Storieo

Category: Crime

  • Kashmir: Any Solution in sight?

    Kashmir: Any Solution in sight?

    “I write to you for I must

    Not as a tragic hero or scapegoat

    Or one tribal outcast as poets must

    But as one with the burden of truth

    Though in your possession are truths

    And versions of truth many

    That best serves the modern conveniences…

    Spend years a troublous life and you can’t flee

    You’ll get nothing. Proven.

    Dreaded dreams, tortured vision, torn and broken bodies

    And faces disfigured with immeasurable grief

    All but have left us withered, spinning

    Our fatal passion. Look and see if

    My speech is a worthless gift to you.”

    —- A Kashmiri poet

    It is common knowledge that Kashmir, which used to be referred to as India’s Paradise once, has been reduced to a hotbed of war and violence now. While we sit at home commenting on the situation in the comfort of our drawing rooms, there are people who have forgotten the meaning of ‘normalcy’ since decades altogether.

    Problems began back in 1947 during the partition of India when Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, refused to accede to either India or Pakistan. However, after the infiltration of Pakistan into the valley at the dead of the night, the Maharaja, to save his territory, was forced to accede to India after being promised help to drive out the Pakistani troops. India, on the other hand, had promised a plebiscite in Kashmir after the Pakistani troops withdrew. That never really happened because the Pakistani troops never withdrew completely and today they have a share of what is called the PoK or Azaad Kashmir.

    One of the main reasons why the Kashmir issue continues to torment the country is that today ot has become more of an ego issue. The land has become much more important than the people of Kashmir.

    It’s easy to blame the young boys shouting slogans of azaadi today. However, do we ever stop to think what we would have done had we been denied regular education or if one had about 60% chances of being killed in a clash while he is out on the streets to perform a daily errand? I wouldn’t say whose fault it is because neither am I aware of all the facts nor is the issue simple enough to be divided into black and white. However, the truth is that children have been the worst victims of the unrest in Kashmir. Thousands have been killed and injured. The ones who were lucky enough to survive have been traumatised for life.

    Strangely, the great beauty of India’s most spectacular state only reinforces the depth of its relentless suffering. The undulating hills, the luminous blue of the sky, the water turning to green translucent ice on the Dal Lake, the poetry of the chinar’s changing colours- all this splendour makes the absence of tranquillity more poignant. The horror of militancy on the one hand and the monumental mistakes and violations by the state on the other has left many ordinary Kashmiris imprisoned between the battle lines.

    We often hear ministers stating how Kashmir is an ‘integral part of India’ and this gives a charming boost to our hyper-nationalist souls. Yes, Kashmir is a part of India. But why treat Kashmiris differently then? Is Kashmir just a piece of land? Why has the world’s largest democracy forgotten to grant basic rights to the people it calls her own? Politicians are fighting and civilians and soldiers are dying as a result.

    When people talk about human rights in Kashmir, what we tend to forget is that soldiers are human beings too and they have the same rights as civilians. They don’t kill by will. Like pellet guns have killed and impaired thousands in the Valley, stones and terrorist sponsored separatism have killed and injured the security forces too.

    It’s time we realize that Kashmir is not a People vs Army thing. They are just being used as scapegoats. After all, when the coffin comes home, the father of the teenage boy killed by a tear-gas shell fired by security forces and the father of a young soldier pumped with bullets by terrorists- share the same feeling of loss and heartbreak.

    As someone had very correctly pointed out, the only solution lies not in parenting but in handholding. The Kashmiris are our own people. Dialogue is the only solution. What we need to do is hear them out and also try to make them understand our point of view. What we really need to do is, ‘give peace a chance’.

  • Baboso

    Baboso

    Recently, while my friend was taking me to her home to meet her family during summer vacations, I encountered something very peculiar. Where, other societies had a lawn, her’s had a pond like swimming pool, devided by a thin trail.

    By looking at it, noone could have estimated it’s depth. While entering through the gates and walking on the risky footpath she said, “walk slow we might happen to see a sea monster while crossing”. I only thought the naive girl must be talking about a sea horse or something, when suddenly a mammoth-sized ugly fish jumped over us into the other side of the separation. My legs started to tremble, luckily I crossed the beaten path without fainting. She continued, ” don’t worry, this is our pet Baboso, it doesn’t hurt anyone” . For once it was hard to believe but soon I adjusted to it. While going back, the monster didn’t show up.

