Mating with the Devils Apostle

I confess that when I first landed at Indore for a regional conference, I never for a moment imagined that this visit would be anything out of the ordinary. Yet it was not so and the incident related is forever etched on my mind.

I checked in at the Tajo Residency routinely a day earlier to the scheduled conference. Not wanting to stay in my suite I came down to the lobby and asked the bell boy to signal an auto. I instructed the driver to take me to the city. Inexplicably I paid of the auto near the railway station and trod briskly towards it. It was not the station that attracted my attention but the archaic Tonga's-horse drawn carriages. There were not many of them. Wishing to ride in one of these machines, I walked towards one of them. Mentally I settled for the Tonga with the healthiest horse, and accordingly headed towards one standing at the extreme end of the parking. Seeing me approach the mans face lit up and he brought the Tonga towards me.

"Kitcher? Where to huzoor?"

"Anywhere" I replied "Out of the city perhaps"

I settled into the rear seat and motioned the driver to get going.

"Huzoor, it will cost you twenty five rupees" The man informed as he wheeled the Tonga out of the station compound.

"What's your name" I asked.

"Salim Khan"

The Tonga traveled at a brisk pace and we soon passed the main city. The crowds of the city gave way to the sparse countryside.

Ah! What a refreshing change!

"Where are we heading Salim?" I asked.

"No, where in particular "he laughed, you wanted a ride huzoor. Is it not?"

I noticed that the road was pretty bleak and that we were traveling along a wind swept plateau. No vehicles were in sight

However every now and then the horse seemed to throw up his head and sniffed the air suspiciously. There was a nip in the air and the cold wind brushed my face reminding me that it was the month of December. I was really enjoying the drive and the weather.

Soon the road became more desolate and bleak giving me a feeling of intense pleasure. As we rode, I saw a path which appeared little used and forlorn. I signaled Salim to stop the Tonga.

"What is it huzoor" he asked.

"Can we go down that road?"

: Ah, huzoor, certainly, we can. That road leads to the Phuti Kothi"

"Phuti Khothi?"

"Ji huzoor. It is an old dilapidated structure built years ago by the ruler of Indore. Phuti Kothi means ruined mansion."

"Tell me more, Salim"

"Huzoor it's very old. Also this building has no doors and windows!"

"You mean it's like a mausoleum?"

Salim laughed, "It's not like that. It's a proper mansion, and there are windows and doors, but they don't exist; only the openings remain"

"Really?"

"Yes Huzoor. Legend tells us that the wind was so strong that it blew all the doors and windows away. But sahib it's all a myth. Actually the British the Goraji did not allow this building to be completed."

"Salim. I would like to see this mansion"

"Sure"

"How far is it from here?"

"About three miles"

The horses appeared to have become restless. I wondered why. "Salim" I said impetuously "you wait here. I would like to stretch my legs. So I shall walk down to the Kothi, have a look and come back"

He was reluctant to stay. But the restiveness of the horse and my air of finality acted as a fait accompli. Salim patted the horse "I wonder huzoor, why he is alarmed. But you go sahib. I shall wait, but come back soon"

"Don't worry" I laughed.

I jumped of the Tonga and started walking along the disused road. With a light heart I tramped forward. The road was desolate and all around a stillness reigned. I tramped for some time without seeing a man or a house. After a few minutes I sat down on a ledge to rest and looked around. I noticed that dark clouds were drifting rapidly in the sky. The wind appeared to become colder and all signs presaged a thunder storm. I got up quickly to finish my tour. But just then the sky grew darker and blacker shutting out the Sun light completely. Great drops of rain began to fall. Than the fury of the storm broke upon me. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed and rolled and boomed again. The great drops of rain soon turned into solid wind swept sheets all around me. I felt disconcerted and regretted leaving Salim and the Tonga behind. I veered from the road and headed towards a clump of trees for shelter. But it proved inadequate. The rain was now falling thickly and I could scarcely keep my eyes open. I thought it best to get back to the Tonga. I ventured out of the clump and began to run back in the direction of the Tonga. The rain and the impending gloom disoriented me. I realized this after a few minutes of my exertion. I stopped. In the vivid and almost incessant rain accompanied by flashes of lightning, I saw the outline of a large and imposing mansion right in front of me. I was delighted. By the instinct I knew this to be the 'Phuti Kothi'. I stopped only for a moment to survey and ran towards the main passage. As there was no door I slid inside. It was dark and dismal inside and I could not suppress a shudder. Safe from the rain I wiped my face and eyes. It was a minute or so before my eyes could get accustomed to the gloom inside. I lit a cigarette and eyed the burning tip. So alls well that ends well! This than was the 'Phuti Kothi'. The all round patter of the rain accentuated the silence inside. It was wondering what to do next hen unmistakably I heard the neigh of a horse 'Ah' I thought 'Salim has come after all.'

