The Secret of the Chalisa

by Subhanand, Dr. Runjhun Saxena

  “If you don’t mind, may I have a closer look at it?” Sanjeev's hand was itching to hold the idol in his hand and look for the indentation mark in the feet. When she handed the idol to him he held it with reverence and checks the feet immediately. He was elated to see the indentations. His mind and heart were filled with joy as if he had run a hundred meters race and stood first.

  “May I take this? It is a part of relics, whose other parts I have. This will complete the sequence of statues,” he pleaded to her.

  “Ok you can, but please inform Suresh. It’s his mother’s last bit of memory he may get perturbed,” she said and gave a box to place the statue.

  Sanjeev could not stop the adrenaline rushing in his body. He placed the statue in his backpack and drove at full speed to Pawan’s house. He had to place the statue on the wooden box and see what happens. He was sure that the moment the picture is complete, something strange would happen.

  As he reached home, he looked for the vault. Pawan had kept it in the prayer room and after few minutes of search Sanjeev found it. He meticulously took out the statue from the box and placed it on the vault, right in the center, at its rightful place next to Sita and Lakshman. It too fitted with a thud and was unable to remove thereafter. But nothing more happened.

  Sanjeev was astonished. He expected the vault to open, to make noise, to do something at least. But the vault stood there with all the statues in place as a perfect work of art. It was still locked. Sanjeev was crestfallen. He felt dejected and remorseful. All the effort was suddenly looking a waste to him. He wished Pawan was there to help him. He didn’t know what to do when he looked at his phone and dialed Bhumija’s number.

  “Hello,” Bhumija answered the phone. She waited for a while when Sanjeev did not answer and then said, “Sanjeev are you OK?”

  Her voice melted his heart and he replied in a coarse voice, “The vault is not opening.” He then explained her how he got the idol and what he did next.

  “Wait there, I’ll come in a while,” she said and hung up the phone.

  Half an hour later Bhumija was at Pawan’s house. She found the door open and when she steeped in she saw Sanjeev seated in the prayer room on the floor. She gently touched his shoulders. In a flash Sanjeev grasped her legs and started sobbing. She sat down and took him his arms. Her soothing touch and sweet smell melted Sanjeev. He took control over his emotions and separated himself from her despite his heart speaking otherwise.

  “No matter how much I try to move ahead, I keep slipping back,” he said.

  “Show me the vault,” she asked and took the box in her hand. She sat there gazing and tried opening it by shaking it, but it did not yield.

  “Didn’t you tell me that Bajrangi and Sumati made this? Let’s go to them and ask. They would know how to open it,” suggested Bhumija.

  Sanjeev stood there gazing at her. What a practical and simple solution she offered which his disturbed mind couldn’t think.

  “Let’s go immediately,” he packed the vault in his backpack, took her by his hand and came out of the house. He locked the door and got his bike ready. While he waited for Bhumija to climb into the rear seat, Bhumija stood there wondering.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re so sure I’ll go with you in your bike, I’ve never sat on anyone’s bike,” she was blushing.

  “I need your help,” Sanjeev pleaded.

  “Of course,” she smiled and got on the bike. “Don’t worry we will solve it together.”

  When they reached Mussoorie, Sanjeev located the shop easily this time. He saw Bajrangi again with his cynical look.

  “How are you?” Sanjeev asked as a conversation starter.

  “Oh you have arrived again,” he replied.

  “I’ve got the complete vault this time,” Sanjeev said as he placed his backpack and took out the vault carefully.

  “Bajrangi adjusted his spectacles and nodded his head. “Who is she?” he said pointing towards Bhumija.

  “She is the niece of Dr Anjana. The vault is still not opening,” said Sanjeev.

  “Let me check,” Bajrangi replied closely observing the vault. “Sumati, come here,” he screamed in his hoarse voice. “See this vault,” he said handing it to Sumati.

  She looked at the vault too and then said, “It’s really nice you found all the idols, but where is the stone?” she asked.

  “Stone? Which stone you are talking about?” Bhumija was puzzled.

