by Benyamin
It was only when Merin came and invited us for dinner that we got up. I was totally tired and exhausted by then. I only remember going up to my room after dinner. And falling into Melvin’s bed. I slept like I’m dead.
Sometime at night, a song woke me up. A group song. It reverberated, like the sound of waves from a distance. I first thought it was a dream. So, lying down, I enjoyed it for a while. Then I realized that it was not a dream, but reality. The song was coming from somewhere close.
I slowly got up and sat on the bed. A thick blanket of darkness surrounded me. Groping, I switched on the light. The song was coming from the ground floor. I checked my mobile phone. It was past one. Hasn’t anyone gone to sleep here? Why is there singing now . . .? I went to the door anxiously, removed the latch and tried to open it, but it would not open. I tried again and again, but no, it was not opening. Then it stuck me that someone had locked it from outside! A shiver ran through my spine. What are they doing after locking me in this room . . .? My anxiety and fear increased. I ran around the room like a mad cat. There was a window that faced the next room; I tried to open it, but that too was locked. Fuming with anger and dismay, I sat on the bed. I’m a guest in this house. I came here because I was invited. Then why have they locked me in? What secret do they have to guard from me? Or are they doing what Jijo had talked about—Mariam Seva? I was so angry that I wanted to break open the door and go downstairs. But one part of my mind was telling me that it would be dangerous to do anything rash. If they have locked me in, that means something is taking place that they wish to keep hidden from me. So, if I come to know of it, they might do anything with me. I’ve been trapped in a den of the worst evils. I’ve to act cautiously. Not emotionally—tact is required here. I got back to my bed. Outside, the song had reached its height. There were bells ringing. Suddenly, I spotted a small ventilator above the door. It was covered with glass. I pulled the table close to the door, and got on top of it. Luckily, that hadn’t been latched. I opened it slowly and craned forward to see. The hall on the ground floor could have been seen clearly were it not for a money plant hanging near it. I tried to lean and look from various angles, but the view wasn’t clear. I felt so sad, angry and helpless. After a while, the song stopped. It felt like everyone was dispersing.
What Jijo said is right. There is Mariam Seva here. After Melvin died, Merin must have been offered to Thaikkattamma. That must have been the function, which took place now. I felt so angry at the house and at Appachan, who was always gentle. He did all this pooja and seva, and got one daughter killed. But he’s still not content; now he wants to offer his next daughter. Melvin wanted to run away from this ghost house. That’s why she had gone so far to Diego. And fallen in love with me. And wanted to marry me. I felt bad that I couldn’t save her. I need to at least help Merin out of this hell.
I heard someone climbing the stairs. I was still standing on top of the table. I jumped down, dragged the table to the previous spot, switched off the light, ran to the bed and pulled the blanket up. There was the sound of unlatching. I snored as if I was in deep sleep. I could feel someone coming close to the bed. I slowly opened one eye. It was too dark to see anything. But I knew the person was walking around the bed making sure I was asleep. Then he came right up to me and tried to wake me up. I purred in sleep. After a while the footsteps receded. When the door opened, I quickly turned to see who it was. In the light falling from outside, I had a glimpse of his face. It was the Catholic priest whom I had seen at Martha Mariam Church that afternoon!
Journey
MELJO WOKE ME up in the morning. It was around eight. My eyes were still heavy with sleep.
‘Last night, I came up thinking of chit-chatting with you, but you were in deep sleep. Must have been tired with all the travelling, right?’ Meljo asked.
‘Yeah, totally tired,’ I got up and sat on the bed.
From last night’s hurried pulling of the table, some of Melvin’s dolls had fallen to the floor. Without asking anything, Meljo picked them up and put them back in their place.
‘This must have happened when I went to the loo in the night,’ I tried to explain.
‘Okay, get up now and get ready. It’s time to go to the church.’
I quickly freshened up and went downstairs. Everything looked normal there. Everyone was busy getting ready.
Merin came to me with coffee. ‘Did you sleep well last night?’ she asked. She was unusually shy. ‘Yeah, but I had some bad dreams. Some chaos and songs or something.’ I was observing her keenly.
