Mohan was driving the
jeep towards the main bazaar. Tall and stodgy in his starched Khaki uniform
with its stripes,with a baton on hand and a pin pointed mustache, he was evoking instant respect.
His wide leather belt that carried the holster for the pistol and his cap in
Khaki and black that sat trim on his head only added a vague fear. It was
evening around 5pm.He saw a crowd in the middle of the road with the people on
the periphery craning their necks to see what was happening in the middle.
There was a babel of angry voices,” Kill her”. “Strip her”, “Break her hands”,
and so on.
When the crowd heard
the shrill horn of the jeep and saw Mohan’s khaki uniform, it instantly parted
and gave way for the jeep to proceed. Some people started to disperse silently
wishing to avoid trouble and some remained curiously to witness what was likely
happen. Mohan saw a woman in her early thirties beaten blue with bruises on her
eyes, lips and cheeks. Blood was oozing out. Her clothes were torn and upper
garments removed except for a torn blouse hiding her chest. Even the sari had
been pulled away and she was in her petticoat. It was a distressing sight to
see the mob in mindless fury assaulting a defenceless woman.
Even as Mohan stopped
the jeep, some men came near the jeep on their own and started telling him
unsolicited “Sahib, this woman is evidently a witch from her looks and unkempt
hair. She is very likely a child abductor as we saw her talking to and dragging
an unwilling child. She also stole a packet of bread from the opposite shop. We
were teaching a lesson that she would not forget before bringing her to police station. Luckily you
have yourself come, Sahib”
Mohan turned to see a
four year old girl child crying in a corner and understood the situation. Had
he not come, they would have stripped her naked and possibly killed her too. In
an authoritarian tone he said to the crowd in general” Move away. It is wrong
on your part to take law in your own hands. Leave the job to the police. Disperse
immediately.” He asked two men to lift her and put her in the rear seat. The
woman was promptly put in the jeep.
When she in pain
turned and pointed to the weeping girl child who had ambled towards the jeep
and pleaded almost inaudibly,” Please do not leave my daughter alone here. They
may kill her. Allow her to come with me.” He lifted the child and put the girl
by her side.
Turning to the mob, he
said “I will take her at the police station and arrange to have the matter
enquired into. Beware, if she perchance dies, you will all be in trouble.” One
or two fellows wished to come along to see what was done at police station.
Mohan said “No one need come. If you still
come, you could be made witnesses. When she lodges her complaint that you all
beat and stripped her, you may have to prove your innocence.” Thereupon the men
quietly withdrew allowing the jeep to proceed.
After traveling some
distance, Mohan stopped the jeep and asked the sobbing woman as to what had
actually happened. “Ayya (Sir), my children are starving for the last two days. My
husband has deserted me. It is true I stole the bread without knowing the crowd
would beat me up.”
Mohan said” I
understand your predicament. Lucky I was there in time as otherwise they would
have put you to great shame and injury. You should not steal henceforth. Take these
200 rupees, get food and go home. Don’t go near the bazaar for a few days.” She
thanked him profusely as she got down with her child.
Mohan proceeded
towards the school where he was supposed to be at 5-30pm.As soon as he reached
the gate, his wife and son came rushing towards him. “Mohan, Why so late? The
function is to start in a few minutes. The chief guest has already come. You
look swell in your uniform, cap and all,” said his wife
He saw his boy
dressed like a politician in kurta, pajama with black glasses a pan parag box in hand and long
angavastram on his shoulders The boy was taking part in school fancy dress
competition that evening. and he had requested his dad to come behind him as a
special protection guard as netas are seen. Mohan had agreed to play along and had
come in hired uniform for an evening.
Aww, you never give us a story without a sweet twist, good one!
ReplyDeleteI loved the ending. You are too good
ReplyDeleteExpecting the unexpected with your stories now..
ReplyDeleteVasudha
Whew what twist. Loved the ingenious plo. Keep more rolling.
ReplyDeleteOh ho....the twist is too good. Never imagined. A very interesting story, KP.
ReplyDeleteKind indeed. Nice
ReplyDeleteWas waiting for the twist, but never expected this ending!!
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for the twist, but never expected this ending!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Unexpected twist at the ending. For a moment I thought you were narrating a page from the life of Sylendra Babu, IPS, presently Additional Director General of Police in Tamil Nadu.
ReplyDeleteExcellent ending Kp.
ReplyDeleteHowever the story reminded me of Madhu of Attapadi who was killed by a group for stealing some provisions. Those who steal for their hunger are killed. Those who swindle millions live in luxury:(
Though I knew all your stories have a twist, this was unexpected. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha ! Masquerading Cop :):):)
ReplyDeleteYou haven't lost your touch, KP. Interesting story. Keep writing.
ReplyDeleteI thought there might be some twist on the woman's story, but you unexpectedly twisted the story of the man! :)
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
That’s a real twist to the tale ! What seemed a straight forward anecdote of a kind policeman merely doing one of his usual/ unusual Good Samaritan acts turned out to be so extraordinary!! Enjoyed, KP Sir !
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant surprise!
ReplyDeleteAwesome story!
ReplyDeleteMay we bring out our inner police. Lot of policing needed in this world. May there be more compassionate and well-meaning people like him.
The icing on the cake at the very end...superb short story that truly left me mesmerized. The opening para was indeed a treat with the description of the khaki clad cop that I felt the character next to me. And I did ride in the Jeep and went into the crowd ..a swell story
ReplyDeleteAwesome one, wish i could write the way you do.
ReplyDeleteWonderful ending by the magician of words.
ReplyDeleteThat last twist was not at all expected. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why you were describing the policeman and his uniform in such great detail and thought that maybe he was vain about his looks :) Loved the twist in tale given the dire situation the woman was in!
ReplyDelete