55 W fiction

Chain snatching
I was taking evening walk alone in the lonely road. Two men in their motorbikes suddenly ambushed me and sped away after snatching daringly my chain. I neither resisted fearing harm nor screamed to attract attention. Instead I smiled to myself.
I use the glittering brass chains for my walks

Soliciting
They were young pretty girls clad in jeans and T-shirts.
When I stared, one of them said “Just 200Rs Sir. You will be happy for the visit”
I was hesitant wondering at the open soliciting.
“Come I will myself attend on you” she offered
My wife nudged and said “Try, it is a new salon”

Beating death
It was a complicated and long heart surgery for four hours.
The cardiac surgeon emerged triumphantly announcing ’Operation success. I can beat death”
He told his assistant ‘Keep things ready for the next surgery. Will be back after a short rest”
After an hour, assistant was waking up an inert doctor. Death was laughing

Man delivers baby
In the exhibition the marquee screamed “ONLY 25 Rs.SEE A MAN DELIVERING A BABY
With disbelief people rushed in to see the strange show
When the hall was full, the showman ordered silence. Lights focused on stage.
A man walked from behind the screen and placed a basket with a new born babe in it

The surrender

The time was past 1am. Her shift that was to be over at 11pm but dragged on as she could not leave till her reliever came. It happened often like this. But today it was and dark drizzling when she entered the parking lot in the basement. There was no one visible. She was always afraid to go into lonely parking lot alone. If she saw someone, it gave a scare instead of relief. Her mom has been telling her to take up a job in the general shift even if it meant lower salary. But the pay was good here and she was getting much visibility and name.

The road was deserted and she had to pass through a lonely stretch before she can come to the city proper. She could not see many cars and the few she saw sped away fast. She had an old jalopy that did the service of a car. She had already booked for a new car and was expecting a car loan from her bank. Though it started instantly after she inserted the ignition key, it showed signs of a rebel after a short distance. She coaxed it gently and drove along. In another 20 minutes she would be out this bad patch. There was the long subway a little ahead that got flooded even after a slight rain. Once she crossed the subway, she would be safe on the highway where cars kept moving continuously even at this late hour. As ill luck would have it, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop no sooner she entered the subway.. All her attempts to start the car yielded no fruit. She was scared to get out of the car in the dead of night and she did not also know the car mechanism. It was dark too. She closed her eyes with her hands and started praying not knowing how to get out of this mess. No car came along. Her husband was away on tour. To make matters worse, her mobile had nil credit.

It was then she saw silhouettes of two well built men with wooden logs approaching the car from either side of the road. They ambled along evidently drunk. Their wicked intent was crystal clear. There was little point in screaming. Beads of perspiration ran over her body. Fear enveloped her as she thought of their breaking the glasses. It is not the likely loss of money or car that bothered her but the harm they could inflict on her. Her mind became numb as they came very close to the vehicle swinging the logs in their hands.

Not knowing what to do, she resorted to the only thing that she knew. She prayed intently,”Oh, Krishna, Guruvayurappa, I totally leave it in your hands Please save me from this predicament and I will pay my obeisance to You at Your shrine at the earliest” and turned the ignition key. Lo, the car came to instant life as if by a miracle and as she pressed the accelerator the car whizzed past the two crowding men taking them by utter surprise. It did not stop till it reached the highway when a police patrol car screeched to halt by her side. Tears ran down her cheeks in wonderment at the compassion of the great Lord.

“It is such comfort to drop the tangles of life into God's hands and leave them there.”

55 W fiction

Morality
What I do not like about Rinku is her going gaga over every hunk she sees. I am in love with her and want her to play straight. I hate cheating girls. I killed my wife because she deceived. I will warn Rinku tomorrow at our rendezvous when her husband is away.

A touch of compassion
I am don’s sidekick. He sent me to bring forcibly a young woman he had seen for his postprandial fun. I saw through window her nursing a babe in arms. I saw a mom in her and whispered “escape immediately by back door. You are in danger” and tell myself no one is at home.