  “See here. Place your finger here then you will understand,” she pointed to Bhumija. She took her finger and placed it on the chest of the idol of Ram.

  The chest had a circular indentation which suppressed a little when pushed in to it. It also had some fine carving which was not noticeable by naked eyes.

  “Oh my God. There’s another lever in it,” Bhumija was amazed at the intricate work.

  “Anjana Madam had asked me to make a place to insert a stone in Ram's chest. She gave me a sample glass crystal for it. But I don’t have the real stone. She said she wanted a reflection also. You will discover that when you place the stone in it. The stone intricately fits in the depression. It sinks down, then rotates clockwise half a circle, then anticlockwise for three-fourth of a circle and finally a transparent door closes to enclose the stone within it,” Sumati solved the mystery for them.

  “We have a red sapphire, maybe that will fit,” said Sanjeev. “What will happen after I place that?” he asked.

  “Once all elements are together, the drawers will open automatically,” Sumati said.

  “Is that it? Is this the last level?” Sanjeev asked feeling troubled.

  “You can hope so. At least from my side I did that much,” she consoled Sanjeev.

  “OK. Thank you. If we have any problem we will come again,” Bhumija thanked them and hinted Sanjeev to leave.

  “Let’s go back and try putting the stone,” she said and they left for Pawan’s home.

  It was late evening when they reached Dehradun. Sanjeev stopped the bike at Pawan’s house and asked Bhumija, “Its late today. Do you want me to drop you home?”

  “Drop me home? Are you kidding me? We have to open the vault first,” she said in a hurry to go inside the house.

  “It might get late, do you want to be with me alone in the house?”

  “What are you going to do to me? I know judo karate,” she said making a funny pose.

  “Which one do you know? Judo or karate?” He said smiling and got off from the bike.

  “What?” Bhumija said in a peculiar made up voice reflecting that she did not know the difference between the two art forms.

  “Come inside, I’m scared of you,” Sanjeev laughed. It had been quite a while when he felt happy.

  As soon as they reached the home, Bhumija went searching for the sapphire stone at obvious places. Sanjeev laid the vault on the table in the living room and sat on the floor beside it. Bhumija returned with the stone and handed it to Sanjeev.

  He was sweating even in the cold weather. As he took out the stone from its velvet case, he looked at Bhumija and took a deep breath.

  “Place it,” she said touching his hand.

  Sanjeev carefully placed the stone on the chest the idol of Ram. It depressed a little and fitted in the same sequence as Sumati had said. As soon as it fitted there was a beautiful salmon glow all around. The stone was magnificently reflecting the color and its aura spread around a vast distance. The entire vault seemed to be lit up with a divine light. In between the stone the word ‘Ram' was reflecting again and the shadow it casted in the wall also reflected the same term. It was the most splendid view they had ever seen in life. It was so grandiose that anyone could be taken by awe.

  Bhumija reached her hand to open the drawers. But to her surprise it did not yield again. “It’s not opening still,” she said.

  “It can’t be,” Sanjeev said as he tried the drawers too. “Now what?” he said.

  “We are missing something. We need someone to g
uide as,” said Bhumija.

  Sanjeev stood there thinking hard. He had tried his best collecting all the levers of the vault. Suddenly he was reminded of Suresh.

  “I know who will help us,” he said to Bhumija. “We need to show this vault to Suresh Sir. He will tell us what to do next.”

  Chapter 26

  Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosahin Kripa Karahu ki nyahin

  Hail, Hail, Hail, Shri Hanuman, Lord of senses. Let your victory over the evil be firm and final. Bless me in the capacity as my supreme guru (teacher).

  Jo sat bar path kare kohi Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hohi

  One who recites Chalisa one hundred times, becomes free from the bondage of life and death and enjoys the highest bliss at last.

  “Then we should go right now,” said Bhumija.

  “He told me that gadgets like vaults should be tested under X-Ray scanner for better information,” Sanjeev said as they both headed on his bike towards Suresh’s home. “I hope he will not be surprised to see us at this ungodly hour.”

