Yesterday I was travelling in a bus and this man was sitting next to me. He was just another common Indian man with a rugged, checked blue shirt and grey pants with soberly side parted hair and a big nose. He didn't look economically very sound. His hands, his build and his nervousness told that he had recently moved to the city, which the farmers around these parts tend to do during these hot months as there is no water for irrigation. I bet he had a very interesting story but my attention was stolen by a vibrant orange sticker on the window side. "Baba Pathan Bangali" the largest font read. I was really intrigued by the name as it covered the whole length of India and appealed to the followers of two most populous religions in India. The name would generally have a religious appeal to a common man but for me it was the curiosity to find out what was he advertising himself for that took me reading that ad. First thought in my mind was that with that name he could have started a religion of his own, but that was not the case as there was a small logo besides the name with a picture of Sai Baba, and there was a slogan promoting Hindu-Muslim fraternity. Then I thought he must be some phony doctor cliaming to cure aging or sexual and heart diseases. But then I started reading the ad and found out that he was a step ahead. He was a witch doctor. This guy cured jinxes, curses, possessions and all the other witchcraft stuff. He claimed his gifts to be a proud inheritance from his forefathers, and also that he could cure almost anything just with a phone call.
So, I was sitting there in a Jeff-"The dude"-Lebowski-take-it-easy style, and the man sitting next to me was growing ever uneasier. He looked like he wanted to say something to me, but I was not in the mood to ask. So, he took his time like a guy building up his confidence to ask out a girl he has had a crush forever and finally spoke.
"Are you going to Chittor?"
He must be bored.
"Yes."
"Do you live in Pratapnagar?"
Are you going to ask me for money?
"umm... yes."
"I have seen you around there."
Seriously? You gotta be kidding me Mr. Feynman. In the past six years whenever I had been to my home in Chittor the net time I had spent outdoors is like 6 or 8 hours. So, either you are mistaking me for someone else, or you have a photographic memory.
"umm... ok."
"I too live in Pratapnagar. You know Balaji Juice center?"
The only shops I know by name in Chittor are Rama Super Market, Rama Cloth store, Jai Santoshi Ma gift shop, Aggarsen departmental store, Namdev Namkeen Bhandar, Jodhpur Sweet shop, well now I realize I know many more, but I don't remember any Balaji juice center. Well, there is a Balaji photographer but no Balaji juice center in my map.
"sorry, where?"
"er, Balaji juice center, Pratapnagar."
Now, every shop in Pratapnagar is either near Pratapnagar Chowk or Fawara (fountain) Chowk. I don't think there is a juice shop near Pratapnagar Chowk, and it now occurs to me that I had once had an ice cream near Fawara Chowk at an ice-cream and juice shop, which was closed a few years ago, called Balaji I think. I am not very good at remembering names.
"Near Fawara Chowk?"
There was a faint smile on his big face.
"Yes, I live there. In that shop."
"hmm... ok."
I guess that's all he wanted to say. And I am not much of a talker so the conversation ended there. And then we sat there for the next 15 minutes in peace, he trying to look out of the window and I trying to memorise the phone number of Baba Pathan Bangali. And that was that.
And yeah, if you have any paranormal problems or of you feel like having some fun please contact Baba Pathan Bangali : 9540964771 and 9540247288. Enjoy!
