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?”

A risky act of compassion

Vijay had lost his job in a travel agency three months back and he was yet to get a new one. He had spent all his meager savings and was practically starving. The rent for his room was in arrears and he was afraid of a notice to vacate. The day time he roamed around various offices seeking for any job. His evenings were spent in the local big temple ostensibly to pray but actually hoping for some prasad that would fill his stomach He got something or the other many days.

That day was a festival day and the temple was heavily crowded. Nothing was available to eat and his stomach was gnawing with hunger. He felt his pocket and he had just 10 rupees in coins but he did not want to spend it. He went near the place where the coconuts were broken to propitiate god. He was shy of competing with poor urchins in ragged clothes to pick up the broken pieces. There was a virtual scramble but he was content to pick whatever fell near his feet. When he got three big slices he was relieved that the day’s dinner was taken care of. Someone had given him a plantain.

As he was walking away from the crowd, he saw a young girl of six from affluent family standing alone and crying. He went near her and asked her “Why are you crying? Where are your parents?”

“They are lost and not seen. I want to join them”

“Let us wait for some time. They may come in search of you. Have this coconut piece.”

“No, I don’t want it. I am thirsty. Can you get me that ice candy?”

He felt pity for that girl and unhesitatingly parted with his last ten rupees and fetched her a candy.

As she was happily sucking it, Vijay asked her whether she knew her house. She picked a slip of paper from her pocket and gave him. The parents had the foresight to leave it there. The place was just couple of kilometers away.

“Can I leave you in your house?” he asked. She happily nodded

Vijay was afraid to take the young girl with him what with news papers screaming daily of rapes of young kids. When he approached an elderly auto driver, he looked askance at Vijay in his soiled and crumpled dress with a well-to-do girl. Vijay understood his genuine suspicion and explained the circumstances and his aversion to leave the child alone or with a policeman especially when he had her address.

“Are you looking for a reward?”asked the auto driver.

“Not at all. It is just compassion and fear that girl may come to harm if she were to fall in ruthless hands.”

The auto driver agreed and within next five minutes they were at her house. The door was opened by the girl’s grandmother. Her parents were still trying to trace her. Vijay explained her how she found her and the auto driver corroborated.

“Grandma, this uncle gave me candy” she said with joy

This shocked the old lady and her suspicions about his intention returned again.

Vijay saw the change in her expression and said “The girl said she was very thirsty and I had only ten rupees and that is all that I could buy”

The old lady took the addresses of both Vijay and auto driver before they left

When Vijay came out of the house, he took out his old watch from his wrist and said to the auto driver “This is all I have. Please do not mind accepting it in lieu of fare”

The driver said “Hop in. I will drop at your place. You don’t have to give me anything. I am proud of you”

As the auto reached Vijay’s place, the driver thrust 100 rupees in his pocket and said as he sped away “Return it when you can”

Behind the veil

The auditorium in the women's college was over crowded with many students standing on the aisles on both sides. They were listening with rapt attention as the guest speaker Mr.Gangaram mesmerized the audience with his powerful and persuasive speech on the imperative need for quick empowerment of women. Known for his pro women stand, the young audience hung on to his words as he thundered that women comprising more than half the population were still a deprived lot, backward in political, economic and social spheres. Illiteracy,poor health, female feticide  and discrimination haunted them like a shadow. He bemoaned that even after independence of the country they were subject to all kinds of violence both mental and physical with no security. He pleaded for a society where they can walk freely with their heads held  high equal to men in every respect. When he concluded with a warning to the governments and the society that where the women were in tears gods did not reside in such places, there was a standing ovation. The girls thronged him after the meeting for his autograph. There were shouts “Long live champion of women”,”Gangaram Zindabad”,”Hail defender of women rights” and such like.

Gangaram was a successful man of many parts. A lawyer by profession, he joined politics early in his career. Given the gift of the gab he had the knack of drawing huge crowds for his political meetings with his oratorical skill. A clever man he could impress the leaders and rose within a short time to high position in the hierarchy. He saw no virtue in sticking to one political party and seamlessly gravitated to whichever was the ruling dispensation ensuring he held power continuously. With huge wealth made over a few years by means that cannot be called entirely  fair, he knew what businesses brought more money. He opened several educational institutions not forgetting women colleges, marriage halls, hospitals, destitute homes for young women and women hostels..He had several other businesses like hotels and resorts. He had earned a name over a period as a liberal, an educationist and fighter for women rights.His establishments had a preponderance of women employees.

It was 8pm by the time function ended. As he walked towards his big Merc followed by the principal, teachers and  girl students praising him for his great speech, he was a happy man. When the car moved a little distance, his faithful driver turned to him and asked “home?”