  “He’s a very helpful person and if it’s about gadgets, he is always ready to help at anytime,” answered Bhumija.

  The night was progressing into its darkness, and so was the cold. Despite the thick sweaters they wore, the cold wind was piercing their body.

  When Sanjeev rang the doorbell, Suresh opened it.

  “Oh you both, so late at night that too in this cold winter? Come inside the house. It’s warm. Bhumija why are you out of home so late at night?” asked Suresh.

  “We were working on this vault at Pawan bhaiya's home but got stuck at a point. Now we need your help urgently. I told mummy that I have causality posting today,” she explained.

  “Ok show me the vault. I’ll ask your bhabhi to get some tea for you,” said Suresh.

  Sanjeev took out the vault. It was complete with idols in place and emitted a beautiful salmon colored light across.

  “Let me have a closer look,” said Suresh picking up the wooden box. “Oh so Bajrangi and Sumati made it, another example of their explicit skill,” he said seeing the seal on the vault.

  “We have placed all the elements in place according to Sumati, however the vault is still not opening,” Sanjeev explained.

  “Hmmm… We need to see this vault through an X-Ray scanner as I told you before,” said Suresh. “I don’t know where we will find one at this hour.”

  “I was thinking about the same on the way. I have a senior in college who is doing his thesis on portable digital X-Ray scanner for evaluation in ambulatory trauma patients. He can help us,” suggested Bhumija.

  “That would be of great help. Will he come here with his machine?” said Suresh.

  “I’ll call and ask him,” said Bhumija as she searched her phone for his contact number. “He will come in half an hour,” she said after speaking on phone.

  “Ok. Till then we have time to think over it. So far the vault has mechanical components which are well in place. The optical function of the stone has also added to the lever function. Other than that the light emission doesn’t seem to play any role. If the vault is still not opening, then I feel there must be one more level. It can be either a biometric component, or a software system. If it’s biometric, then it can be opened only by the owner. So if belongs to Ma, only she can open it,” said Suresh.

  Sanjeev and Bhumija were disheartened to listen to such information. “That means we can’t open it,” asked Sanjeev.

  “It’s precisely this reason that I feel there will not be any biometric component. If she had to hand it to you, she cannot use such a sensitive detector. So there must be some other kind of lock,” answered Suresh.

  While they were talking there was a knock on the door and Bhumija’s friend came in with his portable X-Ray machine.

  “Thanks for coming on such a short notice,” said Bhumija.

  “It’s OK. After all, what are friends for? Anyways I was going to casualty to take some X-Ray images. I just thought I’ll drop by in between. Hope your work won’t take too long,” he said.

  “Not at all, we just want a scanned image of this box and idols,” said Suresh. “It’s for my personal use.”

  He took out the scanner and took a shot of the box. “The image comes in digital format on the screen. You can either take a print or I can send you a soft copy to your email address,” he said to Suresh.

  “Please email me, I can assess it easily then,” said Suresh.

  Bhumija’s friend left the house after transferring the image.

  “I didn’t want to discuss about the box in front of him,” said Suresh as he opened the image on his smart phone for analysis.

  “He still has a copy of the original image,” said Sanjeev.

  “That’s OK. So far you don’t lose the box, image will be of no use,” answered Suresh. “Let’s see. The image of the idols and box is very clear. I can also see the metallic levers which are in place in a lock and key mechanism. There are two drawers visible. The top one has some tube like structure. Probably it has the inflammable material as you told me. Oh yes, there’s a key too. There’s something more, let me zoom in and see,” said Suresh straining his eyes. “There are some metallic chip like components and some wires connecting them. They are attached to a battery. Wait a minute, it looks familiar to me. Where have I seen it…… where,” Suresh mumbled as he thought.

  “Oh I got it. It’s a voice activation device. I designed it long time back. I didn’t know Ma had preserved it so well,” said Suresh.

  “Voice activation? What does that mean?” asked Sanjeev.

