story. He asked the guide, “Nobody lives
here?”
“No
sahib. This place was abandoned by the owner’s centuries ago. Now the
government has renovated the haveli and even set up a few handicrafts shop
here.”
“Are we allowed to go to the top?” asked a particularly enthusiastic young lady
from America
.
“No
madam, the steps are unsafe. Some one slipped and broke his neck last year.”
The guide replied. Another guide appeared annoyed at such information being
given.
He chipped in, “Madam it is an ancient haveli and some balcony fell away so we
are not allowed to go up.”
“Hi Harry! Harry old man here, just behind you.” It was Ron’s voice alright but
Harry could see no one. Then slowly in the dim light he saw Hermione shimmer
out of a shop closely followed by Ron. Harry stared in disbelief. They had
apparated in Jaisalmer!
“You
are not supposed to use magic outside Hogwarts…” he began sternly.
Hermione
just smiled calmly. “There was a bomb scare in the flight from Delhi . There was no flight till tomorrow. We
knew you would leave by tomorrow. So here we are!”
“Malfoy’s here!” Harry informed his friends.
Ron
raised an eyebrow. Hermione looked serious, “Yes, he has been recruited by
Al-Keeda a militant organization”.
Harry nodded his head, “The Intelligence Chief had met me in London and told me to be careful.”
Ron added, “My informants told me of a large school where the young recruits
for terrorists are trained in magical practices. The better and more committed
ones graduate to a higher level. In fact the bomb blasts in London was a preliminary test case.”
Suddenly the holiday mood vanished.
“I
was planning to spend some time with Baba Sadiva. He has his ashram on the
border village of
Aksu
“I will come with you. I want to learn the yoga that your mother knew about
being in two places at the same time.” Hermione spoke with her earlier
enthusiasm.
“The camel safari is what I want to do, and see the sand dunes,” Ron said
eyeing the majestic disdainful camels from afar.
“Hukum my brother will take you to a place where no tourist is allowed. He
works with the army patrol on the border,” offered Chandan Singh.
*
*
*
*
Days spent in the Baba Sadiva’s ashram led both Harry and Hermione to different
paths of spiritual fulfillment. Harry performed shraddha conducted by the Baba
to release all the tormented spirits that roam around & seek their
fulfillment from unsuspecting mortals. At one go Moaning Myrtle and all the
ghosts of Hogwarts are set free. They give their blessings & vanish. Fat
Friar, the Hufflepuff ghost Nearly Headless Nick, Mimsy-Portington, Nicholas de
(sir) the Gryfffindor ghost that was beheaded 31st October 1492 , but his head wasn’t parted.
Harry feels a sense of peace descend on him. As he gets up and heads towards
his room he has a glimpse of Hermione sitting cross legged intensively involved
in meditation. He smiled. Trust Hermione to take things so seriously and ending
up achieving all her goals.
He was missing Ron. Where was he? Well he was bravely swaying on a camel near
the Indo- Pak border on a moonless night. His companion a thin reed-like fellow
had promised to show him something unusual. In the pitch black darkness he made
out a figure moving in the sand dunes. He was proceeding to a place behind
another large dune.
From his perch and with night vision glasses on Ron was surprised to see the
man dig out a largish parcel. “What’s that?”
“Sir, they are drugs the man has come to collect.” Ron’s guide whispered in the
dark. The whisper must have carried to the figure as it became erect and opened
fire in their direction. Ron swiftly used the Backfiring Jinxes (Jinxes that
makes thing backfire). The blur was now horizontal and they heard several
people running for their lives.
Ron flashed torchlight on the prostrate figure. A tall bearded man lay face
down. The bullet had caught him in the thigh. Ron picked up the contraband as
slowly more police on camels arrived. Vikram Singh his guide was bowing to the
cops and explaining how he had managed to catch the well known smuggler.
Ron discovered that Vikram Singh was a police informer apart from being a camel
breeder. He helped in hunting down smugglers of drugs and arms and ammunitions.
Vikram Singh was familiar with the sand dunes. He was hated by the smugglers as
he had with stood their tempting offers to buy him out.
“Hukum earlier gold was smuggled. Then narcotics and arms fetch the highest
amount of reward. It comes in from Pakistan and sold overseas. India is not
the final destination.”
Ron returned to the ashram to find Harry packing to leave for Bikaner .
“
Bikaner has a
temple dedicated to rats. They worship them. Come may be you will find some
solace there.” Harry added recalling Ron’s pet rat who turned out to be
Voldemort’s loyal adherent. Ron was silent, the betrayal of his pet writ large
on his pale face.
The road to Bikaner
was pleasantly free from all traffic. So Chandan Singh was keeping his foot
pressed on the accelerator. Only swerving in time to avoid a large goat that
had strayed from the herd. He carried on in his rich sing-song voice, “Here
people have great faith in Karni Mata mandir. It houses huge rats that are fed
all the sweets and fruits that are offered to the Devi. If you are lucky sahib
you will get to see a white rat.”
To be continued....
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