Medium Rare

I MUST admit, I was a bit scared. After all, it8217;s not everyday one heads off to meet a medium who demonstrates the art of making contac...

I MUST admit, I was a bit scared. After all, it8217;s not everyday one heads off to meet a medium who demonstrates the art of making contact with the dead.

A thousand 8216;what ifs8217; raced through my mind, but before I knew it, I was at Lovelet8217;s the medium Mumbai residence.

I was to witness one of her sessions. The Gala family wished to speak to their parents, Saker and Vasanji Gala, who passed away a while ago.

We settled down in a small room around a wooden table. Lovelet gave us some rose water to wash our hands with. Then we held hands to 8216;bind the circle.8217;

Lovelet began by chanting a prayer while the rest of us were instructed to chant 8216;Om8217;. A few minutes into the session, Lovelet stopped and inquired if her guide Brightlight the spirit Lovelet writes through was present.

The table wobbled in response. I turned pale. I looked at photographer Mahendra Parikh who seemed equally stunned. Lovelet opened a book to a blank page and said that all her meetings started with her deceased mother writing a line in Gujarati.

She was holding the pen lightly by the other end of the tip and words began to flow. Brightlight, the force connecting the Galas with their loved ones, wrote, 8216;8216;Good evening everybody, especially our two new guests. I am hoping you will spread what you see in the right manner.8217;8217; I gulped and watched quietly. The pen kept moving and Lovelet stopped to read what Brightlight wrote. Gala looked at me and said, 8216;8216;Relax, it8217;s fine.8217;8217; I was at a loss for words and just nodded.

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Lovelet then told Rekha Gala to begin asking her mother questions. 8216;8216;Ba, kem cho?8217;8217; And while Lovelet held the pen, it raced away in Gujarati writing all about how Saker was and how she was wearing the sari Rekha had given her.

By now, Rekha was in tears. She asked whether her mother was happy and what she would like the family to do on her first death anniversary, which was coming up soon. Brightlight continued writing in response.

Lovelet then told the family to ask their father, Vasanji Gala, questions. The family asked him how they should deal with business problems and other related questions.

Lovelet8217;s handwriting had changed when the father replied. And as Vasanji said goodbye, he signed his name. 8216;8216;That is exactly his signature,8217;8217; exclaimed Rekha.

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By now, I8217;d gotten used to the happenings and began to relax. Until Brighlight came back. 8216;8216;So children, were you happy to meet your parents? What about our guests? What is your reaction?8217;8217; the spirit asked. I kept mum and glanced at Lovelet. 8216;8216;Don8217;t be shy or scared, say whatever you feel.8217;8217;

8216;8216;Yes, child, what was your experience like?8217; Brighlight repeated. 8216;8216;Uhhh8230;I am still confused about all that has happened. But I8217;m sure that something called a 8216;spirit8217; does exist,8217;8217; I said haltingly.

Brightlight took up an entire page to write, 8216;8216;We are not ghosts as you think!8217;8217; I turned to Mahendra for moral support and realised that Brightlight8217;s attention too turned towards him. 8216;8216;What about the man outside the circle? What do you feel?8217;8217; Mahendra managed a, 8216;8216;I believe.8217;8217;

An hour had passed and the session was at its end. Time to say goodbye to Brightlight. The Gala family and Lovelet thanked Brightlight and we said a thanksgiving prayer. Lovelet asked Brightlight to knock three times in farewell and the table moved thrice. But this time, I smiled and whispered 8216;8216;Bye.8217;8217; We then took a sip of 8216;charged8217; water energised water. The Gala family was excited and discussed the incident with Lovelet. They were also keen to know what I thought. Well, it8217;s still sinking in.