The path of questions

The man goes. Boudi: who is that man, Baba? Pagla Baba: our Shashwata’s room. Boudi: meaning Shashwata will live in a rented room? What do you say, Shashwata? Shashwata: yes, Baba; whatever you understand as good. Pagla Baba: then you need not go tomorrow; I shall see alone. Suman: when did you speak? You were here. Now do doctoring here some days; then I shall take you somewhere else. Rama, you go home today. Satish, you go too. Shashwata and Suman will stay; they will do my cooking.

What do you say, Shashwata? Shashwata: Yes, Baba; whatever you see as good. Pagla Baba: Then let it be. There you will take money only enough for ordinary living — not more. Suman: When did you speak of this? You were here all the while.

Pagla Baba: For some days now, practise medicine here; afterwards I shall take you elsewhere. Rama, you all go home today. Satish, you go as well. Shashwata and Suman will remain; they will cook for me. What do you say, Shashwata? Learn it — you will manage, will you not? Shashwata: Yes, yes, I can do these things.

Amal, you set out; you have much road. Boudi: then Shashwata, you stay; we shall meet again. After pranam, Amal, Rama, Satish leave the kutir. Afternoon has only come. Suman: will you drink tea, Baba? Pagla Baba: you do no addiction. Shashwata, have you any addiction? No other. I have lessened the smoking much. Pagla Baba: Suman, see, learn something from Shashwata.

I wanted only to make tea for you. Pagla Baba: You, of course, keep no such habit! Shashwata, have you any craving of your own? Shashwata: Not much, Baba. Nothing else. The smoking I have cut down a great deal. Pagla Baba: Suman, look — learn something from Shashwata.

Pagla Baba: See how he first took the habit, then weighed its quality, and lessened it. You neither took the habit nor received the power of judgement.

Suman: Then is intoxication a good thing, Baba?

When Suman has gone for the tea, Pagla Baba says to Shashwata: take your food now; you may eat luchi and such. At night, roti or paratha. Do a little meditation.

Pagla Baba: all right. Shashwata: may I ask a question? Pagla Baba: without mantra-diksha this life of yours will be vain. Without the Guru it cannot be protected. Your Guru is not this body of mine. This is only a medium. Your Guru has been through birth and birth, and making me the medium will teach you; and the day you yourself obtain guru-hood, that day you will merge together. The Guru does not want seva. The Guru (lifting Shashwata) wants meeting.

The Guru lifts him: he wants union.

Suman, teacup in hand: Baba, tea is ready. Pagla Baba turns: come, give the tea. He wets the throat. Suman and Shashwata sit in the verandah. Suman: brother, was there any word of your diksha? Suman: bah, well! Guruma cooks the eating with her own hands; that rare taste — I have eaten her cooking a few times and still cannot forget. Shashwata: you have eaten Guruma’s cooking many times? Shashwata: that bhog — what is Guruma like? Suman: she too — what kind of conduct?

Pagla Baba (turning to Suman): Come, child, give the tea; let me wet the throat. Suman holds out a cup. Suman and Shashwata sit on the verandah. Suman: Brother, was there any word of your diksha?

Shashwata: So you have eaten Guruma’s cooking many times? Suman: More or less two or three times. All the disciples love it. Shashwata: And Guruma’s nature — what is she like? Does she behave as he does?

Shashwata: like our Gurudev. Guruma explains the whole word well and always keeps us sheltered. Shashwata: in what matter does she keep you sheltered? Suman: you will not understand now; you have only just come new; stay some days, then you will understand. Is it for nothing everyone calls the man Pagla Baba. Yet brother do not fear. He will not do with you now such things.

Suman: You will not understand it yet; you have only just come. Stay a few days, then you will see why everyone calls this man Pagla Baba.

Suman: Quite well — with fear and with joy both, we pass the time.

The day does not want to pass at all. There is a great pull toward our Baba. Shashwata: brother, do you remember the day of your diksha? What rules had to be kept? Suman: oh, many things. I was quite afraid; this much I remember. Shashwata: that he will say. One must go step by step. At which step was your diksha, brother? Shashwata: is that another step? Suman: yes, then again purnabhisheka after shaktabhisheka, then another kroma-step.

