The Secret of the Chalisa Read Free

from the television.
    Sanjeev checked the address he had and saw the nameplate which read Pawan Kumar Sharma. He stepped near the door and gave a gentle knock. The same wrestler looking man opened the door with a smile. His head was bald following the usual funeral custom.
    “Hello Sir!” said Sanjeev slightly bending forward. “I’m Sanjeev, Dr Anjana’s student, if you remember. You had called me.”
    “Oh yes! I remember you. Come inside and have a seat.” Pawan guided Sanjeev inside the house to the living room. Though the room was scantly furnished and had no expensive home décor, it looked warm and appealing.
    “Do you want tea?” asked Pawan.
    Sanjeev gazed around and then said, “No thank you.”
    “I’m single and I stay alone, but don’t worry I can make tea,” said Pawan with a smile and went to the kitchen.
    Sanjeev was looking around the house. His mind and eyes were searching for his thesis papers.
    Pawan returned in a few minutes with two cups of tea. “I hope everyone is OK now,” Sanjeev empathized.
    “Yes, we are trying to return to normal,” replied Pawan.
    “You told that Madam left something for me,” said Sanjeev drinking his tea in hesitation.
    “Oh yes, I discovered it in the study room. I think Ma left it for you,” said Pawan. “Finish you tea then I’ll take you there.”
    “So how was your thesis going?” inquired Pawan.
    “It was going good, Sir,” said Sanjeev with his voice lighting up. “It was almost complete. I had given my results and discussion section of the thesis to Madam. If she had corrected and signed it then my thesis would be complete. The remaining work I can complete with my co-guide,” Sanjeev expressed his concern.
    “Hmmm! Well I’m not so aware of the details but I had seen Ma working here. I just have a small wrestling school, I’m not a doctor. Ma lived with my younger brother, Suresh and his family, but she did her research here. She said the work she gave you was yielding good results. Come I’ll take you to the study,” he said getting up.
    Sanjeev placed his cup on the table and started following Pawan.
    “Yes, Madam was very happy with the results and statistical analysis. If she had signed my work then I can appear for my exams next month,” replied Sanjeev.
    Pawan brought him to the study room. It was a huge library with all the walls covered with books neatly placed on racks. In the center was a large teak study table with books piled at one side and an antique lamp on the other side. In the center of the table were a glass slab and a pen holder with highlighters and Post it slips. The table had a long comfortable chair covered with red cushions.
    On the left side of the room was a door leading to another small room which probably was Anjana’s laboratory. On the right side was a small temple room which was warmly lighted. It had a beautiful deity of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and Lakshman made of marble. Near Lord Ram's feet was the deity of Lord Hanuman kneeling down with his hands folded.
    Sanjeev’s heart was pounding and he could hear his palpitations. “Oh, what luck! Thanks Madam, you’ve been very thoughtful,” he thought. He was staring at the grand table, trying to look for his thesis papers. He expected Pawan to bring them from the table and hand it over to him. His mind was racing, “Finally my thesis is complete. Now I can clear my exams, get my doctoral degree, practice in my hometown, be a renowned doctor and……” suddenly his chain of thoughts was broken.
    He saw Pawan making his way to the small temple. He joined his hands in reverence in front if the deity and picked up some box like thing and came out.
    “Here, I think Ma wanted you to have this,” Pawan said handing Sanjeev a wooden box and a small red colored booklet with ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ engraved in gold over it.
    It took a while for Sanjeev to regain his senses. “This! She left this for me?” Sanjeev thought perplexed. “Aaa…. Sir… Sir,