A Tale of Parallels - Read more short stories and plays from the book- A Tale of Parallels

A Tale of Parallels I never give up a person that is terrified, nor one that is devoted to me, nor one that seeks my protection, nor one who is afflicted or destitute, nor one that is weak in protecting oneself, I shall never give up such a one till my own life is at an end. — Yudhishthira, Mahaprasthanika Parva, Bhagvat Gita Six on a journey, five thousand years ago The cataclysmic war between the fiendish forces and righteousness occurred during the period of Dakshniyana. The Pandavas, singularly symbolic of rectitude, under the sanctuary of Lord Krishna, overpowered their cousins the Kauravas, who represented diabolical and malevolent forces. However, administration of the kingdom required skillsets other than valour. Thus, Narayana took the victorious brothers to seek the blessings of Bhishma, lying haplessly on the bed of arrows. The venerable Bhishma, before casting his mortal self and merging into infinity sermonised twenty-one lessons on the art of governance to the Pandavas, especially the oldest sibling Yudhishthir. Yudhishthir was crowned the king of Hastinapur and Indraprastha. The Pandavas ruled for a period of thirty-six years after which they abdicated in favour of Abhimanyu’s son, Parikshit. Thereafter, the Pandavas along with Draupadi proceeded to the Himalayas, with the intention of living out their final days in the midst of the peaks of the Himalayas. Six on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The esteemed Trivedi family, originally hailing from Mughalsarai had settled in Allahabad several years ago. Under the new political dispensation Mughalsarai was now christened Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar while Allahabad was now known as Prayagraj. The Trivedis were bluestocking Brahmins, well-read in the scriptures and in their DNA a wealth of knowledge flowed. To them, Allahabad was a perfect sangam or confluence of tradition and progressive and modern. Pandit Satyanarayan Trivedi, patriarch of the family was a sitar maestro and renowned vocalist of the region. He had joined the Quit India movement at Mahatma Gandhi’s call and plunged neck-deep into politics to liberate the country from the foreign yoke. The musician had been imprisoned more than a couple of times for his defiant acts. Serving out his sentence, he had enthralled fellow prisoners with his musical prowess. After India gained freedom, Pandit Trivedi resumed his passion, disregarding a potentially flourishing political career that beckoned him. The maestro established himself as a star in the classical music firmament. His time in prison, in the company of India’s future political leaders, lent an aura of power and political connectedness without having to exert himself in the nasty arena of politics. Pandit Trivedi was blessed with a bright son, Mrityunjay Trivedi, who had little interest in the field of music. If Pandit Trivedi was disappointed, it did not last long. For the son pursued a career in the legal arena and rose to become a respected judge. He was to own a plenteous house in the Civil Lines area of Allahabad. Grandson Avinash Trivedi entered the hallowed portals of the Civil Services and was elevated to become the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. This lineage of polymath Brahmins were highly venerable not only in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, but across the state. Avinash Trivedi had five sons through his two wives. Dharma, Ballav and Dhananjay were his sons from the first marriage and Nakul and Ashwin, offspring through his second wife. His first wife Kadambini Trivedi nee Shukla became a sanyasin after the birth of Dhananjay as she suspected infidelity on the part of her husband. The senior civil servant married the stunningly beautiful and quick-witted enchantress, Madhvi Tripathi with whom he had indeed been having a secret dalliance. But strange are the lines of fate. Soon after giving birth to her twin boys, Madhvi cast her mortal self. The sanyasin first wife returned to the Trivedi household to bring up the children, but on the condition that she would retain her chastity. The bureaucrat accepted Kadambini back into the household on her conditions for the sake of his children. All five boys were educated at the prestigious Allahabad University. Dharma became a highly qualified epidemiologist, while his younger sibling Ballav joined the powerful Indian Police Service. Dhananjay established himself as a scientist. The twins Nakul and Ashwin were unconventional in their choice of careers compared to their step-brothers. Nakul was exceedingly handsome, with a chiselled body and sharp features and aspired to be a film star while Ashwin was blessed with remarkable intelligence and was trained to be a musician as Pandit Satyanarayan Trivedi, his great grandfather had done. Ashwin also wished to enter the world of politics, unlike his great grandfather. Six set out, five thousand years ago At the end of Mausala Parva, the perspicacious Sage Vyasa advised Arjuna and his brothers to abdicate their kingdom as the purpose of their life had been served. Arjuna confabulates with Yudhishthir. The five Pandava brothers and Draupadi agree to the command of the sagacious sage. Mahaprasthanika Parva is a narration of the voyage of the Pandavas across India and their ascent towards the Himalayas, as they trek their way to heaven on Mount Sumeru. Upon leaving their kingdom, a dog befriends them and joins them on their long march. While the inner discovery to the celestial arena takes place, tragically Draupadi casts her mortal self. A stoic Yudhishthir is also privy watching his siblings collapse in an unfortunate manner en route to the empyrean. Ultimately only Dharmaraj and the faithful dog are able to reach Mount Sumeru. Six set out, story in Kaliyuga Malini Pandey of Fatehpur was considered the epicentre of the fratricidal strife within the Trivedi family. She was the binding force among the Trivedi brothers, yet became a significant fault line between their varying ideologies. Malini hailed from a highly celebrated business and political family. The Pandeys had interests in the pharmaceutical industry besides running Fatehpur as their fiefdom. Malini was regarded as the mind or mann which controlled five senses (indriyas), instead she chose the body which was controlled by the five senses. She was loving, caring and tender at one point of time, brimful of navarasas, yet she was also a rebel, vengeful, and fierce on numerous occasions. Her father Madhukar Pandey was always wary of the apple of his eye, given her temperamental nature. Pandey was the Member of Parliament from Fatehpur, as his father and grandfather had been. His daughter assisted him in the management of the constituency. The young woman had graduated from the estimable Lady Shriram College and was the cynosure of Delhi University student politics. She had dabbled in dramatics and debates apart from plunging into the college and university politics. She was as canny and ruthless as she was bold and beautiful. Malini was ambitious and cut no corners to achieve her dreams. She was determined to follow her father’s footsteps and emerge as his worthy successor. The winsome woman was famously outspoken. Her pique was well-known in Fatehpur and Delhi. In Fatehpur, Malini was often referred to as Yagyaseni – the one who emerged from fire - for the traits she proudly carried on her shoulders. She was also given to the finer tastes of life like luxuriating on an occasional drink, smoking and at times indulged in drugs, apart from feasting on non-vegetarian fare, normally taboo among the orthodox Brahmins of her native town. Six in a story, five thousand years ago Once Yudhishthir decided to abdicate, Parikshit was crowned the king of Hastinapur, under the tutelage of Yuyutsu, who had crossed over from the Kaurava camp just before the devastating war. A Yadava prince named Vraja was installed as the king of Indraprastha and thereafter the Pandavas began their voyage to the lofty peaks of the Himalayas. The Pandavas first headed south. At the coast, Arjuna on the directions of Agni Devata handed over his arsenal to Varun Devata. Thereafter they travelled west where they were dismayed to see the city of Dwaraka submerged. Anguished, they turned north and halted at Hrishikesha and then crossed to the pristine peaks of the Himalayas. As the Pandavas and Draupadi trudged along, Lord Indira appeared and offered Yudhishthir a chance to jump into his chariot and enter heaven, but without the dog. However, Yudhishthir, the morally upright man, rejected the offer as he did not intend to abandon his friend, the dog. Six on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The Allahabad Medical Association organised a seminar on Epidemics and Impact on Economy and Health where Malini Pandey was invited as the Chief Guest. This was a step-up for Malini as she was standing-in for her father. The senior Pandey had excused himself on account of a prior appointment. The organisers, keen to have a Pandey linked to the event had requested the presence of the heir apparent and daughter. There were several speakers including the Trivedi brothers. Dr Dharma Trivedi in his capacity as an epidemiologist by specialisation and emerging scientist Dr Dhananjay Trivedi. Dr Dhananjay Trivedi’s paper on medicine and healthcare during epidemics won large scale applause and was sent for further scrutiny to CDSCO, the body responsible for approval of drugs, conduct of clinical trials, laying down the standards for drugs and control over the quality of imported drugs. Malini Pandey was distinctly impressed with Dhananjay Tripathi’s personality and acumen and in-depth knowledge. Perhaps this was destined to happen, and very soon the alluring Malini Pandey got emotionally entangled with the third Trivedi brother. Soon, she disclosed her feelings to her widower father, who pondered on the matter. “Let me think about it. Dhanjay is younger to Dharma and Ballav. Would Avinash Trivedi agree to the proposal?” “I do not care ... we are the potentate. If there is someone in my life, it is none other than Dhananjay and no one else father,” was the dazzling daughter’s ultimatum. But the cunning politician-father prevailed upon his daughter to marry Dharma. “You will be in the Trivedi household; I need not say anything further. What you do behind the curtains is your turf and aptitude. You are smart enough to understand. Avinash does not have an unblemished record in these matters,” he added in a steely manner. Thus, Malini was married to Dharma and made an entry into the Trivedi household. This provided her the aperture to carry on her dalliance with Dhananjay on the sly. However, the affair which was initially under the garb of secrecy became a talking point in the Trivedi family. Avinash Trivedi could not summon the moral courage to chastise his daughter-in-law as correctly predicted by Malini’s wily politician-father. In meantime the districts of Fatehpur and Allahabad were in the throes of an epidemic. Hysteria and disquietude gripped the two areas as scores were afflicted by a bizarre pestilence. This was Malini Pandey’s chance to make waves and enter the stratosphere of politics. She bludgeoned her way and compelled Dhananjay to unleash a product in the market, even though the final results were still awaited from CDSCO. “Imagine! Our pharmaceutical companies will thrive like never before. An epidemic or drought is the chance to make a killing, not to speak of the goodwill once.” “True, Malini! I can visualise enormous opportunities both economically and politically, but we are yet to receive the efficacy of the results from CDSCO,” the politician of Fatehpur tried to reason with his daughter. “Dad, you are the ruler and the people of Allahabad and Fatehpur are in a woebegone condition. This is the ideal time for our pharmaceutical units to launch the medicine and make an economic and political fortune. You cannot reject my proposal at any cost,” she defiantly said to her father. Her brother-in-law willingly complied with the directions of the alluring and powerful lady, hoping that it would yield substantial dividends for him too. The sagacious advice of his father and eldest brother were in vain, completely ignored by Dhananjay Trivedi. He opted to follow the directives of his paramour -sister-in-law. Five in a story, five thousand years ago As Pandavas crossed the Himalayas, Yagynaseni was the first person to cast her mortal self. A distraught Bhima pleaded with his older brother Yudhishthir to find out why Draupadi perished so early, unable to continue her journey to heaven. Yudhishthira remarked, “Though all the Pandavas were equal unto her, she displayed proclivity for Dhananjay. Thus, she was scalped by nature for this act of indiscretion.” Sangam International Regulatory Consultancy, the Pharmaceutical unit which was owned by the Pandeys rolled out the medicines to combat the pestilence. The drug was called Ayuravishkar. Compliant doctors in connivance with the powerful Pandey family of Fatehpur prescribed Ayuravishkar to patients of Fatehpur and Allahabad districts in droves, with disastrous consequences. The medicine was hardly a panacea. Instead, it became an albatross around the necks of the Pandeys and the Trivedis. There was