‘Must be because of the change of place,’ she said without a change in expression. Merin knows how to lie and how not to give anything away. Or maybe, she developed the skill as a child in this family.
‘You also look sleepy. Did you go to bed late?’
‘After Melvin-chechi’s death, nobody sleeps here properly. Appachan and Ammachi just act as if nothing has happened. And yesterday, all the relatives and all . . . yes, I slept late. Must be because of that.’
No. She doesn’t seem to stumble at my queries. A cat knows how to fall. It doesn’t matter who throws it down.
That was the first time I was really talking to Merin. I inquired about her studies and college. She was in the final year of her degree programme, at Ernakulam. After that, she wanted to do a BEd.
‘Where is Jijo? I haven’t met him this morning.’ I looked around.
‘There was not enough space for everyone here. We have another house nearby. So, he is there. He will come here soon.’ She took the empty cup and left.
Umm. So that’s how it is. Jijo was not here last night. He was also kept away so that he won’t know what’s happening here. Jijo is a close relative. But even he was filtered out of the guest list last night. That shows how secretive it was.
Two Scorpio cars had been making round trips to the church since morning. When Jijo came, I got into the car with him. He also gave the same reply that Merin gave me about the sleeping arrangement. He added that he had come to take me also to the place, but then as I was sleeping, he let it be.
Before leaving, I will ask Meljo directly. I knew everything that had happened last night. Let me see what lies he tells.
Qurbana was halfway through when we reached the church. There wasn’t much crowd; only a few close relatives. We stood outside, talking. Before the prayer at the cemetery, I went there and chatted with Melvin’s saplings. Appachan had hinted about something last night, what should I do? I asked Melvin. ‘Say yes, say yes,’ the flowers nodded. Not for Valyedathu Veedu, but I’ll agree for the sake of Merin, I promised her.
The reception at Udayamperoor Panchayat Community Hall was a full house. The local MLA, a state minister, panchayat members, politicians, heads of other religions, priests and all such important people had come. I could see people fighting to win the favour of Melvin’s Appachan. I felt they could be the secret visitors and clients of Valyedathu Veedu. Amidst all the bustle, everyone seemed to have forgotten Melvin. It’s the same with every death. Nobody will be remembered beyond forty-one days. By any one.
It was around 11 when the people left. I had expressed my wish to leave. There was a Kingfisher flight from Nedumbassery to Chennai at 3.55. If I could catch it, I would get a connecting flight to Sri Lanka that goes via Diego. I could also avoid a train trip to Thiruvananthapuram, and save a day. I’d booked the return ticket, considering that.
‘It’s only at four; there is a lot of time,’ Meljo insisted. Ammachi asked me to leave after lunch.
No, I don’t want anything. I’ve to leave now. This is my last and final visit to this house. I’ll never come again. I’ll never contact any of you. This is a house of superstitions and witchcraft. I’ve had enough of all of you. This is what my mind was saying, but nothing came out in words. In this house, not just Appachan, everyone has some power that clips the tongue of others. In this house, I’ve become feeble, unable to speak my mind. This time too, I did what they said. There are not many occasions on whic
h I have been such a slave.
So I had to stay on at Valyedathu Veedu till lunchtime. As much as I was trying to go away from the house, some powerful forces of fate seemed to pull me closer. Some believe that for forty-one days after a person’s death, his or her soul remains on the earth; only then does it go to the netherworld. If that’s true, today is Melvin’s last day on earth. As she leaves this place forever, is it her wish that I have to be with her dear ones . . .?
After lunch, Jijo was planning to drop me at the airport on the way to his college. I thought then I could discuss last night’s event with him. But that didn’t work out. Some group from Angamali offered to drop me in their car. Appachan said that would be better than a long bike ride. Neither Jijo nor I could oppose him. We looked at each other helplessly.
Jijo left alone.
Forgoing all that we could have told each other, I bid farewell to all and joined the Angamali group for the airport. But I was still hoping that I could call up Jijo and have a long chat.