    A few days later I was very excited to visit the same place again, to know more about Baboso. I passed the middle path with a constant feeling of being watched.

    Ambika’s home was on the top floor of a two level building. Reaching there we sat togather in her balcony holding our cups of coffee. Observing the seamonster was not an unusual passtime in her building. It was entertaining to watch Baboso came out and splash back in. She was telling me, how the sea monster was hyperactive that day.

    It ws a combined balcony and even the neighbors had full access to everyone else’s doors. One of the neighbors who was placing wet clothes on the drying rope told us monster had been there since a month and before that, it was just a normal lawn. Due to some poor drainage issues lawn remained flooded and with in a few days the base depened and water kept on increasing out of nowhere.

    A moment later I saw the monster taking a giant leap towards the sky and falling back into the pond. This time it resembled more to a tode than a fish. It was quick, but even at that speed it took Baboso almost 15 minutes to come back for another jump. Now it was clear, the water was actually too deep. Then suddenly all activity stopped. Even the wind stopped blowing, birds stopped chirping and a dead silence pervaded all over. Sitting on the chair Ambika and I saw a shadow emerging out of the water, then two eyes gazing at us and within the blink of an eye, from my one hand distance, my friend was taken away by that beast leaving us all patrified. Everyone helplessly watched my friend being dragged into the depths of the marshy pond. No one ever imagined Baboso could take a life. I looked around hopelessly and watched on my far right, a man in grey coat smiling. Getting distracted by so much hustle I lost the sight of that suspicious being.

    It was officially an unsafe place then and going back home wasn’t an available option for me. The monster did not return but everyone was terrified. While I was staying there my suspicion over the strange man increased. When I inquired tactfully Sister teresa, one of the neighbors, told me he works as an insurance agent but never leaves his room. To solve the mysteryI decided to visit and question him about his wierd behaviour. When I went there his door was slightly open and I could see from there, he was still in his bathroom. I slipped in quietly. Right next to the door these was a kitchen and I couldn’t ignore the green spots in front of a fridge. I felt hasitant for a second then without further delay opened the fridge. There was no food in it. Surprisingly fridge wasn’t empty either, it had several trays filled with some green chemical like substance, stacked one over the other. I removed my jacket, with which I slided a tray out from the back of the lowest division and escaped unnoticed.

    Ambika’s grief-stricken mother informed me that another neighbour Mr. Godara has successfully left the place crossing the pond at night because noone has ever seen the monster after late hours. She also informed me that few more people are planning the same tonight, so I too can join them. This news brought my lost smile back but somewhere I wanted to explore the problem further. As the night fell I packed my stuff to leave. I glanced out of the window, sister teresa was halfway towards the entrance. In my excitement I totally forgot about the chemical filled tray and reached the back stairs. Right then a scream was heard. Everyone rushed back to the balcony to find sister teresa was gone this time. Others who queued to vacate, rushed back to their houses.

    Juno, a young scientist neighbor of almost my age, waved from a distance retelling the infamous quotation of dante, “abandon all hope, ye who enter here”. I had read Inferno in my Masters and we instantly found a connection. Then I walked to his room after he offered me coffee. While his talks were quite comforting, in the times of distress, I suddenly realised juno is the only one who can possibly help in this matter. I told him what I found and within next few minutes he was with me, wearing his lab coat, testing the icecubes. We found out that the green chemical was some sort of feed for a genetically modified organism. He had already informed about the sea monster at his workplace and necessary reasearches were secretly going on since the day one. He immediately made a phone call, informing about his findings. A helicopter landed at the roof top with a team of scientists. The suspect was taken into custody before he could attempt to escape. An antidote was prepared and later thrown into the pond to neutralize the toxic which was keeping Baboso alive.

    The next morning, dead body of that filthy monster was found floating above the surface. Juno made arrangements for me to reach home and we parted with a promise of soon seeing each other for another cup of coffee and to discuss Dante in all it’s depths and breadths.