a massive uproar in the Legislative Assembly, which led to banning of the drug, seizing and sealing of Sangam International Regulatory Consultancy and prosecution of Madhukar Pandey and Malini Pandey, several doctors and owners of important hospitals. Ballav, the SSP of Allahabad range was tasked to undertake the operations. “This is karma,” mused Avinash Trivedi. Three in a story, five thousand years ago Troubles come in threes. It was a cataclysmic sight for Bhima to see his wife Yagyaseni, his brothers the fabled archer Arjuna and Sahadev die on the way. They could not reach the next world in the body and clothes of this world. Bhima was stupefied and beseeched his illustrious brother, who only spoke the truth, as to why Sahadev could not complete his journey. Yudhishthir explained that Sahadev like his other brothers was extremely obedient and virtuous in every aspect of life except the fact that he suffered from excessive pride that none could match his wisdom and intelligence. The brothers continued trudging their way to Mount Meru and along the way the curtains are drawn on Nakul’s life. Yudhishthir explains that Nakul was in the twin grips of pride and vanity, assuming he was the most handsome person in the world. “Thus, he met his quietus and could not reach the abode of the angels,” Yudhishthir explained to the brawny and deferential Bhima. Three on a journey, story in Kaliyuga A few years prior to the tragic epidemic which snuffed out lives in Fatehpur and Allahabad and the infamous act on part of the Pandeys and Trivedi, other dramatic events took place in the Trivedi household. Nakul Trivedi was blessed with stunning looks which people attributed to his mother Madhavi’s genes. He developed a chiselled frame through rigorous workouts. He footslogged on the treadmill, pumped iron and swam to remain fit. He was an aspiring actor and appeared in some tele serials, OTT releases and in a few Bhojpuri movies. Malini Pandey was a woman with a roving eye. Though married to Dr Dharma, she continued an affair with his younger brother Dhananjay, the scientist. Once she was ensconced in the Trivedi household, she gradually let it be known to Nakul that she was quite impressed with his talents and good looks. Nakul beseeched his sister-in-law to help him make a foray in the tinsel world of Bollywood. At the passionate calling of her brother-in-law, she pulled a few strings and managed to send his portfolio to some leading advertising agencies and some well-established movie producers and distributors. Much to the simmering discontent of her husband and the consternation of Dhananjay, Malini accompanied Nakul to Mumbai, ostensibly to ensure that he got an opportunity to meet the right people. Under the pressure of her politico-father, producers financed a few films, and Nakul soon rose to the stratosphere of the tinsel world. Nakul Trivedi became an overnight sensation with women swooning and craving for his attention. Initially he was beholden to his sister-in-law who launched him in the cinematic arena, but soon he wanted to fly the flight of independence. As he became confident of his stardom Nakul no longer liked to be seen in the company of his sister-in-law. Meanwhile Malini’s fondness for Nakul spiralled and magnified, while Nakul attempted to extricate himself from the vice like grip of the covetous Malini Pandey, which was not appreciated by the lady. The tinsel world luxuriates on success, floundering performers are invariably stigmatized. When a couple of failures struck, as they had to inevitably, Nakul Trivedi discovered that he was overnight persona non grata. The greenhorn trouper had spurned Malini Pandey and she was not one to forgive, much less forget. Nakul Trivedi soon realised this was a cardinal mistake committed. As his films bombed at the box office, he became isolated. It was not long before he faded from public memory, a has been. Ashwin was exceedingly smart and astute. He was to run an NGO which looked after the destitute in the districts of Fatehpur and Allahabad. The youngster was also the Vice-President of Allahabad University once upon a time. The youngest of Trivedi brothers made valiant attempts to join the estimable Civil Services like his elder brother Ballav, but could not succeed. Ashwin, despite being erudite and ingenious was unable to crack the All-India Civil Services Examination or the Provincial Civil Services, exhausting all his attempts. This was much to the chagrin of his father who was once the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and older brother Ballav, the IPS officer of the family. This was a cross Ashwin had to bear all his life. Politics is the last refuge of scoundrels. Ashwin Trivedi was now based at Fatehpur and assisting Madhukar Pandey in the arena of politics and business. It was his frustration at not becoming a Babu like his father and brother that made him join active politics. Ashwin Trivedi was tasked by the hoodlum-politician Madhukar Trivedi to ferry medicines from Fatehpur to various parts of Uttar Pradesh, as he sought to gauge Ashwin’s potential. The NGO’s vehicle which transported the destitute was deployed to transport nubile women and girls to satisfy the carnal desires of prosperous businessmen and lascivious politicians. While the wheels churned, both Madhukar Pandey and Ashwin Trivedi made a killing and were flush with funds ... Ashwin was warned by his brothers to stay away from the former Member of Parliament. But he saw no future in any other career and mere transportation of verboten commodities was earning him large sums of money. One Dark Night The weather was tempestuous accompanied by heavy downpour. It was frightfully cold. It was past midnight when Ballav’s phone rang. “Sahab, Jai Hind Sahab, Constable Suraj Mal speaking ...” “What happened? Why are you calling so late in the night?” Ballav demanded in an irritated tone. “Sahab, please rush to Khurja ... your brother’s vehicle has met with a serious accident. We have rushed him to a local hospital,” Suraj Mal informed him. There was a pandemonium in the Trivedi residence. Dr Dharma and Dhananjay accompanied Ballav. Sadly, they were too late. The youngest of the Trivedi brothers was declared dead on arrival. Ashwin was killed in the accident along with half-a-dozen girls and young women. Two in a story, five thousand years ago Arjuna’s life too was snuffed out without reaching the abode of the Gods. Once again Bhima enquired from his older brother as to why Arjuna too failed to breast the tape. Yudhishthira explained to Bhima that though Arjuna was the nara who introduced them to Narayana himself, he suffered from the vice of self-aggrandisement. He swaggered that he was the most skilful archer and the singular hero in the universe, disregarding the claims of others. “Thus, he paid for this haughtiness,” added the oldest Pandava. Two on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The cataclysmic events which unfolded once the epidemic spread across the swathes of Fatehpur and Allahabad had eclipsed the business and political careers of Madhukar Pandey and Malini Pandey. It did not spare Dhananjay Trivedi as well. The scientist gave the stamp of approval for the deployment of the drug despite the fact that the final approval of CDSCO was still awaited. Wiser counsel was adumbrated by his blind love for the aesthetic Malini Pandey. He was stripped by the Indian Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and Technologists for the crime he committed and the punishment was a ten-year imprisonment. In jail he began reading Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky. One in a story, five thousand years ago Bhima and Yudhishthira carry on their journey to the lofty peaks of Sumeru. Bhima tires and falls down. While collapsing in a state of anguish he asked his older brother as to why he, Bhima, was unable to complete the journey to the ether. Yudhishthira held his brother’s hands and attributed it to the vice of gluttony. Bhima ate in gargantuan proportions without thinking about the hunger of others, besides constantly swaggering about his strength. Thus, he collapsed and could not reach the final destination of the heavens. One on a journey, story in Kaliyuga Ballav was subsumed with remorse seeing Ashwin’s charred body in the mortuary. The second brother in the lineage of the Trivedi brothers was inconsolable. Once the last rites of Ashwin Trivedi were performed, Ballav like a scalded cat expeditiously discovered that it was none other than Madhukar Pandey on whose behest, his younger sibling was transporting women from Fatehpur to politicians and businessmen of Uttar Pradesh. He summoned a crack team to track down the politician of Fatehpur, ignoring sagacious advice of his father and older brother. They attempted to prevail upon a choleric Ballav as he headed to Fatehpur. Madhukar Pandey was tipped off through his sources in the civil administration and police about the ingenious plans of Ballav. As Ballav rapidly moved to Fatehpur, he was summarily stopped mid-way and summoned by the higher-ups. He served transfer orders, to be implemented immediately. Ballav had to poceed to take charge of the UP Police Training College at Ghaziabad. This put paid to his plans. The final character in a story, five thousand years ago As per the Mahaprasthanika Parva, the dog and Yudhishthira continued their trudge up Mount Meru, when Lord Indra unexpectedly appeared in his chariot with a deafening roar and bang and requested Yudhishthira not to trudge anymore and instead join him. Yudhishthira informed Devendra he certainly would have come along with his brothers and Draupadi, but alas they perished in the gruelling expedition. Besides, Yudhishthira desired that his faithful friend, the dog, also to board the chariot to which Lord Indira denied permission. Yudhishthira refused to betray the dog, who was more than a friend and while he lost his kin, the canine faithfully followed him. He could not renounce his friend during the final leg of his life’s journey. Dharmaraj considered this act tantamount to a sin of immense magnitude. The dog, watching Yudhishthira’s steadfast commitment towards him, suddenly transmogrified and appeared as the deity Dharma. The celestial being Dharma showered encomiums on Yudhishthira. Dharma reminded Yudhishthira that aeons ago during their period of banishment after losing the game of dice in the woods, where his illustrious brothers puffed with pride lost their lives, disregarding his endearment for them, he asked Dharmaraj to revive Nakula, and passed his assay with alacrity and aplomb. And once again on this particular occasion, assuming the beagle to be devoted to him, he had renounced the very chariot of the celestials instead of renouncing the dog. “Thus, there is none in the heaven who could equal Yudhishthira in righteousness and uprightness,” added Dharmaraj. Then they all proceed to heaven. On their way they encountered Sage Narada who told them that Yudhishthira was the only human to enter the precincts of the empyrean in human form, even royal sages had failed to do so. “Such is the intrinsic and pristine quality of Yudhishthira,” he added. The righteous-souled king paid obeisance to the celestial beings and entered heaven on Indra’s chariot. The final character, story in Kaliyuga Dr Dharma the epidemiologist despite all the trials and tribulations and upheavals in his life and in the family, continued to work with righteousness. He served society with admirable equanimity and concealed his feelings and raw emotions. Every day he would visit the legendary Akshay Vat and the Lete Hanumanji Temple to atone for the sins committed by his family members and pray for them. One day while meditating under the Akshay Vat he had an apparition of a sage located somewhere in the upper reaches of Himalayas. Dr Dharma promptly left his practice and climbed the summit to reach the Himalayas. There he met the Swami who appeared in his vision and decided to spend his life in the quest of the quintessential truth. Strangely he befriended a dog, which used to appear every day at the hermitage. Dr Dharma now clad in ochre clothes fed the dog religiously every day. A few years later news spread like forest fire that the former Member of Parliament Madhukar Pandey was assassinated while he was addressing a rally at Fatehpur and the culprit was nabbed. Dr Dharma presumed it would have been Ballava’s action who swore to avenge for all the humiliation faced by the family. However, a little later he was informed the act was committed none other than by the nonagenarian former Chief Secretary Shri Avinash Trivedi. “This is the cycle of Karma,” mused Dr Dharma and dropped dead with a beatific look on his face. At a distance was his friend the dog.

What is A.A.A.D.D. ?

What is A.A.A.D.D. ? It is Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. 😜 This is how it manifests: I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water. I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day: the car isn't washed the bills aren't paid there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.... Do me a favor. Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember who I've sent it to. Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your days are coming!! 😊 Source : Author unknown Got it as a forward from another forgetful friend!!