8
Wednesday
‘THIS IS VERY weird . . . this actually happens here . . .?’ asked Sudhi Mashu.
Anil smiled. ‘It’s only here that this happens even now! We have the new-generation churches, then we have evil worship, we even have mashinottam, then something as new-fangled as pulse diagnosis. Kerala had become a centre of the black school of mysticism long ago . . . And among them there’s Mariam Seva. Nothing to be surprised about.’
‘These kinds of prayers and beliefs are not part of one particular religion. Every religion practises them,’ Salim said.
‘Till recently, the Christians in Kerala were part of the Hindu ethos. Most of their customs followed the Hindu style. Whatever was followed by Hinduism was also observed by the Christians. This must be one such instance. How will we get at the truth?’ Pattar Biju asked.
‘If we believe that Andrapper has been truthful till now, then this too should be true. There is no need for him to lie only about Valyedathu Veedu,’ I said.
‘Why are we struggling so much? Jijo, whom we had met that day, is a cousin of these people. We can ask him,’ Nattapranthan suggested.
‘That’s correct. Call him right now,’ Anil told me.
I dialled the number. As soon as it started ringing, everyone surrounded me without a word. Jijo took the call at the very first ring. Not just that, he quickly recognized me from my voice. After some small talk, I got into the topic.
‘By the way, there is some progress on the Andrapper issue. I’ve got some more parts of his book, The Book of Forefathers.’
‘Any idea where he is now?’ Jijo asked.
‘No. But he has mentioned some other important things. Especially about Valyedathu Veedu.’
‘What is it . . .?’
‘Should I tell you? Don’t you know?
‘I didn’t get you.’
‘About Mariam Seva.’
‘Oh . . . that. That’s not a secret. Everyone in Udayamperoor knows that such a custom takes place at Valyedathu Veedu. Not just that, people from across Kerala come there to do it.’
‘Actually, what is this Mariam Seva . . .?’
‘Something like Chathan Seva, to put it in simple terms. Mariam is invoked and beseeched to do things.’
‘Is it the Virgin Mary whom they invoke?’
‘Valyedathu Veedu has Thaikkattamma. At some other places, Mary is invoked.’
‘Does it actually yield results?’
‘It must be. Isn’t that why more and more people are coming? But I don’t have any faith in all this.’
‘Who does it at Valyedathu Veedu?’
‘Their Appachan. But he passed away recently. Now Meljo does it.’
What’s Merin’s role in this?’
‘She has been offered to Thaikkattamma, that’s all. She doesn’t take part in the seva or the pooja.’
‘Then what was it that Christy heard and almost saw? Was it the ceremony of offering her to Thaikkattamma?’
‘When . . .?’
‘Christy had written that while he was in the house, there was a celebration at night. I was asking about that.’
‘At Valyedathu Veedu . . .? Ey, no chance. The offering takes place at the church.’
‘Then what might have taken place there that night?’
‘I’ve no idea. What has Andrapper written?’
I gave him a short account of what had been written.
‘This is very interesting. There can’t be such a ceremony at Valyedathu Veedu that I know of. But I can’t believe that Andrapper got it wrong.’
‘So what’s the way of knowing what had happened?’
‘Did you call Meljo?’
‘Yeah, but he keeps things to himself. He was saying he doesn’t even know any Andrapper.’
‘I’ve told you earlier also. He’s a master cheat. You’ll have to sweat it out to get anything out of him. I still strongly believe that he had a hand in Andrapper’s disappearance.
‘Anyway, let us think of a way. Jijo, please try to figure out what ceremony took place that night.’
With that, we ended the conversation.
But the talk had only put us in further confusion. Yes, there was indeed Mariam Seva. Jijo accepted it. But what was the ceremony that took place that night? Andrapper says it was the ritual in which Merin was offered to Thaikkattamma. Jijo says that’s not how the ritual is usually conducted. Who among the two is right? Who is wrong? Or is there a truth between these two? How can we figure that out . . .?
The Thursday Market had many inconclusive discussions. Finally, we came to this decision: We have to call Meljo one more time.
