Looking back it was sheer madness but there is no irony since it was a non believer's pilgrimage to the abode of the most famous lunatic of malayalam- Naranathu Branthan located in Rayiranellur hills on Koppam Valanchery route .We were driving off track from the Palakkad Thrissur highway.
My wife had a court duty in Palakkad as eye witness ie she witnessed the injured eyebrow of a man who died from 45 injuries incised wounds, stab injuries ,blunt injuries and gore.And that was almost a decade back. I was her escort driver for our first tryst with the Indian judiciary.The court started at sharp 11 when the Magistrate entered The clerk was reading some names and numbers , incomprehensible mutterings to us.Thankfully the proceedings started and the Magistrate asked whether anyone has an objection to finishing the medical expert witness cross before interval. Doctors are still considered a privileged species, good!Wait , a counsel objected , they are doctors from nearby .They can wait. Nooooo! I cried we have taken leave leaving our daily wages and are coming from faaaar!Did I go too far? This aint no class room to hoot .
The wound was dissected in detail.Could this be caused by a sharp weapon like this and opened a bundle of armory, a bunch of daggers and swords- another first for us.A chill passed through my spine.And turned back to see the bunch of accused standing in a cage with just a wooden barrier from us. As many weapons as the accused, some sharp, some blunt all cold.The expert witness had not fainted and continued with the crossfire.Could this injury be also caused if this man was in the trajectory of a sharp projectile or even worse, could it be that he fell over a sharp edged surface accidentally .The pattern would still read as Incised wound 20 cm x 2cm in the wound certificate . The next witness was a Forensic professor who was also my teacher . Without batting an eyelid he enumerated and elaborated how the jigsaw puzzle of a mangled body and dangling limbs was created .Was the ophthalmologist brought to certify that this man had no eye injuries. Did he have a vision , a mission , a family ? He is another long forgotten case number . We took leave from the court. Were some eyes in the cage seeking us ? Was there a muffled whisper to someone standing outside?
We drove back along the Ottapalam route.Quite unlike NH 47 ,the road was smooth ,winding through some of most beautiful terrains of Kerala.
I had searched for route map to my dream destination on google the day before. But precise information was lacking. The manager of the hotel from where we had lunch connected me to a number from above and it was He who gave me the directions.That was the moment when I decided that we will change the route.Was she surprised? She was familiar with my facility for dual plans.We do seldom get into situations of 'puttu kachavadam' during 'onam'.And all that she wants to know is which is the festival and which is the pancake !
This trip to the hills was her birthday gift to me for I had planned to go alone to this place on my birthday but got delayed because of the demands and compulsions of a father husband who wanted to take a one day break from it all. We were in a fiery red Ford Figo, my gift to her on her birthday.At least we were on a break - parents day out! Usually she is travel weary and this I knew would be a bit of a ride. Ready to share the lunacies of a musafir.Thank you.
The road was so narrow and steep reminding one of the route taken by the Pandavas for vanaprastha.It was noon and sweltering hot.I couldn’t take my eyes off the road to pan the view since it was a cliffhanger.What was so special about the no-mad of panthirukulam. Pakkanar and AkavoorChatthan are also my favorites. Perunthachan, not really and definitely not agnihothri.Maybe Madusoodanan nairs poem has made Pranthan contemporary and popular.The car goes only half the way and u see a flight of stairs.A board says entry restricted to morning hours.Needs permission. We go the house nearby which is a mana and they own the temple. Was he a brahmin since it seems unlikely that two siblings of the fraternity share the same kulam ? Or had he been conferred brahmanyam,once he was adorned in the divine halo?.
It was noon and sun was scorching us. We had just half a bottle of water. She was getting exhausted. The story of his encounter with Bhadrakali, the defeat of a deity by a mortal, transplanting elephentiasis from a leg to another.I was full of energy .But she was turning apprehensive minute by minute.Was it exhaustion ? There is not a single soul around.That was making it more exciting for me. Now we were quite high and the view was breathtaking.From here there were no more stone steps. Only bare rocks. She said I cant climb anymore. Didn’t Draupadi say the same to Yudhishtira she asked ? I am no Dharmaputra and I don’t see a dog either.But determined to climb the full way I told her to take rest and there I was almost running up the slope with a sheer energy and enthusiasm I had not known for a long while.
The hill top was almost a plateau with a small temple which I presume is that of a devi. The huge banyan tree was the sole shade.Bhranthan's statue stood tall in the sun overlooking a cliff . Looking down and around the view was panoramic. Mobile towers cast their unseen spell linking us through microwaves.But why is she not answering my call . I ran down the steps at double the speed. It must have taken about five minutes but felt like aeons.
She had unleashed her hair, dressed in red sari, face red with fright or anger, Bhadram, Roudram.But I was Shantham .We barely spoke while climbing down.True to her fears two men were climbing halfway through.Another two winding through some short cuts which we never notice.The chameleons which we spotted on our way up were ominous. Dressed in saffron , were they the moral police of malabar eager to expose the possibly amorous couple.Or were they grave yard dancers of kali-kooli. When we reached our car they had also climbed down.Surely there was some link between our presence and theirs.
Ascent or descent? Black or white? Left or right?Who knows ! Which is the way down I asked a biker at a bifurcation, he pointed to a road.It was the same guy from the gang.I felt a quiver on my accelerating leg. Indeed it was the right way out of the maze.We didn’t see the signpost though.
What is the message she asks. .U mean the SMS I received ?Its from the bank I said,.Afer we bought the car the bank balance reads Rs 1200 . And the DTE meter in the car says we have just enough petrol to take us home. And thanks for the wonderful companionship up and downhill.
Back in the hometown I got this call from my NRI friend who was waiting for me at Bini tourist home.There were few other persons in the room as well whom I didnt know. I was tad disappointed since what I had hoped to be a nostalgic reunion was now just another booze den.Did I come here after a tiresome journey for THIS ignoring the unsaid but palpable discontent? Surprised at my ignorance he introduced them with hero worship apparent, Dont you know he is ........ from ......... Now I remembered . Long back how a man from a rival political outfit was chased by a band of comrades in a green killing field, seeing that he had been dismembered beyond any hope of revival was finished off in a final act of kindness . Was he the team head or is there one at all ?A mob is a monster with one head and arms several.Fear is the key. Numbers and party support will let you go scotfree till the enemy spots you alone. Kali poojas and Lal salaams wont come for a rescue on that day. No I do not know this person and left the room - Unnoticed.....
Rajesh
GOOD...
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