“No, it is too early. I am in a good mood now. Take me to the destitute home for women. I haven’t visited it for more than a fortnight. I wish to see whether things are all right there and spend some time with inmates to ask whether they had any specific needs.”

As the big car entered the compound of the home in the outskirts of the city, the hapless young women who were chatting happily in the long porch stood up in fear wondering who could be the victim for that night to the lust of their benefactor.

,

Flicker of recognition

Vimala had landed from London in the wee hours of morning. By 9 am she was in the hospice. The emaciated figure lay in what appeared to be a bed larger for her size. The hair was white and disheveled and the cheek and eyes were shrunk and hollow. The woman in her 80s was still dozing under the influence of tranquilizers.

The kindly nurse cautioned Vimala not to wake her up. Any small irritation it seemed gave rise to bouts of uncontrollable anger and foul mouthing, but was assured that was not uncommon among advanced Alzheimer patients. She added for good measure that the woman was in very advanced stage with practically very little memory of current events. But what bothered the nurse more was her inability to swallow food, to communicate her needs like wanting to drink water or go to toilet. Her continuous wringing of her hands to the point of hurting herself was worrying the nurse. The old woman  was hardly able to identify anyone except on very rare occasions for a flicker of a second and suspects others as cheats out to rob her though she had nothing with her. She was not even aware whether she was fully covered. But she repeated occasionally some names, may be her children’s.

Vimala could not suppress her tears. The nurse put her hand on her shoulders and said “Do not cry. Her misery may not last for long and possibly end in a couple of months or even earlier. But we try our best to make her comfortable. I will go now to other patients. Wait patiently till she wakes up”

Vimala sat thinking of what her brother had warned.”Vimala, you would be shocked when you see her plight. She is not recognizing me and manni (his wife) and is very abusive especially to manni.Infact our presence makes her agitated and that it took considerable time for her to quieten down that we were requested by the doctor not to appear before her. I go there once a week and have a look through the window. I had her admitted after much hesitation here only when things became unmanageable.”

Vimala could hardly believe that the ailment could alter so significantly a very gentle and soft spoken lady who had nothing but appreciative words for everyone. In the three decades she lived in Bengal, she was noted for her affability and was popular among her neighbours. It was her dad that was very impatient and angry. Her dad had left her mom in financial comfort and she was not dependent financially on her children.

It was then she heard a shuffle and found her mom turning her face towards her side. Vimala saw her staring vacantly at her devoid of any recognition. Vimala smiled at her that was responded with a twitching of her eyelashes and twisting of lips that showed suspicion and uncertainity.She did not reply when Vimala asked ”Amma,are you able to recognize me?”The silence dragged in what seemed eternity.

Then suddenly Vimala heard her bellow “Who are you? Who allowed you inside my room? Have you come to pilfer things from here? Get out before I call police”

Shaken by such violent and insensitive response, Vimala could hardly stop from crying for a few moments. She wiped her face and said again ‘Amma, can you not recognize your own daughter on whom you showered all affection? Just utter my name once and I will be greatly pleased.. I have come just a few hours back from London and will be with you as long as you wish. Won’t you please call me once by my name?”

The nurse entered the room and arched her eyebrows at Vimala as if to ask how things were going. Even before Vimala could reply, the old lady shouted ”Why did you allow this young woman in the room. She has come to strangle me, I am sure, as she came near the bed and pretended to caress me. Ask her to get out this moment. She is an evil woman“ and began throwing the pillow at her.

Inconsolably sobbing, Vimala started moving out of the room when she heard the ailing woman mumbling to herself “She resembles my Vimala, my Vimmu” Surprised Vimala turned towards her mom and told her in Bengali “I am your Vimmu, amma”

 Hearing this there was a sparkle of 1000 watts in old lady’s eyes even as she broke into a smile and replied in Bengali “Vimmu,come near me. I miss you so much” When Vimala gently hugged her and caressed her head, her mom started screaming again ”I am being strangled by an evil woman”

The nurse understandingly led the sobbing Vimala out of the room.

55 Word Fiction

Deception

Pamela was tossing in bed without sleep. Her husband Jack was speaking in his sleep “Bertha, not tonight. Stay away as I cannot move out. My wife is sick. Please understand”

Pamela could hardly suppress her smile as the TV blared a while ago that the hurricane Bertha had changed course and not hitting coast.

Clever

The boy opened the bottle lying by pond. Out came a big genie.

“Ask me a wish"

"Let me ask my mom."

“I cannot give time.”

"Okay, tell me how such a big form can be in the small bottle?”

