By Every Tuesday, there used to be a lot of crowd in front of Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi’s house.
People from every walk of life came to his house. Doctors, farmers, businessmen, advocates, officers, students, job seekers, etc. came with their problems to seek a solution. They came with family problems, which color of the car to buy, marriage, buy land or house, court cases, loss of business, for which they usually got right solutions.
His solutions for the problems were of a unique type. He will advise getting a long length of copper wire to go round on the wall. Then he will tell to scatter 200grams of mustard mixed with deep red vermillion outside from the South to the West part of the house. Then to place a lime with seven pieces of turmeric on the wall and worship that place.
In some divine way, Pandit’s system worked to the best satisfaction of the customers. After the 2nd and 3rd visits, the disappointed customers would come with a smiling face to the Pandit to convey how their problems were solved. One Tuesday Dr. Binod came with a problem to the Pandit.
He very frankly explained his problems. He said that he did friendship with Rupali, a 5.3 ft engineering student studying in Hyderabad. They chatted on Facebook and WhatsApp and their love blossomed. In one week’s duration, Dr. Binod proposed to Rupali for seeking her hand for marriage. But Rupali rejected the marriage proposal. After rejecting Dr. Binod’s marriage proposal one last massage Rupali sends saying, “I am only a friend, a well-wisher. I don’ want to waste time in dreaming about love or marriage.”
However, Rupali never forgot to block Dr. Binod’s WhatsApp number.
After narrating his problem to Pandit, two drops of Dr. Binod’s tears fell on the feet of the silently listening person, Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi. Pandit asked him to show him the photo of the girl if he had any.
Dr. Binod showed the photo from his WhatsApp. Rupali looked astonishing in her blue salwar. Pandit stood up from his chair and went inside his house.
Dr. Binod thought that surely Pandit has a miraculous solution for his lady love. He waited in the chamber thinking of receiving the usual magic spelled mustard smeared with red vermillion. When Pandit came out, he wasn’t holding the mustard with vermillion but an envelope.
He instructed Dr. Binod to open the envelope when Rupali will accept the marriage proposal. He was eager to open the envelope but feared the magic spell will be lost if he opens it before Rupali’s call.
He was not sure if his love will return or not. He passed many sleepless nights thinking about her. Suddenly, after five days Rupali called. Dr. Binod’s heartbeat rose rapidly and anxiety accepted the call to hear Rupali.
‘I am coming to Bhubaneswar this Sunday. If you are free, let’s meet over lunch.’ She also said that she would like to listen to the poem Dr. Binod had written for her. It was titled “Sesa Cigarette Ra Dhuan” (The Last Smoke of the Cigarette). As the call ended, Binod felt like he was dreaming. He checked his call log if it was really her call.
He was shocked to receive her call within 5 days after meeting Pandit. She had called herself without any solicitation. It was a dream comes true for Dr. Binod.
Wasn’t it a miracle how Pandit’s magic spell worked for him? Dr. Binod went to meet the pandit and paid obeisance to him. Then he returned home and waited for the auspicious Sunday.
He who had never believed in black magic and mantra-tantra due to his logical scientific background couldn’t but help start believing how this miracle happened. His mind got transformed into believing what he had never thought in 25 years. The magic spelled mustard, bones elixir and copper wires really worked.
He went to Bhubaneswar on Sunday at 11 AM. to pick her up. When he saw a 5ft 3inches tall beautiful Rupali in thick black long flowing hair and in soothing blue dress calling his name ‘Binod’, a chill went down his spines to the melting knees. She extended her hand to shake hands. He felt mesmerized by her beauty and the fragrance of the subtle perfume.
He was feeling shy to talk to her. So, he remained silent. He took her to his car and drove to the hotel for lunch. After driving for five minutes in silence, both started talking in unison as if to say lots of unspoken words. Binod was noticing a new charm in her demeanor.
Soon, they were at the hotel. They were lucky to get a corner table despite the crown outside the hotel. Rupali’s favorite ‘Mutton Mughlai’ tested better than Hyderabadi Biryani. Time passed with talks, laughs, and good food.
After lunch, they went to a park for a short walk. The surrounding was magical and they were having a quality time together. Rupali asked, ‘Why don’t you recite the poem for me?’
Binod turned towards her and looking at her eyes, recited the poem in the most beautiful manner. Rupali was amused to hear his soothing voice and words.
Dr. Binod noticed that she was tired. He took her to the hotel where she could rest for a while. While she was taking a rest, Binod went for a brief walk.
The same evening, they planned to meet again. When Binod came to pick her up that evening, she was wearing her favourite blue coloured lehenga. Binod was startled by her dazzling looks.
He planned to take her on a coffee date. Here, again, Rupali requested him to recite the poem. She was capturing a video of him reciting the poem. As he finished, she requested to take a selfie together. Why would Binod even say no? They both faced the camera together and took a bright smiling selfie. That’s when she whispered to him, ‘I Love You Binod’.
He couldn’t reply. He was silent again. To break the silence, she requested him to escort her to the hotel. She gave a flying kiss as a parting gift. He didn’t know how to respond, so he waved her back and returned. As he arrived at his apartment, he saw many romantic messages. Some read, ‘I Miss You, ‘I love you’, and more of those.
He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. He edited Rupali’s contact to “Mo Dhana”, and wrote her an ‘I Love You Too’ text, and turned off the wifi.
Then suddenly, he remembered about the sealed envelope given by Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi.
He was skeptical as to if this was possible due to Pandit’s magic or not. With lots of trepidation and apprehension, he opened the envelope. It read,
“You have come to me like a mad fellow searching for your love. To make it clear, the person whom you love is no other than my own daughter. If you are eligible for my daughter then, I, Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, will be glad to give her hand in marriage with you.”
After reading the letter his heartbeat stopped for a minute.
He didn’t know how to face Pandit.
He felt scared to meet him but he was thinking of himself as to how will he address him, as father or Pandit!
The next morning, he thought of Rupali from a different perspective. He didn’t know if ever he can reveal to her how he got his lost love back. He felt extremely happy that he got the blessings of Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi whom he will always refer to as “Love Guru” or “Prema Pandit”.
Photo by ELIZAVETA CHAYKO from Pexels
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