Duty beckoned.The Indian Judiciary wanted me in Palghat sessions court as expert witness in a case of assault.The victim was dead , but the case was very much alive.Worried about my road sickness and probably lack of 'sense ' my exceedingly sweet husband volunteered to be my navigator on this trip-Gateway to a getaway from the daily grind of hospital and home.
To our pleasant surprise I had a prompt, polite and warm welcome from all the men in uniform we came across that morning. The government pleader I met was a sharp guy, who briefed me on the wound certificate.Constables made sure that both of us were comfortably seated in the court room.
Lawyers dressed in their formal paraphernalia made last minute notes and refernces.We felt like aliens in a world of black and white.The clock struck eleven and in walked the judge in all his legal splendour.All of them stood up and so did we.Following some incomprehensible court jargon it was my turn to be part of the drama.I stepped up on to the witness cage and took the oath of truth. Umpteen reel life scenes flashed through the minds eye.What followed was a crossfire round, a drmatised viva of sorts.I played Higuitta and yes it was an exciting game.
I was extremely careful not to glance at the accused lined up at the other end of the courtroom.Outside these walls where no men in penguins attire conduct quiz shows and no uniformed cops chaperone you, we rub shoulders with the filth of the earth-butchers who thrive on the flesh and blood of fellow humans.
Which of the 46"thirumurivus" could have caused that hapless man to die?The judiciary had to sort it out.And here Iam , an expert called inti helping them do just that.
My part played, I stepped off stage.We were back in the air conditioned comfort of our new car, a blazing red Figo.Both of us were excited about this day out on atangential path.I was also aware of how fascinated my husband was with folklore, myth and offbeat tracks. Infact I did share his love for the first two, but unplanned travel was not exactly my bit of pie.On his birthday he had wanted to go to Rayiranellur, a place steeped in Naranath Branthans myth.But the trip did not work out.Did an unseen finger point at me> So here I was keeping him company on this pilgrimage to the land of a lunatic who walked way ahead of his times. It was a belated birthday gift to my best friend.
The road lay shining in the molten sun.At the turn to Rayiranellur, which we almost missed, sat a dishevelled nomad in dirty rags. Out of habit more than anything else I turned my gaze away.
Then it was as if our Figo was being taken for a test drive in trekking terrain.The sleek car held through as he manoevred it uphill at impossibly crazy angles. A breakdown here is going to break me down, thought I.
We came to a halt at the foot of an imposing flight of steps.A large signboard read "pooja ' in hill top shrine only during morning hours.Stay off during all other times'. There in the valley side of the hill stood a sprawling 'mana' that had weathered centuries. The Namboothiri priest gladly gave us permission and even offered refreshments.
The intimidating flight of steps seemed to stretch upto eternity.Each step was a mini platform , I had to walk through so as to climb the next.The hill was awilderness, the terrain rocky, the air thin, the sun blazing and not a soul stirred.
He was getting visibly thrilled.All of a sudden I felt frightened.Heady with the joy of realizing his dream , he ran up the steps while I lagged behind.Uncharecteristically eloquent he started narrating how Naranath had outwitted Bhagawathi with his original thinking and insight into human nature.Was my husband possessed by by Naranath Branthan's spirit ? The vitality coursing through my companion , the wind in my hair, the chirp of unseen sparrowa and the heights that separated us from the crowds below: At the same time a sane voice from within said"Stop,Turn back, Run ! You are alone in the wild!"
I was getting rapidly out of breath; My legs felt like lead.Fear like 'Vethal' weighing me down.The flight of steps ended .We had to trek on foot to climb further.He was just afew more steps away from his dream whwn I said "Yudhishtira, I cannot climb any higher."
The gift I had wrapped in love lay in wait at the hilltop where I shall never reach.'You go on ,I'll stay here by this rock'I said.After a brief moment of hesitation he answered'You have the mobile, so you are not alone, Take care, I will be back soon'
So saying he went up the one man trail the famed lunatic had left behind ages back.
On the rock I sat alone
Terror made my mind wander,
Twigs crackled in the forest paths,
Something rustled in the grass.
Unmerciful sun he struck me hard
Then I heard the footsteps come
Friend of Fiend who can tell?
Clutching my mobile close I moved into the shadows of a bushy tree. From there I saw him coming down the hilly track. It felt as though he had been away for ages , though it was hardly ten minutes in real time.I was still numb with fear.Need to get out of this Godforsaken place was all that came to my mind. Barely looking at each other we started our journey downhill in complete silence. Halfway down the steps there sat a couple of young men sharing a bottle (of water ? ) My legs began to shake and I prayed silently.
Later from the safety of our car we saw four men climbing down the forest paths two of whom we had earlier seen.They all left in bikes parked right beside our car. I sat through the rest of the journey feeling like a boulder my companion had to push uphill and had not the heart to send rolling down.
