Chapter 3 – Raja vs. Raju
Savithri raised Raju as a coddled child. Being only son for his parents he got all attention they could afford. Especially Savithri wanted to give extra care in every aspect around him. She will not leave him alone for a while, she will always go with him when he goes for playing with kids of his age.
Raju attained the age of kinder garden school. It was very difficult for Savithri to part with Raju during the schooling hours. She used to drop Raju herself in school. Most of the days she will wait in school till the school ends.
Raju too found it very difficult to attend the school leaving his mother. He used to cry all the time during school hours. The school timing was only 4 hours, but it was very hard for Raju to attend school without his Mother.
6 months passed, but Raju was not happy with the class without his mother. He reduced crying in class. Savithri was worried about Raju because he started to become so quiet after school. He used to enjoy many games with his mother but after 6 months of schooling he stopped playing many games.
A year passed after Raju Joined school. Raju started to improve in his engagement with play during his annual holidays. It was 3-month holidays. Savithri was bit relieved to see her son happy playing with her. Raju’s encounter with his was always the same, school having no impact on his behavior with Father.
As the second year of Kinder Garden school started, Raju became even more reserved. Savithri tried to speak to him after school, but every time she asked him about the school, he will turn mute. She decided that something wrong had happened in school. She tried meeting Raju’s class teacher.
Raju was a silent student in class. He performed well in his subjects . He will be hesitant to take part in activities conducted in school. No unusual complain about Raju in school. This was the reply Savithri got from various teachers in his class.
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The day came when the family visited the temple. Raju started behaving abnormally. Raju started called himself Raja, became a different person. He started participating in various games, interacting with various friends in his class. Teachers started loving him as he caught up with the subjects. He started winning prizes in various sports activities conducted in school.
The unpleasant incident happened in the village few years ago used to haunt her like bad dream. Impact of the incident was fading as the years passed by. She had mixed feeling towards the temple as time progressed. The native temple was once a cherished place to visit but it started appearing to be fearsome place.
Raja got married.
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Savithri, Guru, Raja and his wife all the four of them went to visit their native Village, the family temple.
The temple had its age-old appearance with no compound walls, almost same as it was 23 years back when they last visited. Savithri had her eye on Raja as she wants to be careful this time. After they completed their prayer to everyone’s shock, Raja was missing. The temple complex was not so big, they were able to see entire temple complex, but Raja was missing. Savithri rushed to nearby field where they had parked their car to check if Raja went there.
Raja appeared sitting next to a tree outside temple platform. He as staring in an unusual way.
“What happened Raja, where were you?” asked Savithri, no answer she got. Again, she repeated the question with higher tone again no answer.
Raja’s wife and his father joined with his mother to question
“Where did you go Raja? What happen?” asked Father in a soft tone, but no answer. Raja never kept quiet when his father questioned unless he had done something wrong.
Savithri was anxious again. It was like the same day 23 years back. All her nightmare about the other day was happening before her. She was not able to stand before him as he kept quiet standing. She sat down on near the tree, turned towards the temple, started praying for her Son.
“Why are you silent. Please answer your parent’s question” his wife said again no answer.
Savithri shouted unaware of what she was saying “RAJU”
Raja turned his head towards his mother and slowly said.
“I was waiting for you so long”
Savithri was thankful that Raja spoke, she said “We were praying inside for our family da”
Raju replied “Why it took 23 years for you to return Maa? I was sitting all alone in this place for so many years waiting for you. There was blood everywhere around me. I was so afraid sitting all alone”
She unclearly heard his reply to Guru. Savithri fainted hearing all this from her son. He was saying,
“I am not Raja, I am your son whom you lost in this village when you visited last time”
“I am Raju”
VIGNESH LEXIS 
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