Suman: No, no. He himself will say. At which step was your diksha, brother? Suman: Mine was abhisheka — one step is done. After that, Shakta-abhisheka. Shashwata: Then Shakta-abhisheka is another step?

Suman: Yes. After Shakta-abhisheka there is purna-abhisheka, and then another step in the sequence.

Only bless me, that I may walk his path.

Shashwata speaks in bhava; the words can, and speaking his words he leans. When you speak, the words have quite another deep bhava; with my little intellect I have understood this much. Meaning first a good human being, becoming a good sadhaka, then sadhaka. Even if sometimes you use the two hands like feet, everyone still calls you human, not cow or donkey. Pagla Baba: see, Shashwata — shame, disgust, three remaining, this is not that line; this chela of mine has understood. It was Bhadra month. Suman: I, Baba, a porcupine? Pagla Baba: were you thinking yourself some walking animal among trees?

Suman: Baba, was I a porcupine? Pagla Baba: Do you take yourself for some walking tree?

First finish the evening rite quickly, then help. They wash, change cloth, pranam the Guru, enter the kutir. Pagla Baba, sitting in the verandah, has already begun manas-sandhya. Evening has only come; before dark thickens, stillness has come down on every side; a south wind races toward the kutir. He remains this way a good while.

Pagla Baba: Then let it be aloo dum. Suman, first finish the evening sandhya quickly, then help. Suman: Come, brother, wash your hands and feet, and change this cloth. The two wash, change cloth, pranam to the Guru, and enter the kutir.

Pagla Baba, seated on the verandah, has already begun the mental sandhya. In this way a good while passes.

Sandhya-kriya finished, he begins to sound the shankha. Suman has taken the kriya in well; Shashwata too. They come out to pranam and complete their own evening rite. After sitting longer Shashwata asks how long he will sit like this. Suman waves him silent, then once calls Baba. Pagla Baba sits eyes shut like stone. Stillness has increased. Jackals and dogs sitting far off suddenly come near the verandah and sit silent. Wind touching the body feels like the touch of many. Both bodies begin to feel heavy. Suman and Shashwata sit a little closer, body to body. Some unknown fear wants to seize them. Suman’s call has not reached Baba’s ear. Shashwata signs, takes Suman’s hand, and they enter together.

The jackals and dogs that had been sitting far off come near the verandah and sit silent. The wind that brushes the body feels like many touches; both begin to feel the body heavy. Little by little Suman and Shashwata sit pressed against each other.

Suman’s call has not reached Baba’s ear. Suman wishes to call again, but though the wish rises, courage will not come.

Shashwata signs to Suman; they catch each other’s hands, rise, and enter the kutir together. Inside—

The vessels are in their jammed places as they were. Suman lights the hurricane without a word. They pass the eyes well once more in that light. Suman signs Shashwata outside. Jackals sit around the bel tree; in the hurricane light their eyes glitter. They sit side by side against a verandah post. After a little, from inside the room someone calls, give water. Both keep the ear up. The word is right — someone is saying give water — yet neither dares rise. Suddenly the jackals rise together and make a terrible uludhwani. Shashwata clasps Suman. Suman, hus hus, standing in the verandah, tries from far to drive the jackals. Shashwata and Suman enter together, who, who? What, you are here? Shashwata dips a ghati in the bucket and gives water. — he says to Suman.

The two come out. Outside, several jackals sit ringed round the bel-tree; in the hurricane-lamp their eyes glitter. The two set the lamp aside and sit side by side, holding the corner of the verandah. After a little, someone from inside the room seems to call, “Give water.” Both keep their ears sharp. Yes, truly, someone is speaking of water — but neither has the courage.

From fear neither can rise. Suddenly the jackals rise together and give a terrible ululation. Give a little water.” Shashwata and Suman together enter, crying, “Who? Who?” — “What, you are here?

