BAD OMEN

  

Nirmala is restless. She had a bad night. She could not sleep a wink throughout the night. The disturbing thoughts about the various family problems which seemed unsolvable, caught hold of her. As a result she had a bad headache and a feeling of exhaustion in the morning. She managed to cook something for the family. Now all have gone according to their daily schedules and she is left alone at home. She sighed as she laid down on the bed totally exhausted, no, not simply lie down, collapsed describes her state more aptly.

After a while she got up and started to get ready for her daily puja, determined to put in some extra effort that day to soothen her spirits. 

She had a quick bath and entered the puja room like everyday. After the preliminary procedure she lighted the wick soaked in oil and closed her eyes. But alas! When she opened them after a few seconds, she found to her utter panic, the divine light was extinguished. 

She gaped at the scene unbelievingly. It never happened before. Not for her. What does this bad omen indicate? What catastrophe is waiting to happen for her already troubled family?

She thought over the recent happenings.

Rajesh, her husband is faced with a crisis, not exactly of his own doing, but he is partly responsible. He stood surety to one of his colleagues. That man changed job and left the town. He cannot be traced now. Rajesh is being hounded by the bank to the tune of a couple of lakhs, which is a big amount for the modest family income. Rajesh is still hopeful to find that friend somewhere somehow.  But... If he fails to locate that friend....What will happen then? Of course he is reconciled to shell out the amount as a punishment for his misplaced trust and wrong judgement. But how? Will they have to sell the house to pay somebody else's debt? Or..if he failed to cough up the amount... will he be arrested? Will he lose the job? Nirmala shuddered. Her eyes were filled with helpless tears.

And as if that is not enough, Anitha, their college going daughter is very moody these days. It is obvious that she is not giving much importance to studies. Most of the time she is glued to cellphone. Nirmala is scared where all that will lead to. Is there a boyfriend? Will her story have a happy ending? If so, well and good. But what is the guarantee?  She heard so many stories of teenage infatuations which end as tragedies invariably...either ditching and heartbreak or vicarious blackmailing or acid attacks.... Is the girl foolish to post any pictures of herself on the social media? Or worse than that, is she meeting someone surreptitiously? Did she...did she...give in to temptation? Oh, God! What will happen if such is the case? Her head is spinning.

Then her thoughts turned towards her son, Nilesh. He is in the high school. Had been a brilliant student throughout. But... She sighed. Since two three weeks he is coughing and having mild temperature. Their family doctor nearby found nothing alarmingly serious. "Only exhaustion. Feed him well." He smiled and gave her a diet sheet. He pooh poohed her fears. But still she is not reassured enough. She heard of many fatal diseases starting with persistent low fever. Will it lead to something grave? She mulled with their decision to consult a specialist in some multi speciality hospital. Is it advisable? Surely they will prescribe some hitech tests and investigations. And loot them. But if it is necessary, they have no option other than to go ahead. What if they diagnose something scary...like cancer or tumour or something more drastic? Still, they have to do something. She sobbed uncontrollably.

She stared at the extinguished lanp and remembered umpteen number of movies, soaps, novels where a tragedy is indicated by such bad omens like the divine lamp going out. Like in Devadasu! Oh, she can site a big number of such examples.

Will her husband face arrest and prosecution?

Will Anitha find herself in a tragic whirlpool?

Will Nilesh be diagnosed of something dreadful and fatal?

Will her dear family be driven to utter chaos and calamity? 

After a while she wiped her eyes and collected herself. No, the God whom she worships rigorously daily will not subject herself and her family to such an unbearable agony, she tried to reassure her troubled mind. She shook her head and got up. She will go to the temple and consult the priest there. He is well known to her and will show her a way to get out of the ominous situation.

The elderly priest looked at her appraisingly for a while. Then he closed his eyes for a few moments, which were torturous for her. He opened his eyes and looked at her gravely and shook his head. 

"Very bad, very bad indeed, poor lady! We cannot ignore such heavenly  warnings. But, don't worry, I am here. I will ward off all the evil effects of such ill omens." He paused and with a distant look, he continued. "Everything is written in our scriptures. Let us offer special worships, homas and rituals rigorously. I will engage a couple of my devoted disciples to chant the powerful mantras non stop for three days. Then you should make some offerings like food grains, clothes, silver, gold etc which I will let you know." He smiled. "Then you can rest assured. God Almighty will not let down his aggrieved and sincere devotees like you."

