That Town

That Town

“What are you doing up there?” my father shouted. “We’re getting late!”

I, Ivan and Shairaz, along with our parents were going to Uttaranchal for a holiday. We first went to a place called Lansdalhousie, as my father had some office work there and then we went off to Nanital.

My father’s colleagues were present at the Lansdalhousie railway station to welcome us. As dad drove us through the beautiful Shivaliks, I could see the toy like British Bungalows lined one after the other throughout the town. After an hour long drive we reached our destination ‘The Palace of Maharaj Ravishankaram Rajshekhram’ which was renovated into a Guest House.

***

The very next day, I along with Ivan and Shairaz went out to explore the place. I was having my Handicam N 2002 worth Rs.20000 hung on my neck. We had woken up very early and had not eaten anything since last night (As we were very tired), so we decided to have breakfast in the tea shop nearby.

We all went up to the tea shop. It was owned by an old man called Keemant Lal. After having our breakfast I asked him “Keemant, would you please tell us something interesting about the place?"

He looked at me for a minute or two and then finally said “Beta, I’ve been living here since my childhood and I know everything about the place. The most interesting site here is the Palace of Maharaj Ravishankaram Rajshekhram.”

Suddenly Ivan said “It is the place where we are staying. Mr Keemant please tell us what is so interesting about it.”

Keemant said “Oh My, I can’t tell you the story.”

He was interrupted by Shairaz “Uncle please tell us the story”

“No No. beta. I can’t tell you.”

After a lot of hesitation, Keemant finally agreed to tell us the story but on the condition that we will not tell anyone about it. We agreed.

He started “Lansdalhousie is a town of the British era. It was built in the mid nineteenth century, by the British general Sir William Dalhousie. As the state of Terrai came under the British Empire, our Maharaj Ravishankaram was in close contact with the English sahib. They were good friends till-”

He was interrupted by Shariaz “Till what bhaiya?

He said “I’m telling you beta.” He continued “Till Lansdalhousie discovered that his daughter, Mary had a love affair with the king. He couldn’t stand his daughter marrying a Hindu king. So he sent his daughter back to England and held the king as a captive for years. Our king was tortured for almost two years till-”

He was interrupted again, this time by Ivan “Till what Keemant?” This time he ignored my brother and continued “Till the day of Durga Aashtami. He suddenly disappeared on that day. The sudden disappearance of Maharaj Rajshekhram is the biggest unsolved mystery in Lansdalhousie till date.”

We thanked Keemant for telling us the story and before leaving we clicked some photographs with Keemant.

***

On our way back, I was going through the photographs I clicked (from my Handicam N 2002 worth Rs.20000). There was I, Ivan was on my right and Shairaz was on my left. Wait. It was impossible. But there was no Keemant. There was no tea stall. Suddenly Ivan said (softly so that mum and dad couldn’t here) “Bhai I enjoyed the trip but what I didn’t like was that I didn’t solve the mystery. Do you know, where the king might be?”

I said “The king was with us all the time it was Keemant.”