Suman gives water glass by glass; Pagla Baba drinks two glasses and the thirst is not quenched. He signs Shashwata to pass the cigarette. Eyes shut he draws. Both stand silent. Shashwata turns to look; Pagla Baba stops him: wait. I had spoken of firewood; Budoka has brought wood. Suman, go set those in their place. Suman goes out; curiosity takes Shashwata out too. A man past sixty, lungi, bare-chested, has set down a sack. Wiping face and hands with a gamcha: where is your Baba? Shashwata: yes, come. All freeze outside the door, very astonished. Shashwata: what happened, brother? Suman: nothing — and grows a little courage.

Pagla Baba stops them, saying, Wait. I had spoken of firewood; the old man has brought wood. Suman, go, set those in their place. When Suman has gone out, Shashwata, from curiosity, comes out as well. The old man, taking the gamchha from his shoulder, wiping face and hands: Where is your Baba?

Hearing the cry, all halt and stand outside the door. The three are much astonished. Suman: It is nothing. The answer gives a little courage.

He seems a little busy inside. I had a word. Pagla Baba: do not think; I have told them; the water they give, feed three times, and put that pillow-flower under today, then the danger will cut. If you do not mind, one word, Baba? Today entering here I felt somehow afraid. The body was becoming cold. Some were looking and looking at me. Pagla Baba: which doctor did you show? Budoka: doctor?

Pagla Baba (from inside the room): Give him a little water and batasha, and give into his hand water from the lota and a flower from the Guru-pata. Pagla Baba: You need not worry.

The old man: Shishir Babu’s son. The boy—

Stale food, a belly-illness. Pagla Baba looks toward the jungle-doll: what doctor is that, then? That is why the fever is not leaving. Toward Shashwata: that will be it; what else? Shashwata, astonished: I have not seen her. From what did her fever come? Pagla Baba: listen, Budoka, this is Shashwata-babu, a passed doctor. Tomorrow morning show Putul to him once. You will treat in this village of ours? Then there will be much help.

From now he will practise here some days. Tomorrow morning show Putul to him once. And give him whatever fee you can manage; you need not give much money.

Budoka: the new bazaar? Then no trouble. Baba, when can he be found tomorrow? Budoka: all right; how shall I thank you; you are not an ordinary human being. A little foot-dust. And those who were looking and looking at you today have now known you; they will not look and look; so the skin will not crawl. Go home. Suman lifts the hurricane so Budoka can see a little path. Pagla Baba comes out. Pagla Baba: Shashwata, tomorrow morning you will go with me. See your workplace; from tomorrow do doctoring there.

Pagla Baba: That is all right; you need not touch the feet — make pranam on the earth. Now come, or you will be late. And those who were staring and staring at you have now known you; they will not stare so, and the flesh will not creep.

Pagla Baba: Go, go home. The old man: Very well, Baba, I go now. Then Pagla Baba comes outside.

Pagla Baba: Shashwata, tomorrow morning you will go with me. See your workplace; from tomorrow you will practise medicine there.

Remaining on the sat-path one can build oneself much self-trust; and with that trust many impossibles are done without effort, because from sat, truth, and from truth the creation of sur. Where you are sat, there you are truth. And so you too are that sur. So its fullness does not come. Waking, the thought of sur; all thirst will quench. The full jar will not want more, the toy of false happiness. Pagla Baba, clapping, sings enchanted; Suman and Shashwata remain bound looking at him. What rare bhava. Now he sings.

When the thought of sura wakes, all thirst is quenched. The filled jar will ask no more for the toy of false happiness. Pagla Baba, clapping his hands, goes on singing, lost in bhava. Suman and Shashwata remain bound in looking at him. How wonderful is his bhava. Now Shashwata too begins to sing.

Suman: brother Shashwata, begin your cooking; the wood in the unun has caught well. Shashwata, setting the karai, cannot make the sums of what he saw meet. Suman: is this your arithmetic, that these things should add? Shashwata: you say right; staying alone with him is quite fearful, and again quite a joy.

Shashwata: You speak truly, brother; I feel the same. One never knows what will happen when. What do you say? Suman: Just as you have said, brother.

Shashwata: That must certainly be known — but who will ask Pagla Baba? Suman: Why? You. And me? He will cool this head and open the intelligence — eat a few more luchis, then you will understand everything. So you ask; you will understand better than I. Shashwata: Then sit beside me. Not now; I cannot yet. A few more days.

