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“I can't hear properly....!” Ravi started off with his translation...

“His sin had no redemption, separating a child from mother.... And his mother paid for it.... !” Nanu waved at Bijoy. 

“Baby brought rains.... She was a lucky charm for us all.  That priest called her shaitan... 'Witch!' “ Nanu opened her toothless mouth in a grin remembering....

“He said she is an evil... and then when he got that snake bite... she was the one to save him....!” she smiled brightly running her fingers over her silvery gray head...!

“Indeed she was a witch...!! She did magic on everyone... “ she said “Even on me...!” Maria thought dreamily.  Ravi went on...

“She was a brat... throwing tantrums everywhere... making us run around for her.... crying out loudly, hysterically.... and spoiling all the children... they also started doing the same....” Her toothless mouth gaped....

“She likes meat... I used to cook for her... “ she opened the lid “See? I am preparing this for her...” she said inhaling the hot spicy aroma...!Maria too leaned forward to take in the aroma... Ravi gazed at it hungrily. 

“For her? That means it is for us also...we are staying for lunch.. Good!” he smacked his lips thinking.  He suddenly felt hungry.  On another stove, she was cooking rice. 

“She can't cure herself...” Nanu said gravely.  “When she got wounds all over her body... we had to apply rice paste...”I was very careful about her health... but this brat girl... always used to trouble me....!” she said fondly and Maria nodded in acceptance.  “Where is she?” Maria looked around. 

Then those people took her away... I cursed them... everyone was crying... Bijoy's mother went with her, never to come back.... She died... we didn't get her dead body.... Then someone said... baby died.... then that person came in saying she is in the hospital... Appa went out for several days... and came back and said he saw her and she was with her family.... he stayed in the hospital to see her....! I was happy that she reunited with her family... redemption.... He committed the sin, our Bijoy... His mother had to die !” she stopped losing her breath shaking her head gravely.  But then smiled broadly after a while and said...

“Now baby is back.... everything will be alright... !” She looked at Maria and Maria nodded smiling.... Ravi gaped at both the ladies...

“Do you believe her? This superstitious...!” Ravi asked surprised.   

“These are their beliefs, Ray, You can't deny! Beliefs run the society.  Beliefs, values, ideology, norms... call it anything... they are the basis of any society.  Beliefs, superstitious or scientific... give us strength, purpose to live...!” Maria said solemnly and Ravi gaped at her.  “Does she believe this?” he wondered.  Nanu gaped at them blankly with her mouth open. 

“Kya? What?” she asked.  Maria shook her head gesturing her to go ahead.  She looked at Ravi. 

“Then Muki decided ...” She said.  “Who?” Ravi didn't understand.  “Muki..” she repeated thumping her fist on her other palm.  “Oh! Head of the village..” he was enlightened.  “To protect her...We shaved her head, painted her body, black, hid her inside the house... but this brat girl always gave us slip and ran away out in the village...!” her weak dull eyes twinkled. 

“Then they took her away.... “ She stopped breathing, feeling tormented....!

“We couldn't do anything.... Our goddess had gone back...!” she said wiping her eyes with shaky hand.  Maria held her hand...

“Thank you for bringing her back...!Now you see, everything will be alright...”

There was bustle outside.  The rest of the team had arrived.  Maria had to get up and go out.  Ravi lingered looking at the vessel.

“Want to taste?” Nanu asked pulling an aluminum plate and pouring rice and gravy in it.  Ravi couldn't resist.  He had done a great service to the ladies by translating so this treat was a must.  He gulped the hot spicy mutton curry with rice and wiping his lips came out with red nose and watery eyes. 

“What? What happened? Why are you crying? Did they beat you up?” Jim was shocked looking at Ravi's reddened face.

“Shut up! I just tasted something delicious...!” Ravi again felt hungry.  He controlled from going inside and getting another helping from Nanu. 

“Oh! You already had breakfast?” Jim was hungry too.  “No! We are waiting for you!” Ravi said irritably. 

Dhatri came in and Indroneel gripped her shoulder.  “I had told you not to...”

“Oh Dr. Ghosh... It was I.  I brought her here.... I wanted to meet these people... and fortunately they all know her...!” Dr. Maria rescued Dhatri smiling.  Indroneel lost his grip.  He looked at Dhatri shocked.  She gazed at the ground guiltily. 

“Dhatri... how do you...!” he lost words looking at Dhatri's face.

“Right, Dr. Ghosh! She stayed here in her captivity!” Dr. Maria whispered leaning towards him.  His hand pressed his chest in shock.

“Don't worry... Everything is alright...!” Maria assured him.  Slowly he turned to the group with a ghostly face.  Dhatri dashed inside.