The well wisher

Neeraja noticed the protruding envelope from the post box as she entered her house. It was addressed to her. There was no postage stamp or name of sender. Courier boys would not leave the letters like that. What intrigued her were the words “Urgent and confidential" on it. Who could send such a letter, she wondered. She tore the envelope to see a small sheet. It read “The guy whom you are in love with is not an honest person. He is flirting concurrently with two other girls. He would ditch all the three of you after having some fun for another set of girls. He does this frequently. You are warned to stay away from him. Beware, I would know all your movements. A well wisher"

She tore the letter to pieces in anger and threw them in dust bin. She knew Navin since two years. A decent and good looking guy, he was her colleague earlier in the company where she is working .He left it for a better job.He had no big B school diplomas but he worked as an executive in some private company. She was a MBA from a prestigious school but that did not deter her from falling in love with him. He did not belong to her caste though it mattered little to her. They were going steady.

Who could be this well wisher? Could it be someone wanting to marry him and jealous of her? She talked to her bosom friend Rohini also a MBA and working in her office. They are very close and have no secrets between them.

 "Why would anyone take the trouble of dissuading you from marrying him unless he is romantically interested in you? Is there anyone other than Navin? Or could it be though farfetched your parents who may object because of his caste?"Rohini said.

"True, my parents are not exactly happy about my choice of Navin but I don't think they will stoop to this length. I know of no one who has openly shown romantic interest in me. I am in tension ever since I got this letter"

"Who knows who wrote it? But I would advise you caution. Watch Navin carefully as there can be no smoke without fire."

"What crap are you talking, Rohini?" Neeraja said with some irritability

When she met Navin that evening she asked him with a feigned seriousness”So you are romping with two other women silently with none of them being wiser to your dalliances?"

"What nonsense are you talking, Neeru? Have you gone soft on head or what?"Navin asked.

"I received a written warning this morning from some anonymous guy pretending to be my well wisher. Is there any lady making advances to you in your office or from elsewhere?"

"Stupid girl, you and your crazy ideas. There is none like that. There is space in my heart only for you. Come on, let us go and eat something. I am famished."

She did not tell him about her discussion with Rohini and totally forgot this matter after the pleasant evenings with him daily. It was therefore a surprise when she saw a tiny box one day in the post box addressed to her.

To her horror she found a picture of pistol with a note."I know you have been going with your lover in the evenings to restaurants despite my warning. I am serious. I would put a violent end to your love affair. Marry the guy whomever your parents choose for you for your lover's sake and his wellbeing."

She got scared and rang Navin requesting him to come and meet her in her office. Navin excused himself saying he was busy at work. In the evening he advised her that she best ignore such pranks and if it gets serious she can consider seeking help of police.

Two days later she got two pictures of Navin with his arms around two different girls in each and a note asking whether she needed more evidence. Neeraja started crying unable to digest the thought of Navin deceiving her and lying to her. She went straight to his office and confronted him with the pictures.”Tell me who they are? I trusted you. You can be honest with me and I will move away from your life permanently. I want this matter to be settled right now.”He looked at the photographs intently for a few minutes and then started laughing. He pulled her near him and said “What a buddhu you are? See the fingers of the man. Don’t you see rings in two fingers? Have you ever seen me wearing a ring? I am waiting for one ring and that is from you. These are morphed pictures of my head with someone else. A cut and paste job. Someone is definitely against your marrying me. If it is not your parents, watch out who it could be.It is none from my side, I am sure. Don’t get panicked. It will resolve itself soon” he said

The next day her system had a problem. She wanted some file and thought she would go to Rohini’s cabin. She would share the latest development and get the file from her computer. Her cabin was vacant and someone said she was on leave. Neeraja opened her system with company’s password and opened the file needed. She wanted a pencil and paper. When she opened the side drawer she found to her surprise some fashion magazine along with scissors with bits of clippings. She opened her Photoshop file and found in the recent files the pictures received by her. Things became clearer.

The next day when Neeraja said to Rohini in serious tone “I know who the culprit is. I have enough proof. Do you wish to know?”

“Neeraja, did you by any chance open my system? I confess to the wrong doing. I started loving Navin soon after he joined. It was ofcourse one sided. When I expressed my love, he was rather rude in rejecting me and said that he loved someone else. What irked me were his words that she is better looking and more intelligent. It was then I decided to see that he does not marry her. At that time I was not aware it was you. But I wished to teach that rascal a lesson. I am sorry. I will no more interfere. Please do not tell him, I implore you”

When Navin asked two days later about any fresh development from the well wisher, she said “Oh, the matter is resolved and is best forgotten. I need to buy a ring for you. By the way, would you need two?” she asked with a giggle.