Suman: Then let it be, brother; later. We shall surely come to know. You can guess the cause, of course.

Pagla Baba sits looking at the sky, smiling, muttering, then calls Suman. Come, look at the sky — do you see? After a while Suman: Baba, nothing much is seen. Pagla Baba: why, do you not even see the stars? Look how far they are, yet with your eyes you see them clear; and between one star and another you see another, and the empty between two stars — what is that empty you see?

Suman too keeps looking well toward the sky. Pagla Baba: Why, boy? Can you not see the stars? See how far they are, and still your eyes see them clearly.

Pagla Baba: Yes, just like your two eyes, is it not? In the empty part between your two eyes, what is there now? Suman: Meaning the part between my two eyes? Because of the gap between the two eyes I cannot see something? Have you ever, with eyes closed, seen the stars?

Have you ever, taking time alone, tried to see those stars with the mind’s eye? You will see how near one can come to them, even feel a touch. We accept only what these two eyes see, and what the eyes cannot see we will not accept. That does not mean what is not seen does not happen. Much remains in this living world and walks around us that the bare eye does not catch. Worldly sight only births the thought of difference and grows I-ness. So one must sometimes take oneself into a quiet and become alone, that one may speak only with the inner. Shashwata nods yes.

Then you will see how near one may come to those stars, and even their touch may be felt. That does not mean that what is not seen does not happen.

Do you understand, Shashwata? Shashwata, without any answer, only nods his head in yes. Suman: Then, Baba, what must I do from now? Pagla Baba: That path has already been given you.

And the shakti gathered from that kriya will fight with the jagatik and take you toward the ajagatik. Do you understand?

Night has gone quite far. Shashwata’s luchi is ready. Suman wipes sweat; Pagla Baba teases that rain has begun on his head. Suman brings hot luchi and alur-dom as bhog. Pagla Baba sits: will you eat cold? Sit together with hot luchi; today we take together. Shashwata and Suman spread asanas and take the plate of luchi.

Suman: I am bringing your food. Suman: Baba, come, your food has come. Quite hot. Bring the hot luchis and sit together. Today we shall take it all together.

Shashwata and Suman, as told, spread asanas, take the thali of luchis, and sit. Suman: O, the salt is quite harsh. Shashwata: Yes, it feels far too much.

Suman finds the salt too much; Pagla Baba takes a little from his own plate as prasad for both. Taking the Guru’s prasad with devotion they say the salt is now exactly right.

Shashwata and Suman do not lengthen the talk. When Pagla Baba has risen, they finish their food. Suman cleans the verandah and makes Pagla Baba’s bed, and lays their own bedding inside the kutir and on the verandah. Pagla Baba: Tomorrow rise early — and saying this he enters the kutir.

Shashwata lights a cigarette: brother, how was the cooking? Suman: did you not see Pagla Baba say, and his eyes flash of themselves? Suman: what sleight? Do you mean throwing on the earth and eating was not for nothing? Does something happen in the earth? Eating and eating, sometimes food falls on the earth; has the taste of cooking ever changed from that? Not in my days. Shashwata: yet he hears all.

Mine never has. You think and say, brother. Suman: You have said it truly. I had not thought so far; that was his jugglery. Shashwata: But he hears everything. He does not keep late nights.

Pagla Baba said stale food — then nothing else. Yet he wishes to press the pulse and belly. Suman: when did Pagla Baba go into the room? Did you see?

Suman: Another thing is troubling me. Brother Shashwata, did you see when Pagla Baba went into the room?

Shashwata: When the jackals called, then my two eyes turned the other way; before that I had been looking toward him. Suman: O Baba — in that creeping atmosphere the jackals too cried out terribly together. But before the jackals called, someone from inside the room was already calling, “Give water, give water.” Shashwata: Yes, yes, you heard it too?

Someone was calling, “Give water, give water.” Shashwata: Then what is the matter? Were there two men — one outside, and one in the room?

