Sruthi Art Studios

Shekhar Menon, Daniel and various other local gentlemen now definitely knew who Baba was. All of them had full knowledge of his background up to the time of the disappearance of his body. Now as if resurrected he had come back to the village. They were eager and curious to know the rest of the story. So some of them discussed with Menon to meet Baba jointly and ascertain the facts.

On a convenient day, Menon after breakfast told Baba that some of the local people desired to meet him and whether it was all right. Baba as usual gave a benign smile and Menon took it as okay.

They came around 10.30am; Menon offered them tea which all of them declined as they were coming from their homes. He took them to the sitting room and went to the Baba’s room. Baba was sitting on the bed reading.

When Baba entered, all of them got up and wished him good morning. Menon exclaimed “These gentlemen are my very good friends in this village. Let me introduce Mr Daniel, Mr Parameswaran, Dr Suresh, Mr Vaidyanathan, and Mr Ramesh”. Baba gave Namaste sign to all and sat down.

Before Menon could continue, Daniel intervened and said “Dear Baba, I along with my friends have a strong feeling that we have seen you here in this village years ago. Are we correct?”

Baba took a short time to reply – He said “That’s true” in a very low voice.

Daniel continued – “We also feel convinced that you are Sukumar – Gopalan Nair’s son”.

“Yes”

“But after the strange disappearance of your body, just like that … well we have no further knowledge … we are in the dark. So if you can tell us about it, it will be fine.”

Baba sat smiling; after a long silence, he began speaking in a low voice, slowly and haltingly. He described in detail how he was led by Vikraman and encouraged to drink alcohol and other things which he wouldn’t have otherwise liked to do. Then about the illness and the medicines he was given. And also about a strong feeling that some poison was administered with those medicines. These were given to him by Vikraman’s daughter Subadra. He concluded with his experience with the gypsies and finally with the pious and understanding swami.

“May I ask why all of you are interested in my affairs?”

Again Daniel was the spokesman.

“We feel great injustice has been done to you and the perpetrators are here enjoying your wealth; and we want to do something and find some solution.”

Baba gave his usual smile. He got up saying he may be excused and returned to the bedroom.

After a brief silence, Daniel who was always blunt spoke. “How did Dr Suresh certify this person dead? And that person is very much alive here in this home”

The doctor remained silent and kept his eyes down. So now how to proceed further was the question on everyone’s mind.

“Whatever we do let us not hurry” said Menon “in the meantime we can get legal opinion also”. For which purpose they requested Vaidyanathan to get in touch with his cousin a leading lawyer practising in the city.

The same group with the exception of Dr Suresh met again after a few days.

The agenda was to find a means to drive out Vikraman and Subadra from the mansion because Sukumar could not go there and live with the murderous duo. For this, they decided the best method was to go to court and file a criminal case against the couple – attempt to murder by administering poison, suppression of evidence, illegal occupation of the house and property and other such offences. For this Vaidyanathan’s lawyer cousin was requested to do the legal work.

There was one major problem though – nobody except Vikraman and Subadra knew what poison was administered to Sukumar.

A fortnight after Sukumar’s shrouded body went missing in the Ghats; Vikraman went to see a local lawyer. He carried with him the death certificate and a Will prepared by himself with the forged signature of Sukumar, that in the event of his death – the whole property, bank deposits and other assets would be bequeathed to Vikraman and his daughter.

The lawyer was slightly known to Vikraman. He wanted to carry out the Will legally. The lawyer being a local man was aware of Sukumar’s death and the disappearance of his body. Also he had heard quite a lot about Vikraman that was not all good or worth talking about. So he bluntly told him to first find Sukumar’s body and until then he could forget about what he wanted to do. And he summarily closed the discussion. He seemed quite repulsive to have anything to do with Vikraman.

Vikraman however was in no hurry. Although he did not have full possession of the boy’s wealth yet he and his daughter could continue living in the mansion. No one but Sukumar had the rights to the house and there was no chance of his coming to claim. The father – daughter duo continued living there but the wealth Gopalan Nair had left to his son on his death remained beyond their reach.