Happily I walked towards the door and looked out in the deepening gloom. There was no Salim and his Tonga. However through the fierce mist I saw a large Victoria speed towards the mansion. The carriage seemed to glide along the ground. But at that moment I laid no stress on this and passed it off to an optical illusion. Before I could think anything further the Victoria pulled by a set of coal black steeds pulled upon front of me. I mentally wondered at the speed of the carriage. As the carriage stopped the sky appeared to darken and a violent crash of thunder and lightning shook the sky. I looked out for the driver but could see none. Perhaps he had got off without my noticing it. However I involuntarily I shuddered and took a step back, more instinct than anything else. Afraid? I asked myself. No. I reassured myself. I never get scared. In a moment the carriage door opened and a slim and svelte lady dismounted and came towards me. The lady wore a black gown with large hat. She moved with power and grace. But again did I note that she did not walk but slide along the ground? I again put this down to an optical illusion, perhaps compounded by the thunder storm. I stood rooted to the spot as the lady neared me. I wanted to step back and be away. But some invisible force held me where I was. The lady brushed past me and entered the kith. Ere she entered the heavens gave way to a devilish display of thunder. It seemed to boom again and again. Each boom seemed to shake the very ground on which I stood. I looked over my shoulder and saw the lady stand in the centre of the hall. Gathering my wits and with the thrill of an amorous encounter I walked up to the lady and stood about a metre away from her. Putting on my best manner I wished the lady "Good evening, Maam".

She did not reply, but took of her hat and shook her head. This led to her hair down to her shoulders. She smiled and this simple act heightened her sexuality. In the semi-darkness I could not make out her features. But her animal magnetism permeated through me. I took a step forward. The man in me awoke. Seeing my action the lady also took a step forward and kissed me full on the lips. Anticipating a warm mouth I slid my tongue insider her. My euphoria vanished as the coldness of her tongue hit me like a sledge hammer. I wanted to draw back but an invisible force held me enjoined to her. We kissed for what to me appeared an eon. In between I felt an icy hand caress my manhood, which in spite of me reared up like a serpent. In the gloom a spell was cast on me by the lady. Despite her body being icy and cold I was irresistibly drawn towards her. When she undid her gown it slid down in a jiffy and for a moment I was witness to a lesson and luscious body. Her breasts, slim waist with the swell of her hips crowned by the outline of a dense bush were the epitome of a beautiful woman. She was like an enchantress who had me snared. I was struck by her prodigious strength as she pushed me down as well as spread her legs. Passion took over as I buried my face at the altar of her body. My tongue thrust deep inside the sanctuary. Some hypnotic force drove me to the extreme. My inflamed lions seemed to burst out and I felt like floating on a cloud. The cloud on which I sat seemed to shoot upwards and I felt an animal release. Again I felt myself shoot upwards towards the stars. They appeared so close that I could pluck them from the sky. My lust seemed to carry me further and further, deeper and deeper to a series of catalytically orgasms. Drained, I made a consentaneous effort to rise, but some invisible force held me down. In spite of myself I felt a turgescence in my lions that heralded another release. I trembled and shook like a dying tree as I felt my life blood flow out from my body. An icy coldness gripped my breast as if a hand had encircled my heart. I collapsed forward oblivious to the surroundings.

'Oh lord' I though 'Iam dying'

I can recollect now that the lady was kissing me and I lay under her. Her face even now is transfixed in my mind. She was fair as fair can be with long tresses and eyes like pale diamonds. She had brilliant white teeth that shone like pearls against ruby red colored lips. Somehow I knew that she was wicked. I closed my eyes in dread and ecstasy and waited with a pulsating heart.

Dimly I heard a wolf wail and howl. Just then crisp voice cut across the hall and the silence 'Huzoor, huzoor.....'

I felt someone shake my shoulder violently. I opened my eyes. It was Salim. He stood like a savior holding a torch.

I got up slowly and tiredly. The room was empty. There was no sign of the lady.

'Salim, how did you get here?"

Salim looked at me quizzically.

"Huzoor, when you did not turn up for along time, I came in search of you"

The rain had stopped now and it was quite dark outside. Salim continued "I thought you were here and came straight to this Kothi. Huzoor I felt frightened for you"

"Why?"

Salim paused for a moment "Perhaps, you will not believe it but they say that sometimes this kothi is haunted."

Haunted! I shuddered and quickly left along with Salim. Haunted!

I wondered if I had mated with an apostle of the Devil herself.

I crossed my heart as the Tonga sped towards the Residency.

The story however does not end here. At the end of the regional workshop I decided to pay another visit to Salim. Accordingly I drove to the Railway station on my way to the Airport. I briskly walked to the parked Tonga's.

"Salim kahan hai? Where is Salim?"

"Sahib, you don know?" They asked almost in a chorus.

"Know what?" I replied

One of the more enterprising Tongawalla's spoke" Sahib, Salim is no more. He died yesterday"

I was taken aback "What happened?"

"Sahib while driving the Tonga he had a heart attack. His body was found outside the city."

"Where" I asked 'dreading the truth"

The man scratched his chin "It was near a old disused kothi. Wonder what he was doing there"