Truth and Visitations by Nilanjan Dev	Part 1 appears in this issue.
conclusion

* * *

“Well, looks like we’ve got it worked out finally, including Nepal. We’re going to do Pokra and Kathmandu.”

Phil was at home having a beer with one of his friends. Tammy, who was at a workshop had called to say she would be home late. Phil called Jim Robbins, his old friend from high school over for a beer. They sat in the lounge, with their legs up on the table and arm rests, luxuriating in a moment reminiscent of their bachelor days.

“Sounds great,” said Jim. “Though I don’t know if it’s going to be too much fun with just ‘Fire ‘n’ Ice Lady’ around.”

Phil laughed. Many years ago, when they were still in University, Phil had tried to set Jim and Tracy up. The results had been disastrous, to say the least. Phil had thought that Jim’s good-natured and easygoing character would have been the perfect foil for Tracy’s intensity. Events had proved him wrong. Jim seemed slightly intimidated by her, and was not very impressed with her temper and strong opinions. Jim’s choice of partner later made Phil realise that he was after someone more like himself. Bethany was as laid back and relaxed as he was. This was one of the reasons why Phil knew he could count on his friend to come over for a beer after work without any prior notice.

“Come on, Jim, I know she’s opinionated, but ‘Fire ’n Ice Lady’?”

“Opinionated to the point of having a completely closed mind,” retorted Jim.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, let me think of an example. Oh yeah, an obvious one,” Jim took a few sips of his beer and continued “Take her constant squabbling with Tammy about all that spirituality and visitation stuff.”

Phil looked at Jim quizzically.

“Come on Phil, don’t you think she’s completely dense about it? Maybe there is something to some of this visitation business. Not necessarily Tammy’s, but somebody’s. She just won’t admit that anything can happen that doesn’t have some obvious scientific explanation.”

“That’s not true; she believes that there are phenomena that science can’t explain right now, but that we will be able to explain them someday.”

“That’s what she says, Phil, that’s what she says,” said Jim with a trace of exasperation. “Once we went out for a drink and she said that Tammy was a great friend, but she needed to see around all that hocus-pocus crap. Hell, if the headless earl himself came up and tapped her on the arm in the middle of her surgery she’d think she was having a ‘stress-related delusion’ or something!”

The two men laughed at this and clicked their glasses together.

“But honestly, Phil. How can you really tell? How do you really know what’s a dream, what’s a visitation or what’s a hallucination? ”

Phil did a double take as he got up to bring more beers from the fridge. “Funny, I was just thinking that the other day, when Tammy and Tracy were at each others throats again... I think we’re all drinking way too much.”

“They were at it again? What a surprise! But you’ve always avoided the topic, and now the ladies aren’t here so... do you believe Tammy has visitations?”

“No, to be honest with you, I don’t. Why would spirits or whatever only visit her when she’s stoned or sleeping? Why does it happen that way with everyone? I only tell her I believe it to humour her. It does seem quite important to her, after all.”

“Wow, you sound like Tracy. Maybe you should have married her,” laughed Jim.

* * *

Tammy was at the grocery store with her cousin Melanie. Mel was in her fifth month of pregnancy and had asked if Tammy could help out with her shopping. Tammy had immediately acquiesced. She felt like talking to someone other than Tracy and Phil for some reason.

“You seem a little distracted, Tammy, everything okay?” asked Mel, looking studiously at the tomatoes on the shelf before her.

“I’m missing out on a trip to India and Nepal. Of course I’m not okay,” laughed Tammy.

“As long as that’s all it is,” said Mel doubtfully.

It seemed to Mel that Tammy wanted to say something, but then decided against it. After a while she began “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with the idea of Tracy and Phil going on the trip together. At first I was okay with it. I mean the three of us have been good friends for so long.”

“And it was your idea that they should go as well. Phil never suggested it.”

“That’s right, but at the time I just felt guilty that everyone would have to cancel because of me.”

“You are talking about Phil and Tracy, you know. They would never do anything stupid. Phil loves you too much, and Tracy is your best friend. You’re being paranoid, Tammy, that’s all. I think Phil and Tracy would be pretty offended if they knew what you were thinking.”

“Yeah you’re probably right, but it’s just... I don’t know. The other day Tracy came out and attacked me even more bluntly than she usually does when we get to talking about my beliefs and hers. I was pretty upset, but I let it slide. And the strange thing was that Phil never even stood up for me. He seemed completely distracted. I’ve always known that during these debates he usually sides with Tracy, inwardly at least, but on the outside he tries to diffuse the situation and sticks up for me.”

“Hmmm... that is unlike him, but I think you’re reading too much into this. Just relax. Things are looking up career-wise. Try to enjoy the workshops.”

“Yeah, I think maybe the disappointment of not being able to go to India is getting to me,” She laughed weakly.

* * *

“I read your short story about Kazakhstan twice over Ms. Campbell,” said a lady at Tammy’s workshop.

“Thanks. Any suggestions?”

“Well, I’ve never actually been there, but your story inspired my own trip to Armenia. I’m looking at writing a short piece about that” said the woman, with something akin to awe in her voice.

“Great. My proposed novel is going to be about something completely different though...”

Tammy was having trouble focussing on the workshop, especially the small talk. She couldn’t get the nagging feeling out of her head that Phil and Tracy might be up to something, even though a part of her kept saying that such thoughts were ridiculous. Maybe she just missed Phil. She had considered cutting her workshop program short, and just heading off to surprise her husband and Tracy. She tried to tell herself that this was not to catch them red-handed, but just to have a laugh with them when she saw their surprise.

