Part 9
To begin with he decided
to try the method of gradually reducing the quantity of the liquor.
With all the efforts Naroo could not do it. His quantity of drink
could not be reduced. On the contrary he became all the more addicted
to it. His problem was that he could not make out how to be
unemotional. In everyday life many thigs happening around were
causing emotional hypes and when the hype was causing worrying or
misery he would feel like forgetting it by taking a few drinks. No
amount of efforts could stop him from that. Naroo wondered why he
becomes so much emotional about things which do not concern him in
any way. Nothing helped him even dearest love of his wife could not
help him. He on the contrary began to worry for his wife's well being
in case he passes away before her. Almost any thing around could
disturb him and the bout for drink would overcome him again and
again.
Duttprasad died of old
age and Naroo became very disturbed. He started feeling very lonely.
His father was his guide and guru even though he seldom actually
followed on his path. There was some support which Naroo needed. At
this moment Naroo realized the true reason for his indulging in the
habit of drinking. The constant conflict between his father’s
teachings and his own convictions was the root cause for his habit.
At least Naroo thought it that way.
Days passed and now Naroo
was also an old man, retired from his government service, his second
son was employed in the same department as he was working and every
thing was very satisfactorily settled. There was nothing to worry for
Naroo. Both his sons were well placed in their life. as there was
nothing else to do Naroo continued his habit of drinking. This
spoiled his kidney and finally that time came when Naroo realized
that his death was not very far. He remembered teachings of his
father that, he must get out of this habit of drinking or otherwise
this habit will make his after death life miserable. Naroo was a
knowledgeable person and he had all the books of the shastras that
the Brahmans taught to their wards. He started opening those books
and read everything in them but to his dismay there was no proper
guidance for his problem. He decided to meet other people belonging
to Shakta discipline. One day he went to meet one of his friend from
his office and told him about his worries. His friend did not
understand the gravity of the problem may be because generally people
do not bother about after death life. this friend of Naroo was also
one of that type. He tried to console Naroo and asked him not to
bother about that life. He told him, “why worry about such things.
If you keep worrying about such imaginary things that it self might
bother you until your death and nothing else.”
Naroo was not satisfied
with that advice and requested him to give him the address of the
Shakta guru whom that man knew. That friend of Naroo was very much
worried about the way Naroo was serious about that life of which no
body ever bothers. Finally he agrees to Naroo’s request and tells
him that he will come personally with Naroo and introduce that Shakta
guru to Naroo.
This Shakta guru was
staying in a remote village and for that both the friends decided to
visit that village. It was called Jamburi, about two hundred miles
from Jabalpur. They boarded a public transport bus and reached the
village at about 10 pm on one Thursday. There was no electricity in
that village and so there were no lights on the road. The road was
not properly made. It was just a passage full of loose earth with
stones around. From the appearance of the road one can know that the
village was not well maintained. It was pitch dark and at a distance
they saw some flickering light from, may be, some candle. They
started walking towards the light. The unpaved and even the uneven
passage gave them the first glimpse of the condition of that village
Jamburi. Along with darkness there was no sound of any radio or any
body talking of which both these city dwellers were so much used.
This made Naroo a little uneasy. Naoo’s friend Krupashankar knew
the whereabouts of the mutt in which the Shakta guru was residing.
Naroo was following Krupashankar and both of them were wending their
way towards the mutt. Occasionally they heard sound of a cry of child
from distance and the whole scene was not very comfortable for Naroo
who was all along his life used to be in a very busy and populated
city of Jabalpur. Finally they reached the place. The mutt was on the
outskirts of that remote and not so developed village. In the mutt
they saw some people preparing to do some sort of ritual. Naroo
interested in all these things and also being a trained priest
himself was very much curious to know what was going on there.
Krupashankar entered the mutt door, it was very low and so to enter
that door one has to bend foreword. After Krupashankar, Naroo also
entered the room in that mutt. Naroo saw the Shakta guru whose name
was kailashbaba sitting in a chair. Kailashbaba was an old man.
Sporting a long gray beard and almost bald. Kailashbaba welcomed
Kruashankar and looking to Naroo gave a grinning. As if he knew the
purpose for which this guest had come to see him. Kailashbaba
requested both the gentlemen to make themselves comfortable on a mat
in the corner of the room. Some four men were busy preparing for some
ritual. Krupashanakar and Naroo exchanged greetings with Kailashbaba
and also other men who were working there. There was eerie silence in
the room. After some pause Krupashankar asked Baba what all the
preparation is for?
Story continues in
this next post
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