Bapatla … 11:00 PM …

Friedrich woke with a sudden jolt. His deep sleep is interrupted by something. Something strong. His body went into a state of sleep but his mind is taking him into a long but powerful dream.

In his dream, he was standing at the entrance of a tunnel. The dark tunnel is so lengthy, he cannot tell what is lying at the other end.

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He started walking into the tunnel. As he is going deep into the tunnel, his heart began to race with fear. His footsteps filled the emptiness of the tunnel. Like the sound of a cheering crowd that fills a stadium, his every step is amplified in this place. As he is going deeper, a foul smell filled his nostrils. It’s as if the trash is strewn here everywhere.

Friedrich ignored the smell and proceeded further. He must have walked some 15 minutes. By this time, he had reached the middle of the tunnel. At this point, he saw something odd at the other end … Someone is standing !

He quickened his pace and took large steps … Eager to get to the other end. The tunnel is so dark that the light from this point of the end had blinded him instantly. He closed his eyes and let the seconds passby.

After a few seconds, when he determined that his vision will accustom to the light, he opened his eyes and saw the person standing at the end. With his back towards Friedrich, the man is standing there like a statue. As Friedrich approached the man, he could make an outline of the person standing. He was wearing a rain-coat and a hat. Not someone, he knew. Not even his father … Friends.

Friedrich is now so close that he almost touched him. As he’s about to place a hand on the man’s shoulder, he turned to face him. Now, the light from outside the tunnel fell on the man’s face and the face was revealed … Crystal clear.

From one moment, Friedrich thought he is mistaken but as a smile spread on his face, he recoiled in horror and the sight nearly caught him breathless.

With a sudden jolt, he woke up from his dream. He sat upright on his bed, sweating profusely. He grabbed the nearby water-bottle on the side-table and almost emptied it by gulping down.

The sound of a motorcycle from outside caught his attention. The familiar sound of KTM Duke, accelerator raised three times – He knew what that meant – That meant that his best friend Saleem is there outside … Waiting for him on the bike. Friedrich’s dad is very particular in sending him outside with friends. He won’t allow him to hangout after 9 PM. His own gang includes two friends: Saleem and Riaz. And, now they got a new member: Roshini … Riaz’s girl-friend.

As Friedrich’s dad is strict about his timings, the gang devised an innovative way to give signal whenever they want to go. And tonight, his buddy had raised the bike’s accelerator thrice. Friedrich looked around him room … Time to go !

He checked the time on the wall-clock: 11:40 PM. He had a long dream !

He sneaked outside and got on the bike, along with his friends. They passed Gadiyaram Centre and turned left. As thier bike took a left-turn, Friedrich looked at the corner of the road and while he saw, his heart sank. He stared at the spot sadly: Clock Tower !

The iconic structure of Bapatla was removed under the guise of ‘Beautification’ of the city. He didn’t understand what is the ‘Beauty’ in demolishing it inorder to widen roads. After they’ve travelled for 10 minutes, Friedrich understood where they are heading … Suryalanka Beach. After parking, they walked past the barricades, the water-tank, the resort, the house and reached the shore. Saleem opened the bag and took a cake and placed it on the wooden-bench.

“Happy Birthday Riaz” Both the friends hugged Riaz and wished him. As they are about to cut the cake and celebrate, it is interrupted by a phone-call.

Riaz answered the phone “Hello … Darling … Thank you for your wishes”

“It’s Roshini. Hmm … He will talk the phone all night and we will stand here” Said Saleem looking at Riaz, who is now immersed in his phone-call.

*******************

A week had passed since Riaz’s birthday and Friedrich sat in Saleem’s room. Usually, Saleem won’t let anyone enter his room. Except his two friends.

Friedrich glanced at the books on the shelf with interesting titles: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo … Inferno … Atlantis Found … Snowman ... The list goes on !

Because, Saleem is an avid book-reader, Friedrich often lean on him whenever problem strikes. He now must solve the one problem that is plaguing him seriously: His Dream !

Saleem returned with a tray and placed the noodles on both the plates.

“Here, eat this Freddy. You like a load of Horseshit. When is the last-time, you took shower ?”

Friedrich knew his friend is not joking. In fact, he looked like shit.

“Saleem, I need to tell you this … ”

He narrated every detail of the dream, as Saleem listened while eating his egg-noodles.

“It’s just a dream. Why do you care ?” Saleem is puzzled.

“I don’t care if it is just a dream. Here, look at this” Friedrich removed his shirt and turned his back to his friend.