The shield

Chinnadurai has been driving the bus on this route for the last five years. This is not considered a good route. The distance was long and passed through narrow roads inhabited by poor people. There were two alcohol shops on this route and invariably drunk people boarded the bus giving trouble to the conductor and other passengers by their incessant prattle and foul mouth. Since it also passed through a well known shopping area, the bus became notorious for pick pocketing and bag snatching..

Chinnadurai was posted in this route as a punishment after an inadvertent accident in a different route that wound its way through posh areas. The conductor Vasanth Paul was a young and good chap but inexperienced in handling rough guys. It was Chinnadurai who came to his rescue whenever someone threw tantrums. But one thing both Vasanth and Chinnadurai could not control was the incidence of pick pocketing that invariably took place in every trip. Both of them knew who the offenders were and which dreaded don’s protection they enjoyed. They were advised by their peers not to take cognizance of the presence of criminals lest the two came to harm. In the past where conductors and drivers either protested or warned the passengers to take care of their belongings came to grief by ruthless attacks when they were off duty. The police took refuge under the plea that there were no complaints from victims about loss of belongings.

One such day as Chinnadurai was driving the bus around 7pm, he noticed the gang of four known pickpockets board the bus at the front and rear as it started after stopping at a bus stop. Vasanth was busy issuing tickets in the crowded bus. Suddenly there was a wail from a woman “Oh my god, someone has snatched the bag from my hand. Please help me. He is in the bus only. He pushed me and moved forward”

All the passengers looked at each other. Someone shouted at Chinnadurai to stop the bus. He ignored the call and speeded up the bus without stopping.

The woman cried “It contained my life’s savings and jewels that I purchased for my daughter’s marriage after taking loan. Please help me to get back the bag. I will be ruined and the marriage will get stopped”

Even as he was driving Chinnadurai turned and said in loud voice looking at no one in particular “Please hand over the bag to that woman. She is my sister and the marriage is of my niece. I cannot ignore. If the bag is not returned the bus will stop only at the police station.This is certain”

Two of the four wicked guys who were in the front side of the bus moved near Chinnadurai shouting “Our stop has come. You cannot drive the bus to police station as you please without stopping for passengers to alight”

Chinnadurai said “I have said that this bus will not stop till it reaches the police station unless the bag is restored to my sister. “ One of the men suddenly whisked a pen knife and stabbed on Chinnadurai’s shoulder. Seeing this some passengers overpowered him. The other passengers blocked the exit on both sides.

Although blood was flowing Chinnadurai managed to drive the bus into the compound of police station. The bag was recovered from the floor of the bus where it was thrown but the policemen held all the four. As Chinnadurai was being given first aid, the woman with the bag in hand approached him with folded hands.

“Are you happy that you got your belongings?” Chinnadurai asked

“Thanks a lot. But for you I would have been ruined. I just wished to know why you said that I am your sister when I am not”

“These things happen almost daily and we turn a blind eye for fear of their harming us later. They are part of a big gang. I was moved when you said the jewels were bought for marriage out of loan. They are all ruthless thugs. Telling loudly that you are my sister is a sort of shield for me. They may still harm me but chances are less. Never mind that. Any woman in distress in my bus is my sister” he said

A redeeming example

Bhilla’s granny was in her last moments and the boy of 19 was crying by her side when Ranga had gone there in deference to her wishes. They lived in the adjacent tenements in a chawl.There was a deathly pallor and she had difficulty in breathing. When she saw Ranga, he could notice a flicker of brightness in her eyes. As he sat by her side, she took his hand and with much difficulty she said “I entrust Bhilla in your care. There is none for him. He is a wayward boy given to bad habits. Still he is my grandson. Please promise me that you would keep him under your shelter and make a man of him.”

“Grandma, please do not worry. Rest assured that I will take care of him as my younger brother” Ranga replied.

There was a faint trace of smile in her face before her life ebbed out.

Bhilla though younger by 5 years than Ranga, had lot of vices. Under compulsion by Ranga, he distributed along with him the morning dailies and did some odd errands in the day time. He spent the money he earned on drugs and cheap whores.Ranga though he occasionally drank was more responsible as he had a mother and sister to take care of.Ranga’s mother did not allow Bhilla to stay in her house and even advised her son to move away from him.