‘We should confront him boldly. It will have to be a strong move in which he will have to accept his relationship with Christy. From there, we should be able to find out the inside story of Valyedathu Veedu,’ Anil said.
‘The call shouldn’t be based on a rash reason. Each of us should go home, make time and think. We should concoct a good reason to call him. We can, we are smart,’ said Salim.
‘Okay. Then, let’s leave this topic for today. Only the liquid treat is left,’ declared Nibu.
That day we wrapped up after finishing the bottle that Salim had got and listening to his Mauritius stories. Next week, we met again. Though each of us presented ideas to call up Meljo, nobody could come up with a convincing one. Everyone slowly slid into silence and our own thoughts.
‘Has anyone of us seen Mariam Seva?’ Anil asked as if woken up suddenly. A silence followed, indicating that no one had.
‘I’ve also not seen it. But I’m going to see it,’ Anil said.
‘No. Anil, that’s too much of a risk. Meljo already has doubts about us. We should be cautious about landing in such places. They have the support of big gangs of goons,’ Mashu advised Anil.
‘What Mashu says is absolutely right. I’ve had direct experience. One guy went to Bangalore to see Nagamanikyam. There is a five-lakh-rupee fee just for seeing the stone. He got beaten up, and lost the cash. That’s how these goons function. So, all the investigation till now is good enough. Let’s not complicate it,’ Nibu seconded Mashu.
‘To get to the soul of a matter, it has to be sliced through the middle. I’m going to that house to see Mariam Seva. Maybe, I’ll lose a bit of money. Or get beaten up. But I’ll catch the lion in its own den. Who has the guts to come with me?’ Anil asked.
‘I’m ready!’ I piped up in the excitement of the moment, despite my usual cowardice.
‘So, how can we attend a Mariam Seva? What are the procedures? Benyamin, call up that Jijo now and get the details,’ Anil said.
I phoned Jijo.
It has to be booked in advance, Jijo said. He also gave me a number for it. Anil tried the number. There was some cross-questioning from the other side, asking who we are, where we were calling from, and how we came to know about Valyedathu Veedu. When he gave the proper answers, the fees and procedures were explained to him. Thus, Anil’s name was booked for
a Mariam Seva for a day the following week. Then the wait started. A week-long wait. Finally, the day came. Today. Wednesday. Anil and I left for the house in the early morning.
That’s how we landed in Udayamperoor. We didn’t have to ask for directions. Andrapper’s The Book of Forefathers had the precise details.
Evidence
‘IT’S A LIE! Whatever you’ve said are lies. Andrapper has not written a book like that. Even if he has written it, it’s all lies. Who are you trying to fool? Me? What exactly do you want? Is it money? Or something else . . .?’ Meljo’s face was shaking in fury.
‘Hello, Meljo, cool down. Who are you getting angry with? Us? There is no need for that. Because, none of this is our imagination. These are the descriptions in a book that we had got, which we then toiled to assemble. If you are angry with Andrapper, there is no need to take that out on us. We are less close to him than you are, you must have understood that by now. So let’s stop the drama and get to the point. Tell us from the point where the story has reached. What happened to Christy Andrapper after he left for the airport with the Angamali family?’ Anil asked in a composed, yet sharp, tone.
‘You came here unnecessarily following a story, that too a story written by a fraud who tells lies, and cheats. You are not going to get anything from here. I’ve nothing to help you with. He has never contacted me after he left. I don’t know the reason. And I don’t know where he has gone,’ Meljo reiterated his stand.
‘Meljo, you keep repeating the word, “lies, lies”. Please tell me, which part of Christy’s writing is a lie? Is your sister Melvin’s death a lie? The affair they had, was it a lie? Is it a lie that he had been to your house many times? Srikumar, Jijo, Anita, Sudha-chechi . . . all lies? Is Udayamperoor a lie? This Valyedathu Veedu? Is Mariam Seva also a lie?’
‘I don’t know if the others are a lie. But the treachery he did to us is enough to prove that he is a total cheat.’
‘What did he do to you? Leaking the secret of Valyedathu Veedu?’