I was sent to the kitchen to get Sir Ajun a glass of water when I heard Madame Krishna scream at the top of her voice. What could be wrong this time? I wondered as I hurriedly picked up the tray containing the glass of water and a towel to the master's bedroom.
Slowly the tray slipped out of my hands and the glass shattered in pieces on touching the floor.
No! This can't be! These were the thought that raced over my mind. The priest promised me he would get better, I kept muttering as I walked over the broken pieces of glass not minding its piercing pain.
Piya! Piya! Your feet's bleeding, Mr Raun the garden keeper kept calling, though his voice came like faded echoes, I didn't pay attention to him.
Sir Ajun! sir Ajun! I kept tapping the hand of my deceased master, hoping he would respond in his warm welcoming voice.
Get away from him you filthy maid, a family member of his yelled. Is this how you do it here? She turned to my madame who sat at the foot of the bed in shock but she didn't respond.
Get away from him and clean up the mess you made, she added.
Its OK! Come clean up the room and the mess you made with your blood, your tried your best, Mr. Raun said. I could feel his weary rough hands on my shoulder as he kept trying to take me away from the bed.
Its not your fault, he whispered as he hugged me, bad things just happen to good people, he added as he held my hand leading out of the room and from the glaring eyes of the elderly family members.
He will be cremated in the next 3 days, I heard Mr. Prashant his oldest family member Say as i walked down the corridor.
I couldn't control the tears that rolled down my chicks when I thought of Sir Ajun. He was such a nice man but he died at 34, such an early death.
Sir Ajun Bayash was the second son of the Ajun's family, a very notable noble family known all over my small village here in India.
I came to live with him from the age of 15 to train in house keeping, since only the men were allowed to go to school or learn a business while us ladies were obliged to stay at home and take care of the house and children.
Sir Ajun was always nice to me even when others never treated me well, he bought me new saris every time he traveled on a business trip and an extra gift for keeping the house, maybe a tofee at times.
Four years ago, Sir Ajun returned with Madame Krishna as his wife, it was a moment of joy for us all. Madame Krishna took care of me as well but it all started after the marriage, my master began to fall Ill often.
This got me worried as I had never seen such through out my ten years of living with him.
He visited hospitals even in London but none of the modern medicines could help him, finally he resorted to come home to India, his homeland. Sadly, his illness got worst as he returned.
Months later, he could barely get out of bed, madame Krishna suffered a lot and so did I.
Madame Krishna was so beautiful when we 1st met, she had a jet black hair that fell slightly beyond her waist, her English was polished as a result of schooling in England. Unlike me, I had no other education and I could only read and write because Sir Ajun taught me personally.
This is such a bad omen! Madame Krishna cried out, why would anyone want to hurt my Ajun, he didn't wrong anybody, none that I know of, she added.
We heard rumors that Sir Ajun's sickness was a result of black magic and this I believed because this act was practiced back in my small village, though I had never seen any like this.
The next morning, I travelled to the temple to see baba, an old family priest.
Namaste Baba, I greeted, Namaste he responded.
Piya! Is that you? Baba asked on recognizing my voice.
Baba was blind from birth but this didn't stop him for working for the temple.
What troubles you my child? You seem troubled, he asked.
Baba! I called out as I broke into tears, Sir Ajun is dead, you said the potion would heal him.
Yes I did, did you give him the right dosage?
Yes I did baba, yes I did. I can't bear it baba, I cried.
Could this mean I killed him? I can't bear to live baba knowing I'm responsible for his dead.
No you didn't, baba replied.
What year is this he asked? 1860 I replied.
He died at 34? Surely his spirit must not be at rest.
Prashant hasn't summoned his spirit, baba asked.
No he will be cremated after tomorrow, I replied sobbing.
You can recite the mantra of truth by heart right?
Yes I can, I replied.
Good then, because I sense his spirit will be summoned, baba said assuring me as he stretched his hand to touch my face.
Cry no more my child, the goddess will protect you, baba said as he broke a coconut by my side.
I rushed back home to tend to Ajay, Sir Ajun's and madame Krishna's only child and son.
He didn't understand why his daddy wouldn't speak to him or why he wasn't awake but Madame Krishna kept assuring him that daddy was only sleeping and would wake up soon.
I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, since the sun was almost setting.
Another night passed and it seemed like no one was bothered about Sir Ajun's cause of death and this really disturbed me. The sun was already rising when madame Krishna called me through the telephone to come to her room.
Piya! Madame Krishna, go ahead to the market, I have made a list for you.Get everything on the list with this money, she handed over some money to me.
When you come home, prepare the meal of the priests, I will be going to a temple far away to get them.
Be done before I'm back and don't let anyone into the house, she said as she opened the back door of Mr Ajun's car while the driver sat in front and off they left.
To Be Continued.....