  • Neha’s Struggle Part-2

    Neha’s Struggle Part-2

    The repeating efforts of running away bring more curses to Neha. However, not just curse but, Rajesh beating her up with more brutality each time. The last and the fourth attempt did not bring an end to Neha’s struggle to run or lose hopes of not fighting this time. This time it is different as if she has an encounter with empowerment, feminist and heroism. She has zeal to fight and curiosity to run again and to know whether Rajesh and his family do stop finding her or not. A little has somehow found the courage to fight against the injustice done with her.

    The moment Rajesh find Neha running away in the desert, he gropes her and makes her sit in the car with a lot of force. She still has the courage to run but, Rajesh is holding her firmly and is not allowing her to move even a bit. The aggression with which Rajesh is holding Neha speaks a lot about the future of that day. Rajesh is going to beat the hell out of Neha today. They reach their village and Rajesh takes Neha to the middle of the village. He shouts and calls everyone there. He says, “This is what one should do when their wives try run.”

    He removes Neha’s clothes violently almost tearing them apart. He starts beating her up like an animal and he is unstoppable. Then someone comes and stops him. Neha is bleeding from everywhere in her body. However, she speaks and says, “I ran fourth time and you are doing this to me. I have the courage to run again and then again. Nevertheless will you have the courage to come here again and beat me like this again? However, you might not be a “MAN” as you have the audacity to remove my clothes in front of the whole village and not to kiss me even one day in our private sphere. And you call yourself a man or a husband.”

    She slaps him and his male ego and she starts walking towards her in laws house without putting even a single piece of cloth on her bare body. She turns back and says, “I am never going to run ever again in my life. And that too from a non-human being and a man.” She walks with confident and her body covered with pride. No one knows what will happen with Neha now. However, everyone knows that Rajesh is going to drink heavily with anger and hurt ego.

    That night enters his house and encounters silence. He thinks that Neha’s anger has come to an end and it is the right time to show her that who is the real man. He starts removing his clothes to conquer Neha’s body. However, Neha is well aware of Rajesh’s deed. She has a big vessel full of boiling hot water in her hands. He jumps inside the room to establish himself as a man again in his house. However, his whole body is burning with whole front body. His male organ (Weapon) is grievously hurt.

    Rajesh is shouting in pain and calling for help. However, after today what happened in the village. Everyone shut their ears and thinks that this is the best. Neha, who is a little girl, has become an angry Indian goddess (KALI). She then pours a lot of red spice on his body and a handful on his burning male organ (Weapon). He is crying, screaming and calling for help. When his mother and father comes to help him and save him. She picks up a very sharp knife and dares them not to come forward.

    She is a violent beast fighting for the evil to stop. She is a ray of hope and her own saviour. She has suddenly become an angry Indian goddess (KALI) who is protecting herself respect, dignity, pride and her womanhood. Neha with a grin saw Rajesh dying slowing and Neha winning the game of ‘unslaving” herself from the vicious circle.

  • Neha’s Struggle- Part 1

    Neha’s Struggle- Part 1

    Neha is struggling to walk on the sand. With each step she is taking the sand is catching her feet. A set pattern of depression in the sand is following Neha. However, she is trying to run away from her in laws house. Her red blouse and blue skirt is all mixed with sand and dirt. She is lost in the middle of the dessert and is trying hard to find her way to return to her village. Every step in the sand is a spoonful of tears for her. She is aware of the fact that her in laws are behind her to catch her and make her a slave again.

    Neha is a 15 year old girl and she is married to Rajesh, who is a 25 year old man in a small district of Rajasthan. She was married to Rajesh when she was 14 years old. She was married exactly after a week she got her first periods. Rajesh never loved her instead just used her as a sex object. Rajesh’s mother used her as a domestic help only. Neha was always asked to wake up at 6:00’o clock in morning and has to go to fetch water from the well of neighboring village. Any delay in her chores will lead to Rajesh beating her up and sometimes even with sticks, shoes and belt. She screams really loud and cries whole day however, that day the entire district becomes deaf.

    A little girl, who needs to be in a school and should be studying science, maths and history, she is doing biology and home science. Each night and sometimes even in afternoon she is on the verge of getting pregnant. Rajesh is a cruel man with soul full of sexual desires. His new phone and connection proved to be a bane for Neha. Her life certainly became an empty jar. She has become a mannequin as she has no voice and has to obey others only.