It was 6pm and the two were sitting on a bench idly smoking cigarette inside the lawns of a government school. The school was empty as everyone had left. The durwan was also not to be seen and evidently he must have gone nearby as the gates were open. It was then a girl of about 17 came inside the school in a hurry. She looked around for the durwan. Bhilla asked her “What are you looking for. The old man has gone out.”

“I left my handbag by mistake in the class. I wished to take it back” she said innocently.

“If you know the class room, I can accompany you. You can bring it out in a minute” said Bhilla

“It is in first floor. I would prefer to wait for durwan. He should be here any minute” she said

“I am not so sure as he was carrying a big bag. It is no problem for me to escort you as the school is empty and getting darker”

The girl hesitated for a few moments and then agreed to follow Bhilla who was already moving towards the staircase. Ranga said “Bhilla, you must be back within a minute as soon as the girl finds the bag”

“Don’t worry” he replied as he hopped two steps at a time over the staircase.

Ranga was not comfortable sending the young girl with Bhilla into the desolate building but thought girl would be apprehensive if both accompanied her. Bhilla was fair and had a boyish face with dimple when he smiled. Ranga was not good looking and had a pock marked face. Ranga let him go and sat on the bench.

Within a few minutes he heard a faint scream from inside the school. He ran inside worried that Bhilla was at his mischief. Worried about the safety of the girl, he hurried looking for the two in the several classrooms filled with tables and chairs. When he neared one, he heard a muffled cry and went inside to find Bhilla overpowering the girl after tearing her clothes. He gave a hard whack on Bhilla’s head and pushed him away from the girl. The girl ran to a corner cowering in fright. Even as he was telling the girl to run away, Bhilla whisked a knife and stabbed Ranga in the hand and body. Ranga held Bhilla under his clasp and shouted to the girl “Run away to the road. Don’t stay”

The girl ran out of the room and Bhilla in a rage attacked Ranga again and ran behind the girl. In a few minutes many people came inside the room where Ranga was writhing in pain. They had caught Bhilla near the gate as he was chasing the girl.. While the police admitted Ranga in a hospital, Bhilla was in their custody at the station.

Bhilla had alleged that Ranga was trying to outrage the modesty of the girl and that since he was strong he had no option but to attack Ranga with knife to save the girl.

The next day as Ranga was drowsy in bed and in pain with bandages in several parts of the body with a policeman sitting by his side. When he heard shuffling of feet by his side ,he opened the yes and saw to his surprise the girl accompanied by her father and an inspector of police by his side. Ranga looked at her bewildered not knowing why she came with inspector. She smiled at him and asked him”Please extend your hand. Today is Raksha Bandhan.Let me tie a Rakhi” She gave him a big sweet packet after tying the rakhi and said “You are truly my brother. But for you my life would have been ruined. You saved me in the nick of the moment. I had explained the sequence of events to the inspector.”

Ranga said in feeble tone “I saw in you my sister of your age. I was alert as  I knew Bhilla and his character.”

The inspector patted him on his shoulders and said “I am happy that you acted nobly and very differently from many who indulge in gang rape on hapless victims that fell under their control. You are indeed a role model. The police would recommend your name for a reward.”

The father said “I would not be lagging behind. I will take care of you by providing a good job and also take care of your family. We are immensely indebted to you for saving my daughter even when you faced danger”

Food for the soul

Mariam, a destitute, begged daily near a church and traffic signal. She got enough coins  to buy food for one meal. It was raining that day and she had a small packet of bread given that morning at church by a kindly visitor. It was past noon and she was very hungry

“Grandma, my child is starving for two days. Can you share some?” she heard from a young woman with small kid in her arms.

Without second thought she gave the entire packet. What if there is no food for stomach, there is enough for the soul, she thought.

(This was written in response to 100 word Saturday prompt of  "Food For Soul" on WT.)..

 

The wrist watch

­­­­“Akul, Akul…. Where are you?” I heard my husband shouting from the study.

The Nepali boy of 12 who worked for me ran from the kitchen where he was making tea.

“Where is the wrist watch I kept on the table a while ago? It is only 8am and nobody had come to our house so far.

“Tell me the truth, you little rascal” shouted my husband.

There was silence. I was doing the puja that day being a Friday.

Meanwhile he had gone to the boy’s small room at the rear and had the box opened to find his watch inside.

I heard a slap and then my husband’s voice” You ungrateful thief. I have  never liked your shifty eyes. I don’t want you anymore. Take your things and get out”

I heard the boy sobbing without responding to the accusation.

I left the puja in the middle and rushed in to see my husband holding the watch and the boy standing before him averting his gaze by lowering his head.

“Why are you accusing the young child? I had only given him the watch a little while ago” I said

“Who are you to gift my watch without my permission? Why didn’t he tell me so?”roared my husband

“Do remember that out of the six watches you have, I had gifted you five. This one you don’t wear as it has a metal strap and it hurts your wrist. When has it become things in our house like yours and mine?"

“You can gift the other watches also to your friends, I don’t care. Who am I to question you?” he replied. Touched by remorse at having slapped the boy, he added”At least you should have had the courtesy of telling me beforehand. I would not have wrongly accused the chap”

“I was busy with Friday puja.Who ever thought that you would be in a foul mood early in the morning?” I said

After my husband left for office, I called Akul and asked “Why did you do this? Have I ever kept you in want?”

The boy fell at my feet and clasped them  as he said “Sorry, ma.I have betrayed your confidence in me. My friend from my village who works in the bakery across the road told me that his mom told him while he was talking to her that my father was hit by a lorry and is in hospital. He also said that his mom mentioning that my mom had no money.”

“You should have told me and I would have given you money. How can you steal? Is it not a sin?”

“I am very sorry ma.I did it in a weak moment when the devil took possession of my mind. I promise I will never in my life do such things again. Please do not send me away. I beg of you>”he implored

“It is ok.Never do again. I have faith in you. Let me go to ATM and draw some money. I will give you 5000 rupees and we can send it to your home immediately. Don’t open the door for anyone and take care.

I returned in 30 minutes and pressed the bell. The door was not opened. I pressed again with concern. When the door was not opened, I opened with my key and rushed in. I smelt something burning and rushed to the kitchen. I saw Akul lying in the floor in pain and crying .I saw an iron ladle by his side.

“Akul, what have you done to yourself? Remove the towel over your hand “I shouted only to see the deeply scalded hand of the boy from the hot ladle. I lifted the boy in my arms and rushed to ER.

“Ma, please excuse me. This will ever be a reminder to me in my life to stay straight. I could not bear your telling a lie on my behalf” Tears flowed from my eyes as I hugged the urchin

The phone call

Trring, trring....the telephone rang repeatedly. It was noon.

"Hello"

"Is Krithika there?"asked a voice softly

  "Madam is taking her bath. Who is calling?"

"Tell me who you are"

"Subbiah, I am the cook .If you tell me your name, I can inform madam"

“You can say Ravi. Do you work whole time?"

"No sir, I will leave in another hour. I work up to 1 pm."                                                                          "Is the master available at home? I will have a word with him"

"No sir, he has gone on tour and will come after two days"

"I will ring after sometime. Is madam going out?"

"No sir, the car has gone for service. Madam will be in the house watching TV"

"Why, is there no one else? Kids?"

"No one.She will be alone.. They have no children. Don’t you know?"

Ravi was very happy. Ever since he met her in a party, he was struck by her beauty. She even danced with him but was half drunk. Whether by design or accident, her body frequently brushed with his and he took that she was indicating her interest. But she never asked his name or details. She went away dancing with others. Ravi elicited her name and number from the hostess.

From then on he stalked her. But she never showed sign of recognition or interest  even when he accosted her once and mentioned about her dancing with him. She did not seem to recollect though she admitted that she attended the party. She brushed aside his advances and requested him not to bother her. But he was not one to take a no easily.

The opportunity he had been waiting for had materialized today. He had a shower and dabbed himself with deodorant. Exactly after one hour he went to her place and rang the bell hoping to catch her alone. He was confident that his masculine charm can overcome her initial resistance.

One man looking like a servant opened the door and asked him to come in and be seated. When Ravi looked questioningly, he said" I am Subbiah.I had informed madam about your phone call. Aren't you mister Ravi? She is expecting you"

"Oh, very good. You had said that your job is up to 1pm."

"Yes sir, I was held up. I will get you coffee and then go away"

"No, no.I don't need anything. I don't want to detain you. You can go. I will also go after a few minutes"

"Okay sir. I will inform madam. Please wait"

A couple of minutes later Subbiah in a clean shirt and pant with his arm on Krithika along with an inspector of police  entered the hall.

The inspector held Ravi's arm even when Krithika was telling "This is the guy who has been stalking me and frequently telephoning. He will tell his name and plead with me to meet him. When I stopped answering, he would still ring and I could hear the heavy breathing. I was hesitant to tell my husband initially and one day when he asked why I shuddered whenever the phone rang, I confided in him. Today he duped this guy as if he is a cook and made him come telling that I am alone."