  “The vault is not opening because it requires a code in sound format. It has pattern recognition and if you speak that pattern in front of it, it will open,” Suresh explained.

  “You must know what code you used,” said Bhumija.

  “I made many such gadgets that time. I don’t remember which one I gave to Ma. You can probably try speaking ‘Khul ja Sim Sim’,” Suresh tried to lighten the mood. However Sanjeev took it literally and tried speaking the verse in front of the vault.

  “It’s not opening with that verse,” Sanjeev said as Suresh looked at him with a strange look on his face.

  “It has to be something else but I can’t recollect now,” said Suresh trying to stress on his memory.

  “Was it someone’s name?” said Bhumija. “Or date of birth or your pet’s name? These are the common passwords.”

  “No, none of these is the answer. I had designed most of them with either song lines or…….” Suresh was hardly able to complete his sentence when all three of them said in unison, “a verse from Hanuman Chalisa!”

  “Yes, it’s a verse from Hanuman Chalisa. But I’ve forgotten which one,” said Suresh.

  “We can try reciting the entire Chalisa,” suggested Sanjeev.

  “The device will not recognize it that way. It has to be an isolated verse, spoken clearly. Very long patterns of voice can not be recognized,” told Suresh.

  “I have the booklet with me. Let’s see if we can find something in it,” said Sanjeev taking out the booklet from his backpack.

  “We have worked out the Chalisa almost till the end, last few verses still remain. May be one of that works out,” added Sanjeev.

  “Let me have a look, I’ll recollect if I see,” said Suresh. He took the booklet from Sanjeev and started reading it. “There are some verses in bold, but I don’t recollect which one. I need to stress on my memory,” said Suresh.

  “Which one do you like?” asked Bhumija.

  “I like the one with the mention of demons: Bhoot pisach Nikat nahin aavai Mahavir jab naam sunavai.”

  “Then let’s try that first,” said Sanjeev and recited that verse close to the vault. They all eagerly waited for something to happen but the box did not yield.

  “Let me try this time,” Suresh said and recited the verse again. However, nothing happened in the box.

  “May be its some other verse,” asked Bhumija.

  “Let
me have a look,” said Sanjeev. He took the booklet and read from the beginning telling Suresh how they deciphered the verses.

  “This entire verse is in bold,” Sanjeev said. “Sankat kate mite sab peera Jo sumirai Hanumat Balbeera.”

  “We can try that too,” said Suresh and he recited the verse loud and clear. But to everyone’s disappointment the box did not show any signs of unlocking.

  “I don’t think this hit and trial method is working,” said Bhumija.

  “This particular verse is in bold too and we have still not worked it out. It says, ‘Jo sat bar path kare kohi Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hohi'. See if it reminds you of something,” Sanjeev said handing over the booklet.

  “Hmm.. It’s actually an intriguing verse. Ma had given a very beautiful explanation of it once. She said it denotes that whosoever recites this Chalisa hundred times will be free from bondage. When Tulsidas recited it hundred times he was released from prison. A huge army of monkey created havoc in Akbar's court and he had to release Tulsidas whom he had held captive under false charges,” Suresh said.

  “Yes, I remember Pawan Sir mentioned the same story once,” replied Sanjeev.

  “Yes, we both liked that story as kids. However I liked the alternate explanation which Ma gave. She said that freeing oneself from bondage does not only mean literally, but it also has a metaphysical concept. It means freeing one’s mind of redundant thoughts. Our mind in course of its development is influenced by many things around us. Social circumstances, personal preconceived notions, family values, culture, ethnicity, education, relationships and so many other things. There comes a point when we become captive to our thinking. Our mind starts driving us. But success lays in becoming a master of your mind rather than letting your mind master you. Hundred times recital frees you from that bondage of your mind. The hundred here is just a number, it signifies constant struggle to achieve that state of mind. This verse carries the entire power of Chalisa within itself,” explained Suresh.

  “Then let’s try this verse,” said Sanjeev.

  Suresh kept the box on the table and bent down close to it. Then he recited the verse clearly with faith.