    This is not the end of the story when she is on her periods. She has to sleep on floor whether it was summers or winters. There was no end to the extremes done to her at all. She was not allowed to eat the food in utensils. She has to eat her food on leaves and then burn them. She was not treated as a human being. She felt so much pain (Mentally, Physically, Emotionally) which she did not experience in 14 years of her life.

    This is not the first time that she is running away from her in laws house. She has been doing this from past 3 months as the amount of extremes done on her are increasing day by day. Firstly she was just raped by Rajesh and afterward she was raped by Rajesh’s father and eventually her bachelor friends. A dignity of a little girl is no more alive. She has lost herself and everything she had. She is no more a person and no more alive in her life. she has lost everything, everything she ever had.

  • The Mysterious Murder (Part –II)

    The Mysterious Murder (Part –II)

    After searching and investigating for almost another month the police decided to shut down the case as there was no leads found or no suspects were caught. It was a complete waste of resource as well as time. The lead given by the relative of the body also proved out to be false and the person was now nowhere to be seen, though this put a doubt in the minds of the policemen but they closed their doubt with the case file and threw it in their record of unsolved cases.

    A few days later, they were forced to re – open the case as they had just been reported another murder case with almost same facts and features. When they arrived at the crime scene they discovered that the murder really took place in the exact same position as well as the same manner. The only difference this time was that a person saw a black van dumping this body at this place when he was roaming off in his apartment’s balcony and got interested in the van which was racing down the landfill where the body was found later.

    Though he did not see a face as it was evening time but he saw a tattoo on the arm of the person who threw away the dead. The tattoo was of an animal (leopard) but was not colored and was going from his left arm to the right one. This was a really weird way of having a tattoo on the body and it was not anything like seen before.

    It was not long enough before another such murder took place and the body parts were removed too.

    Now the police were in a real dilemma, there was nothing to take the case further except a tattoo design that could have been made from any one of the four hundred twenty – two shops in the state. Nevertheless, the police enquired from the shops and one of them gave a lead with the phone number of the person who had a similar tattoo on his arm. On further investigation, the police were left shocked. The number traced to be a big mafia’s worker who was allegedly involved in the illegal trade of body parts in the world. Now the dots seemed to be connecting one by one. The persons being killed were in the enemy’s gang of the mafia (as found in the Interpol database).

    After gathering a lot of evidence the only thing that was left was to devise a plan to be able to catch the mastermind and this seriously required a lot of planning as the Mafia was one of the most dangerous ones.

    It took nearly a year of careful planning and securing the ideas of his capture, two policemen were killed by his allies but the department did not give up. The managed to get him in a vulnerable situation by putting their men as illegal dealers of ammunition and drugs who were willing to do business with him worth millions of dollars. While the deal was going on a sniper shot the mafia in the head and he was announced dead at the scene. The department was praised a lot as they had not only solved the case but also has encountered a very big problem to the society.

  • The Mysterious Murder (Part – 1)

    The Mysterious Murder (Part – 1)

    This is a rather strange and nasty murder mystery story that can prove to be disturbing for some. Reader’s discretion is advised.

    “Oh come on man, you’re talking bullshit”

    “No, I’m not, see for yourself”

    The above conversation was just an ending part of the hour – long meeting that was held between the police departments of two different states who were affected by this case. They both were arguing about the possible method and cause of these happenings that were taking place from the past six months.

    It all started when the police were reported about a possible nasty murder in the 10th street suspected to be done by a lunatic. When the police arrived they saw that the body was covered in a white drape which was covered in red (blood) at certain places. It looked disgusting from the above but was horrendous to look at from the beneath. When they removed the covers all were a little nauseous. What they saw could really have deprived one of a nights sleep. The eyes of the person were not in their sockets rather were taken away, the guts were all splattered out and there was a lot of blood surrounding the body. The heart looks as to be taken out as there was a big hole in the chest. But nothing was much clear from just the sight.

    The police filed a murder report and recorded the statements of potential people who saw the body first. It appeared as if the murder was really done by a lunatic who had a revenge purpose from the now dead.