If there are two, then where did one go? Which is real, which a ghost? After the whole evening, you frighten me again. Better discuss in the morning light. Say some other good words. Shashwata: why would he become a ghost? You heard — he told Budoka the ghosts stay outside who come to speak with him, and they keep watch. The night before I too felt something; yet with Dada-Boudi the night passed somehow.

Shashwata: Did you not hear? The night before I too had felt something here; but Dada and Boudi were there, so the night was passed somehow. Suman: What is this you have begun again, brother? Do you yourself understand what you are saying? Today too we are lying outside.

A good cold wind is blowing. Shashwata, without lengthening the talk, draws the sheet over himself. And then the two dogs lying beside them bark and run toward the gate.

He asks without turning. Shashwata: I did not understand exactly; it seems the dogs drove someone outside the gate and have come back.

Will understanding bring sleep? The eyes are somehow — do you not hear a sar-sar sound? Pagla Baba said they have known Budoka. Then they have known us well too, from before. They have heard we must rise early. Shashwata turns, starts — what is this? A severed head toward us.

This word of mine now they have surely heard as well. The sentence is not finished when something falls from the bel-tree with a thud upon the earth. Shashwata turns to look and starts: what is this?

Shashwata: Brother Suman, it seems to have stopped. Shall I turn a little and look? Do not show me either. Hold still and sleep. Do not show needless courage, and do not talk.

Shashwata holds Suman a little, then says “Jai Guru” again and keeps the eyes closed. Is he hearing rightly? A mistake of the mind?

A human throat-voice seems to call, striking. Shashwata: brother, listen — someone is speaking, do you hear? Suman pricks the ear: yes I hear. What time is it? In the dark the watch is not well seen; Suman lifts the hurricane: four-fifteen — dawn has come. Pagla Baba is doing pratah-kritya; that is his throat. A little light is breaking; dark has not yet cut. Now perhaps we must rise.

Shashwata now looks toward the watch on his own hand. Suman: Four has struck. Pagla Baba is doing the morning kriya; that is his voice. What is happening?

Shashwata (looking toward the sky): A little light is breaking, but the dark has not yet gone. Must we rise now, brother? The two eyes are burning. Suman: No, no — let five strike. Sleep a little more — and he lies with eyes closed. Pagla Baba finishes the morning kriya and comes outside.

Then he himself goes into the kitchen to make tea, and comes with one cup and calls Shashwata and Suman, Rise, rise. They rise and together make pranam to the Guru.

Pagla Baba: here, Shashwata, your tea. Shashwata takes the cup: Baba, you might have woken me; I would have made tea. Pagla Baba: all right, drink; perhaps in the night sleep was not good. He goes inside. Suman: after what happened at night, how will sleep be good? You were saying something — whose severed head was rolling. Shashwata rises to see what it actually was.

I was much afraid. Suman: This happening must be told to Pagla Baba. Such things are not right. If this goes on, how will people stay here? Looking this way and that: O brother Suman, look, this is what had rolled.

Brother, you are a great coward; without seeing well you say such things that anyone hearing you would have a heart-fail. But it looked just like a round head. Let it be.

Yesterday when the old man came, he came here with the old man and stayed. The dogs drove him off once; otherwise he would have asked water of you. He had thought you would give a little water. But once the dogs drove him, and once your Guru-mantra-japa stopped him; otherwise he would have woken you. Shashwata is new; he would not have given him much heed. And you are more courageous than Shashwata besides.

Pagla Baba: You did not even shout. What do you say? Suman: It is not like that. A little fear did come, of course. Pagla Baba: Yes, that is what they were saying — that much fear did not come to you. That is why they like you so.

Pagla Baba: O, you fear them. All right, I shall see what can be done. But do one thing: stay here some days now.

Staying here now seems better. Shashwata: But Baba, where did that severed head go? I thought perhaps this bel was it. Later I shall say where what is.

Saying this he goes out. Shashwata and Suman look at each other. Suman: O Baba, did you hear, brother? That means the severed head is here somewhere. Shashwata: Just so I heard. In truth such an experience has never come before.

