The retribution

Pandian was a rich farmer in his thirties. He had acres of land in the village with most of the landless poor working in his fields. His word was law and none dared to defy him. People dreaded his violent temper. Unfortunately, his wife died young leaving behind two young children. He doted on them and did not marry again.He brought Ramu and his young wife Bhagya to live in his palacious house to take care of the children and cook food. Things were going smoothly though he missed his wife very much.Bhagya was very charming to look at in her rustic look with an alluring figure.Ramu was a slightly built man, a simpleton, soft by nature and hard working. They were a loving couple and had no children of their own. They took care of their master’s children with love and care.
Pandian of late was drawn to Bhagya and wished to possess her. He sent Ramu away on some errands and made advances to her. She spurned him and beseeched him not to trouble her. But her words of resentment only hardened his desire to get her at any cost. One day when children had gone to school and Ramu was away he entered the kitchen and pulled her towards him. Her attempts to thwart him from his evil designs were feeble against his muscular strength and all her wails were of no avail. He had become an animal bent upon satisfying its lust. It was then Ramu entered hearing her cries and started protesting at his master’s ways.Pandian overpowered him and tied him to a chair so that he could not move. He covered Ramu’s head with his own dhoti and raped Bhagya repeatedly amidst her screams. When he was preparing to leave after accomplishing the horrible deed, Pandian stopped for a moment and said, “Let this not be known outside. I will compensate you both adequately. Beware if either of you utter one word, Ramu would forfeit his life.” Hearing this Ramu erupted in rage like a volcano and shouted, “Kill us both here and now. We do not want to live after this ignominy. What harm had we done to you? We took care of your motherless children like our own. Yet you have ruined my wife’s life for our kindness. The wrong you have committed would have to be repaid by you. The evil act you have perpetrated will not go unavenged.. Don’t think your money and power would come to your rescue? God above is watching.”Even as he continued to vent his anger and Bhagya sobbing, Pandian left the room in a huff.
He knew that no harm would come to him and that things will quieten after a few days. He thought Bhagya would become amenable in course of time and the resistance would gradually get weakened. The next day evening he returned home after surveying the fields and had made arrangements for the harvest. The house was very quiet .He called out his children. When there was no response, he called Ramu repeatedly. Worried he went from room to room. He did not find Bhagya in the kitchen. There was a sepulchral silence everywhere. He panicked and ran to the rear of the building. There was a lumber room that was mostly unutilised. The doors were partially closed. As he gently pushed the door and craned his neck, Pandian let out a cry in horror as he saw four bodies hanging from the beam.Bhagya could have committed suicide unable to bear the shame.Ramu must have followed suit after hanging the two kids in the madness of fury.
.Pandian went inside, clasped the feet of the two kids and cried inconsolably. Suddenly he started laughing hysterically and came out of the house running in the road like a mad man clad in his under garment with his head covered by his own dhoti unable to realise that the sins of the fathers visit the children.
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