A Tale of Parallels -------- Read more stories in A TALE OF PARRALELS

11. A Tale of Parallels I never give up a person that is terrified, nor one that is devoted to me, nor one that seeks my protection, nor one who is afflicted or destitute, nor one that is weak in protecting oneself, I shall never give up such a one till my own life is at an end. — Yudhishthira, Mahaprasthanika Parva, Bhagvat Gita Six on a journey, five thousand years ago The cataclysmic war between the fiendish forces and righteousness occurred during the period of Dakshniyana. The Pandavas, singularly symbolic of rectitude, under the sanctuary of Lord Krishna, overpowered their cousins the Kauravas, who represented diabolical and malevolent forces. However, administration of the kingdom required skillsets other than valour. Thus, Narayana took the victorious brothers to seek the blessings of Bhishma, lying haplessly on the bed of arrows. The venerable Bhishma, before casting his mortal self and merging into infinity sermonised twenty-one lessons on the art of governance to the Pandavas, especially the oldest sibling Yudhishthir. Yudhishthir was crowned the king of Hastinapur and Indraprastha. The Pandavas ruled for a period of thirty-six years after which they abdicated in favour of Abhimanyu’s son, Parikshit. Thereafter, the Pandavas along with Draupadi proceeded to the Himalayas, with the intention of living out their final days in the midst of the peaks of the Himalayas. Six on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The esteemed Trivedi family, originally hailing from Mughalsarai had settled in Allahabad several years ago. Under the new political dispensation Mughalsarai was now christened Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar while Allahabad was now known as Prayagraj. The Trivedis were bluestocking Brahmins, well-read in the scriptures and in their DNA a wealth of knowledge flowed. To them, Allahabad was a perfect sangam or confluence of tradition and progressive and modern. Pandit Satyanarayan Trivedi, patriarch of the family was a sitar maestro and renowned vocalist of the region. He had joined the Quit India movement at Mahatma Gandhi’s call and plunged neck-deep into politics to liberate the country from the foreign yoke. The musician had been imprisoned more than a couple of times for his defiant acts. Serving out his sentence, he had enthralled fellow prisoners with his musical prowess. After India gained freedom, Pandit Trivedi resumed his passion, disregarding a potentially flourishing political career that beckoned him. The maestro established himself as a star in the classical music firmament. His time in prison, in the company of India’s future political leaders, lent an aura of power and political connectedness without having to exert himself in the nasty arena of politics. Pandit Trivedi was blessed with a bright son, Mrityunjay Trivedi, who had little interest in the field of music. If Pandit Trivedi was disappointed, it did not last long. For the son pursued a career in the legal arena and rose to become a respected judge. He was to own a plenteous house in the Civil Lines area of Allahabad. Grandson Avinash Trivedi entered the hallowed portals of the Civil Services and was elevated to become the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. This lineage of polymath Brahmins were highly venerable not only in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, but across the state. Avinash Trivedi had five sons through his two wives. Dharma, Ballav and Dhananjay were his sons from the first marriage and Nakul and Ashwin, offspring through his second wife. His first wife Kadambini Trivedi nee Shukla became a sanyasin after the birth of Dhananjay as she suspected infidelity on the part of her husband. The senior civil servant married the stunningly beautiful and quick-witted enchantress, Madhvi Tripathi with whom he had indeed been having a secret dalliance. But strange are the lines of fate. Soon after giving birth to her twin boys, Madhvi cast her mortal self. The sanyasin first wife returned to the Trivedi household to bring up the children, but on the condition that she would retain her chastity. The bureaucrat accepted Kadambini back into the household on her conditions for the sake of his children. All five boys were educated at the prestigious Allahabad University. Dharma became a highly qualified epidemiologist, while his younger sibling Ballav joined the powerful Indian Police Service. Dhananjay established himself as a scientist. The twins Nakul and Ashwin were unconventional in their choice of careers compared to their step-brothers. Nakul was exceedingly handsome, with a chiselled body and sharp features and aspired to be a film star while Ashwin was blessed with remarkable intelligence and was trained to be a musician as Pandit Satyanarayan Trivedi, his great grandfather had done. Ashwin also wished to enter the world of politics, unlike his great grandfather. Six set out, five thousand years ago At the end of Mausala Parva, the perspicacious Sage Vyasa advised Arjuna and his brothers to abdicate their kingdom as the purpose of their life had been served. Arjuna confabulates with Yudhishthir. The five Pandava brothers and Draupadi agree to the command of the sagacious sage. Mahaprasthanika Parva is a narration of the voyage of the Pandavas across India and their ascent towards the Himalayas, as they trek their way to heaven on Mount Sumeru. Upon leaving their kingdom, a dog befriends them and joins them on their long march. While the inner discovery to the celestial arena takes place, tragically Draupadi casts her mortal self. A stoic Yudhishthir is also privy watching his siblings collapse in an unfortunate manner en route to the empyrean. Ultimately only Dharmaraj and the faithful dog are able to reach Mount Sumeru. Six set out, story in Kaliyuga Malini Pandey of Fatehpur was considered the epicentre of the fratricidal strife within the Trivedi family. She was the binding force among the Trivedi brothers, yet became a significant fault line between their varying ideologies. Malini hailed from a highly celebrated business and political family. The Pandeys had interests in the pharmaceutical industry besides running Fatehpur as their fiefdom. Malini was regarded as the mind or mann which controlled five senses (indriyas), instead she chose the body which was controlled by the five senses. She was loving, caring and tender at one point of time, brimful of navarasas, yet she was also a rebel, vengeful, and fierce on numerous occasions. Her father Madhukar Pandey was always wary of the apple of his eye, given her temperamental nature. Pandey was the Member of Parliament from Fatehpur, as his father and grandfather had been. His daughter assisted him in the management of the constituency. The young woman had graduated from the estimable Lady Shriram College and was the cynosure of Delhi University student politics. She had dabbled in dramatics and debates apart from plunging into the college and university politics. She was as canny and ruthless as she was bold and beautiful. Malini was ambitious and cut no corners to achieve her dreams. She was determined to follow her father’s footsteps and emerge as his worthy successor. The winsome woman was famously outspoken. Her pique was well-known in Fatehpur and Delhi. In Fatehpur, Malini was often referred to as Yagyaseni – the one who emerged from fire - for the traits she proudly carried on her shoulders. She was also given to the finer tastes of life like luxuriating on an occasional drink, smoking and at times indulged in drugs, apart from feasting on non-vegetarian fare, normally taboo among the orthodox Brahmins of her native town. Six in a story, five thousand years ago Once Yudhishthir decided to abdicate, Parikshit was crowned the king of Hastinapur, under the tutelage of Yuyutsu, who had crossed over from the Kaurava camp just before the devastating war. A Yadava prince named Vraja was installed as the king of Indraprastha and thereafter the Pandavas began their voyage to the lofty peaks of the Himalayas. The Pandavas first headed south. At the coast, Arjuna on the directions of Agni Devata handed over his arsenal to Varun Devata. Thereafter they travelled west where they were dismayed to see the city of Dwaraka submerged. Anguished, they turned north and halted at Hrishikesha and then crossed to the pristine peaks of the Himalayas. As the Pandavas and Draupadi trudged along, Lord Indira appeared and offered Yudhishthir a chance to jump into his chariot and enter heaven, but without the dog. However, Yudhishthir, the morally upright man, rejected the offer as he did not intend to abandon his friend, the dog. Six on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The Allahabad Medical Association organised a seminar on Epidemics and Impact on Economy and Health where Malini Pandey was invited as the Chief Guest. This was a step-up for Malini as she was standing-in for her father. The senior Pandey had excused himself on account of a prior appointment. The organisers, keen to have a Pandey linked to the event had requested the presence of the heir apparent and daughter. There were several speakers including the Trivedi brothers. Dr Dharma Trivedi in his capacity as an epidemiologist by specialisation and emerging scientist Dr Dhananjay Trivedi. Dr Dhananjay Trivedi’s paper on medicine and healthcare during epidemics won large scale applause and was sent for further scrutiny to CDSCO, the body responsible for approval of drugs, conduct of clinical trials, laying down the standards for drugs and control over the quality of imported drugs. Malini Pandey was distinctly impressed with Dhananjay Tripathi’s personality and acumen and in-depth knowledge. Perhaps this was destined to happen, and very soon the alluring Malini Pandey got emotionally entangled with the third Trivedi brother. Soon, she disclosed her feelings to her widower father, who pondered on the matter. “Let me think about it. Dhanjay is younger to Dharma and Ballav. Would Avinash Trivedi agree to the proposal?” “I do not care ... we are the potentate. If there is someone in my life, it is none other than Dhananjay and no one else father,” was the dazzling daughter’s ultimatum. But the cunning politician-father prevailed upon his daughter to marry Dharma. “You will be in the Trivedi household; I need not say anything further. What you do behind the curtains is your turf and aptitude. You are smart enough to understand. Avinash does not have an unblemished record in these matters,” he added in a steely manner. Thus, Malini was married to Dharma and made an entry into the Trivedi household. This provided her the aperture to carry on her dalliance with Dhananjay on the sly. However, the affair which was initially under the garb of secrecy became a talking point in the Trivedi family. Avinash Trivedi could not summon the moral courage to chastise his daughter-in-law as correctly predicted by Malini’s wily politician-father. In meantime the districts of Fatehpur and Allahabad were in the throes of an epidemic. Hysteria and disquietude gripped the two areas as scores were afflicted by a bizarre pestilence. This was Malini Pandey’s chance to make waves and enter the stratosphere of politics. She bludgeoned her way and compelled Dhananjay to unleash a product in the market, even though the final results were still awaited from CDSCO. “Imagine! Our pharmaceutical companies will thrive like never before. An epidemic or drought is the chance to make a killing, not to speak of the goodwill once.” “True, Malini! I can visualise enormous opportunities both economically and politically, but we are yet to receive the efficacy of the results from CDSCO,” the politician of Fatehpur tried to reason with his daughter. “Dad, you are the ruler and the people of Allahabad and Fatehpur are in a woebegone condition. This is the ideal time for our pharmaceutical units to launch the medicine and make an economic and political fortune. You cannot reject my proposal at any cost,” she defiantly said to her father. Her brother-in-law willingly complied with the directions of the alluring and powerful lady, hoping that it would yield substantial dividends for him too. The sagacious advice of his father and eldest brother were in vain, completely ignored by Dhananjay Trivedi. He opted to follow the directives of his paramour -sister-in-law. Five in a story, five thousand years ago As Pandavas crossed the Himalayas, Yagynaseni was the first person to cast her mortal self. A distraught Bhima pleaded with his older brother Yudhishthir to find out why Draupadi perished so early, unable to continue her journey to heaven. Yudhishthira remarked, “Though all the Pandavas were equal unto her, she displayed proclivity for Dhananjay. Thus, she was scalped by nature for this act of indiscretion.” Sangam International Regulatory Consultancy, the Pharmaceutical unit which was owned by the Pandeys rolled out the medicines to combat the pestilence. The drug was called Ayuravishkar. Compliant