“Now … Look”

Saleem nearly dropped his mouthful of noodles. He placed his hand on Friedrich’s back and touched it. From his shoulders to his bottom, a scratch is there. It’s as if someone with big nails had menacingly attacked him.

“Now, these scratch-marks appear everytime, I had that dream. I will woke up in the middle of the night when that dream ends abruptly. And, then my back hurts like something hot is placed. My skin burns. And, when I check … these scratches appear out of nowhere ”

He showed him the other marks. Since, last-week, he is encountering this terrible nightmare.

“From last-week ? Freddy, that means from the day, your grandfather died ” Saleem seems to have established a connection.

“Hey, listen dude. What is the first thing that comes to your mind, when these type of incidents occur ?”

Friedrich answered casually “Ghosts … Evil … Hauntings … ”

“Yes. Every dead soul finds a medium to communicate with the living. It may be someother living person, a thing or sometimes … It will be things, we cannot speculate. Trees … May be … In your case, a spirit is trying to establish a communication with you. Through dreams … ”

“What it has to do with me Saleem ? That’s foolish !”

“Not with you Freddy. That spirit had some connection with your grand-dad. In order to find the answer, you have to travel through that dream. Just don’t panic and get up from your sleep. You are snapping the link with that spirit. Have courage and let the dream continue. Tonight, we will know the answers” Saleem concluded the talk with his knowledge which he acquired through books.

“And, one thing I’m pretty sure is … Freddy … That spirit is angry” Said Saleem closing the door and bidding good-bye to his friend.

As Friedrich walked away from Saleem’s home, he is also sure of one thing: That spirit whomever it is … It is very angry. He touched the scratch on his back and shuddered.

*********************

Next morning, Friedrich woke up early feeling very nervous. Last-night’s dream didn’t end abruptly as usual.

It prolonged …

As the man turned to face Friedrich, he instantly recognised him as his Grandfather !

But, what made him scarred is his face. He wore Tilak on his forehead. Sacred-beads hung from his neck and as the light from the tunnel’s end illuminated on him, Friedrich saw that beneath his rain-coat, his Grandfather is wearing saffron-robes. In fact, he is like some ancient Sadhu who just returned from the Himalayas.

Friedrich is pondering the dream over and over. Now and then, he caught sight of these holy-men … Sadhus … On TV programmes, wall-posters, newspapers …

He is not afraid of them. What made him afraid is … His Grandfather in such avatar !

Right from his school-days, Friedrich know that his Grandfather is an Atheist. He can never imagine him in this sort of clothes. How come he … An arrogant atheist appear wearing sacred things ?

Perhaps, his Grandfather is not like what they all thought. Perhaps, he had a secret-life lurking underneath that atheist garb.

Born in a devout Brahmin family, Friedrich always wondered why he was given a Christian name. Thier family and the people around them are staunch Vaishnavaites. His mother’s name is Sampoorna, his father’s name is C V V S V P Ayodhya Ram. His Grandfather’s name is Bhavanarayana. In fact, the city Bapatla is named after the diety Bhavanarayana Swamy. How on earth, did he end up with a Catholic name ?

“Your Grandfather visited many countries with his atheist friends. During those tours, he must have come across this name. He is the one who named you ” That is the answer he used to get from his father, whenever Friedrich asked about his name.

He dialled Saleem on phone.

“Yes, Freddy … Wass’Up ?”

Saleem answered his call on the first ring.

“We need to meet immediately” Friedrich spoke on the phone anxiously.

“Come to my place. ASAP”

********************

Within 20 minutes, they both sat in Saleem’s room surrounded by books. As soon as Friedrich sat on his chair, he blasted off all about the dream.

“Dreams are wonderful medium used by the dead to talk to us” Said Saleem.

“Us ?”

“I mean, the living” Saleem clarified his statement.

“This in particular reveals one thing: Your Grandfather led a double-life. Beneath his rain-coat, we sees lies. He desperately hid something. And, someone smart enough in the spirit-world is communicating to tell the truth”

“I didn’t finished Saleem. I followed him outside the tunnel. He went and entered a house”

“A house ? What does it look like ? Come on, recall … ”

“I don’t know. But, I bet I remember seeing that one somewhere. I can’t be sure. But it looks familiar”

Now, Saleem is intense “Hey, remember all the places we roam on our Duke. College, your home, Roshini’s colony … ”

“Beach” Shouted Friedrich.