"Simple like this”  the genie went in. Capping the bottle he ran to his mom.

Nevada Smith

The young boy was watching Clint Eastwood movie. He heard his mom’s scream and saw from head of stairs the door open and a man grabbing her.

 “Get lost this minute or you will drop dead” he shouted pointing the pistol

When the man escaped, his mom laughed hysterically at the boy with toy pistol.

My cup of tea

As my husband sipped the tea, I could see his happy face.

"Sheela none can match the evening tea you make, especially the ginger one. Your morning tea is not something to speak about. Why so?"

I decided to ask Nair of the tea shop behind my house to supply in the mornings too.

Same ilk

Once a fortnight I drive to the adjacent city, rent a room in a motel and bring some loitering young woman for the night.

She was good."What do you do for living?" I asked stupidly next morning.

"I come once a fortnight here from adjacent city and find a loitering jerk for making some money"

Hallucination

The woman by my side in park trembled in fear and pushing knife said "Watch out, my suspicious hubby is lunging forward to kill you”.

Someone seeing the body and me with bloodied knife in hand asked “Why kill him?".

“His wife prompted me”

“What wife? Where is she? He was an insane bachelor beggar.

Humble roots

Pai’s restaurant on the highway was always crowded with all tables occupied. Many keep standing for the tables to get vacant. The business was always brisk. Krishna Pai, the owner, who was sitting by the cash counter, noticed the 12 year old boy standing outside for a long time. He didn’t appear to have been drawn from poor family though there was a tired and hungry look. He never spoke to or approached any one. Curious to know why he was there, he asked a bearer to bring him in. Pai never forgot his boyhood days in humble circumstances and growing up to this level from working in a tea shop under a kindly Nair.

“I have seen you are standing outside for nearly three hours. Are you waiting for someone? Have you taken any food since morning?” Pai asked

“No Sir, I am not waiting for anyone. I don’t know where to go”

“Where is your house? Have you run away from there or what? “

The boy did not answer and tears trickled from his eyes.

“OK, take your food first and you can tell me later leisurely” Pai said and asked a bearer to take the boy inside and serve him a meal. After about 30 minutes, the bearer brought the boy before Pai. He took him to the office room and after much prodding he ferreted out boy’s circumstances.

Hari had lost his mother when he was seven and his father took another wife. His dad was a side kick to a second rung political leader doing all his dirty jobs. He had bad company and was always involved in scuffles, intimidation and extortion and was a hatchet man to the leader. Mostly under the influence of liquor, he was prone to fits of temper. The step mother did not take kindly to the boy. He was not allowed to attend school regularly and when his dad came home late at night she got him beaten on some pretext or the other. When his dad started kidnapping young kids for ransom and treated them badly, Hari protested. This enraged him and he beat the boy blue and had him locked in barn for three days. He was afraid to kick the boy out of the house as he knew the secrets.At the first opportunity, the boy escaped from his home. Some kindly truck driver on the highway dropped him near the restaurant.

“If you are willing, you can work here. You will get food and accommodation. If you roam around, you will fall in bad company. If you work hard and sincerely you can progress in life. Are you interested?”

When he nodded his head in affirmative, Pai told him in strict tone “If I find you dishonest or doing something hanky panky,I will throw you out mercilessly. Do remember that”

The boy was assigned two tables and he learnt his work fast. Being young he was energetic and nimble in service, he won the praise of the supervisor very soon. The customers who visited the hotel often spoke in praise of his speedy service and courteous behavior.Pai was happy but did not openly express his feelings.

It was one crowded day when the hotel was jam packed and lots of customers were standing waiting for vacant tables, Pai heard some commotion from one of the tables. There was a family of ten members on two tables waiting for 20 minutes for the bearer to appear. They lost the patience and started shouting. The supervisor rushed. They were Hari’s tables and the boy was not to be seen. The supervisor asked other bearers to take care of these tables and started searching for Hari.This had never happened. It was not his wont to leave the place of work without prior permission. Pai tasked some men to search for the boy.

After an hour when those unruly customers had left in their Innova vehicles, the boy was traced in the lumber room and brought before a concerned and angry Pai.

“You ungrateful wretch, you have shown your true trait. Why did you disappear? That was dereliction of duty at the busiest hour. You brought a bad name by the distasteful scene the customers created. I had warned you at the beginning. You are not wanted any more here. Pack your things and get lost” shouted Pai.