doctors in connivance with the powerful Pandey family of Fatehpur prescribed Ayuravishkar to patients of Fatehpur and Allahabad districts in droves, with disastrous consequences. The medicine was hardly a panacea. Instead, it became an albatross around the necks of the Pandeys and the Trivedis. There was a massive uproar in the Legislative Assembly, which led to banning of the drug, seizing and sealing of Sangam International Regulatory Consultancy and prosecution of Madhukar Pandey and Malini Pandey, several doctors and owners of important hospitals. Ballav, the SSP of Allahabad range was tasked to undertake the operations. “This is karma,” mused Avinash Trivedi. Three in a story, five thousand years ago Troubles come in threes. It was a cataclysmic sight for Bhima to see his wife Yagyaseni, his brothers the fabled archer Arjuna and Sahadev die on the way. They could not reach the next world in the body and clothes of this world. Bhima was stupefied and beseeched his illustrious brother, who only spoke the truth, as to why Sahadev could not complete his journey. Yudhishthir explained that Sahadev like his other brothers was extremely obedient and virtuous in every aspect of life except the fact that he suffered from excessive pride that none could match his wisdom and intelligence. The brothers continued trudging their way to Mount Meru and along the way the curtains are drawn on Nakul’s life. Yudhishthir explains that Nakul was in the twin grips of pride and vanity, assuming he was the most handsome person in the world. “Thus, he met his quietus and could not reach the abode of the angels,” Yudhishthir explained to the brawny and deferential Bhima. Three on a journey, story in Kaliyuga A few years prior to the tragic epidemic which snuffed out lives in Fatehpur and Allahabad and the infamous act on part of the Pandeys and Trivedi, other dramatic events took place in the Trivedi household. Nakul Trivedi was blessed with stunning looks which people attributed to his mother Madhavi’s genes. He developed a chiselled frame through rigorous workouts. He footslogged on the treadmill, pumped iron and swam to remain fit. He was an aspiring actor and appeared in some tele serials, OTT releases and in a few Bhojpuri movies. Malini Pandey was a woman with a roving eye. Though married to Dr Dharma, she continued an affair with his younger brother Dhananjay, the scientist. Once she was ensconced in the Trivedi household, she gradually let it be known to Nakul that she was quite impressed with his talents and good looks. Nakul beseeched his sister-in-law to help him make a foray in the tinsel world of Bollywood. At the passionate calling of her brother-in-law, she pulled a few strings and managed to send his portfolio to some leading advertising agencies and some well-established movie producers and distributors. Much to the simmering discontent of her husband and the consternation of Dhananjay, Malini accompanied Nakul to Mumbai, ostensibly to ensure that he got an opportunity to meet the right people. Under the pressure of her politico-father, producers financed a few films, and Nakul soon rose to the stratosphere of the tinsel world. Nakul Trivedi became an overnight sensation with women swooning and craving for his attention. Initially he was beholden to his sister-in-law who launched him in the cinematic arena, but soon he wanted to fly the flight of independence. As he became confident of his stardom Nakul no longer liked to be seen in the company of his sister-in-law. Meanwhile Malini’s fondness for Nakul spiralled and magnified, while Nakul attempted to extricate himself from the vice like grip of the covetous Malini Pandey, which was not appreciated by the lady. The tinsel world luxuriates on success, floundering performers are invariably stigmatized. When a couple of failures struck, as they had to inevitably, Nakul Trivedi discovered that he was overnight persona non grata. The greenhorn trouper had spurned Malini Pandey and she was not one to forgive, much less forget. Nakul Trivedi soon realised this was a cardinal mistake committed. As his films bombed at the box office, he became isolated. It was not long before he faded from public memory, a has been. Ashwin was exceedingly smart and astute. He was to run an NGO which looked after the destitute in the districts of Fatehpur and Allahabad. The youngster was also the Vice-President of Allahabad University once upon a time. The youngest of Trivedi brothers made valiant attempts to join the estimable Civil Services like his elder brother Ballav, but could not succeed. Ashwin, despite being erudite and ingenious was unable to crack the All-India Civil Services Examination or the Provincial Civil Services, exhausting all his attempts. This was much to the chagrin of his father who was once the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and older brother Ballav, the IPS officer of the family. This was a cross Ashwin had to bear all his life. Politics is the last refuge of scoundrels. Ashwin Trivedi was now based at Fatehpur and assisting Madhukar Pandey in the arena of politics and business. It was his frustration at not becoming a Babu like his father and brother that made him join active politics. Ashwin Trivedi was tasked by the hoodlum-politician Madhukar Trivedi to ferry medicines from Fatehpur to various parts of Uttar Pradesh, as he sought to gauge Ashwin’s potential. The NGO’s vehicle which transported the destitute was deployed to transport nubile women and girls to satisfy the carnal desires of prosperous businessmen and lascivious politicians. While the wheels churned, both Madhukar Pandey and Ashwin Trivedi made a killing and were flush with funds ... Ashwin was warned by his brothers to stay away from the former Member of Parliament. But he saw no future in any other career and mere transportation of verboten commodities was earning him large sums of money. One Dark Night The weather was tempestuous accompanied by heavy downpour. It was frightfully cold. It was past midnight when Ballav’s phone rang. “Sahab, Jai Hind Sahab, Constable Suraj Mal speaking ...” “What happened? Why are you calling so late in the night?” Ballav demanded in an irritated tone. “Sahab, please rush to Khurja ... your brother’s vehicle has met with a serious accident. We have rushed him to a local hospital,” Suraj Mal informed him. There was a pandemonium in the Trivedi residence. Dr Dharma and Dhananjay accompanied Ballav. Sadly, they were too late. The youngest of the Trivedi brothers was declared dead on arrival. Ashwin was killed in the accident along with half-a-dozen girls and young women. Two in a story, five thousand years ago Arjuna’s life too was snuffed out without reaching the abode of the Gods. Once again Bhima enquired from his older brother as to why Arjuna too failed to breast the tape. Yudhishthira explained to Bhima that though Arjuna was the nara who introduced them to Narayana himself, he suffered from the vice of self-aggrandisement. He swaggered that he was the most skilful archer and the singular hero in the universe, disregarding the claims of others. “Thus, he paid for this haughtiness,” added the oldest Pandava. Two on a journey, story in Kaliyuga The cataclysmic events which unfolded once the epidemic spread across the swathes of Fatehpur and Allahabad had eclipsed the business and political careers of Madhukar Pandey and Malini Pandey. It did not spare Dhananjay Trivedi as well. The scientist gave the stamp of approval for the deployment of the drug despite the fact that the final approval of CDSCO was still awaited. Wiser counsel was adumbrated by his blind love for the aesthetic Malini Pandey. He was stripped by the Indian Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and Technologists for the crime he committed and the punishment was a ten-year imprisonment. In jail he began reading Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky. One in a story, five thousand years ago Bhima and Yudhishthira carry on their journey to the lofty peaks of Sumeru. Bhima tires and falls down. While collapsing in a state of anguish he asked his older brother as to why he, Bhima, was unable to complete the journey to the ether. Yudhishthira held his brother’s hands and attributed it to the vice of gluttony. Bhima ate in gargantuan proportions without thinking about the hunger of others, besides constantly swaggering about his strength. Thus, he collapsed and could not reach the final destination of the heavens. One on a journey, story in Kaliyuga Ballav was subsumed with remorse seeing Ashwin’s charred body in the mortuary. The second brother in the lineage of the Trivedi brothers was inconsolable. Once the last rites of Ashwin Trivedi were performed, Ballav like a scalded cat expeditiously discovered that it was none other than Madhukar Pandey on whose behest, his younger sibling was transporting women from Fatehpur to politicians and businessmen of Uttar Pradesh. He summoned a crack team to track down the politician of Fatehpur, ignoring sagacious advice of his father and older brother. They attempted to prevail upon a choleric Ballav as he headed to Fatehpur. Madhukar Pandey was tipped off through his sources in the civil administration and police about the ingenious plans of Ballav. As Ballav rapidly moved to Fatehpur, he was summarily stopped mid-way and summoned by the higher-ups. He served transfer orders, to be implemented immediately. Ballav had to poceed to take charge of the UP Police Training College at Ghaziabad. This put paid to his plans. The final character in a story, five thousand years ago As per the Mahaprasthanika Parva, the dog and Yudhishthira continued their trudge up Mount Meru, when Lord Indra unexpectedly appeared in his chariot with a deafening roar and bang and requested Yudhishthira not to trudge anymore and instead join him. Yudhishthira informed Devendra he certainly would have come along with his brothers and Draupadi, but alas they perished in the gruelling expedition. Besides, Yudhishthira desired that his faithful friend, the dog, also to board the chariot to which Lord Indira denied permission. Yudhishthira refused to betray the dog, who was more than a friend and while he lost his kin, the canine faithfully followed him. He could not renounce his friend during the final leg of his life’s journey. Dharmaraj considered this act tantamount to a sin of immense magnitude. The dog, watching Yudhishthira’s steadfast commitment towards him, suddenly transmogrified and appeared as the deity Dharma. The celestial being Dharma showered encomiums on Yudhishthira. Dharma reminded Yudhishthira that aeons ago during their period of banishment after losing the game of dice in the woods, where his illustrious brothers puffed with pride lost their lives, disregarding his endearment for them, he asked Dharmaraj to revive Nakula, and passed his assay with alacrity and aplomb. And once again on this particular occasion, assuming the beagle to be devoted to him, he had renounced the very chariot of the celestials instead of renouncing the dog. “Thus, there is none in the heaven who could equal Yudhishthira in righteousness and uprightness,” added Dharmaraj. Then they all proceed to heaven. On their way they encountered Sage Narada who told them that Yudhishthira was the only human to enter the precincts of the empyrean in human form, even royal sages had failed to do so. “Such is the intrinsic and pristine quality of Yudhishthira,” he added. The righteous-souled king paid obeisance to the celestial beings and entered heaven on Indra’s chariot. The final character, story in Kaliyuga Dr Dharma the epidemiologist despite all the trials and tribulations and upheavals in his life and in the family, continued to work with righteousness. He served society with admirable equanimity and concealed his feelings and raw emotions. Every day he would visit the legendary Akshay Vat and the Lete Hanumanji Temple to atone for the sins committed by his family members and pray for them. One day while meditating under the Akshay Vat he had an apparition of a sage located somewhere in the upper reaches of Himalayas. Dr Dharma promptly left his practice and climbed the summit to reach the Himalayas. There he met the Swami who appeared in his vision and decided to spend his life in the quest of the quintessential truth. Strangely he befriended a dog, which used to appear every day at the hermitage. Dr Dharma now clad in ochre clothes fed the dog religiously every day. A few years later news spread like forest fire that the former Member of Parliament Madhukar Pandey was assassinated while he was addressing a rally at Fatehpur and the culprit was nabbed. Dr Dharma presumed it would have been Ballava’s action who swore to avenge for all the humiliation faced by the family. However, a little later he was informed the act was committed none other than by the nonagenarian former Chief Secretary Shri Avinash Trivedi. “This is the cycle of Karma,” mused Dr Dharma and dropped dead with a beatific look on his face. At a distance was his friend the dog.

