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Capturing a Pernicious Ghost(continued) By Raghbir Dhillon & Doris Dhillon "All right, killing an animal is not a crime. Why did you break
his son's neck?" "I didn't hurt his son, who came to see me in place of his father.
He was drunk and tried to pierce me with his spear. I screamed and hit
the horse with my mask, and the skittish horse bolted. The young man
tried to control the horse, but failed. The horse galloped under the
banyan tree, and the rider's neck broke as it struck a big limb. Had
he been sober, he could have easily avoided this. I took advantage of
this accident and told Sucha Singh that I punished him for accepting
dowry." "When did you visit again?" "I didn't come for six years. Then I had to arrive here to save
one young girl's life. This unmarried girl had sinned by becoming pregnant,
but the punishment of her sin should not be her death. I told Sucha
Singh to send the girl to Nirmla Sikh Ashram and people there will take
care of her and the child. He, however, ignored my request, so I came
here and told him that he will be killed in three days." "How are you going to achieve this?" "My prayers and his fear and guilt will do the job. I'm sure about
it." "I've full sympathy for you and your noble work. You have achieved
great things, and it's the time for you to quit. Let's contrive your
exit and also help your cause." "How do you plan to do that?" she said. "Look, I don't
need a penny. I enjoy my life of meditation and prayer and will be delighted
to meet Guru Nanak any time." "I'll tell Sucha Singh that you have agreed to stop coming here,
provided he gives twenty thousand rupees every year as scholarships
to the girls entering college." "And wife-beating is stopped, no one accepts dowry, and if a girl
makes a mistake, she should not be murdered," she added. "Good, please state these four demands in a clear voice, while
I tape it." When she cleared her throat with a dry cough, I pressed the button
on my tape-recorder. She finished her statement, peered into my eyes,
and said, "Young man, I count upon you to keep your word. Mind
it, our Satguru is always watching us." She stood up, waved her
arm, and left. "Did the ghost come?" he asked. "Yes, it was determined to kill you. I pleaded with it, and it
accepted my deal." "What's that? I'll do anything to save my neck." "The ghost has just arrived. Please listen to it," I said
and played the tape, which was concealed in my pocket. Sucha Singh listened
to it with open mouth. When the ghost's statement ended, he touched
the ground with folded hands and said, "Respected sati, I fully
agree to your demands and will never break them." With tears running
down his cheeks, Sucha Singh rubbed his nose on the ground. "Sardar sahib, your obeisance is in the wrong direction. Turn
you head to the right," I said. He pivoted to the right and bowed his head. "I don't see the ghost." "It doesn't want to reveal its face to you. It stood there, made
its statement, and then turned into smoke. Didn't you recognize your
step-mother's voice?" "Yes. Are you sure that it won't visit me again?" "Absolutely, it will come only if you break your promise." "I pledge by the Holy Book that I'll keep my word." He thanked me, and gave me a bundle of bills. I returned the money
and said, "Please use these to help the needy girls."
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