Vikraman and Subadra were the only ones who knew what poison had been mixed with Sukumar’s medicines. To ascertain this information, it was decided to find some method to extract it from Subadra as there was no chance of acquiring it from her father.

A crooked job had to be done and in such a situation, it was only natural that one asks a crook to do it. Hence, Velu (Velayudhan), well-known in the community to be a Shakuni like character, was unanimously selected as being perfect for the assignment  

His task was to get friendly with Subadra and then reveal to her the resurrection of Sukumar; and he had to do this cunningly using lies, exaggeration and putting his warped talents to their best in obtaining the information convincingly.

Velu kept tabs on Vikraman’s movements; and one day when Vikraman had gone to the city, he went to the house – knowing well Vikraman would take hours to return.

Subadra was in the kitchen cooking. Seeing Velu, she asked “How are you? Not to be seen?”

“Chechi (Sister), with something or the other I have been very busy that’s why I could not visit you both; by the way where is Vikraman?”

“Father has gone to the city on some work. Will you have tea or coffee?”

“No chechi, thanks, I have some news for you. You know Sukumar whose body disappeared just like that; well he is very much alive and is living in Menon’s house”.

“What! It can’t be. He was dead!”

Velu said “No chechi, he is alive. I don’t know all those past stories – but he is very much alive and right in this village.”

“No there must be some mistake – probably an imposter”

Velu smiled a usual ugly one – “chechi there is no doubt at all – it is Sukumar”

She started trembling and dropped some utensils. Velu suggested she stop cooking and listen to him as the matter he was going to say was very grave.

“Now what will happen … “she asked?

Velu took some time to say anything. He wanted to create an atmosphere where the lady would be prepared to confess.

“Menon and quite a lot of his friends together are planning to file a criminal case against you and your father, and when it happens you can guess what the results will be.”

The woman – a typical village girl had no idea about criminal cases but had heard a lot about jails and its inmates.

“Oh, what is this? What is to be done now?”

“My dear lady; both you and your crooked father will be arrested. There will be a trial. You will have to go to the court and end up in some rotten jail, where you will have the company of murderers, prostitutes and petty thieves.”

“Velu, why are you scaring me this way? Tell me some way to get out of it.”

“I’m not scaring you; I want you to know the situation.”

Velu was waiting for this moment.

“Chechi I can help you, but whatever I say should not be told to your father. You know how your father is. If the case comes up and he is arrested along with you, then he will put all the blame on you to save his own skin. Are you prepared to keep all future things in respect of Sukumar secret between you and your father?”

“Yes if there is a solution”

“There is – I repeat not a word to your father!”

“When the case is filed both of you will be arrested. But we, that is, Menon and friends will take you to the judge or magistrate. You speak the truth – the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And the judge will show leniency and consider you as an ‘approver’ – you will not be sent to prison”

Velu was so convincing that Subadra was ready for his suggestion.

Before leaving, Velu cautioned her once more to not mention anything to Vikraman.

Velu conveyed to Menon his meeting with Subadra and her readiness to confess. Menon paid Velu a handsome amount as reward.

No sooner had the case been filed against Vikraman and daughter, Vikraman fled. An arrest warrant was issued, and Subadra was left to deal with the situation. This really helped as Subadra now realised her father’s real attitude.

Things happened fast when Vikraman realised that everything would come out in court and Subadra would confess. He realised he had reached the end of the road and that he could cool his heals in some jail or …

Vikraman’s body was fished out of the village pond the next morning. A heavy stone was found to be tied to his legs.

x          x        x        x        x

Menon had sent a maid and a cook to Sukumar’s house and had made all the necessary arrangements by getting all provisions, vegetables and such things.

On an auspicious day, Menon and his friends took Baba alias Sukumar to his own house. When they reached there Sukumar was very emotional whereas all the others were jubilant.

As soon as he entered Sukumar went and sat on the settee. Others were busy going around arranging things and seeing everything was in order.

Sukumar requested someone for a glass of water. When it was brought, he was found lying on the floor with his right hand clutching his chest – he was not breathing and there was no sign of life.

This is the final chapter of a story written by my father – The Baba who came to stay

The artwork has been done in black inks