Kind hearts abound in every profession (640 words)

 

The solitary hut was in the outskirts of the village.

“Open the door,” shouted Constable Manickam. He had come walking across the rugged fields.

The door of the hut remained closed, and there was no response, but a dim glow from the chimney lamp inside could be seen.

“Is Kannabiran inside? I have come from the police station. Be quick to open the door”

This was met with silence. Manickam kept his head on the door to hear some whispers inside.

“I can hear your voices. I will give you three minutes. If you do not open the door, I will break it” he said and waited patiently.

Local political functionary coerced the Sub Inspector to arrest the poor chap even without a written complaint. Manickam did not know why the politician was angry with the man. The verbal complaint was that  Kannbiran hurled a stone at the politician without any provocation, and that the politician had half a dozen witnesses to corroborate it. The SI was a meek man and never rubbed the politician the wrong way. Manickam loathed the wicked leader.

“Your time is up. If you do not open the door instantly, I am kicking it open,” shouted Manickam.

The door slightly opened and the face of a young woman appeared through the opening. “He is not at home. He has not come home for two days,” she said.

“Let me in” he said, and when she did not yield, he pushed open the door and entered.

The room was dimly lit. She had a six-month-old baby in her arms, a two-year-old boy was seen clutching at her leg, and a three-year-old girl sitting near the chimney lamp. A small 10x10 space, it was practically empty except for a trunk box at the corner and some bundles wrapped in old clothes, partly hidden by a bed sheet hung on a rope. Poverty was writ large, and the boy was crying evidently from hunger.

“Why is the boy crying? Has he not eaten? Brighten the lamp by raising the wick”

“They are both very hungry. There is nothing to give except some old gruel. They refuse to drink as it has become stale. I haven’t eaten either,” she started crying.

“I am sorry. When he comes home, will you ask him to see me immediately?”

 “Surely. Why are you searching for my husband?”

“I was told he threw a stone at a local leader, and he has lodged a complaint.SI is very angry. Let him come and apologise.”

“You are like my elder brother. Please save us from him. He wanted my husband to take away a child and hide it here for a few days. Is it not wrong? How will I feed the child when we are hungry ourselves? My husband, being a father himself, refused, and the leader is making false accusation,” she said

Manickam then saw some movement of the bed sheet, and when he saw intently, he could see a pair of feet underneath. He pretended not to have noticed.

“Anna (brother), please help us. Upon God and my children, I swear he has not done anything wrong. His refusal to do an illegal thing has angered the leader”

“I do not know all that. I will come again tomorrow. Your husband is not safe here, as the leader is angry with him. Do you understand?”

“Can we run away to my mom’s village?”

“Do not tell me anything. Have these 200 rupees. Get some food for all of you. Beware, I will come looking for him again tomorrow morning, maybe with SI.”

“Thank you, Anna, God bless you”

“It is ok. Remember, you people are not safe here. Do you understand?” he repeated.

When she nodded her head slightly, he wrote in his notebook, “Accused not at home”, and briskly walked away