    The purpose got somewhat clear when the body’s forensic reports came in. The heart was missing and was nowhere to be found at the crime scene and so was the eyes. The guts splattering was a result of the removal of the kidney from the lower abdomen. Overall it looked like a revenge murder but the removal of body parts was really confusing fro the police. The public was not much affected as the police did not reveal all of the information to the media. The public only knew about the murder and not of the parts removal.

    The police were set to determine the real murderer and as a result started the investigation from the grass root level. They found out the body’s identity and matched it with their records but the police criminal records showed nothing. Nevertheless, it was a start. An advertisement was given in the newspaper with the photo of the dead asking for recognition. After almost a month of waiting a person showed up to the police station claiming to be a relative of the deceased. He stated that the dead was a normal working class person who used to work somewhere in the other country and has come to this state for a business meeting.

    The police were somewhat relieved that at least they had a lead to follow in the case that seemed to be at a standstill from the past month.

  • Revenge: Creating Trouble Part-8

    Revenge: Creating Trouble Part-8

    On the door, were Ashish and Sakshi. Shraddha tried to shoo them away. But Shraddha’s father saw this. But the oncoming guests were confused with the dilapidated state of the house.

    “What are you here for? Tell me?”

    Ashish looked at Shraddha’s father. He knew how angry he was when he got to know about Shraddha’s relationship.

    “I am here for her.” He pointed towards Sakshi.

    “Shraddha, I am sorry.” Sakshi said.

    Shraddha stared at Sakshi “It’s okay.”

    “Your job is done now. Now leave this place.”

    “Now I understand from where Shraddha has got her temper. I was here because Sakshi had slapped your daughter because Shraddha spoke rudely to me, that day at Sahni uncle’s house. ” Ashish narrated, ” That day, I was really upset and wanted to do the same which Sakshi did. But as my anger vanished so did the desire. I did tell the incident to Sakshi. But I did not expect this from her.”

    “All that between me and Shraddha was over months ago. I still respect her uncle. But now I have realised there is no use thinking good for certain people”, and he turned to Shraddha.

    Shraddha lowered her head.

    “What did you say, Shraddha?”

    Shraddha was quiet. Mrs. Sahni narrated the incident at their place. Shraddha looked at her father who was looking at her.

    ” It is all my fault. All I have done for my daughter is to scold for every trivial mistake- she broke a glass and I scolded her as if she had lost a war. I remember when she got poor marks in her first year, I reprimanded her even when I looked that she was disappointed and had cried herself out the whole night. I looked upon everything and decided to ignore it because of my stupid ego. I failed to understand what Shraddha must have felt.”

    “Shraddha did the same. Displacing her anger, her frustration on this lad. All because of my reprimanding. I feel ashamed of having set a bad example for my child.” He turned to Shraddha and said “Say sorry to Ashish and promise me that you would not do anything like this with anyone.”

    Shraddha said sorry to Ashish and assured her father that nothing of the sort would ever happen again.

    Next morning, Vijaylakshmi was arrested by the police and few days after that, Nisha was also arrested as Harshit had filed a report as well, after he was attacked. Vijaylakshmi had jealousy of Shraddha getting too close to Harshit and Nisha was annoyed by the fact that Harshit had broke up with him.

    Both of them had decided to avenge on their circumstances but bore a police case.

    Harshit and Shraddha were sitting in their college canteen.

    “Could you believe? Vijaylakshmi could have done such a thing. I thought of her as a caring friend. She should have talked to me about it at least once.” Shraddha then turned to Harshit,” You’re not saying anything about Nisha?” She smiled.

    “I knew that Nisha has wrath in her head for people who ill-treat her. But she would take such a huge step, that was unexpected.”

    Shraddha looked at her watch and said, “I have got to go. I have my class.”

    Harshit asked “Let’s have another programme of Chhole Bhature after class. What say?”

    Shraddha smiled and nodded.

  • A Change for the Better

    A Change for the Better

    The coals in the grate were turning into embers. Now there was no sign of the diary that he had thrown there with an excessively anguished mind and vehement emotions.