PLAN B- Read more stories in A TALE OF PARALLELS

PLAN B Before Corona Virus struck Mother Earth Janet Kilpatrik, Agastya Iyer, Noah Williams and Marcus Taylor were thick as glue. Over the years their friendship blossomed and the bonding flourished. It was to gather momentum as time flew. The four friends were from various parts of the globe, coming from vastly differing cultures and backgrounds. Janet had her parentage from Australia and New Zealand, while Iyer was the archetypal twice-born from Tamil Nadu in India. Taylor like Janet had a mixed ancestry in a Polish mother and a Scottish father, while Noah traced her roots to a Caribbean mother and an American father. The four friends graduated from the University of Columbia, having majored in STEM subjects. During their time at the University, Agastya and Janet had contested for the Presidency of the Student Council, a bitter contest. The erudite and intellectual Indian lost the polls to the flamboyant Australian. However, Agastya did not take the defeat to his heart and instead renewed his friendship with the victorious lady. Rancour was replaced by rapprochement between the soft-spoken, highbrow and cerebral Indian and the vivacious and sharp-witted Australian woman. Over the next few years, the rapport metamorphosed into something more serious. Iyer got attracted to the alluring Kilpatrik, while Marcus fell in love with the vivacious Noah. Sometime in the year 2030 Economies and healthcare systems were limping back to normalcy after several waves of the corona virus disease and its multiple mutations were successfully tackled. Humanity heaved a collective sigh of relief. Iyer and Kilpatrik had played a singular role in combating the malevolent virus. That was in the year 2026. But the respite had been short-lived. The year 2030 had proved to be a climactic year where a pestiferous virus, quite similar to the novel corona virus had once again surfaced. The lethal virus had swamped and engulfed humanity across swathes of continents. Life was once again hanging tenuously in the endangered planet as millions were afflicted by yet another virulent strain which had swaddled the globe and humans and other life forms were dropping dead. They were like sitting ducks to an ace shooter’s shrapnel. Humans and other animate forms were all engulfed by this vicious microorganism which spared none. The sub-microscopic infectious agent replicated at a ferocious pace inside the living cells of an organism. It was capable of infecting all living bodies, ranging from humans, animals and the plant kingdom. Flora and fauna were all subsumed by the fiendish virus. It certainly seemed apocalyptic as all animate forms were overpowered brutally by the agent. To some Vedic scholars in India and those familiar with the epic Mahabharata it was like towards the end of the blood-letting between the cousins when Guru Guru Droncharya’s son, the ace archer Ashwatthama unleashed the Brahmastra without being fully aware of the disastrous consequences of the weapon. Ashwatthama neither possessed the knowledge nor the prowess to recall the weapon once it was fired from his arsenal. Agastya Iyer suddenly recalled the incident from Mahabharata. “Is this strain and even the earlier ones manmade? The mystery of the origin of the waves of the virus infection will always remain in the alcoves of our minds. It was zeroed upon as to where the catastrophe started, but we were unable to decode whether it was manufactured in some laboratories or by some overzealous pharmaceutical companies.” “This is certainly the wrath of the Gods,” the luminary virologists Agastya Iyer and Janet Kilpatrik Iyer mused aloud. Agastya practised his Brahmanical Hindu faith, while Janet remained a devout Christian. Their commitment towards science never interfered with their religiosity and spiritualism. The strapping young man was an avid yoga practitioner and embraced pranayama and meditation like fish to water. His day however began with a glass of warm water laced with honey and then performing the arduous shirshasana. He felt rudderless and unobservant without these activities. The winsome and curvaceous Janet however darted on the treadmill, worked out on elliptical and did Pilates with regularity. This fitness regimen helped them release toxins and think with clarity while working. Janet Kilpatrik and Agastya Iyer were feted with the estimable Nobel Prize for successfully developing a vaccine in the year 2026. The vaccine had successfully combated the pestiferous novel corona virus disease of 2019, which had apparently originated in the Wuhan province of China. It had afflicted the entire populace across the globe. The microorganism assumed several mutations and became a gargantuan monster on a killing spree. “We were proud winners of the prestigious Nobel Prize, but my mind is cannonaded with demonic and antipathetic thoughts. I keep wondering whether in my earlier research I decoded the genome of the virus in totality. Now there is a massive surge in the scourge, in other life forms too. What also is disconcerting is the failure of the vaccine to arrest the resurgence of the virus. Did we really deserve the prize?” Janet shared with her husband, who could merely comfort her. The eminent scientist Stephen Hawking had predicted during his lifetime that humans would need to scout for a new planet to inhabit. He justified his hypothesis on a few possibilities which included a nuclear holocaust, or dramatic climate alterations and pandemics. Man had not learnt from the clanger of the novel corona virus pandemic. No sooner had things normalised, that mankind became rapacious once again. And now in 2030 had landed himself and other creatures in a greater misadventure. Deadlier and different “Janet, do you recall the story about suchika that I had narrated from an ancient Indian text called Yoga Vasistha? While we were working on the vaccine for the COVID-19 virus,” Agastya asked his wife. “Oh yes Agastya, the one about the female demoness who received a boon from Brahma that she could assume the form of a needle and attack the pulmonary tract, spleen and liver of humans to satiate her gargantuan hunger,” Janet recollected clearly. “All that it needed was filth and grime.” “Yes dear ...but this new strain is mephitic. The mutation in its transfigured form is attacking the host as well, besides humans. I fear Hawking’s prophecy may come true. Man will necessarily have to migrate to a fresh planet to survive,” Agastya was to share his thoughts with his wife. “Agastya, that may sound both dramatic and romantic, but evaluate the price. This kind of proposal or plan would only help the superabundant and not the stock individual who depends so much on the state to deliver, especially in a crisis. While I do admire Stephen Hawking, I’m not fully convinced with these utopian models. That’s the reason I had voted for the Obama Care model while you opposed it, just like you had several years back in University,” the prepossessing virologist added. The Janet and Agastya Iyer combination had put in several hundreds of hours in research while collaborating with other estimable and knowledgeable scientists but seemed no closer to deciphering the solution. The Nobel laureates struggled to single out the root cause because of which the virus not only attacked the victim but also the host. The entire scientific community, the World Health Organisation and governments of countries on various continents dreaded to hear the words mission aborted as virologist were forced to abandon yet another track to unleash a possible life-saving vaccine. Nevertheless, they continued to struggle and worked at a furious pace to search a cure for the dreaded pestilence. After putting in several hours of labour the duo of Agastya and Janet, with a heavy heart informed the President of the United States of America that they had to declare mission aborted. Also privy to this information were their close friends Noah Williams and Marcus Taylor, both astrophysicists at NASA. Time was running out for mankind and other life forms. It was time for Plan B to be executed. Plan B Within an hour of receiving the news, the President summoned Noah Williams. “What is the status of Mars Express, Noah?” a visibly agitatedly and yet singularly the most powerful man on the earth, James Patrick Madison Jr. enquired from the ace spaceship designer. A few days earlier the President had already been updated about the likelihood of mission failure as several of the clinical trials on humans, other mammals and flora and fauna had failed. Thus, with time running out Plan B was to be rolled out as soon as possible. This left the virologist couple and Janet in particular, devastated. She was pioneering the study of DNA of the pestilential virus with extraordinary care and a hawk’s eye. She was extremely keen to prove to herself that the early discovery was not a mere bumbling into infinity but an authentic scientific victory. The naysayers, Prophets of Doom and Cassandra’s of doubt had to be silenced. However, she was discerning to realise that her husband was caught between the two the two projects – Plan A and Plan B. “Agastya’s heart does not seem to be in the right place. His mind is gravitating more towards Plan B,” she wistfully contemplated. Noah designed spaceships while Taylor, the eternal dreamer, created colonies in outer space for humanity to survive. It was now a question of “when” and not “if” they would be occupied. Humanity, nay life itself on Earth was in absolute dire straits. At the secret biding of the President and some silk-stocking entrepreneurs Taylor had developed an enclave, a secret bubble on the Red Planet which almost mirrored the conditions on Mother Earth. This was termed as Plan B by the American administration. They realised the costs would be extremely detrimental to the impoverished and there was bound to be collateral damage. Plan B would be the triumph of capitalism at the cost of egalitarianism as only the moneyed and opulent from around the world would be able to hitchhike to Mars aboard the special spacecraft and go on to inhabit the colonies created there. No two ways! This was a project meant only for those flush with funds. Of course, it was rationalised to everyone’s satisfaction. “At least some life from earth could be saved.” “Once the ferocity of the virus abated, humans and other life forms could return.” “Travel to Mars would become cheaper in the future with greater numbers travelling.” “Potentially everyone stands a chance to travel in the future!” one of the more dramatic politicians declared. When that “future” would be, nobody was willing to confirm. Noah Williamson had designed the first few sets of spacecrafts to ferry animate life to the bubbles on Mars. This was to be man’s most expensive expedition. The voyage to Mars and the settlements in the specially designed enclaves was to cost trillions of dollars and only the superabundant and extremely powerful were in a position to afford this luxury. Are bosom friends covetous of the success and accomplishments of their pals? This question regurgitated in the minds of Marcus Taylor and Noah Williamson. They did toast the attainment of Agastya Iyer and Janet Kilpatrik on being feted with the Nobel Prize. However, they felt cheated and deprived that their endeavours in space technology were not acknowledged by the US government or even by the larger scientific community; not even within NASA were they given due recognition for the pioneering effort to develop space vehicles. The couple were assiduously working on creating a colony on the Red Planet where humans could exist in a bubble. These were no mean achievements. The miscarriage of Plan A in combating the virulent virus was an opportunity. Plan B, for the space duo was just the elbow room and aperture to arrive on the arena of a revolutionary dive into fame and recognition. “Agastya and Janet now that Plan A has been aborted, we require a dexterous team of medicos and virologists who will be stationed at Point A2 Heights, in our enclave on Mars. This dedicated cadre have will to take care of all those migrating from Earth. And who else better to perform this activity other than you and Janet considering your work in the field of virology,” Marcus and Noah tried to impress upon their friends. “But we have failed on this occasion. In fact, we are even considering returning our award to the Nobel Committee. The surge in the cases and the way the scourge is spreading across the globe, no one, I repeat none will survive,” Janet added. Iyer looked on evasively as his wife spoke. “That is precisely our calculation. It is also the prediction of the WHO and the President. There is nothing fallacious in saving life. We are merely humans. Indeed, there is a divide between man and a reptile, similarly there is a chasm between the opulent and the impoverished. We are bailing out those who can afford the trip to Mars and stay in the colony. After all there is something called price discrimination in economics. Let us not put so much of our weight on these compunctions,” Marcus answered. “Certainly, this is an out of the box dream and so ingenious! But it was our mandate to save humanity, a task that we haven’t succeeded at. That does bother my scruples.” Janet noted that Iyer spoke without complete conviction. “Well, it certainly pricks my conscience. We will extricate only the super-rich who would be able to afford this peregrination and inhabit the colony. Millions of humans and other life forms will perish as catastrophe hits our planet and a few upmarket individuals along with their pets will enter a sanctuary. For heaven’s sake do remember the holocaust of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” Janet tersely replied. “What about the destruction of Pearl Harbour?” questioned Marcus. Now a slanging match between the four transpired on the merits and demerits of Plan B. Marcus and Noah felt that Janet was merely vexed and exasperated that Plan A had failed; it was her ego which was acting as a deterrent to the possible success of Plan B. After all she and Agastya were Nobel Prize winners who were talismanic figures in the arena of science. Iyer and Janet were literally worshipped as deities by generations. They were icons who were feted by all. Agastya was offered prominent role in the Government of India which he politely refused, even as his wife became a Senator and it was widely believed that she had Presidential aspirations. But at heart, Janet was authentically guided by the interests of humanity and earth at large and not for a miniscule, prosperous population. The duo of Marcus and Noah managed to convince Agastya that though Janet was a scientist by profession, she was a politician at heart. They reminded him of the election defeat that he had faced years back while they were still students. While Agastya was not fully convinced by the arguments of his friends, he realised that his wife did have strong political ambitions. “Agastya, do not get swayed by tales of my political ambitions. I may or may not run for governorship and beyond; but that would happen only if life exists on the planet. But at the moment as scientists and virologists it is paramount that we remain at battleground zero and combat the pestilence. It is very easy to take a passport out. Think about the millions of humans and various life forms who will have no wherewithal to survive. Does an infantry soldier desert his country and run away from the battlefield in face of an adversary amidst ruins?” she pointedly enquired. “He would be called a traitor,” she added vehemently. “I think your mind has been cannonaded by trepidation, the lucre of money and that’s why you are even considering fleeing. You ought to support me in these trying circumstances and we both need to make a last-ditch effort,” Janet spoke with passion. “I do not wish to be labelled as a quisling in the world of science or in the eyes of