“Yes … Saleem. The beach. It’s on the beach. It’s the house on the beach”

Saleem stood up immediately and said: “If that is the case, we need to go immediately. That is where all the truth lie. That is where, we will find answers”

As soon as Saleem finished saying it, they both darted out of the house and boarded an auto.

The auto they boarded was heading straight to the Suryalanka beach, when suddenly Saleem motioned the driver to stop. He got down, paid and signalled Friedrich to follow him.

“Saleem. What are you doing man ? Why did you stop the auto ? The beach is still some 3 Kms away”

Saleem pointed towards the mango-fields by the roadside and said “Look”

And, now Friedrich understood: KTM Duke is parked between the mango trees and a sling-bag is hanging to it’s handle.

“That dumbass Riaz took my bike key for this … ” Saleem walked towards it.

“Ri … Ri .. Riaz …” As both Friedrich and Saleem went shouting, Riaz appeared from behind the bushes with his shirt unbuttoned. He placed the key in Saleem’s hand without uttering a word. As they both climbed the bike and about to start, Friedrich was sure he saw a girl duck behind Riaz … It’s Roshini.

Friedrich is sure what they will do after they leave.

*******************

They reached the beach and parked the Duke outside the house. They climbed the wooden stairs and reached the door. The door is locked.

“Oh shit. How can we … ” Before Friedrich complete his sentence, Saleem unlocked the key with a piece of wire lying there.

“How can you open that damn thing ?” Friedrich is suprised to see him open the door in a jiffy.

“You need to watch some good spy-movies buddy. Why don’t you go and watch Goodachari?” Said Saleem entering the house.

“Hey, what if someone see us?” Asked Friedrich.

“Never mind” Saleem doesn’t seem to care: “We need answers buddy”

“I wonder whose house is this” Said Saleem looking around.

“I think, I know ” Said Friedrich “Look”

Saleem halted in his track “Good God”

A rain-coat and a hat lay on the table.

“May be the spirit was right Saleem.
So, this house belongs to my Grandfather. I don’t know such a thing exists. All the time he kept this as a secret from all of us. But why Saleem ?”

“May be it’s time to find out mate” Said Saleem picking a Journal lying next to them.

As they both wandered around the room, they caught sight of a photo of a man pasted on the wall. A red sketch-mark with an X was written across the face and the word FINISHED was written beneath it.

“Who is this man? Your Grandfather must have deep antagonism towards him”

“Yeah, sure he is” Said Friedrich opening the Journal and showing him. The same photo is pasted inside. They both sat down to read.

“Are we intruding his privacy by reading this Freddy?”

“Never mind. He had lied to us all the time” Friedrich didn’t seem to care a bit.

The Journal seems to have revealed many secrets. It is revealed that Friedrich is named after Friedrich Nietzsche, a German atheist.

“Your Grandfather must have admired him very much. I too had read some of his works. I didn’t like his views though. He is very prejudiced againt religion” Saleem said looking at the Journal in his friend’s hands.

The man in the photo is revealed as Siddhi Vinayak … An Astrologer. Friedrich’s grandfather seems to have exerted a greater rivalry with him. From TV debates to articles written on Scientific Magazines, Friedrich’s grandfather always discredited the man with vengeance.

“Hmm … Professional rivalry. What’s the big deal man ? It’s common ”

“No, it’s not Saleem. Look here ” Friedrich showed him a paper-clipping in the journal …

Famed Astrolger Commits Suicide

“Oh my… ”

“Yes, he went into depression after my Grandfather’s continuous humiliation in front of the world. He lost many of his followers and was forced to wind up his Ashram. His family went into hunger. Unable to bear this, he committed suicide” Friedrich closed the Journal with a thump.

The sound of a car from outside made Saleem to got up immediately. He slowly tip-toed and silently moved the curtian and peered through the window. A black BMW halted before the house and a fat man got down. He spoke on the phone for a couple of minutes and drove away towards Haritha Resorts.

“So, this explains it Freddy” Continued Saleem turning back to Friedrich “This man whom your grandfather drove him into suicide is the one who’s communicating with us. He is the spirit who spoke to you through your dreams ”

“Yes. What does he want from us?”

As soon as he said the word, a blast of cool air hit the two of them. They both jumped in shock. The photo of the Astrologer began to move and as they watch it with fear, the red-lettered word FINISHED had vanished without any trace and with the same ink, a new word appeared on it’s place: JUSTICE !

“He needs justice Freddy”

******************

Friedrich closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the waves. The tide is very low and the sea-water is very cool. He stretched out his legs and the water keep swirling at his feet. He doesn’t know for how many hours he is sitting at the beach. Indeed, he lost track of time. He opened his eyes to the sound of a motorcycle approaching. He turned to see KTM Duke with Saleem riding pillion with Riaz.

