10. Shastri leaves with Devyani

CHAPTER 10

Shastri leaves with Devyani

Shastri was sitting with his hands over his head. Many people had gathered inside and outside his house. Devyani was sitting nearby. Police, SI, tahasildar were all there.

Tahasildar said, “Such an injustice should not have happened to such a good man like you.”

Shastri looked up with heavy heart and then he looked at everyone. The lawyer appeared. Shastri got up. He took the lawyer into the room and closed the door. Then he opened the locker and took out all the documents.

Lawyer said sadly, “Swami, what shall I do with all these?”

Shastri said, “These are the documents of all my property. I want to hand over all my property to the temple.”

Lawyer was shocked. “What are you saying?”

“I am folding my hands. Please do as I say. I must not do any injustice to god. The temple is 400 years old and the functions must continue on as before.”

Lawyer felt helpless. “Ok swami. I will do as you say.”

Shastri closed his eyes. Lawyer wrote down everything. Shastri signed. He come out and packed a shawl and a lungi in a bag. Then he took his daughter and went to the temple. All the people followed him silently.

Shastri placed the documents at the feet of god. “Oh god. Such an injustice should not have been done to you. I am giving everything to you. Please forgive me.”

All were shocked. Shastri folded his hands to the people. “Please forgive me.”

Tahasildar said, “Swami, what are you doing? If you just give one complaint it is enough. After all, the ornaments belonged to your family only.”

Shastri folded his hands. “Please don’t stop me. I no longer have the strength to stay here. I have lost all my energy.”

He looked at the serpanch. “I have placed my property at god’s feet. You have to see that god’s functions continue without any hindrance.”

He took his daughter and left.

People follow him.

Shastri reached the edge of the village. He turned to the people following him and folded his hands. “Please don’t follow me. I will go to Badrachala. When I get peace, I will return.”

People watched them went. Shastri and Devyani stayed at Badrachala for 2 days. They continued to other villages and temples.