The surprise visit

Arjun was returning by an earlier flight from the official tour. He was supposed to come only in the evening flight to be in time for the first wedding anniversary the next day. He wished to surprise his wife Preeti and did not inform her. He bought for her a deep blue kameez that had intricate sequin and bugle bead work for the yoke and hemline with matching black salwar and dupatta, CHANEL perfume and a pearl ear rings and necklace set. He did not forget to collect a bouquet of flowers and a box of assorted chocolates at the airport. If time permitted he wished to take her to a good restaurant for dinner. Though an arranged marriage he found her to be very sweet, intelligent and capable. Both loved each other very much and had similar tastes. She worked in a foreign bank.
He entered the house with the duplicate key and silently tiptoed inside. He wished to hug her from behind by closing her eyes. She was not seen in the living room or in the kitchen. Thinking she must be in the bedroom, he treaded softly without making noise towards it.He heard her talking to some male. Wondering who he could be at 5PM, he stood near the door and listened to the conversation.
“I specifically told you to come early by 11am and not late as my husband is expected in the evening flight. I do not want my husband to know what I am doing. I wanted this to be kept a secret.” Preeti was heard telling
“True, you had asked me to come early. But I was held up. Please excuse me” the male voice said
“. I am actually in a quandary whether I should send you away and ask you come tomorrow afternoon as he may come any time now”Preeti was telling.
“Do not send me away. I am not free tomorrow. It will be done in 30 minutes’ he pleaded
“Okay. Be careful and mind you no rough job” she said
Arjun could not believe his ears." Am I being betrayed? Why does she want him to come when I am not there? How gullible I was in thinking that she was a very good and loving wife? he thought.” With his heart pounding fast and face red with anger and suspicion, he decided to sit outside till he came out. He did not want to go in and see the despicable sight. He took a cricket bat in his hand and sat on the chair outside.
It was silent for a while except for the thuds and furniture moving.Arjun’s blood boiled at this treachery and decided that once he found out the man, he would just walk out of her life. He threw the bouquet towards another chair and was trying hard to control his rage.
Soon thereafter a man came out of the room with a ladder in hand and a bag of tools. When he saw Arjun, he bowed deferentially and said he can see whether the job has been done satisfactorily. Immediately Preeti rushed out and seeing Arjun she grabbed his hand and puledl him inside the room.
“.I wished to spring a surprise on you. You have been wanting a 56” LCD TV. This man spoilt it. I had asked him to come early to install before you reach. Any way I am happy you have come early. Do you like this TV? We can see hereafter reclining in our bed. Whatever for you are holding a cricket bat?”She asked
Sheepishly smiling he mumbled saying that he found the bat as he came up and with IPL in full swing he wished to swing the bat a little.
Sending the man away, he hugged her tight and said “Thank you so much for the thoughtful gift. I will see the finals in this screen. I have also a few surprises for you. Get ready fast. We are eating out. Just one second” he said and ran out.
He came back with the bouquet and the packets to submerge her in happiness.

55 W fiction

Sleep over
Anil was surprised when his friend mentioned “Julie is coming to my room to spend the night”
“Wow, what are you planning to do” asked Anil
“Just have fun. She has been wanting for long” the friend replied
“Did she really want?”
“Yes,it was her idea to learn baking from me” said Anjaly

Being first
“Have you ever come first in your school?”shouted Sanjay’s dad
“Yes, I breasted the tape first in the school sports today” he replied proudly
“Sorry, Sanju, for shouting. What was the event? Any medal?”asked his dad
“Slow cycling race” replied Sanju inaudibly

Careless
It was a bad day. When he searched the pocket to pay the bus fare, he found the purse missing. Someone had picked his pocket. He didn’t telephone his wife. She always taunted him for his carelessness.
“How negligent you are? You left the wallet on the dining table” berated his wife in the evening.

55 W fiction

Head-on collision

The train was speeding at 60mph along the curve with screeching noise..From the window I saw a goods train coming from opposite side. I started telling my prayers.There was a deafening roar and soon there were groans and screams crying for help. I opened the door to see a head-on collision on the adjacent track.

Instant love

I saw her in the mall. I could not take my eyes off her. Dressed in chic outfit she had blond hair in curls, blue eyes and long legs. I saw her eye lashes fluttering. I wished to possess her forever."Mummy, see her. I want her."
“Nothing doing. You have three Barbie dolls already.”

Highway scare

The highway was lonely and dark. I stopped the car at the closed level crossing. Two men came near from the sides. I was scared stiff.
One man tapped the door and asked "Show me the license.Okay, wait for a few cars and go as convoy. It is a bad stretch ahead with wicked men.”

Bablu’s luck

Bablu, an orphan, lived with his rich relative. He grew to be a loafer with all vices despite warnings of serious consequences if unchanged. Fed up one morning he mixed poison to relative’s cup of coffee and drank his cup wondering at the smirk in old fox’s face as he poured his cup in sink.

The companion

He was walking at midnight by the side of cemetery. No one around, it was scary till he found another walking ahead. He hastened his steps to be with him. He talked but the other was silent. Reaching the end of road he asked “where do you live?”
The other replied ”Cemetery” and disappeared.

55 W fiction

Evil thought
I decided to mug the first car on the lonely stretch with my buddy for our dinner. But we were surprised to find 10000 rupees in victim’s wallet. An evil thought to grab all crept into my mind. I stealthily pulled my gun to finish my buddy. I heard a sudden roar and all went silent.

Spoilt one
“You loved me and slept with me in your bed for months. Why don’t you want me anymore?”
“Because you are now spoilt”
“It is your mistake to send me last night with your friend”
“Still I don’t want you anymore”
“If he dropped me in dirty puddle was it my mistake?” asked teddy bear

Chase in dark
It was dark and lonely.
He walked fast as he heard the steps behind.
He started running as the steps became closer and faster.
“Don’t run. You will get hurt” he heard
He ran faster
“Stop. This is the final warning”
He stood still till his mom took him in her arms.

Cruelty
They finally decided to kill me, a captive. I had done no harm nor am I wealthy.
I don’t know why they spared my sister. The man’s face was grim and the timid woman was in tears.
I pleaded for mercy but it fell on deaf ears. Cruel act accomplished they left the abortion clinic.

DNA test
When third child was born, to her shock her doubting hubby asked doctor for a DNA test
“Go ahead, let this skunk know he is the god.damn father to this baby” she screamed
“Test all the three kids” he shouted back
“Oh, no”she wailed and fainted