A faint gesture

Ranjit had beer daily in the evenings with his friends at the local restaurent.They occupied the same corner table and shared the bill equally. It was the same charming bar girl who served them daily.May be this could be the reason why they never changed the table.It was a daily ritual. But she never spoke one unnecessary word though courteous.Her large blue eyes and her swaying hips did something to Ranjit that can hardly be explained and he knew he was in love with her.But she never encouraged any advances from him. Ranjit was not defeated and his visits continued hoping someday she would relent.

One day as she was bringing the tray with bottles, glasses and ice, she accidentally dropped the napkin .Ranjit pounced on it and gave it to her with a flourish.She took it from him with a thanks accompanied by a smile along with what he presumed as a faint wink unseen by others.

Ranjit was overwhelmed by joy as he announced with gusto ‘Today’s beer binge will be on me.Drink as much as you wish’.His puzzled buddies wondered what went wrong with their usually tight fisted friend.

Last reply

Not one around in the isolated mountain resort.She knew her life was fast ebbing out as the last blood drained.She carried her lover’s child in her womb.When she insisted on marriage, he brought her here with false promise and stabbed her before leaving.

Luckily she could feel the locket in the chain on her neck that he had ignored in his hurry.It contained their photo.She opened it to touch his picture with her blood soaked finger and drew his initials on the floor.

‘This is enough.You will soon get nailed’ she muttered in wry smile as her life passed out

We did not harass

‘Did you harass your wife for dowry?’ asked the lawyer
‘No,I did not’ said the youngman.he seemed calm and collected
‘What is the reason for her suicide?’
‘I don’t know’
‘You are her husband.How come you are not aware?
‘She didn’t discuss with me about this
There was an audible laughter in the court.
‘Did you start a new company?’
‘Yes,I did’
‘Who financed it?”
‘Mainly the bank and my savings’
‘Was it sufficient?’
‘No’
‘Is your wife a partner?’
‘Yes’
‘Has she invested any amount?
‘She promised to muster her share’
‘How much?’
‘Rs.10 lakhs’
‘Was she working anywhere?’
‘No she was a housewife’
‘Wherefrom was she expecting to muster?
‘I don’t know’
‘Has she any friends or relatives to help her financially/’
‘None’
‘Wherefrom she expected to muster? She must have told you’
‘Yes, I remember her telling that she would ask her dad’
‘Was her dad in an affluent position to give?’
‘No, he was not wealthy but had a tiled house’
‘Was your wife his only child?’
‘No, he has four children’
‘How can he then help her/’
‘Don’t know.May be by selling the house?’
‘You mean the house where he was living with his wife and children”
The defendant was quiet
‘Answer the question’
‘That was the only way’
Did your company need her share of money urgently?’
‘Yes’
‘Did you ask her to bring it quickly?’
‘Yes, I did’
‘When was that?’
‘One year back’
‘Did she bring?’
‘No’
‘So you had to remind her frequently’
‘Yes, the money was urgently required’
‘Did you send her to her dad’s house to bring the money?’
‘When she said she would go, I permitted her’
‘Did she ask to go almost daily?’
‘She had to request her dad for help’
‘If she did not go, did you suggest that she go?’
‘May be’’’
‘Did she go in her kast 10 days/’
‘No, she did not’
‘Did she refuse?’
The defendant was quiet
Answer the question
‘Yes’
‘Was there a loud argument over this as your neighbours allege?’
‘Yes, we were discussing’
‘Still she refused?’
The defendant kept quiet
Answer the question’ the judge ordered
‘Did your parents and brother also join in the argument/’
Again silence from defendant
“Answe’
‘Yes, they advised her’
‘Advised her, what?’
‘Advised her to get her share of the money’
‘Did her dad agree to give before you started the company?’
‘No’
‘So the pressure on your wife to get the money mounted in the last ten days of her life’
Silence
Especially after her refusal.Any response?’
Continued silence
‘Answer’
‘We did not harass’
‘Did your wife smoke’’
‘No’
Do you smoke?’
‘Yes, I do’
‘Are you aware that many burnt cigarette marks were there on her face, belly and thighs?
Silence again

The lawyer said ‘I rest my case your honouur’

The living god

Diwali was next day. The sales were brisk in the bazaar with shops awash with goods in glittering colours and designs on the shelves and platforms and with overflowing crowd of people eager to buy. I saw that lady in her early forties,with a small boy and a girl slightly older in tow in the super market watching the shelves from a distance.From her appearance and ordinary dress I could surmise she was not well off.I had nothing in particular to buy but came to the big store to while away my time watching people.The young boy was tugging her at every shelf and pointing out to some item or the other he desired.She gently dragged him away.The girl was quieter and seen comforting the boy.I saw them moving towards the discount counter offering dresses at dirt cheap prices.She selected after long time two dresses one each for her kids and moved towards the sweet stall.The boy was wanting many delicacies but when his mom bought half a kg of the cheapest sweet,he started crying loudly.She took care to make a detour to the exit gate by avoiding the fire works and crackers section.

As they were nearing the entrance some one collided against the girl who was holding the sweets packet.The whole thing fell down on the floor.When the girl bent to pick the sweets, the security dissuaded her saying it was a dirty place with so many walking in and out.The lady’s face was grim as tears trickled from the eyes of the girl. The boy started pleading that they go back to buy again.But the lady dragged them away outside.

I could not forget the faces of the crying boy, the silent girl with guilt writ large and the sad woman.I wondered why God kept some in perpetual want while some in needless plenty.It made my heart heavy and I lost the mood to linger anymore in the shopping centre.I went back home a short while later

Two hours later, there was a knock at the door of her one room tenement.The room was not bright.When she opened she found a man in driver’s white uniform standing with two large and heavy baskets in his hand.He said”This is for you and your children.My boss every year on Diwali eve gifts like this to some unknown people.He saw you and your children at the supermarket.Please have no worry as he is a very decent and good man.”

The boy jumped with joy and the girl smiled.The woman after some hesitation accepted the baskets to find dresses for all, plenty of sweets of different varieties, fruits and crackers for the kids.There was a cover addressed “To my sister, Happy Diwali” with 1000 Rupees inside.There was a note that said ”if you need any help, meet me and my wife at….”

She looked at the man in uniform showing him the note and the money.He smiled back and said “Yes, this is the way my boss celebrates Diwali each year bringing cheer and smile to some unknown needy family. He is my living god”

The choice

Mangala’s lover was waiting in the vehicle outside.The sms urged her to come away quickly.She turned to look at her snoring husband on the cot with his mouth wide open and legs spread apart showing his undergarment.A feeling of revulsion took over her.Her one year old girl was sleeping by his side.After she gathered a couple of dressses, she turned again to have one last look at her baby.She was shocked to see it on the verge of the cot and likely to fall anytime.He was still snoring loudly.She lifted the baby in her arms and sat down crying.The mobile frequently rang to indicate new messages.She ignored them as she hugged the child.

Three years back she was just a 17 year old girl working along with her mom as domestic help. In her afternoons she used to visit her neighbouring house to watch TV.The lady there was a wily woman.Seeing this good looking girl she planned to get her married to her brother who was 38.He was an alchoholic spending all his money on liquor and whores..She felt a marriage would make him more responsible.She created opportunities for them to meet by calling him also to play carrom or watch TV.She would frequently vanish for short periods leaving them alone.One day the girl lost her innocence and cried inconsolably.The wily woman convinced her and made her marry her brother.

It was all hunky dory initially.She conceived and soon got a baby girl.When he never gave money for running the household or for taking care of the baby’s requirements, she was upset.He expected her to work in several households and not to look to him for money.Eventually he started beating her to take away whateer money she had..The drinking habits made him neglect his wife.The wide difference in age and his poor health left her unhappy.

It was then she met an young driver in ration shop.She was attracted to him.A bachelor 26 years old he was willing to marry her provided she left her husband and the child.She was ready to leave her husband but not her daughter.The young man was adamant.on that issue and wanted her to choose one of them, either the baby or him. .Life became unbearable when her husband started suspecting and beating her more.She decided to leave him once and for all.It was agreed that her lover would come in the night to pick her up.

The mobile became insistent.Her husband moved a little.The baby in her arms was awake and started kicking her legs.Suddenly the infant giggled at her mom.Mangala was overcome with love for the baby as her maternal instincts rose.She hugged the baby and smiothered kisseson her till the baby started crying.When the mobile rang.again,she switched it off.She had made her choice.

Sadism at its height

It was clear thatt the four men who were dragging him had evil intentionsThere were a crowd of people watching as if they were in erstwhile Roman arena .He knew he would be hacked to death by the vile men very soon in the most cruel manner.Yet not a single person had the guts to stop such brazen kiilling in public even as women and children were walking around. It can be anybody’s turn tomorrow..People were dumb and powerless.The government was indiferrent and unable to curb the menace due to vested interests.All his wails and screams were of no avail as the blood spluttered around on the floor

Who bothers about a goat offered in sacrifice?

Misfired romance

Raju born among six sisters was a timid man.Even his wife often chided him ‘to behave like a man, stand up to bullies and be counted in a crowd.’ Her constant bickering made him diffident.She was a well built woman of great charm while Raju was frail and small structured.Though they had two kids, she was not fully happy and often quarreled with him in the nights.But Raju was a good provider meeting all her wishes in clothes and jewelry.Life was humdrum with each day being no different with the other.While Raju slogged late hours in office, his wife was left sulking before TV that never caught her fancy.She needed company,affection and pampering.

One day when he came unexpectedly early from work in the midday when the children were away at school, he found to his deep dismay his wife in bed with a stodgy neighbour.He was shocked but left the room without uttering one word.The man left hurriedly and the woman came down long after pleading for mercy and pardon.He did not open his mouth much to the chagrin of his wife.She sulked more.Raju became quiet not knowing to assert himself.

When he started coming home at unexpected hours on different days only to catch them in compromising position, he decided to put an end to this deception.He got a pistol and hid it in pant.He told his wife he was not feeling well and that he would like to take a day off and sleep. She agreed and after lunch gave him a hot drink of horlicks telling that it would make him sleep well.

Suddenly he woke up after a couple of hours and remembering the purpose of his absence from work,he felt for the pistol in his pocket.Assured that he would teach the culprits a fitting lesson,he tiptoed to bed room.As expected he saw them in the bed in a disgusting manner..He slowly took the pistol and fired two shots point blank at them.But they continued in their amorous merry making unruffled.

He shouted at his wife”Don’t you have an iota of shame? When I am here standing by your side ,the two of you still persist with the shameless act.You rascal,get lost before I shoot you’

They did not seem to be bothered at all and became more passinate.He tried to pull his wife away from that scoundrel but he could not.He wondered why.

It was then she giggled saying to her lover 'No more worry from that skinny man, my dear.I gave him horlicks laced with insecticde.He must be dead by now.Dont come for a few days till they pronounce it as a suicide.’

She was unaware of a suicide note left by Raju why he was taking away his life by the same pistol he planned to use against his wife and her secret lover.