Shashwata from childhood in an utterly remote house has seen such things. How many neighbouring wives were seized by ghosts; remembering that experience the bone still goes cold. The village had great ojhas; bringing an ojha, the ojha with a jhanta—

Suman: But those ghosts too had no small power. No — now let me finish the bath; who knows when Pagla Baba will call. Suman: Yes, yes, leave all this for now.

Shashwata: The whole day this has been going on. I too had better finish the bath.

Suman sits with a bowl of muri. They eat muri and coconut. Then three people, very hurried, cross the small gate — two men and a woman. The woman, much agitated: is the sadhu-baba here now? Suman: who are you?

When Shashwata comes, Suman: Here, brother, take a little muri and coconut. The woman, much agitated, looking this way and that: Is Sadhu Baba here now? Suman: Who are you? Where have you come from?

Shashwata: What has happened? Danger? Shashwata: How did you understand a ghost had taken her? All speak together: O Baba, if you see her you will understand.

The woman: Look a little, won’t you? Seeing you both, one thinks you too are Sadhu Baba.

Perhaps she cannot be saved. Go somewhere else, to some ojha. Shashwata starts, lifts her. Then Pagla Baba enters: yes, she says right — you will be able. All look at Pagla Baba. Shashwata and Suman look astonished at Pagla Baba.

All turn and look toward Pagla Baba. The woman: Yes, Baba, you are speaking truly. Shashwata and Suman remain looking at Pagla Baba in astonishment. Pagla Baba reassures them and tells Shashwata to come inside the kutir.

Shashwata (astonished): Baba, how shall I be able? Do I know these things? I know nothing of this kind. Pagla Baba: All right; you need not think so much.

The patient will become well and people’s help will happen. Shashwata: yes Baba I have understood. Then shall I take them? Pagla Baba: no, take only the ghati; take water from there, otherwise a ghost will truly come present. Outside they wait.

Do you understand? Shashwata: Yes, Baba, I have understood. Then shall I take water from here in the lota? Pagla Baba: No, no, take only the lota; take the water from there. Otherwise a ghost will truly come and stand present. Outside they are growing much agitated.

Come, Sadhu Baba, they say, and go out, taking him from the verandah. Suman remains standing on the verandah. Suman (astonished): What is this again?

He asks Pagla Baba.

Suman: Baba, what will Shashwata do there? Did you take him in and teach some mantra of driving ghosts? His face too somehow changed. Yet I think he should have written the mantras. Perhaps my error; sending you might have been better.

Suman: You will do whatever you see as good, Baba. Pagla Baba: Yes, you are speaking truly.

Pagla Baba: Take it so — all ghosts are not one. Some are more powerful, some less; some leap much, some come to bite. When you can drive out the ghost upon yourself, you will become siddha in driving out another’s.

Pagla Baba: Then let it be for now. When the wish comes again, tell me; then I shall teach you. Now give me the arranging of the puja. Suman says, All right, Baba, and goes to arrange the puja. Meanwhile they reach their house with Shashwata. The car stops before a wide pucca road. Getting down, Shashwata turns toward the house: O, this is your house?

As Shashwata goes forward, two gentlemen come out of that house and, saying Come, come, take him toward the rooms.

The family: come Baba, the girl is in the upper room — they show the stair. Shashwata: wait a little. He sees another closed room in front. Shashwata: yes, open it. Entering, a damp smell comes to his nose.

Shashwata looks a little this way and that and sees before him another closed room. Shashwata: Is anyone in that room? The girl’s mother: No one, Baba. Do you wish to see? The woman opens the door of the room and Shashwata goes in.

The room is clean; there is not much furniture. Thinking what smell has come to the nose, Shashwata sits on the bed.

Shashwata closes the eyes again, remembers the Guru, and looking toward the closed ceiling-fan starts — someone is hanging.

He rises quickly and comes out without looking any other way, a little agitated. Mother: shall I open that room’s door now? Shashwata, hardening the mind, holds out the ghati: fill water. She fills it. Now open the door. Taking the girl’s pulse to examine, the girl breaks, and seeing Shashwata cries this, this. He takes her hand.

You have come to drive me out? See how I drive you — and she gives Shashwata a hard shove. The girl speaks again: Listen, I shall not go. They have given me much suffering. I shall spare no one.