All the same , it was a day that added spice to our memories.
lathika
To our pleasant surprise I had a prompt, polite and warm welcome from all the men in uniform we came across that morning. The government pleader I met was a sharp guy, who briefed me on the wound certificate.Constables made sure that both of us were comfortably seated in the court room.
Lawyers dressed in their formal paraphernalia made last minute notes and refernces.We felt like aliens in a world of black and white.The clock struck eleven and in walked the judge in all his legal splendour.All of them stood up and so did we.Following some incomprehensible court jargon it was my turn to be part of the drama.I stepped up on to the witness cage and took the oath of truth. Umpteen reel life scenes flashed through the minds eye.What followed was a crossfire round, a drmatised viva of sorts.I played Higuitta and yes it was an exciting game.
I was extremely careful not to glance at the accused lined up at the other end of the courtroom.Outside these walls where no men in penguins attire conduct quiz shows and no uniformed cops chaperone you, we rub shoulders with the filth of the earth-butchers who thrive on the flesh and blood of fellow humans.
Which of the 46"thirumurivus" could have caused that hapless man to die?The judiciary had to sort it out.And here Iam , an expert called inti helping them do just that.
My part played, I stepped off stage.We were back in the air conditioned comfort of our new car, a blazing red Figo.Both of us were excited about this day out on atangential path.I was also aware of how fascinated my husband was with folklore, myth and offbeat tracks. Infact I did share his love for the first two, but unplanned travel was not exactly my bit of pie.On his birthday he had wanted to go to Rayiranellur, a place steeped in Naranath Branthans myth.But the trip did not work out.Did an unseen finger point at me> So here I was keeping him company on this pilgrimage to the land of a lunatic who walked way ahead of his times. It was a belated birthday gift to my best friend.
The road lay shining in the molten sun.At the turn to Rayiranellur, which we almost missed, sat a dishevelled nomad in dirty rags. Out of habit more than anything else I turned my gaze away.Then it was as if our Figo was being taken for a test drive in trekking terrain.The sleek car held through as he manoevred it uphill at impossibly crazy angles. A breakdown here is going to break me down, thought I.
We came to a halt at the foot of an imposing flight of steps.A large signboard read "pooja ' in hill top shrine only during morning hours.Stay off during all other times'. There in the valley side of the hill stood a sprawling 'mana' that had weathered centuries. The Namboothiri priest gladly gave us permission and even offered refreshments.
The intimidating flight of steps seemed to stretch upto eternity.Each step was a mini platform , I had to walk through so as to climb the next.The hill was awilderness, the terrain rocky, the air thin, the sun blazing and not a soul stirred.
He was getting visibly thrilled.All of a sudden I felt frightened.Heady with the joy of realizing his dream , he ran up the steps while I lagged behind.Uncharecteristically eloquent he started narrating how Naranath had outwitted Bhagawathi with his original thinking and insight into human nature.Was my husband possessed by by Naranath Branthan's spirit ? The vitality coursing through my companion , the wind in my hair, the chirp of unseen sparrowa and the heights that separated us from the crowds below: At the same time a sane voice from within said"Stop,Turn back, Run ! You are alone in the wild!"
I was getting rapidly out of breath; My legs felt like lead.Fear like 'Vethal' weighing me down.The flight of steps ended .We had to trek on foot to climb further.He was just afew more steps away from his dream whwn I said "Yudhishtira, I cannot climb any higher."The gift I had wrapped in love lay in wait at the hilltop where I shall never reach.'You go on ,I'll stay here by this rock'I said.After a brief moment of hesitation he answered'You have the mobile, so you are not alone, Take care, I will be back soon'
So saying he went up the one man trail the famed lunatic had left behind ages back.
On the rock I sat alone
Terror made my mind wander,
Twigs crackled in the forest paths,
Something rustled in the grass.
Unmerciful sun he struck me hard
Then I heard the footsteps come
Friend of Fiend who can tell?
Clutching my mobile close I moved into the shadows of a bushy tree. From there I saw him coming down the hilly track. It felt as though he had been away for ages , though it was hardly ten minutes in real time.I was still numb with fear.Need to get out of this Godforsaken place was all that came to my mind. Barely looking at each other we started our journey downhill in complete silence. Halfway down the steps there sat a couple of young men sharing a bottle (of water ? ) My legs began to shake and I prayed silently.Later from the safety of our car we saw four men climbing down the forest paths two of whom we had earlier seen.They all left in bikes parked right beside our car. I sat through the rest of the journey feeling like a boulder my companion had to push uphill and had not the heart to send rolling down.
All the same , it was a day that added spice to our memories.
lathika
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