humanity,” Janet spoke with conviction. Noah tried to prevail upon her friend. “But Noah, we received the Nobel prize to save humanity from cataclysmic situation and develop an affordable vaccine programme to guard millions of people. Certainly, it was not meant to protect a certain class,” Janet was firm. Agastya Iyer was not convinced with his wife’s stand especially when he realised Plan A was conclusively over. It was now imperative to save the lives of those could afford it. His stay in USA convinced him capitalism may have various deformities but was the only economic model where wealth was generated. India had slowly awakened to economic reforms. He made a last-ditch effort to persuade Janet, but failed to transfigure her mind. Finally, Agastya decided to go ahead on his own and join hands with Marcus and Noah. Meanwhile the flotsam and jetsam that constituted the majority were condemned to be swallowed by the nocuous virus. Noah’s husband Marcus Taylor had reached Mars and was stationed at Point A2 Heights to receive the first set of migrants from Earth. All arrangements had been perfected to the T and they were set to receive President James Patrick Madison Jr, members of his cabinet and the select few who had broken into the trillionaire club. With money and connections being the only criterion, the group that would be landing on Mars was variegated to say the least. The motley group consisted of well-heeled entrepreneurs, artistes and novelists, politicians, gangsters, criminals. A few of them carried their choicest pets, plants and aquatic species along. Noah had a weighty problem on her hands trying to make room for a whale which was the prized property of a Sheik from Dubai. Marcus Taylor, the creator of the enclaves on Mars and his virologist friend Agastya Iyer who was deputed to screen all those arriving from Earth, had already landed on the Red Planet. Agastya Iyer marvelled at the ingenuity of the architecture of the enclave. Taylor had showcased all his talent and knowledge in creating the bubble. “You are like God himself ... who has developed this atypical home far away from home. Our plenteous humans will colonise this planet,” Iyer added. Meanwhile Janet Kilpatrik had not given up hope and was still assiduously working to trump out a vaccine. Much to the consternation of hundreds of nations and those bereft of deep-pockets, precious funds were now being diverted from developing the vaccine to project Plan B. There were uproarious scenes in various capitals, outside Capitol Building, Central Vista, 10 Downing Street, Kremlin, UNO, IBRD. China was the lone exception, as the PLA had clarified that all decisions that had been taken were in the interests of the Motherland and the welfare of the Chinese people; no protests would be tolerated. Social media, news channels reported little else. Activists and the unfortunate masses deprived of the luxury of escape to another planet thronged these places to register their angst, enveloped as they were by uncertainty and darkness. They laid a siege at vantage points and during the protests thousands succumbed to the pestilence. *************** The firestorm killed the lights and knocked the ship deep into space. Somehow, the instruments were still alive, but there was no specialist crew to read them. Far below a red crescent shone along the edge of the burning planet silhouetted by the curve of a wing. It would be a lonely trip. She gazed through the porthole at the wavering stars as all other crew members had perished. She took in the death all around her. Her mind gravitated to her friend Janet. In the strange way that the mind works, she was thinking of epitaphs for the of two them. Certainly, hers would read like an elegy rather than a eulogy. Several heads of states and stinking rich entrepreneurs and a host of movers-and-shakers had been travelling. But the voyage was extremely arduous and several of them could not survive the shock. It was a traumatic experience for the prosperous and affluent passengers, as they were used to a life cushioned with all possible comforts. Noah Williams was numbed as disaster struck the robust spacecraft. Both she and Marcus had revisited their repository of knowledge and juggled to fit-in all missing pieces. They had imparted training to humans on how to live in inhuman conditions in an alien planet. It was not merely a text book, question and answer sessions. Humans and monkeys were made to live in simulated conditions for days together. Noah rattled her brain to remember any nugget of information that might help. The Mars Express seemed to be heading towards a precipice as Noah Williams desperately tried to navigate the ship. All that she had was a damaged ship, no crew and all communication channels snapped. She saw death in the darkness. There was absolute stillness and she could hear the roar of the Universe as the spacecraft seemed to be dangling in space. She tried every combination she could think of, made frantic attempts to reach out to the NASA control centre and her husband Marcus. She was sending distress signals to all fervidly hoping that someone or the other would respond. Marcus Taylor and Agastya Iyer appeared harried in the control room of the enclave, trying to guide the ill-fated spaceship to land but could not establish any contact. They could see the force of gravity was sucking the machine towards a black hole and were frantically trying to coax the spaceship to life. Marcus’s eyes welled-up and he was choked with emotions. He was quite certain that his wife’s spacecraft was hurtling to disaster. Noah Williams moved around the Mars Express in a feverish manner, willing her mind to find a solution or seek out any one capable of assisting her. As she walked around the belly of the spaceship, she stopped in her tracks all of a sudden. Stowaways!!! Right in front of her eyes! She was shell shocked. How they had succeeded in breaking the impregnable security ring and entered the spaceship, she could not imagine. This was something unpardonable and inexplicable. Among them was John Newton, a bright scientist who was frantic to travel by the Mars Express, but did not possess the financial wherewithal to be a part of the mission. He hankered to land on Mars and not merely salute and wave at the spacecraft as it departed from earth. These were fugitives who managed to sneak in while the all-powerful boarded the spacecraft. John had worked alongside her team during the design phase of the project at NASA. John Newton had tested positive for the deadly virus and appeared frail and ill. John did not fulfil a single condition to be aboard the spacecraft. Not only was he suffering from the pestilence, he had not been in quarantine for a month prior to the journey. Any potential traveller, upon completion of the quarantine period had to undergo a battery of tests, including testing negative for the virus. And finally, the passenger had to cough up billions of dollars to board the spacecraft. Noah was well aware that this stowaway who was one of understudies during the trials at NASA did not meet any of these parameters. But in these perilous circumstances she was left with no choice but to seek his assistance. He was the only specialist available. “John Newton, you and other stowaways are in the wrong place. You sneaked in spite of the security. Obviously, you have bribed them. I have known you for years now,” Noah spoke angrily. “But I need your help to retrieve this space craft. There is so much at stake. Will you help me? Though I feel ashamed to seek the assistance of someone like you,” Noah added. “I will certainly help, provided you allow me passage to Point A2 Heights at Mars,” was expectedly the condition stated by the stowaway. Noah thought for a while and finally gave in to his condition. Noah Williams and John Newton with dexterity managed to keep the Mars Express afloat in space and could finally establish contact with the Mars Control room and the NASA control room much to the consolation of the control centre on Mars. Had it not been for the skills of the pestilence-afflicted John Newton, Mars Express would have hurtled to certain death. A Few Years Back Janet, Agastya, Noah and Marcus raised a toast, when the two virologists were honoured with the Nobel Prize for successfully developing a vaccine against the novel Corona virus currently afflicting humanity. The duo was awarded in an online function. “Janet, what if there are multiple mutations of the virus and host, and has a DNA of the virus emblematic to the one it attacks, what would be the consequences?” Marcus enquired. “Well, that is tricky and needs far greater research to develop a solution,” replied Agastya. “I'm sure at the moment neither Janet nor me or any other scientist or virologist has any panacea for such an eventuality,” Iyer was to add further. “Let us savour this moment for now,” Janet Kilpatrick added. “Hey guys, let us celebrate this moment and be joyous that we could discover an affordable vaccine which will arrest the noxious microorganism.” “I think we would, in such an eventuality, have to think out-of-the- box if no cure is found to trace and grapple with the roots,” Marcus ventured. “May be transport population to a safer sanctuary,” Noah added. “But such a place or an enclave cannot be on earth,” was the considered opinion of the quartet. It would be verily impossible to identify a sanitized location, since all forms of life would be infected, and no PPE suit or mask would be able to guard humans and other life forms. “This is indeed a scary scenario. Let us hope such a situation never arises ever or it would be extremely cataclysmic,” Janet added. “In my opinion, the only possible colony could be on Mars,” Marcus Taylor added. “But it would be frightfully expensive to set up such a colony,” Noah opined. “Marcus has been tasked with creating the architecture of such a colony.” “I understand that such a colony is being funded by superabundant entrepreneurs and some sterling pharma companies,” Janet inquired. “To me, all this sounds extremely sinister and extremely lop-sided,” Janet added further. The power and money hungry had apparently designed a dangerous ploy. These thoughts returned to cannonade Noah’s mind as she was left with the infected John Newton. Plan A of developing the vaccine had torpedoed, Plan B was also in trouble now. Perhaps the Universe did not quite approve of this sinister and lopsided plan. This strategy did not have the stamp of approval of the Gods. As per the mandate, she could not navigate or land Mars Express on the Red Planet with stowaways, definitely not with infected stowaways. Those with the deadly virus could not stay on Mars. Noah was gripped with several emotions; she was feeling weak and had caught an acute cold and fever. In all likelihood, John Newton had transmitted the virus to her. Noah’s conscious finally pricked her. She paused for the longest moment of her life and heaved a big sigh of relief. She had come to a decision. James Patrick Madison Jr, President of America rose like Rip Van Winkle. He could barely speak. “You have been magnificent Noah. If we are alive today it is your singular effort. The moment we land at Point A2 Heights, the USA and the entire comity of nations will decorate you for this feat and your remarkable valour. Well, when do we land?” he enquired. “Mr President, this spacecraft will not enter the territory of Mars on a couple of grounds. Based on the damage caused to the engine and other segments, the spacecraft is heading towards self-combustion. Second, we probably do not have fuel left to get to Mars, and finally there are a couple of stowaways afflicted with the virus who cannot land on Mars and I cannot abandon them,” Noah Williamson was upfront with the President. “But then what happens to the surviving individuals who have spent a fortune to travel on this mission,” the President demanded, an incredulous look on his face. “I once again reiterate my earlier statement. The choice is yours. Either the spacecraft returns back to our planet or enters the darkness of space which is nothing but certain death,” Noah was even more forthright. The President was left with zero option. He looked gravely into the eyes of Noah and allowed her to take the final call as the surviving rich travellers created a pandemonium. Plan C Squaring her shoulders, she firmly changed the course of the spacecraft back to Earth. Her husband, Marcus Taylor and friend Agastya Iyer, were taken aback as they found the fading lights and final trail of Mars Express heading away. It was heading back home to Mother Earth. Desperate distress and frantic signals were transmitted, but remained unanswered by Mars Express. John Newton felt cheated but had no option available. He could do nothing as he was not in a position to navigate the space craft. He guided Noah into an oxygen bubble in the spacecraft where a couple of medicos attended upon her. After some resuscitation she was back to steer the spacecraft back to earth. “You successfully trumped my plan,” Newton who was now in PPE suit to prevent further transmission of the malignant disease. “I learnt the Art of War and Art of Chicanery from individuals like you,” Noah remarked. “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near,” she quoted an ancient Chinese strategist. Janet Kilpatrick who was closely following the course of the spacecraft after taking the solitary and intrepid decision of staying back alone, saluted her dear friend for daring to take such a brave decision, one that was fraught with strong emotions. Janet was inspired and ramped her facilities in order to work with greater zeal to develop the vaccine. As news filtered on Earth, there was large scale jubilation among the survivors in various capitals of the world. Noah’s conscience had finally pricked and she realised that Plan B was absolutely skewed and displayed the inhuman side of capitalism. Her Caribbean roots stared at her viciously. Several of her brethren who faced racism in the world’s oldest democracy, had no finances to migrate to Mars. And there she had taken the easy road out, like a snake in the grass. Her adoration for Janet rose manifold. And soon Mars Express began its descent rapidly to Earth. As news filtered on Earth, there was large scale jubilation among the survivors in various capitals of the world. Noah Williams and John Newton survived the journey back to Earth and the pestilence as Janet was able to create and develop a fresh vaccine for trial. After the clinical trials were conducted, with results still to be collated, Janet administered the new vaccine which she called Noah 2.0 on herself and on Noah Williams. “You have saved my life and my soul,” uttered Noah, giving her friend a warm hug. “And you have bolstered my strength and belief in my ability to develop the vaccine.” Noah Williams had seen termination from such close quarters that the very meaning of life had lost significance. She had spent time in a spacecraft which was filled with corpses of the elite and silk-stocking individuals who thought they were on their way to Mars to escape; they seemed to have met their nemesis. Nobel Prize 2032 The Nobel Prize for virology and work in outer space was awarded to Janet Kilpatrick, Noah Williams and John Newton. Janet received the award for the second time. The vaccination programme was launched with vigour and speed across the globe and a new, egalitarian social order was created and balance was restored. Senator Janet Kilpatrick was elected as Governor of Maryland and rumours were rife that she would run for Presidency with Noah Williams as her Vice-Presidential nominee. Point A2 Heights Marcus Taylor and Agastya Iyer had perished in the bubble along with others as they were left waiting for fresh supplies of medication and rations which never arrived. There had been no Plan D envisaged. Such a turn of faith, such a show of humane behaviour had never been anticipated.