Shashwata thinks: Pagla Baba had said a ghost does not seize like this. The girl now runs, rushing at Shashwata. Quickly he takes a sleeping medicine from the waist.

Shashwata now, repeating the Jai Guru mantra in the mind, presses the girl’s brow hard with his own thumb. The girl falls on the bed and at once becomes altogether quiet.

Then the girl falls altogether asleep. Shashwata now comes outside and says: I have driven the ghost out. Which ghost had come upon her? She saw a ghost.

Her soul has not found release; she is still in that room.

What she had felt, she had mentally loaded her own sister inside herself, so she was behaving so. The sentence not finished, all lie at Shashwata’s feet crying Jai sadhu-baba; you are not human, you are certainly Bhagavan. I know nothing. Father: then that room? Shashwata: keep the room shut now.

Shashwata: Keep the room closed for now. First take the girl to hospital; then come once to our kutir. What must be done can be said then. The girl’s father: Your dakshina? Shashwata: You may give it at the kutir.

The girl’s mother quickly seats Shashwata in the car. The car leaves their house; Shashwata sits alone on the rear seat, feeling much weariness. Pagla Baba is perhaps waiting for him.

The driver: Yes, Babaji, there is not much road now; your kutir will come at once. Khukumoni will come right, won’t she?

Shashwata returns. Pagla Baba, eyes shut, takes a little naivedya-prasad from Suman’s finished puja. Are you thinking for him about driving ghosts? Then a car comes before the kutir; Shashwata gets down, enters quickly, pranams sashtanga. Pagla Baba: you have returned, you delayed much; take prasad. Sit.

Then the car comes and stands before the kutir. Getting down from the car Shashwata goes quickly into the kutir and makes sashtanga pranam to Pagla Baba. Pagla Baba: You have returned? You have been much late. Take a little prasad. The old man is perhaps sitting with Putul.

Leaving the kutir Shashwata follows Pagla Baba on the road; Pagla Baba seeing him walks on long steps. As said Shashwata takes the right path and sees Budoka standing before the doctor-khana board. Budoka: come, doctor-babu.

Pagla Baba: Go there now. As Pagla Baba has said, Shashwata takes the path to the right and sees the old man. Before the signboard written Dispensary the old man is standing.

The owner of the house, Guptaji, was there as well. Guptaji: Doctor Babu, does this room please you? This is my own house, you know. Shashwata (offering namaskar to Guptaji): The arrangement here has been very good.

Guptaji: In truth your Guruji had said to buy all the things together.

Guptaji has already shown Guruji the place this morning; he himself looked well. Shashwata sits: where is your Putul? Did you have to wait long? I was a little late from other work. Shashwata, astonished: so, when did he send you word? Budoka: very early — say six-thirty to seven. Budoka: why, did he not tell you anything? Shashwata only nods and smiles a little.

Shashwata (astonished): Is that so? At what time did he send you the word? The old man: Very early. Say from half past six to seven in the morning. The old man: Why, did he say nothing to you? Shashwata (only nods and smiles a little): Well, where is Putul? Let me see her. Putul comes.

Come, let me see your tongue. Well, Putul, do you know how old you are?

They have brought her only on dry muri from fear. Shashwata examines: the belly-pain does not seem; all is right. After returning from there yesterday the khichuni, fever, yet after feeding the water three times the body threw it out. Shashwata will see what to give now.

The old man: After the convulsions, the fever too has not returned. Shashwata: She is all right now. Whatever she wishes to eat, you may give her.

The old man: Then all is well, Doctor Babu? Shashwata: Yes, all is well. You may take her home without fear. The old man: Your Gurudev is Bhole Baba himself — what more shall I say now? Many thanks. If there is any trouble, come again.

When the old man has gone, Guptaji: What had happened to the girl?

Shashwata: not much — only a little fever-medicine. Guptaji: how much fee must I give? Shashwata: yes, actually we wander many places, so Hindi.

And ours speaks quite a lot. Guptaji: what is this; a Guru will hear his disciples’ problems with mind and solve them. How else will disciples progress? Shashwata: yes, so.

