The Cloud Of the Princess Part 1 - Chapter 15

Gentle rays of the rising sun fell on her eye lids as they opened up like blossoming flowers to see the entirely new world that god had created for man that day .

It took a while for Sembaruthi to realize what had happened the previous night. She had determined not to sleep the whole night but had fallen asleep without her knowledge. Her first reaction on opening her eyes was to see if the other girls were safe. She turned her head up expecting the girls to be still sleeping after a long day’s journey. What she saw took her totally by surprise. All the girls had gathered together and were standing in a semicircle around her. Their expression showed fear and they were looking at each other now after seeing her wake up. Sembaruthi passed her look from left to right. Everybody had the same expression.

‘They are definitely worried. But why?’ Sembaruthi thought for a second. She immediately realized the reason. She along with the other girls had slept at the corner of the room away from the window. But now she was here, near the window, sleeping in an uncomfortable position with her back to the wall. ‘Now they will ask what happened last night. What do I reply them? Should I tell them the truth? Will they even believe it? Who is going to believe the story that a dark figure was playing an uncharacteristic tone in a flute in the middle of the night and there were a number of people who were hiding behind the bushes and trees and listening to the song that was being played. And what reason would I say them for going and hiding behind the bushes and watching this mysterious man? No way. I cannot tell them what happened. That will raise unnecessary doubts in their minds. But then what else do I say? I can’t sound stupid either. Imayaazh may seem a funny girl. But she is as cunning as a fox. She’ll immediately find out if I lie. ’ Her mind was searching rapidly for an answer. She took her eyes off the girls and looked towards the door. She saw the Poosari walking slowly into the Mandabam.

The Poosari came in and gave a surprised look on seeing the girls having gathered around Sembaruthi.

“Is anything wrong? Sembaruthi … What has happened to you my child? Are you sick?”

Sembaruthi saw something and was thrown into confusion and fear. The Poosari had wrapped a white piece of cloth around his forehead and had it tied behind his head. Questions flew into Sembaruthi’s mind at a rapid pace. ‘Why is the Poosari looking different today? What is the cloth that he has tied on his forehead? Can it be like this? Did the stone I threw hit on the Poosari’s forehead? Is he trying to hide the wound? How can I find out?’ She could imagine the Poosari walking towards the man playing the flute in the dark. As he was nearing the tree, the stone should have hit him and he must have cried out in pain. But … But the cry in pain definitely sounded younger than the Poosari’s voice. May be it was the Poosari’s accomplice who lived here. But the Poosari said that nobody lived with him in this place. Was he lying? Yes. He must have been. It could definitely not be a coincidence for so many people to have gathered at this obscure place without the Poosari’s knowledge. She was too confused to decide something.

Imayaazh spoke with a voice that expressed worry.

“Ayya…Even we don’t know what has happened to Akka. She was sleeping next to me last night. She had told us to get up as early as possible to leave in the morning .We all got up and got ready and only before a few minutes we realized that she was missing. We started searching for her and found her here below the Durga painting. It is a surprise how we did not realize that she was sleeping here. May be the pillars here and the wall in between hid her from us. “

The Poosari’s voice now showed more worry.

“Sembaruthi. What is this my child? You are not a girl who does things without reason. Is there something that happened last night? Were you afraid of something? There are a number of forest dogs in this locality. Did something like that frighten you? Do tell us my child. Look at your friends. All of them are worried. Shall I call the doctor from the next village? You can take rest here today and start to Araimedu tomorrow.”

Sembaruthi responded with a voice that had no emotions.

“I am fine. There is no reason to postpone the journey to tomorrow”

One of the maids who was standing on the left corner asked.

“Akka. You sound very different. What happened last night Akka?”

All the girls asked the same question at the same time.

“What happened last night?” “What happened last night?”

‘The question has been asked! How am I going to answer this? What happened last night? If it is the Poosari whom the stone hit, then I will not let this old man get away easily. If he is up to something big here, I will find that out. He can’t just talk like a sweet caring old man and escape from me. Here I go. Let me see how he will answer this.’

Some idea had shaped up in her mind at the spur of the moment. She spoke whatever that came to her mind. Her voice still showed no emotion.

“I did not get sleep last night. May be because I had slept for a while we were traveling in the Palakku. So I got up and walked here and there in the Mandabam. That is when I saw this Durga Devi Painting. It was looking frightening especially because of the dim light from the torch that was falling on it. The forest dogs were also shouting somewhere at a distance and I was almost shivering with fear. I decided it would be safe to go back to sleep and turned back. It was at that moment that somebody hit my head with some sharp object. The pain was terrible and the unexpected blow made me fall down right here with my back to the wall. I am alright now. The pain has ceased but a few questions have not.” She now looked straight into the Poosari’s eyes and asked the questions. The so far emotionless speech had faded and the words that followed were spit like fire balls from her mouth onto the Poosari’s chest.