Her fan was still badgering her. “Do you have any plans to travel anytime soon?” the woman asked.

“Yeah, India... and very soon,” replied Tammy.

* * *

Things gradually fell into place. Phil and Tracy made their way, first to India, then Nepal. Phil really enjoyed the contrast between the hill stations. Dalhousie was all quietness and serenity, with hardly a soul around at times. The greenery in all directions was given a magical quality by the mist that shrouded the forests. The bungalow that the two had rented was in the most secluded spot and there was a feeling of something larger than life in the air.

On the other hand, Shimla was all hustle and bustle, with a busy town centre which retained much of the architecture from the days of the British Raj. The narrow streets were packed with tourists from all over the world.

A couple of joints and anyone could have a visitation here, Phil had had thought on a particularly misty day in Dalhousie. Despite Tracy’s forebodings he had not “succumbed to her attractions.” The two of them always stayed in separate rooms, though even if they had shared the same bed they were too close for anything to happen. Phil thought the idea to be as ludicrous as Tracy did.

Eventually, the two arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, where they planned to spend a couple of nights, before heading off to Pokhra, their last stop. They arrived in the evening and were looking forward to some sightseeing the next morning, followed by a visit to the famous casinos in the area. They chose to stay at the hotel the first night to relax after the intensity of Shimla. They called room service and had dinner and wine delivered to Tracy’s room. For their last stop they had decided to indulge themselves and had booked a suite with two bedrooms.

“I am so not looking forward to getting back to work,” said Tracy, sipping the last of her wine.

“Yeah, me too,” agreed Phil. “It’s funny how Tammy is always looking forward to getting back to work after a trip.”

“That’s right. Maybe that’s a sign she finds her work more fulfilling than we do.”

“I don’t think so. I think we just need a bit of ‘buffer time’ to get back into things,” laughed Phil.

Tracy downed the rest of her wine. “How is she doing by the way?”

“She’s excited. Apparently she might be able to publish a full-scale novel at last; she’s in negotiations with her publisher. I think they finally believe she’s good enough.”

“Wow, you never told me that earlier,” said Tracy.

Phil looked pained and muttered something about not wanting to get ahead of things, and that it was still only the beginning of negotiations.

“Anyway that’s great,” continued Tracy. “I know how long she’s wanted to do that novel about her visitations. I’m sure with her level of commitment and conviction, the book will dazzle, though you know I won’t believe a word of it. I know you won’t, either, but let’s not discuss that now.”

“Yeah I’m tired, and we have a big day tomorrow,” said Phil, already getting up.

“G’night, Phil,” said Tracy, kicking off her shoes and heading to the bathroom.

* * *

Phil couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the sheer exhaustion he felt from so many days of hectic travelling. He was also thirsty, he realised. He got up to look for the wine. That should solve both his problems. But where was the wine? Oh yes, it was in Tracy’s room. Damn. Maybe if he tiptoed in he wouldn’t disturb her. She did seem pretty pissed before she crashed anyway...

* * *

Tammy was exhausted. Her flight to New Delhi had circled over the Indian capital for hours because of heavy fog. Consequently, she had missed her connecting flight to Kathmandu. She arrived at the hotel Phil and Tracy were staying at quite late in the night.

If it had been anyone else, she would have checked into a separate room and met them in the morning. But this was her husband. Besides, the jealous wife inside her told her that this was the best time to surprise them. She asked the porter to take her to Phil’s room. The porter protested but was satisfied when she produced a passport and told her that she was Phil’s wife.

Surprisingly, the door to the suite was unlocked. Tammy let herself in. She could see a pair of Phil’s sneakers and a jacket on the floor just outside one of the bedrooms. Even at a moment like this, Tammy thought “He’s always sooooo messy...”

But the smile disappeared from her face when, after a few knocks, she realised that he was not in his room. She tried not to panic, but surely that could mean only one thing.... Tammy went into Phil’s room all the same. She could tell that he had been in bed a short while ago. Dreading what she would find, she proceeded to Tracy’s room. Her mouth went dry as she entered the room...

Phil was cowering in one corner of the room, against the wall, a look of sheer terror on his face. Tracy floated just above her bed, not even seeing Tammy or Phil... she seemed to be trying to understand what the three levitating, fog-like characters that surrounded her were saying. As soon as they saw Tammy they disappeared into thin air.

Tammy ran to the bed and shook Tracy, who had collapsed back into bed. “Tracy! You had a visitation! Tracy!” Tammy continued to shake Tracy, who seemed to have fallen asleep again.

“Hmmmm...” said Tracy, sleepily. Her eyes opened and she smiled when she saw Tammy. “Well, look who finally decided to join us...” Tracy said.

“Tracy, you had a visitation. It was clear as crystal. I saw it right now and so did Phil!” Tammy pointed towards her husband. Phil had come closer to the bed, but still seemed terrified.

“Oh that’s just the recurring dream I told you about. Phil must be drunk, and you’ve had a long journey. Let me get you something to drink...” replied Tracy sleepily.

She got out of bed and poured some wine for Tammy. “And you go to bed, Phil, you drunk,” Tracy laughed.

Phil had regained his voice and said hysterically “All this time the sceptic was having the visions! How ironic. I’ve lived with you for years, Tammy and you’ve never had an experience like that....”

“Go to sleep, Phil,” said Tracy, pushing him out of the room. And if you don’t mind, Tammy, I’m really tired, so could you finish that wine in Phil’s room please? Cheers....”

Copyright © 2006 by Nilanjan Dev

Proceed to Challenge 227...