The boy stood dumb but sobbing inconsolably. This infuriated Pai further spoke angrily”Are you dumb? Why did you vanish when customers were there without telling the supervisor? Tell the reason and get lost”

When the boy remained quiet, Pai lost his temper and slapped the boy. It was then he spoke.”That was my dad with my step mom and his evil associates. If they had seen me, they would have taken me away and even killed me. There was no time to tell anyone. I was scared. You are my living God. I would not dream of doing anything to displease you. It was my fear of being caught by them”. He fell at Pai’s feet and clasped them tightly.

Pai instantly lifted the boy and hugged him tightly. He gently rubbed the boy’s cheek even as he remembered his humble roots and said wiping his own eyes “I was a fool in hastily judging you. That was rude of me. I feel sorry. I understand now your disappearance. I would have done the same thing.”

The suckers

It was extremely hot on the barren highway with a not a tree on either side. The sun blazoned in its full fury.Naresh has been driving for two hours towards Jaipur.A little away he saw some figure getting up from the culvert on seeing his car. As he drew nearer, he found it was a young village woman with a bag in hand, clad in a sari with disheveled hair and sweaty face. As he drove past her he could see that she was tall, slim with well chiseled features. He was struck with remorse at ignoring her pleading eyes and reversed the car to her side. She looked sun tanned and totally tired.

“Where are you going? How long are you waiting?” he asked her

“To Jaipur, Saheb.It is more than two hours and no bus stops here.”

“Okay, get in. I am also going there” As she hesitated not knowing where to get in, he opened the front door.

He drove silently for some time and then asked “Is Jaipur your home town?”

“No, it is a village here. There is no work here. My husband is a lazy and violent alcoholic. I am leaving him for good and going in search of some work. I have some relatives there” she replied

“You look so young. Any kids?”

“Luckily no. I am married for less than two years”

Naresh wished to stop at rest room. He saw one a little away. He stopped the car and was for a fraction of a second hesitant whether to leave her alone in the car. Unusual for a village belle, she spoke confidently with clarity.”Do you also wish to come? “ he asked

When she declined, he rushed to the toilet and came back as quickly.

“Had you come, we could have had some cool drink. It is so hot outside. My throat is parched” he said and took the bisleri bottle kept by his side and gulped half the bottle. He offered her the balance but she declined.

He would have driven hardly for 15 minutes when he clutched his head and said that he was feeling giddy. He stopped the car and she in what seemed a concerned manner had his head rest on her shoulders before he blacked out. She got out of the car and pulled him to the side seat and made him recline in sitting posture even as she sat behind the wheel with a grin on her face.

She opened her bag and changed to a clean and swanky salwar suit, dabbed her face with a makeup kit and combed her hair and wore sun goggles. She was transformed in a jiffy to a modern young lady as she took a U turn towards Delhi. She drove for some distance till she found a motel cum rest room. She swerved the car to the rear side and parked it. She opened the computer bag that was in the rear seat and found some money. She took the bag and opened one of the windows and walked briskly away.

As she came out with a coke bottle in hand and the computer bag, she found one car coming out of the parking lot driven by a young man. She raised her thumb and the man asked her whither she was going

“Gurgaon”

“Hop in” he said as he opened the front door

She gave him one of her seductive smile and said “It is so sweet of you. I am Lolita” as she settled down in her seat almost brushing close to him.

“Vinod, it is a privilege and pleasure to be of small help to you. How come you were stranded here?”

“My car broke down and I am in a hurry to Gurgaon.Luckily I met my Good Samaritan in you “she said as she fondly patted him on his shoulder.

“What do you do for living? Single?”

“I do many things. Though an advertisement executive by profession, I like to socialize, dance and mingle with men. I am single. How about you?”she asked not lifting her hand off his shoulder.

“Me too a single and am into real estate but fix many deals that are lucrative. I look forward to a lasting friendship with you” he said as he put his hand on her thigh. She did not make any effort to brush his hand away. Emboldened he stopped the car at the side and drew her near to give her a peck.

“Not now. Later as much as you wish after we reach Gurgaon.I told you I am in a hurry. We will meet may be tomorrow itself” she said

As he was a little disappointed, he drove silently even as she caressed his hair. As they were nearing Gurgaon.she said abruptly”Look out to your right side at the petrol pump that is a little away. Stop the car for a moment”

When he turned his head after he stopped the car, he felt a sledge hammer karate blow on the region near the neck and collar bone. He felt something crack inside as he slumped down unconscious. She quickly rummaged his bag and found wads of currency. She filled the computer bag and threw the computer behind a bush. Making him sit in upright position, she walked away quickly from the vehicle.

As a three wheeler with an old driver stopped by, she got in and said “Mall”. She thrust a five hundred rupee note in the hands of a dazed driver at the mall and hurried inside with the computer bag in her hand only to get lost in the vast crowd of shoppers.