”Ayya Poosari… Who do you think this mysterious man could be? Did you not say you were alone in this temple? Or are there more people in this temple even without your knowledge. Or may be you just think it is the Durga devi in the painting who hit me from behind. What do you say for this Ayya?”

The Poosari looked more relaxed than ever.

“Sembaruthi, It surprises me when you talk like this. Of course I said I am alone in this temple. But I did not mean it in the sense that you have understood it. Take this for an example my child. Do you think I prepared all the food that we ate for dinner last night? I am an old man my child and I no more have the strength to cook for a number of people. Of course I have a boy who helps me at it. But it is highly improbable that he would have hit you from behind. I saw you girls locking the door the moment I left the Mandabam. So how could this boy have entered in? No way Sembaruthi. Moreover look to your left. See the metal bar lying there. May be it was kept balancing on this painting on one end and on the window the other end. And May be you came from the right and turned back to your left. And hit the bar and it fell down.”

Sembaruthi was stunned by the explanation that the Poosari gave. ‘How could he come up with such an explanation immediately? And so he accepts that there is one other person other than him here. He might either be the man with the flute or the one who got hit. I have to see him’

“Ayya... You may be right. But can I see that boy you mentioned just now?’

“Sembaruthi! There is no reason on earth why you should doubt him my child. But unfortunately what I am going to say will just add to your doubts. The boy has left early today morning to see his family in Lakshanur. But if you are doubting him, it is like doubting me” The last few words came strongly.

Imayaazh responded.

“Akka. Even I feel that the Poosari is right. Especially when he is so confident about the boy’s innocence. And I think there is no point in staying here further. We are already late and it would be better if we can start immediately. The Sevagars have also come back. The chief Sevagan came and announced that they were ready to leave anytime. If you can get ready, we can leave Akka.”

Sembaruthi was still looking at the Poosari.

“Imayaazh. Before we leave, I just have to ask the Poosari one more question.”

The Poosari looked at Imayaazh for a second and spoke. “Ask me my child. What do you want to know from this old man?”

“Why have you tied a cloth around your forehead?” She paused for a second and continued, ”As if somebody hit you with a stone.”

All the girls in the Mandabam were looking with a confused expression at Sembaruthi. The Poosari also showed a hint of a confused look for a second.

He recovered immediately. “I am not sure of the intent with which you are asking this my child. But the reason is simple. Today is the second Pavurnami of the chittirai month. It is a custom for a Poosari to tie this on this day before he starts the proceedings in the temple. Today is an auspicious day my child. And the whole of this week is favorable for people who begin long distance travels. You girls were mentioning last night that Kumudhini got married a month back. She could have very well gone to Eezham with her husband immediately after her marriage. The reason why she is leaving this week must be because of this. Also, you could have seen a number of travelers on your way yesterday while coming here. Success is sure in all endeavors for people who travel this week. Hope all of you have a good journey today. I am really happy that you were able to come here. I should say I am lucky to have met you after a long time. But the only thing that worries me is that, my child, you seem to be disturbed and frightened unnecessarily” He looked at Sembaruthi.

Sembaruthi did not reply. There was silence for half a minute. Imayaazh broke the silence.

“Akka. Get up and get ready. We shall wait in the Durga Sannidhi.” Sembaruthi got up and left the place without speaking much.

Imayaazh turned to look at the Poosari.

“Ayya. I think Akka is afraid of something. She should be alright once we start our journey. We shall take care of her. And I apologise on her behalf.”

The Poosari gently smiled. He came closer to Imayaazh and spoke in a low voice.

“Imayaazh. When women start worrying for unknown reasons there can be only two reasons. One – They are missing their loved ones too much. Two – They are beginning the divine journey towards motherhood. In Sembaruthi’s case, it can be either one of these”

Imayaazh gave a quick smile.

“Ayya Poosari. I never expected old god fearing Poosari’s to be so informed about a young women’s mind”

The Poosari smiled.

“Experience teaches you a lot of things Imayaazh. Some of them don’t stick. Some of them stick for ever”

All the girls went to the Durga Sannidhi, prayed to the goddess and waited for Sembaruthi to come. After she came, Imayaazh thanked the Poosari and they started towards the Palakku. Sembaruthi did not speak a word throughout. She came out, went into the Palakku along with the other girls.

The Sevagars were waiting and as soon as the girls entered, the Pallakku started moving north towards Araimedu.

More than half an hour passed and the Pallakku had gained a steady speed now.

Sembaruthi had still not spoken a word.

She had closed her eyes immediately on entering the Pallakku and had not opened it since then.

Suddenly her eyes opened.

She stared hard at the maids who were chatting on the other side.

She turned in a flash and pulled away the screen that was separating the Sevagars who were pulling the Pallakku and her.

She saw with red eyes the Chief Sevagan Sivaraman with a white cloth tightly wrapped on his forehead!