See the beggars of the road, sitting all day before the temple, doing Harinam; still Hari does not turn once and look at them.

Guptaji remains only astonished looking at Shashwata. Shashwata leaves him and goes. On mine put a little salt, turmeric, all. Shashwata returns then, pranams at once: Baba, the doctor-khana is quite good.

Pagla Baba: See, Suman, what a living katla I have brought for you. But fry your share of the fish without salt. Do you understand? For what you give here you will take back. In mine, though, put a little salt, turmeric, everything.

Then Shashwata returns to the kutir. Suman (seeing Shashwata): Here, Shashwata has come. Shashwata, the moment he sees Pagla Baba, finishes pranam and says: Baba, the dispensary has come out quite well. Pagla Baba: And did you get any news of his mind?

He has much guru-bhakti too. Let him remain well. Now wash your hands and feet; today you have taken a great strain. After that there will be much talk. Shashwata: Very well, Baba — and he goes to wash hands and feet. Suman: Baba, shall I only fry the fish?

Pagla Baba: no, you again why? You only wash the fish a little. Suman: but Baba I have cooked the khichuri. Pagla Baba: oh, the khichuri is cooked. Who cooks also binds the hair; leave it all to him. No, rather you rest a little, otherwise again daya—

Pagla Baba: Who cooks also binds the hair — give it all to him. Let him sit a little now. Pagla Baba: How much compassion you have!

Shashwata: Then I shall tell you.

Shashwata: actually whether the ghost went or came I still cannot understand. Suman: gather again? Your event, you will gather. Shashwata: no, Pagla Baba will gather; all of mine has become pell-mell. Suman: have you forgotten the mantras? Shashwata: mantra? What mantra? Nothing sits in my head. Suman: this is the fear I was having — are you all right, brother? Does the body feel heavy? Now stop a little; first let me cook, otherwise again like yesterday the salt will fall twice.

Suman: This is the fear I was having — you are all right, brother? The body is not feeling heavy? You are very courageous, but if you keep something pressed down there will be danger. Shashwata: Uff!

Shashwata: O, you should have said earlier; I have already put the salt. Suman: Then that will have to be done. Who knows where Baba gets such things.

Suman is frying; Pagla Baba comes. Pagla Baba: oh, you gave Shashwata the cooking? You did not let the boy sit a little? See how much delay remains. Shall I spread your asana? Pagla Baba: yes, put me inside the room, and you sit in the verandah.

So Shashwata fries the fish and makes it jhal. Pagla Baba: Oho! You gave Shashwata the cooking? You did not let the boy sit a little? Go, see how much longer there is. Shall I spread your asana?

Pagla Baba: Yes, give mine inside the room, and you two sit on the verandah. Suman spreads Pagla Baba’s asana inside the room. Suman, come sit here. You were in much worry for him.

Turning to Shashwata: Those mantras I had taught you — you did not write them down. If you had forgotten—

If you forget the mantras the ghost itself will sit upon you. You have not forgotten them? All is right? Pagla Baba: Suman, what, will you not want to know what ghost Shashwata saw? How the ghosts’ teeth were, how large the nails — know all. Suman: yes brother, tell; from when I have been sitting saying I shall hear all. What did you see, what happened there, what did you do? Shashwata, you too sit beside Suman, and gathered tell the events. Shashwata: yes Baba I am telling. The house was quite large. There were quite some people. Entering the room—

Pagla Baba: Learn well what kind of teeth the ghosts had, and how large the nails were. What did you see, and what happened there, and what did you do? Pagla Baba: Wait, wait, first let us sit well. Then we shall hear the whole thing with relish. Shashwata, you too sit beside Suman. And tell the happenings in order, let us hear. Shashwata: Yes, Baba, I am telling. The house was quite large. There were a good many people as well.

Shashwata: As I entered the room everyone came running, saying Sadhu Baba, Sadhu Baba. Suman: O, leave all that. We shall hear that later. Tell the real thing — what was the ghost like? Now take it, begin the real talk. Suman: What kind? Was it the smell of rotten fish? Shashwata: No! I could not quite understand. Pagla Baba: If you had gone, you would have understood exactly.