“I was thinking whether there is anything we can do for that Astrologer” Said Friedrich, as soon as they sat beside him.

Saleem turned to see Friedrich’s face and sad to see his friends’ eyes were wet with tears.

“Indeed, there is something we can do Freddy. We can undo what your grandfather did to him. We can reverse the injustice the man underwent”

“Just think about his family Saleem. A loved one lost … Never to return. Never to lead life with them for the rest days. It’s so unfair Saleem. How can my grandfather do such an act of cruelty ? ”

Silence fell between the friends. All this time, Riaz stood there without uttering a word. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of a ringing phone.

Riaz saw the display which read Darling. He picked it “Okay … I’m coming. In 5 minutes. Usual place. Mango-trees. Don’t let anyone caught sight of you dear”

Without a word, he started the Duke and rode away from his friends.

“I think, it’s Roshini on the phone ” Said Saleem looking back.

“God … Saleem … You are of your mind. That man is dead. Gone. How can we reverse that?”

“Not that my friend. We will correct his image in the public which was destroyed by your grandfather”

The mention of his grandfather, made Friedrich feel guilty and shameful. Had it not been for the dead-spirit of the Astrologer, the true nature of his grandfather would never have been revealed.

“You see, this Astrologer … Mr.Siddi Vinayak was disdained by your grandfather through a book written by him. Titled My Journey Towards Unreason, he poked fun of the dead-man’s claims. It made permanent damage to him. So, we are going to undo that”

“How Saleem ?”

Saleem explained his plan. Friedrich listened without interrupting.

After he had finished, he asked “Is this possible Saleem ?”

“I don’t know whether it’s possible or not. But, it’s the only the thing we can do to get justice for the dead and grieving soul” Said Saleem looking back at the house.

*****************

People have gathered to observe the first Death Anniversary of Friedrich’s grandfather. Upon Saleem’s advice, Friedrich arranged the meeting at the open place and very near to the house on the beach. Today as all the near and dear were gathered, Friedrich grabbed the chance and turned the occasion to execute his friend’s plan. Friedrich invited all the people who had close proximity with his grandfather: Journalists, intellectuals, professors, book-publishers and all the members in his atheist circle.

Friedrich climbed the platform and began to speak behind a lectern.

“Dear friends … ” Began Friedrich and after the completing the niceties, he launched straight into his friend’s plan.

“My grandfather worked on a book, during his last-days. In fact, it is a sequel to his previous book Viz., My Journey Towards Unreason. Now, the new book is titled My Journey Towards Reason. You all know that all through his life he despised religion. All during his life, he downplayed faith and upheld Atheism as the only way that leads humanity to perfection. He was on a constant journey towards truth. And, that truth had liberated him. During his latter days, he realised that no philosophy can claim absolute supremacy. And, that humans need the best of all philosophies and ideologies. This, he accentuated in this book he had written during his last days ” He held the book in his hand for all to see.

In fact, he lied. His grandfather never wrote such a book. Saleem, with all the knowledge he had gained had used to write this so-called Sequel. In the book, they had filled the pages with views which balance both Religion and Atheism. He dedicated a seperate Chapter for the dead Astrologer and made claims that his predictions are genuine. Later, both Friedrich and Saleem met a number of ghost-writers, ameteurs and Screen-writers and paid them enough money to polish the book. It is as though his grandfather himself had written the book. A year had given them enough time to work this out !

“Now, this book is called My Journey Towards Reason. I dedicated this book to my grandfather’s long-time associate in search of truth: Mr.Siddi Vinayak, the celebrated Astrologer !”

All the people clapped hands and the music started to fill the whole place. All the time while he was speaking, Friedrich kept the photo of Siddi Vinayak on the lectern next to his notes. Saleem had taken the photo from the house on the beach. As the crowd exploded in applause for Friedrich’s words, Saleem thought that justice is finally served and the grieving spirit had found peace.

He looked back and saw two people riding KTM Duke into the far away mango-fields. He wished that his good friend Riaz and Roshini won’t cross thier limits.

“I now conclude this meeting” spoke Friedrich on the mic “With the words of a wise-man Friedrich Nietzsche: Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”

As he was about to step down from the lectern, he took the photo of Siddi Vinayak and about to take it with him, he saw the red-lettered words FINISHED vanished without any trace and a new word with the same ink appeared: THANK YOU !