Nirmala's heart sank. That means it is not very simple to rectify the situation. She just nodded her head and mumbling that she will meet him again for details, she left the temple with a heavy heart and dragging feet.

"What happened, Nirmala, what's the matter? You look so dejected!" Her next door neighbor inquired.

Nirmala looked at her gravely.

"What shall I say, Rukmini, I am very much disturbed. This morning..." She narrated everything to the enthusiastic listener.

Rukmini shook her head in sympathy. "Don't worry, Nirmala, everything will be ok. Nothing untoward will happen." Then with a knowing tone, she advised. "You vow to observe fast for seven consecutive Saturdays and visit the holy shrine on foot."

Nirmala stared at her blankly.

In a conspiratorial tone, she added, "Don't trust that old priest much. He is very greedy."

Slowly the news spread in the neighbourhood. Then followed a spate of suggestions and advices from all the well wishers and acquaintances, quoting some cousin or aunt who faced similar predicament. Like offering special prayers, chantings, charity 

.deeds circling certain temple etc...well, someone even suggested tonsuring her head!

Confused and downcast, Nirmala discussed the whole thing with Rajesh. He also panicked. "Why don't you ask mother? She may be able to help us." He suggested. Nirmala knew if she consulted her, she has to follow wharever she says. There is no other way. "At least that will seal the issue. I will tell her about all the suggestions and do just as she says. Ok?" He nodded approval.

She rang up her mother in law in the night though apprehensive of what she will suggest. 

Vasundhara is a devout lady. She is not a very imposing type but with a clear mind and firm opinions. She is a highly principled lady. Nirmala always respects her wise judgement. 

Without any preamble, Nirmala asked her outright, "What should we do if the divine lamp extinguishes during puja?"

Without wasting a second, Vasundhara replied, "Take a fresh match stick and light it again."

Nirmala was dumbstruck. She could not believe her ears. "I beg your pardon, what did you say?" She asked incredulously.

"I say, just light it again." She repeated and added. "Why, what happened? Why are you asking that?"

She listened patiently as Nirmala poured forth her woes. "What should I do to negate the bad effects of the ill omen? Especially as we are passing through a rough period? Everybody offers a different solution and we are at our wit's end. Please, help us." She pleaded.

"Forget all about that." She said matter of factly. 

"What?" Nirmala shrieked. 

Vasundhara told firmly. "Just forget about all that talk about bad omen, divine signals etc. Relax and concentrate on your normal life and face the issues prudently."

"How can I, Aunty? How easily you say that! If it happens in your case what would you do? Just forget and go ahead?"

Vasundhara smiled. "Yes, Nirmala, it happened many times with me too. I am sure with everybody on earth. Just as I told you, I take out a fresh match stick and light the lamp and continue my puja."

"But...but.. The holy books, the priest... Should we not heed to all that? Should we not be pious and devout?" Nirmala was doubtful still.

"Oh, my dear Nirmala, being pious is always good and advisable. It is entirely different. But we need not be superstitious and weak minded. Lamp being extinguished is a natural phenomenon. Why give so much undue importance to that? Just drive it away from yout mind and be strong."

Nirmala gave some thought to what Vasundhara said. Suddenly she felt light headed. "Ok, Aunty, thanks for your support and reassurance. I feel better now."

She put down the receiver with a feeling of satisfaction. Somehow quite inexplicably her whole attitude underwent a drasic change. 'How and why did I become so weak minded? Perhaps my over preoccupation with the various problems must have affected my mind. Now I should come out of it and concentrate on the issues more wisely and practically. Just like Aunty said. Enough of being a victim of superstition. And negative and depressing mindset too.' She resolved firmly. 

'I should wish for the best. Rajesh may locate that friend. Or even otherwise too, we can request the bank for some time or repay the amount in instalments. Anitha must be passing through a sensitive phase of confusion. I should spend more time with her and try to help her to cope up. And Nilesh...why, just I will trust our family doctor. If at all there is any serious problem, he would have suggested suitable steps. The fact that he didn't do, means I need not be apprehensive.' 

Nirmala smiled to herself and started humming her favourite song.