    Though the fire was approaching its death, and the small, shabby room was starting to get touched with a damp chill, which absolutely signified a long time since this fire was given birth and nurtured; its nurturer, a burly man of forty, had been unable to sleep all this while, tossing and turning on his bed.

    His was a small house and highly unkempt. He had been working as an apprentice mechanic at a nearby garage.

    For such a simple minded man, life could turn out to be so devilish was a thought not easily conceived by anybody.  


    No, it hadn’t been his fault; at least a part of it hadn’t been. He had simply been pushed to the rash act. And after that, life had shown him four years of hell. Samuel Davis did not remain a man anymore, neither a name, but became a number. Criminal number 487301.

    All of the gruesome past was torturing his mind that night in the form of horrible memories. Memories which were better forgotten, but couldn’t be forgotten so easily. The four years that he had spent in the prison had taught him reason and sense. He could never be angry ever again. He couldn’t either be the always jovial Sam anymore. All he could do was to try to forgive and forget, because that’s exactly how a person is supposed to move on.

    So, the first thing that he did on reaching home, all the more dirty now, after being locked up for four years, was to build a fire and throw all the haunting memories away – his so much cherished journal, a personal diary, into the grate. The flames devoured the pages and leather hungrily. They licked and singed the words of love, anger and repentance, gradually, relishing them. There went the memories of six odd years, being brought down to ashes.

    For moments he just stood there – staring into the fire, tears and stinging light in his eyes, his mind full of pain and heightened emotions.

    Many times he only wanted to thrust his hands in and snatch his precious possession from those greedy flames. He could never have the nice moments again. He could try to harmonize with the past and live with it, live with the old Sam. But then, he decided that that would be useless. He ought to remain rigid – let things go. So each time the thought came, he restrained himself with a great effort.

    And at last, he couldn’t take it anymore. It was too much for him. He whirled around with an effort, turned his back to the fire, flopped on his bed and tried very hard to sleep. But of course, could not.

    No doubt, he repented, but he couldn’t be angry on himself. He couldn’t find a flaw that needed to be corrected in his character… All he could think of was trying to steady his anger. But, after all, what could a man do if he found out that the two people, who he thought the world of, had ditched him?

    What could a man do if he found his only love kissing his only best friend? Violence is obvious, isn’t it? And this violence landed him in prison, teary eyed.

    And then for years he was condemned to be there…


    He was released that evening. And from tomorrow he was to start a new life as a salesman. He had arranged all that in the evening itself. He was a man who had now started believing in living for himself. And now that all the past had stopped to exist, he would think no more about it. The night was getting old. It was better to get some sleep and prepare for a bright tomorrow.

  • Missing

    Missing

    One night in the dark woods take a dangerous turn for two people. 

     

    Eyes wide open in shock. The jaw slightly hanging open and frozen in time. Skin pale and bloodless and clothes all covered in mud and dirt. It was strange how still it was compared to my pounding and heaving chest.

    It was the first corpse I ever laid my eyes on. I couldn’t stop staring because I was so sure it would move again. I was used to seeing so much life in those eyes, it was hard to think otherwise.

    ‘Nandini.’

    I looked up to see Akash standing on the opposite side of the corpse, panting just like me. He was studying my face just like I was studying the corpse. It was like he was waiting for me to breakdown and start crying or something. I didn’t know what I was supposed to cry about. It was a beautiful night actually – the sky was clear and the moon was full. The air was cold and brisk and I always loved the swirls of smoke that formed when we exhaled. It was one of the very rare things that I still enjoy.

    Akash and I were standing in a deserted part of this forest near a wooden cabin. When I say near, I actually have no idea where exactly and neither does anyone else, because none of us have ever been to this part of the forest before. It was really dark here but my eyes had become adjusted to it and I could make out Akash’s face from where I was standing.

    He looked exhausted and alert at the same time. His eyes were almost as wide as the corpse’s and his hair was in an absolute mess, standing at weird angles on his head. His face was shining a little from the sweat I think and he was rubbing his pale palms together frantically.

    ‘Nandini!’ He said louder, ‘Are you sure about this?’

    ‘Yes,’ I told him. ‘Let’s do this.’

    Of course I was sure about this. We just carried this huge corpse for so long to this spot along with two shovels. I’m not going anywhere without finishing what we came here for.

