Kokila’s presence of mind

It was 8.30pm.Kokila had just put her child to sleep. She switched off the TV after she saw the news of a young woman killed in the lift by the lift operator. It was scary and upset her. She took an unfinished novel to read reclined in her bed. But her mind would not rest on the book and the image of the murdered woman resisting the attack came before her mind. Kokila’s husband Navin had gone on tour for a couple of days. She always retired to bed early whenever Navin was away. She felt lonelier today as the family in the opposite apartment had gone on a pilgrimage. The two apartments at the first floor were also locked as one was vacant and the family in the other had gone for a wedding. People lived in the two apartments on the ground floor. The watchman at the gate had taken leave for ten days.

It was then the door bell rang. Startled she went and peeped through the peephole. It was Kartik, a colleague of Navin, with what looked an official packet in his hand. She hesitated for a second but then opened the door.

“Navin has gone on tour” she said hoping he would leave after giving the packet if he had come to deliver it.

“I know and that is why I have come” he said with a foolish smile even as he closed the door behind him.

Kokila was scared and knew she had made a mistake. But she did not want to betray her fear and pretended to be normal and asked him to be seated.

“I am famished. Get something to eat” he said in a rough tone. He was a muscular and heavily built man with huge biceps. He smelled of alcohol. She decided to play safe and quickly went in to make two oothappams (pan cakes).He was sitting in the sofa and was watching her with a leering look. She knew his intentions were not honourable.Infact when she met him twice in office parties, she had taken an instant dislike for him.

When she handed over the plate, he deliberately brushed his hairy hand with hers. The smirk in his face was unmistakable. He quickly gobbled up the food, let out a loud belch and said “Thank you. The hunger of my belly is over. Now I expect you to be a reasonable girl and not turn foolish. I have always liked you. That hubby of yours never invited me to the house. Tonight my long last wish is going to be fulfilled”

When she turned towards the telephone, he said “Sorry, I have removed the plug and your mobile that you had foolishly left on the dining table is with me. Do not resist. It will be over in 30 minutes and I will go away. I have come determined to possess you dead or alive. Don’t get hurt. Be a smart girl” he said even as he was rotating the scarf in his hand as the kids do with skipping rope. His intent was clear.

Kokila sized up the situation in a trice. The thought of the murdered woman in the lift came to her mind. She said “Okay. But I need a shower. I am stinking. Give me a few minutes. I will be back. But you must leave after you are done with.”

Kartik was elated as he did not expect her to succumb to his threat so easily. He said “Okay. Come quick. I cannot wait for long. Remember, no tricks. I am a ruthless person.”

He heard initially the running water in the bathroom and then the drone of hair dryer. In a few minutes, the door opened. She looked fresh in her new white overall and a large turkey towel on her hand. To his utter disbelief and surprise, she gave him one big coquettish smile and beckoned him to her saying “Come give me a big bear hug”

“What a lovely bitch”he thought to himself and rushed headlong towards her with extended arms. Even as he wrapped tightly her cool body, he felt a warm sensation in the stomach. Startled, he shrank back to see a long and big chef’s knife imbedded in his belly with blood running from the deep wound. He pulled it out only to witness blood gushing out as if from a hose. He lost his balance and felt down. He became scared at the sight of blood and felt weak. He looked at her and venomously cursed “What have you done, you common whore?”He tried to get up clutching at his stomach but could not.

She grabbed the sleeping child and ran towards the door and then the steps to the ground floor. She knocked frantically at both doors. The inmates came out and soon Kartik was in the custody of police.

“The willow which bends to the tempest often escapes better than the oak which resists it and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those loftier-Sir Walter Scott

Sequel to nagging question

This is a sequel to the story nagging question http://kparthas.blogspot.com/2011/10/nagging-question.html

This has been sent by Jyoti of http://www.randomjuxtapositions.com/ .Many readers had asked the answer for the nagging question.This is a better ending to my story.
The sequel

The question however nagged Madhavan no less. He tried avoiding the topic with his wife. The past few incidents reported in newspapers regarding single women travelling alone in trains has as it is created a phobia against Railways in India. He was happy that he was around to avoid something bad that was about to happen to Divya.

God has strange ways of making people meet. Though Madhavan was thankful to God for Divya and the happiness they shared, he was also concerned about a similar incident that could be waiting to happen to someone else. Or who knows, may have already happened to someone else and it was all hushed up.

It was all but coincidence that particular day there was an article in the newspaper related to this. Madhavan looked up from the newspaper and asked Divya, “Do you remember when you got up to go the toilet that day in the station?”

“Yes? “ She answered with a questioning look.

“Did anyone approach you with a free sample of perfume or scent on a small piece of tissue?” he continued.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I regret not buying that bottle from him. It was such a lovely scent. I only whiffed it for a second, as I was in a hurry to go to the toilet. When I came out, he was already gone. Why do you ask?” She replied.

He handed the newspaper to her and pointed out the article, the person in the picture was the same guy she had met at the station. He had been arrested for attempted rape of a 20-year-old girl, who was travelling alone. He was caught when an elderly woman got suspicious of his activities outside the ladies toilet and called in the security.

Divya had had a narrow escape. She hugged Madhavan with tears in her eyes. They were tears of joy, for discovering the answer to her nagging question and tears of gratitude to God for sending an angel to save her.
--

Jyothi
www.randomjuxtapositions.com

Sindhu's surprise

The Logan International airport was buzzing with activity. I had checked in and was waiting for security clearance. I had two hours before me. I saw an Indian young woman in her early twenties sitting across me. She was sobbing gently wiping the tears frequently. From a slip pasted on her box, I could see she was also bound for Chennai. Her slightly dusky appearance and the features indicated she was from my state. She was charming with a well chiseled face. From the shining gold bangles and chain she was wearing, I deduced she must have been newly married. Something was obviously amiss. I felt I should help her in case she needed any.

I went near her and said “I am Gopal bound for Chennai. I work here. I see that something is bothering you and that you are alone. I get a feeling you are new to this country. If there is anything you need, please ask me freely. Do you speak Tamil?”

“Thanks. I am Sindhu. Yes I am somewhat new. I came here three months back and am returning to my place after some unfortunate developments. Yes I am a Tamilian”she replied

Showing the coffee shop opposite to our seats, I said “Let us go and have some French fries and coffee. I am hungry”

While we were having coffee, I said “I am not inquisitive but you were crying a while ago. I hope there is no serious problem. You do not have to answer if it is personal. I work for Fidelity since two years after my post graduation here. I am going for a fortnight to see my parents. Do you live in Chennai? My parents live in Besant Nagar.”

She kept quiet for some time. I did not prompt her waiting for her to open up.

She asked “What is your seat number. Mine is 16A”

“Wow! What a happy coincidence. Mine is 16B. It is a two seat arrangement normally reserved for women with small kids as they have a bassinet facility” I replied with obvious happiness.

She smiled and said “Wow. We would be seated side by side. It is a long story. I will tell you in the plane. Let us go as we are due for security check already”

That was the first time I was sitting so close to a young woman. The gentle perfume was subdued but still I could feel the fragrance. I don’t know why but I was elated to be by her side. As the plane settled on its long journey to London Heathrow, she asked “Are you in a mood to listen to a depressing story?”

When I said I am all ears, she started telling how she was deceived by a rake who had already married two American women who left him soon and now living in with a big Cuban woman five years older to him.” We got his reference from a matrimonial column. The relative to whom a request was made to enquire did not check thoroughly. While I am a BTech from IIT, he is not even a postgraduate and doing odd jobs living off on that Cuban woman. He gave false information about him. His intention was to ditch the Cuban woman and attach himself to me as I am in a good job having been transferred by my company to US. He is a cruel and coarse guy given to violent temper and lying. When I sized up the situation I moved to a separate apartment with the help of colleagues but he started pestering me. I threatened police action to keep him at bay, sought a transfer back to India and plan to file papers for divorce. That is the gist of my American experience.”

“I have heard of such instances of even well educated men doing such things. It happens despite the best care for no one can find all details about the individuals’ character. Where do you live in Chennai?” I asked

“Adyar. Do you live with your wife here in US?” she asked

“No, I am not yet married. My parents want me to see a few young ladies they have selected. Personally I would like to put off my wedding for a year. I hope to persuade my parents to agree. They do not mind even my choosing my own partner provided she is from India preferably a Tamilian” I said with a smile.

“Do you have anyone in view?”she asked

“Not till I reached the airport this evening” I said with a mischievous smile.

Bewildered she looked at me and said “I don’t get it. What is it you are telling?” she asked

“Even I didn’t know till recently. Let us eat the dinner and resume our conversation” I said with a smile.

When I took the dinner plate from the air hostess and gave it to Sindhu, my hands brushed against hers. She pulled back immediately not before making an eye contact with me .After dinner we did not pursue the same subject. She dozed off in a while. When she woke up with a start when there was turbulence in the air, she found herself resting her head on my shoulders and that I had covered her with a blanket. Embarrassed she shrank back; when I said “It is ok. Sleep for some more time”

“No, the sleep has gone. Tell me more about the change in your mind after reaching airport. Did you meet any friend of yours?” she said

“I met none except you” I said with a loud guffaw as heads turned towards me. I continued saying “I have found one and am willing to wait till her problem is sorted out.”

In utter disbelief and shyness she lowered her head. I said “I wish to introduce you to my parents soonest and hope to spend the fortnight happily in the company of my new find and friend” and held her fingers in mine throughout the flight.

The nagging question

Divya was waiting at the Central station for boarding her train to Coimbatore. She had come an hour earlier. She found seated by her side a young man in his late twenties reading an English magazine. He looked handsome with dark curly hair parted at the centre. The thin rimless specs that rested on his aquiline nose added to his charm. She glanced towards him now and then but he never seemed to take note of her. She glanced at her watch and found it had stopped.

“Mister, can you please tell me the time?” she asked him shaking her watch vigorously.

“20.10.Has your watch stopped or what?” he asked.

She giggled and said “Thanks. Why would I ask if it were running?”

“I am Madhavan bound for Coimbatore. Who knows you might have asked me just to pick up a conversation” he said with a mischievous grin.

“Chee, chee.Why should I pick up conversation with a stranger? I am Divya waiting for my train to the same place” she replied.

When he exploded into laughter she too joined him. After a few pleasantries he asked her “Would you mind having tea and some snacks at the restaurant? I am famished and we have an hour more”

She readily agreed. He ordered samosa, sandwiches and tea. As they were waiting, she excused herself leaving her small suit case with him . When she came back, he found him waiting with the snacks and tea. They ate together. She learnt he was an Income Tax officer working at Coimbatore and in turn had informed him that she was an officer in a national bank.

As they were eating she felt suddenly groggy with a tugging pain in her head and blacked out.

It was early morning. She heard noises of people around. She found that she was in a berth in AC two tier compartment. The train had reached Coimbatore. She quickly looked for her hand bag. It was lying under her pillow. Except for the missing cash of a few thousands all were intact. She looked for her suitcase. It was missing.

She realized she was conned. She didn’t know what to do as most of the passengers were getting down. She came to the gate to get down. There she found Madhavan waiting for her with her suitcase in his hand.

“Good morning, Divya. Could you sleep well? What happened? You passed out suddenly yesterday. I gtot worried.. I saw from your hand bag your ticket with coach and seat number. I did not want to leave you in that state in the station. I had no time to go to the police. I was also not comfortable leaving a young lady in their custody in the night. So I decided to put you in the train .Luckily I was in the next cabin. I took the precaution to remove the money from your bag and keep your suitcase with me. Here they are. Please have them checked” he said with a smile.

She thanked him profusely and said “I did not know what happened after I ate the stuff along with you. I do not remember a single bit. But for your presence of mind and help I would have been in serious trouble. I have no words to express my gratitude. Thanks a bunch for safeguarding my money and the suitcase.”

“Never mind. All is well that ends well. My car would be waiting. I can drop you at your place on my way” he said

“Thanks. I would rather take a three wheeler. I do not know how to thank you for being such a good Samaritan” she said as she gave her card.

“I can understand your apprehension in travelling with unknown stranger in a car. But I have no intention to leave you here without ensuring you reach safely to your home. I will accompany you in your three-wheeler with my car behind. Here is my card” he said.

It was a big bungalow where the three wheeler stopped. She invited him for a coffee to which he readily agreed. As she related the incident, her parents were very pleased with him and enquired about his parents, where he stayed, matrimonial status and such like as old people are wont to. To make things short suffice it to say they were happily married in six months time.

One Sunday morning when she was sitting in the balcony of their house sipping tea with Madhavan, she remembered the question that had always foxed her without an answer. She looked at the innocent face of her husband reading a news paper. The thought crossed to her mind that he had also taken the same refreshments that day in the station with no ill effect and how she alone conked out. Could it be someone at the restaurant, she wondered? No, it cannot be she concluded.

Divya asked him the question the umpteenth time.

“Whoever did it I thank him from the bottom of my heart for fetching me such a beautiful wife. Do you suspect me?” was his smiling answer as always. She dared not accuse him for he was such a beloved husband.

The retribution

Shuklaji, a second rung politician in his spotless white clothes and bushy moustache was surrounded by his sidekicks. The day’s newspaper was lying before him. He was fretting and fuming in anger as he saw the screaming headlines. He knew who it was who made his life miserable with his investigative journalism and relentless exposure of all his misdeeds. The rascal, whistle blower as he called himself, was again at it splashing every detail of his latest forcible occupation of someone’s house in a central locality and dispossessing the timid owner of his only asset by threat, intimidation and assault. Shuklaji’s steady rise from the poster-pasting days to the present senior position in the hierarchy is marked by unabashed crime and violence. The reporter was targeting him with his exposes almost on a daily basis even when Shuklaji had done no harm personally to him. The top party honchos were not pleased with the negative publicity and pulled him up for his avariciousness and the brazen manner he went about in his misdeeds. They wanted him to square up the matter with the journalist so that party’s name is not sullied.

Shuklaji sent his emissary to the reporter with a packet of huge money to buy his silence. Although living in ordinary circumstances, the reporter refused to succumb to the blandishments and sent the emissary away. When he was threatened with dire consequences if he did not refrain from his exposes, the reporter reportedly smiled and dared him to. All the efforts of Shuklaji to bring the foolish man around had failed. Today’s article was the last straw. The politician decided to put a permanent end to what he perceived as a menace and threat to his freedom and political future.

The politician had chosen an ordinary car with a changed number plate and was waiting on the road in the car with his sidekick outside the reporter’s home. A short while later the young reporter emerged with his wife and child and was starting his scooter.Shuklaji hailed a shoe shine boy who was in the road platform and asked him “Will you do me a small help? I will give you 100 rupees. Just take this small packet to the person who is getting ready with his scooter and hand it over to him. If he asks who had given the packet, tell him someone whom you didn’t know. Come and tell me that you have given and another hundred rupee note awaits you.”

When the boy agreed, he collected a packet from his sidekick and handed over the boy along with a hundred rupee note urging him to hurry up before the man on the scooter left.

When the boy ran with the packet to the reporter and narrated what he was told, the reporter told the boy that he did not want it .He said “Take it back fast to the person who gave you and hand it over to him whether he wants it or not. Do it immediately before he leaves.”

As Shuklaji and his sidekick were waiting for the boy to return to report the successful accomplishment, the boy returned unseen from the other side of the car. After keeping the packet silently inside the car through the open window, the boy ran away afraid that the man would take back the hundred rupee note he had given.

A few minutes later the entire traffic on the road came to standstill when they heard a loud explosion from inside a car with people scurrying hither and thither for safety.

Sunaina

The clock struck 4.She could hardly sleep the whole night. It is exactly one year since her daughter of ten years had passed away after a brief viral fever. Her thoughts kept haunting her the whole night as she lay restless in the bed. Her husband put his arm over her and gently patting her he said “Honey, you must try to get some sleep. There is no point in hurting yourself like this. You have the school to attend to. Close your eyes and sleep.” As she snuggled closer to him, she slowly wafted into sleep even as he kept on patting her.

In the morning when she entered class six, she saw this new girl in the front row. She was not in uniform but in a nice blue denim skirt and a white top with polka dots of blue colour.The girl around 11 years was extremely fetching with a twinkle in the corner of her eyes.Sunita asked her ‘What is your name? You seem a new entrant.”

“Yes, Ma’m.I joined today.Sunaina is my name” she replied

Sunita stood dazed in disbelief. Her daughter was also Sunaina.”Will you repeat your name please?” she said.

“Sunaina, Madam” the girl replied in soft voice.

Even as she started the lessons, she could not take her eyes off the new girl who kept smiling at her. There was a strange sensation of peace in Sunita and she felt light in heart after the sleepless night. As the class ended, the girls left their note books on Sunita’s table with their homework done. She took the note books home as she is wont to for correction.

She was thinking about the new girl and could not but compare her with her daughter who would have also been 11.What a coincidence not only in their names being the same but also the smile in their faces. Suddenly she rummaged through the books to see whether the new girl had also left her note book as she had a vague memory of the girl walking up to her table along with others at the end of class. She could easily find the one as it had no cover like the notebooks of other girls. Wondering what she could have written as she had no homework to do, she opened the page to read. She found this written boldly and in beautiful handwriting.

“Dear Mom,
I am the sweet and protective angel come to be with you always. Do not grieve if you do not see me but take heart that I am always there beside you and watching you.
With love,
Sunaina”

Sunita had goose bumps as she read the lines and rushed to open the door for her husband who had just returned from office. Seeing her flustered and in a bewildered state, he asked her “Sunita, what happened? You seem agitated. Are you keeping well?”

“You will be amazed. One new girl of our Sunaina’s age joined my class today. Beautiful and smiling, she bears a close resemblance to our daughter. When I was going through home work note books, I found this note from her. Please see. I will fetch the note book” she said as she hurried to get the note book.

“I see a blank page, Sunita.I don’t see anything written on it. Are you imagining? Are you feeling well?”he asked with concern.

She snatched the note book from his hands and saw the note clearly. ”Have you become blind or what? It is as clear and prominent as your nose on your face” she said angrily.

He saw again and said “Change your dress. Let us go to doctor. You need a tranquilizer to soothe your nerves. You need some rest also.I will have a wash and change the dress. Meanwhile get ready”

She saw the note again and again and started crying inconsolably. She felt a tiny hand on her shoulders gently patting her. Sunita was certain about what was written.

The next day reached the school a few minutes earlier than usual. When she entered the class, she could not see Sunaina to her great disappointment. After the class she went to the school office and asked “Any information about the new girl Sunaina who had joined my class yesterday”She hasn’t turned up today.”

“No, Sunita madam. No girl joined the school or your class yesterday. What are you talking about?” asked the clerk in the office.

As she stood dazed,Sunita again felt the soft hands of a child on her shoulders

55 W fiction

1. Loyalty
As they were tying the knot at a temple, she asked “I have left my home behind forever. Will you be true and ever with me?”
”Why doubt me? Cheer up. Let us go to our hotel room after dinner and have fun” he said shutting the thought of his wife and child at home.

2. Talisman
He paid Rs.500 to the famous tantric for an unfailing talisman to attract woman. He came out and tried it on a young woman waiting at bus stop. Lo, she smiled at him and came near. He smiled back not seeing the talisman she also had in hand and trying on him. Talisman seemed working.

3. The will
He hated his dad who made his wayward son’s life miserable. He threw him out when he was into drugs and whores. He didn’t attend dad’s funeral or lawyer’s office. Why go and get disappointed, he thought. Lawyer read the secret will “……If my son is not present, entire wealth should go to charity…..”

4. The report card
The boy stood trembling with poor report card.
“Come near” his dad called. Mom’s face was grim.
Boy sobbed fearing worst punishment.
“Very poor show. It is a shame on you” dad said as he took the cane.
”Don’t cry. It is over. Do better next time” he smilingly said as he broke the cane

5. Pets
LKG admission in prestigious school was going on..
The four year old in pony tail and pinafore stood before Principal
“Name three pets” she was told
“Cat, dog and…” she lingered for a while before she said “daddy”.
All broke into laughter and the girl was admitted with parents beaming with smile