Abruptly Ravi fell at the feet of Krithika and said" Please forgive me this time. I will no more trouble you. Since you were on intimate terms with my friends Subash and Kumar, I thought you would be friendly with me too. I am sorry"

“It is a lie, a blatant lie” she screamed

“No, I can bring them to you and make them tell” Ravi protested

Krithika's face became pale and lowering her head she ran inside her room even as her husband looked at her in utter disbelief.

Suddenly the inspector turned to Ravi and bellowed angrily " Get lost this moment, you wretch. Next time I see you stalking her or telling lies, I will put you in jail and torture you."

The inspector friend then gently put his arm on her dazed husband and led him to the sofa.

The cryptic letter

As she turned the key of the door to her apartment, she found an envelope projecting from the crevice in the door. She found her name Stella Mathew written clearly with proper address in long hand. It was a printed envelope from a church in a town about 250 miles away. Wondering whether it could be a request for a donation or for voluntary service, she pulled the white sheet from inside.

"Dear Stella,

Your presence is required at 4pm day after tomorrow at the church adjacent to the main bus stand. I shall explain the purpose when we meet. You will not feel sorry for having come. You can return the same day. Please do not fail to come.

Pastor”

Stella was wondering what the pastor had to do with her and why this cryptic letter. She missed her granny now. She had always an answer for all her doubts and questions. She passed away three months ago. It was her granny who brought her up ever since Stella’s mother passed away when she was five years. The relationship between her dad and granny soured when he married someone else within six months of her mom's demise. There was some heated exchange of words and he stopped coming and even being in touch with his daughter. There was no contact and even his whereabouts were not known.

Stella was brought up by her granny single handedly. After her Master's she is now an officer in a bank. Her granny's only grouse was that though 27 years, Stella had not found the right man for herself. The old woman wanted her well settled in life before her end. But that was not destined.

She was now alone and her thoughts went back to her dad. There is a hazy memory of a tall man from the photograph of her mom and dad taken soon after their wedding. She could never the see the picture again. She suspected her granny must have hidden it away. On only one occasion he had come to her school and asked her teacher's permission to take her out for one hour. That was refused as he had come without her guardian's approval. He gave her a silver locket with Jesus picture and said he loved her a lot. Stella said she missed him too and wanted him to come frequently. Granny was furious when she heard about it and she did not know what had happened but he stopped visiting her thereafter.

She reached the church by 3.45 pm.There were lot of people in an adjacent hall with all of them looking grim. It looked a solemn and sad occasion. Some of them went round an open gasket placed at one end. She was in panic as fear enveloped her that it could be her dear dad. Tears flowed from her eyes and the last visit at the school came to her mind. She started sobbing when everyone turned towards her. Was it for seeing her dad for the last time the pastor had called her, she wondered.Summoning courage she started moving towards the gasket when she felt an arm touch her shoulder. She turned to see the pastor looking at her with a smile.

“Stella, I assume. I was waiting for you in my room at the church. When you did not turn up, I thought you would have strayed here by mistake. Come with me" he said

She followed him meekly to his room."You must have been shocked to see the gasket and made wrong assumption" he said with a laugh.

"You are right. I thought it could be my dad. Otherwise why would you have called me?"

"I agree you were right in making such a surmise though it is wrong. Do you love your dad so much? You have hardly seen him except once. Do you remember the occasion?" he asked.

“How do you know” she asked as she opened her hand bag and took out the locket."This was given by him. I see this daily and get the feel of being close to him. Yes I love him deeply no matter what my granny felt about him. He is my daddy and none can take that away from me."

He laughed and said "I told you that you will not regret your coming here. Would you like to meet your dad? I can arrange it now."

She jumped with joy and implored him to take her to him that very moment.  "That will be the greatest blessing I have been praying for" she said

He hugged her and said "Stella, I am your dad. I came to know of your grandmother's demise only last week. I thought she will forgive me now from the Heaven and decided that I should meet you immediately. The cryptic message was to surprise you. Come to my living quarters in the rear."

As they entered hand in hand, she asked “Where is my mom? I don't see anyone here"

"She too passed away two years back."He showed on the wall two photographs of her mother and her step mother. He brought a box and handed it over to her and said “These contain jewels of your step mother. These are for you. Do come frequently. That would make me a happy man"

“Daddy, how lucky and blessed I am. Can I seek a transfer to this town and come here?”