    The forest was filled with similar looking really old trees. They were all tall and the whole forest looked like a dream during daytime. But right now, it looked as lively as the corpse between Akash and myself. Apart from the crunching of the dry leaves under our feet, the chirping crickets and the ruffling of our clothes, I could only hear my own heart. We had chosen a spot right beside a thicker bigger tree and put down the body and shovels to catch our breaths.

    Akash probably thought I was having second thoughts and I was sure the same thing was going through his mind. But I wasn’t having second thoughts, I was thinking how the faint shadows of the tree-branches on the body made everything look so perfect. It seemed like the forest was inviting the dead too. Akash and I didn’t really seem to belong here. Our heavy breathing and flushed cheeks were disturbing the harmony of the night.

    Akash was the first one to start digging and I started soon after him. The shovels were heavy and old on their own, no doubt about that. On top of that, the soil was all dry and stubborn because of the winter air. The first few digs was awkward and useless, but I soon picked up a rhythm like Akash. We barely said a word to each other, but I was constantly thinking what could be going through his mind. I looked at his furrowed brows, all focused on the digging, as if he couldn’t possibly be thinking of anything else. But I know how far it was from the truth.

    He was thinking the same thing I was. He was thinking of all the ways he could’ve avoided this whole situation that we are in right now. He was thinking about how he never wanted any of this to happen, but he didn’t have anyone else to blame either. Neither did I. The digging was tiring us out so much more, now that we were slowly beginning to feel the weight of all the consequences.

    I kept looking back at the corpse frequently, half hoping it would come back to life. Even though that would actually worsen the whole situation but that’s the only thing that came to my mind. After we were almost done digging a shallow grave-like hollow, Akash and I looked at each other. There were some voices nearby.

    We didn’t need to say a word to each other to figure out what we should do. After quickly climbing out of the hollow, we both grabbed the corpse and pulled it to the hollow we made, until it fit inside. We kicked as much dirt and soil as we could on the corpse to somehow hide it as we could hear the voices getting closer. It seemed like there were a few men speaking softly to each other and they were now close enough for us to be able to see the light from their torches. They were directly coming towards us from behind the big tree.

    We ran towards the opposite direction to hide behind some other tree. We both ended up choosing the same tree and stood beside each other, with our backs on the bark. We were both now breathing louder than before and I had to hold my hands over my mouth to muffle the sound to some extent. I saw Akash trying to turn back and see who are coming as the footsteps came closer.

    I pulled him back as we heard a voice a lot closer than we expected it to – ‘Are you sure you saw them?’

    It was deep baritone which sounded like the voice of an older man. A different and younger voice replied, ‘Yes, I did see them here!’

    ‘Sir, no one ever comes here. It is impossible for kids to come wandering in so deep…’ Another older voice tried to explain. This one clearly sounded disinterested in the whole endeavour and did not believe the younger man.

    ‘But I know what I saw! There was a girl and a boy and they were carrying something big…’

    I looked at Akash and saw him staring back at me, mirroring the same fear in my heart. This was not supposed to happen. We had both made sure that no one saw us when we were coming here. We couldn’t even understand who this man is and how he saw us!

    ‘Hey,’ said the second older voice, ‘you didn’t say they were carrying something before! You just said they were walking around.’

    ‘No, no,’ the younger voice tried to explain, ‘they were carrying something large and heavy like a dead body or something-‘

    ‘Now listen here,’ interrupted the first older voice, ‘you might be in the mood for some rubbish mystery story, but we’re not. No one ever comes here and no one is here. We’re going to escort you back to the main road and go back to doing our real jobs. Let’s go.’

    ‘You should consider yourself very lucky if we don’t smell alcohol in your breath,’ said the second voice as we could hear them start to walk away.

    ‘What? I’m not drunk! I am telling you the truth! Those two murdered someone and they were carrying the dead body into the woods to hide it!’

    ‘Did you see them murder anyone? Do you know them?’

    ‘No, but-‘

    ‘Then we’ll read the rest of your story in your novel. Let’s go!’

    ‘Lord knows what kind of stuff kids are into these days…’

    ‘You don’t understand, I’m telling you the truth!’

    ‘Ya, of course you are! