Raj was listening to the preachings very consciously. Guruji
was talking about the behavior of the heart at the time of death. The thumping
and then the silence. He was so calm and peaceful. His charisma draw Raj
towards him.
“Come here son.” Guruji called Raj after the lecture. He
stood perplexed for a moment and then hurried to him, tumbling and managing his
things. Guruji don’t talk to anyone much. He tried many times but Guruji never
allowed anyone. Death was not something to be talked about like idiots. Guruji
was a spiritual teacher but he had a special command when describing death. His
followers believed that he has met with death more than once.
“I have seen you here often. They tell me that you are
roaming around the Ashram and trying to learn from other people.”
“Guruji, I want to know the truth about death. I am scared
of it but don’t want to be.”
“You look from a nice family son, must have a good job also.
WHY?”
“Yes, I had a job which others dream of. I got bored of it.
I want to understand what a relationship is. Why we are so much attracted and
bonded with some people but not with others? Most of all I want to know, if
there is an afterlife?”
There was a shine in Guruji’s eyes.
“How long have you been here? Your family knows about it?”
“Yes, they know. They tried a lot to convince me to come
back but have left hope now.”
“Ok, go out and wait in the meditation room. Someone will
come and tell you, what needs to be done.”
The smile of joy changed into that of victory. Guruji had
accepted to teach him. He waited for more than an hour but no one came. His
phones had already been taken at the gate of the Ashram so was very bored. But
he knew, every great achievement needs a lot of patience.
A man in a saffron cloth wrapped around his body, came to
him. He had never seen him before. He took out a straight razor and signaled
him to sit straight. His head was shaved and was given a saffron Kurta. It was
too wide for him but he didn’t raise a single question. He knew the silence
meant that he was not going to be answered. The guy then rolled the carpet and showed a hidden path. He followed him. The dungeon was quite dark and creepy.
He was not scared. He had stayed hours in graveyard trying to understand death.
“You are now ready.” The voice of guruji echoed. The guy
disappeared.
Guruji came infront of him and started to roam around. The
dungeon was dark enough and he was finding it hard to follow Guruji’s movement,
standing few feet away from him.
“You wanted to see death right.”
Raj just nodded. He didn’t know he was too excited or scared
but he couldn’t turn back now.
“Have a good look then, you are standing with death.”
Raj looked around trying to understand the dungeon for the
first time.
A knife swiftly touched his ribs leaving a stream of blood.
LED lights flashed in the dungeon.
“Next lecture, I will tell how eyes behave at the time of
death.” Guruji said in his calm voice, pleasantly resting Raj’s head in his
lap.