A QUESTION OF TIMING - Read more stories in A TALE OF PARRALELS

9. A QUESTION OF TIMING The Year, 2018 The sultry weather in Kozhikode unexpectedly turned blustery. The coconut trees swayed demonically in the backwaters of Kerala. Waves that lapped the Kozhikode Beach rose in a gargantuan manner. The atmospherics appeared that it was nothing short of a nemesis. Perhaps a Tsunami-like storm was on the cards which would wreak havoc in God’s own country. The velocity of the wind and the sheer momentum of the waves toppled several boats of the fishermen who had forayed deep into the Arabian Sea. Tourists on the beaches scampered for safety. Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil settled down, much to the consternation of her colleagues and unmindful of the prevalent external conditions. She began a session of Transcendental Meditation at St Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, in her room in the residential complex. “This practice is against our ethos, our culture and whatever we learnt at the nunnery. It is an affront to our religion. The yogic practice challenges the fundamental tenets of our Lord and Christianity,” was the exasperated reaction of Sister Martha Raj from Thanjavur. Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil offered a weak smile and ignored the caustic remark of her companion. The two seminarians were in their late thirties. Sister Martha Raj was a staunch Christian and a devout Catholic, who believed only in her religiosity. She could never empathise with the internal turbulence of Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil. Sister Agnes’s mind was cannonaded with several antipathetic and Sisyphean thoughts and today she seemed to have found succour and sanctuary in practising Transcendental Meditation to assuage her frayed nerves. This practice in no manner came in her way from performing the responsibilities of a nun. She discovered that Transcendental Meditation was a technique for detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting harmony and self-realization through meditation, repetition of a mantra, and other yogic practices promulgated by the voguish Indian spiritual Master Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Year, 2008 Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil was in news for all the wrong reasons along with Father Martin Mulakkal. She had known the cleric now for around ten years. But the power of the Church and pressure of certain political parties and social groups helped the priest and nun to remain afloat as rumours of indiscretion between the two spread within the community and outside. “Such insinuations, such canards are being spread by infidels and the church should not cow down. Father Martin Mulakkal is above board and has performed admirably as a priest by bringing large numbers into the fold of Jesus.” A fringe group called Catholic Laymen’s Association (CLA) who championed the plight of sexually victimised nuns were in the forefront to espouse the cases of Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil and a neophyte student of Malabar Christian College named Anitha Ruth Rogers. The CLA pioneered the cause and struggles of women, especially nuns and girls who were allegedly sexually exploited by the brawny priests. These were hapless women who could not voice their case behind the iron fisted curtains of the Church where any dissenting voice was papered over and cloaked in the name of God. Amidst this Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil was attempting to maintain sanity. It was not that Agnes had embraced yoga and Hinduism or was proselytised, but she took to Transcendental Meditation like fish to water after a retreat at Rishikesh at the Maharishi Transcendental Meditation Centre. She often pondered over the tipping points which had transfigured her life. When had she really set in pursuit of peace? When had her peregrination towards silencing the mind, body and soul really begun? The tipping point were two gory incidents accompanied by macabre deaths which had rattled her DNA and today she was desperate to seek redemption. The Year, 1998 A cherubic Jyothis who hailed from the lower strata of the society in Kerala had entered St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church to serve God and his children. She was born and brought up in Kottayam and had virtually painted the town red with her outlandish behaviour and errant activities. Jyothis was a well-endowed, prepossessing young woman in her early twenties. Soon she became the cynosure of the nunnery as seniors, juniors and her contemporaries jostled for space to draw her attention. “Hey Jyothis, you are not cut out to be a nun. It would have been better if you had joined Mollywood.” The winsome girl did not have a particularly frost-covered past. Infact in her high school and college days she was known for dabbling with drugs and alcohol. She had indulged in a few physical relationships too. The activities of this bootylicious and voluptuous young woman from Kottayam gave the family an egregious name which thus literally coerced her to enter the Church to serve in the name of God. This was to be her atonement for the purportedly innumerable sins committed by her. But she mused, even in the literate and matriarchal society of Kerala, men got away with murder while woman grappled to remain afloat, to remain lily white. “Dad, it is easy to find fault with others. When you point a finger at an individual do remember there are three fingers pointing towards you. You think we are not aware of your nefarious dealings with politicians, honchos of the corporate world and bureaucrats? Both, mother and I are fully abreast that you supply women to these powerful people, to further your business activities. And after all I am a chip of the old bloc. And my brother Joseph is no paragon of virtue. Less said the better,” she spoke out, only to receive a thwack from her father and brother. The spirited young woman was however not deterred by the bruises and scars on her body. She was a feisty woman with enormous determination. Jyothis was reluctant to join the nunnery and put up a mettlesome fight. Eventually she caved in as she had no option. She surrendered to the diktats of the unyielding father and stentorian brother as her forlorn mother and sister looked on with anguish. “Perhaps being away from Kottayam would be a sagacious choice far away from this daily ho hum I might discover almighty God. If not, at the least I might understand why I chose this deviant path which obviously runs in the DNA of the family,” she concluded. As per the cannons of the Catholic Church a nun is a woman who has to maintain special vows and dedicate her life to the service of the church and the community. Jyothis was well abreast of these facts and wondered someone like her could adjust to the regimented atmosphere. In order to emerge triumphant as a nun, the triumvirate demands for maintaining chastity, poverty and obedience were absolutely inescapable. As per dictum of the Church, Catholic nuns had to be Catholic, but not necessarily virgins. The training period was a time for deep introspection by Jyothis, a time when she was to actually decide whether she really wanted to become a nun. This period lasted for a monumental nine years. Jyothis was rechristened Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil. The event was a matter of immense satisfaction and pride for the family, in particular her father and brother. For the duo fervently hoped that the blemishes of past would be washed away and a pristine Sister Agnes would materialise almost through a miracle and the name of the family restored. Meanwhile Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil while undergoing her religious pedagogy at St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, began teaching at Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode. This preeminent educational institution was founded by the Sisters of Apostolic Carmel came into being on 1st July, 1952. It was the sacred mission of Mother Veronica who established the congregation to train young women who had embraced a religious life. A singular incident occurred in the life of Sister Agnes prior to her being ordained as a nun in 2007. She came in contact with Father Martin Mulakkal. The talismanic churchman had reported back to Kerala from Rome after learning and training in the scriptures over there. He was allotted the Kozhikode diocese. The charismatic priest was exceedingly popular in the Church as he zealously and singularly spread the word of Lord. He was instrumental in attracting droves of people to the Church from the nearby forty villages. Among them were Chathamangalam, Beypore Chelannu Cheruvannur, Raroth and Vavad to name a few. The clergyman was victorious in pursuing some moneyed Catholics and members of other faiths to contribute handsomely to the coffers of the Church. This made the top echelons of the Church consider him an indispensable virtuoso. His adoration and ascendency were envied by the older order in the Church as was his growing proximity to the Bishop. Word spread that he was a possible candidate to don the mantle of the coveted post of the Secretary to the Bishop of Kozhikode. At the same time, he was spotted and identified by the right-wing parties for spreading the gospel of the Lord at a frenetic pace in the bijou towns in the vicinity of Kozhikode and in the hamlets which enveloped this burgeoning town. The right-wing parties and some Muslim organizations had begun gunning for him, trying to find possible chinks in his armour. It was reported that candidates were purportedly supported by him and indirectly funded by the Church scored victories in college elections and in the University of Calicut. This was a charge categorically dismissed by the Catholic Church and the Secretary to the Bishop. While no contrary truth was uncovered, the murmurs and rumours afloat refused to die. Several young priests and nuns were decidedly dazzled and overwhelmed by the out-of-the-box thinking and approach of the ecclesiastical personality. Father Mulakkal’s mass was attended in large numbers. He was considered an exemplary figure. This was deeply resented by the right-wing parties and associations. But they did not find patronage from the state government whose political base were the churches and the mosques. Game of Thrones The game of thrones of the parties who assume power at the centre has an enormous bearing on the religious, cultural, social and political moorings of the populace. Interestingly, the right-wing party and its allies were in power at the centre till 2004. Thereafter they lost as the magic of “India Shining” was diminished and diluted. For next ten years it was the United Progressive Alliance which was at the helm, before crashing to a mortifying defeat in 2014. But in the backwaters of Kerala, pole position has exchanged hands alternatively between the UDF and the LDF, whose major political philosophy is “secularism” and antipathy towards the right-wing forces. They thus kept the Church and its activities at an arm’s length, but always receiving its support overtly or covertly. Love, Attraction and the Church The Line of Control clearly delineated the responsibilities and distance to be maintained by Father Mulakkal and Sister Agnes as per the biding of the Holy Church. But life is full of vicissitudes and incredible situations. Perhaps it was the very first day they encountered each other sparks flew. But discretion was the better part of valour and Father Martin Mulakkal and Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil maintained a distance. She was in her late twenties, exceedingly well honed. She spoke eloquently and had a flagitious past which was known in the cranny corners of the Church. Father Mulakkal too was abreast of her past. Meanwhile there were numerous occasions when the pastor and anchoress were to interact. Innocent interactions over a period of time became intense. The nun like the others in the Church, was conspicuously impressed by the panache of Father Mulakkal. Soon the LoC were breached and the vows of celibacy, chastity and obedience and the attestation of poverty, chastity and obedience were broken by the flag bearers of the ecclesiastical order. Friendship and admiration between the two servants of Lord soon metamorphosed into affection and love, which eventually transfigured into physical relationship. The two were returning after a hard day’s labour spreading the word of the Lord in the neighbouring villages of the diocese when their vehicle broke down. They were to spend the night in a guest house not too far away from Kozhikode, where all inhibitions were shed. Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode, 2007 Meanwhile on the request of the Principal, soon-to-be Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil was allotted a room in the hostel of Providence Women’s College as she had to mentor students. She began spending several nights in the college premises and her voyage with Father Mulakkal to undertake community service in the villages and bijou towns near the diocese declined. The clergyman Father Mulakkal was a quick-witted person and managed to wrangle a request from the Principal of the college to take a few guest-lecturers in management and on the Christian faith and Catholicism in the college. This was a ploy. The flame was reignited and they continued with their dalliance. In a couple of months a few tongues , especially those of the older ecclesiastic order began to wag and eyebrows were raised on the frequent visits of the priest to the women’s educational institute. But Father Mulakkal had carved a special niche for himself in the Church and the diocese that the top echelons supported him and their writ had swung in his favour. His latest coup de grace was to ensure the victory of a group of candidates in the KMCT Medical College who were tacitly supported by the Church and ensuring large corpus of funding by a shipping magnate, Varghese Thomas, to the Church. The shipping tycoon became an asset to the Church and none could question his agenda and prowess. Anitha Ruth Rogers had graduated from Malabar Christian College, where she came in contact with Agnes Dominic and later began pursuing a course in Masters in Communication at the Providence Women’s College and was a student of Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil. The charming Anitha Ruth Rogers became an acolyte of Agnes Dominic and the two began spending large time together and discussed a variety of subjects. Anitha too was from Kottayam. She was aware of the hoary past of the teacher and tried to dig information about Agnes Dominic’s dalliances and her reformation process. The heart-to heart confabulations lasted several long hours and Anitha could discern that the nun in making from Kottayam was a bird trapped in a cage . She was still grappling between her bygones and the path chosen. She also had a lurking feeling that there was something, Agnes Dominic was concealing from her. The topic of discussion veered to Father Mulakkal. Anitha found that Agnes Dominic was insecure about discussing about the churchman. “Ma’am he seems to spend lot of time in our college, don’t you think so,” Anitha questioned Agnes. “ I guess that is not in our domain of choice . It is for the management to take a call on the matter,” Agnes parried the query. Over a period of time , the student of Mass Communications much to her discomfort found that Agnes Dominic who was now on the verge of becoming a nun , began avoiding her company. She wondered what possibly could have triggered this. While trying to draw the attention of the woman from Kottayam Anitha also found the frequency of visits of Father Martin Mullakal to the college on the rise and he used to spent several hours with Agnes Dominic. Anitha Ruth Rogers had become wary of the continuous presence of his eminence in the hostel premises of a womens’ college. She formally complained to the Principal of the College besides sending a mail to the Secretary to the Bishop. The college and Church authorities maintained that Anitha Ruth Rogers was suffering from a bipolar disorder. This was a mental pestilence which resulted in severe high and low moods and alters sleep, energy, thinking, and behavioural pattern. Doctors on rolls of the Church and the colleges associated with the sacred institution certified that Anitha was plagued by bipolar disorder in which she passed through periods and phases where she felt overly happy and energized and there were patches and episodes in her life in which she felt extremely sad, hopeless, and sluggish in her demeanour. And in such a condition she would make all kinds of insinuations. Ruth required a lifelong treatment which mandated a combination of medication and psychotherapy. This was a terse statement made to the prying media. Anitha Ruth Rogers protested vehemently about the ailment , but could not raise the decibel of her protest. Fictitious doctors on the panel of the Church and the college produced prescriptions and her room was littered with a large number of anti-depressants which were collected by the police during the course of their investigation and this proved to be a clinching evidence of the pestilence she was suffering from. Meanwhile the blue-eyed boy, Father Mullakal wore a Teflon coat and could not indulge in any misdemeanor and was given a clean chit by the Church and the investigative agencies. A defining night, 2008 The weather was sultry that night and Anitha was feeling extremely parched. Her mind was also tormented with the unusual behaviour of Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil. Anitha had been ecstatic till a few days back when her teacher was eventually ordained as a Sister to serve the Catholic Church. However, she was not invited for the process of beatification which left her distraught and devastated. Unfortunately for her the stain of bipolarity on her personality, was a major deterrent and a stigma even in the advanced literate state of the country. Anitha was considered inauspicious. That night she stepped down the stairs of the hostel and saw someone in a tearing hurry running away from the hostel premises. Anitha hailed to the watchman in order to draw his attention. But it was in vain. The individual disappeared in the cover of darkness and only the visage of a short bearded man in the silhouette could be seen from the distance. Meanwhile in a far corner from a room, sounds of moaning and ecstatic pleasure were resounding. A curious Anitha Ruth Rogers peeped in through a crack on the window and was rendered speechless to watch what she witnessed. She was absolutely gobsmacked. She was ashen faced to see three naked personalities indulging in sexual gratification. They were Varghese Thomas, the charismatic cleric Father Mullakal and her idol, Sister Agnes. The threesome indulging in heavy petting and oral sex reminded her of a third-grade pornographic movie. For a moment she lost all faith in fealty and almighty God. “Why does Satan overpower sanity and pristine love ,” she wondered. Upon witnessing the galling sight the bottle of water she had, to quench her thirst, slipped from her hands. The clangour alerted the trio , who quickly dressed up and rushed outside the room. They were in a hot pursuit trying to apprehend the prying student of Mass Communication. The Murder The murder of 22 year old Anitha Ruth Rogers was initially dismissed as a suicide by the state police and crime branch, but the CBI who were pressurized to conduct an enquiry later concluded that it was murder. The CBI was pressed into service and reopen the closet with the Catholic Layman’s Association who raised the ante. This was also the time for the right-wing party and their affiliates to take up the cudgels on behalf of Anitha Ruth Rogers, inorder who were smarting under a series of political losses in college and university elections and they found an opportunity to target Father Martin Mullakal and his alleged misdemeanours. The investigative agency CBI charge-sheeted Varghese Thomas and Father Mullakal . But the case witnessed several twists and turns and a flurry of petitions which delayed the trial inordinately. According to the CBI charge-sheet, on the day of her death, Anitha Ruth Rogers got up early to study and went to the kitchen to wash her face. The charge-sheet surmised that she witnessed some sexual activity involving the two priests and nun and was killed because they feared she may disclose what she had seen. She was first attacked with an axe and later dumped in the well, the CBI claimed. Although the case created a sensation in the state , the church stood by the accused, stating the accused were innocent and the victim was a patient of bipolarity who suffered from excessive mood swings and made false accusation against a devout clergyman who had served the Church and humanity with aplomb. Varghese Thomas with his money and political power had proven that he was away on a business tour and had nothing to do with the disappearance of the student of Mass Communications. The former CBI deputy superintendent of police John P Thomas, who had first investigated the case had later opted for voluntary retirement once there was immense political and pressure of the Church to write off the death as a suicide. Change of Political Guard in 2014 The change of political guard at the centre , emboldened the right wing forces in the state who along with certain Civil Rights groups and the Catholic Layman’s Association once again got the case reopened for investigation. A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was constituted which went into the details of the case and relied on various testimonies including that of Raju the robber the puny bearded man who disappeared in the darkness on the fateful night. Although most witnesses had turned hostile during the trial, the court concluded that a few prosecution witnesses had been convincing. Interestingly one of the main witnesses in the case was a small-time robber, Raju. He was on the premises of the convent for stealing areca nuts when the incident took place. He reportedly told CBI officers that he saw two priests and a nun at the convent around the time of Ruth’s death. He later confessed that he was promised several blandishments to remain silent. Raju subsequently confessed that he was promised many things to own up to the crime and change his statement but he stuck to his testimony. The special court were sentenced under Varghese Thomas and Father Martin Mullakal under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code on a few grounds. They found the plea of bipolarity of Anitha Ruth Rogers were absolutely specious in nature. The drugs like mood stabilizers were never prescribed for the patient and instead she was administered anti-depressant drugs. Second , the claim made by Varghese Thomas that he was out of town on business was found to be false as the investigative agencies discovered that the shipping magnate had never made a trip to Chennai on the fateful night and was very much in Kozhikhode. Father Martin Mullakal who tried to put a spirited fight capitulated when Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil agreed to the misdemeanour on her part and her partners in sexual misdemeanours were the inscrutable Father Martin Mullakal and the moneyed shipping tycoon Varghese Thomas. This was primarily to avenge what her father and brother had forced on her. They were coercing her not to accept the charges and that she never forsake the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Sister Agnes Dominic Thekhaparambil was being brainwashed by her father and brother that all this was the handiwork of Mephistophelian right wing forces. She was absolutely aghast at the unethical behavior and duplicity of her father and brother. The feisty woman decided to take on the male bastion of Kerala by storm. And finally the evidence of Raju the robber proved to be the clinching evidence about the shady activities in the college premises. During the course of the trial Father Martin Mullakal accepted his errant behavior and sobbed inconsolably . He further informed the court that as he was undergoing treatment for cancer he pleaded for a lesser punishment. Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil was not found guilty of the murder , but wayfaring conduct was debarred from all activities of the Church and the College as she was not an ideal role model to lead the faithful. “ I wish I’d been there earlier. It might have made all the difference. So all I can tell you is why she committed suicide ,” the former Sister Agnes Dominic Thekaparambil confessed in the penitents box and divulged all the details of her dramatic life story. Meanwhile she settled down for another session of TM after having a final look at her former lover in the coffin, the once hypnotic and magnetic priest who succumbed at the altar of ambition, corruption, sleaze and sex. It was always a question of timing all her life, which gravitated from the good, bad and the ugly.