Black Magic

There is a theft in neighbor’s house the thief has taken away all jewelry and cash breaking the large steel trunk.. Manu & her husband cried aloud in the mid- winter early morning. All neighbors of this small township assembled & acknowledge the big loss whispered “seems some insider’s hand..” “Report immediately to police” someone in the crowd suggested loudly.. Dad of Manu is an intelligent old man recently retired from Railways Department advised Manu to call Maulavi fakir Saab instead.. All his “Paan” stained teeth appears false, reddish long hairs colored by crushed Mehndi leaves; White moustache dissolved in white beard flowing till half of his chest. Wearing a small round cap carved in golden red and yellowish threads; partially hiding his baldness.. matching his ugly wrinkled face, red eyes & boney crooked fingers.. Wearing a long black apparel till his knees white dirty pajama covering his shrinking legs.. Feet inside the cracked long “Kholapuri” shoes. A beaded talisman of all colors hanging from his weak slender neck while fingers are full of precious rings. A long heavy cotton bag hangs on his drooping shoulder making it lowered than his right one.. He is a tall man when he straightens up otherwise he stoops, full bent from his waist.. His all limbs tremble and his voice is screeching; He looks like a living ghost at ninety years old. The great man arrives at Manu’s house… on next Sunday morning. All neighbors gathered in the big ground as advised by trembling Maulavi; A tiny cot of bamboo frames tightly netted in coconut ropes; A rectangular Kashmiri Pashmina carpet spread just in the centre of the cot; Kept in the middle of all known & unknowns. Maulavi Saab ignites a small fire between two bricks, Placed 13 small bronze bowls putting little mustard oil and unknown seeds beside the Human Skull.. & two femur bones; Enchants some mantra loudly in his screeching voice… The cot starts floating in air few inches above & slowly moves to northward ; People moved away worriedly one by one; the cot moves speedily… & hit the neighbor’s servant; Mukul. Amazing display of his skillful black art… Fakir now stood up straight in more vigor called the “ catch ” near. He took out a mirror… & placed it inclined against one bowl containing little Mustard Oil & seeds to re-confirm; Manu & others are asked to peep inside the bowl; Mukul’s face appeared in the reflection; Fakir now enthusiastically directed all neighbors to see Manu’s thumbnail; Again the face of the servant appeared.. “thief is caught” is once again confirmed. Now the police is called and Mukul is beaten mercilessly; he disclosed the theft was in fact carried by him in connivance with the eldest son of Manu. All the materials are recovered intact & police case amicably withdrawn… Intelligent dad of Manu presented 2 gold rings to Maulavi Saab out of the recovered jewelries & touched his feet proudly gracefully.. By Auro 16th September 2011.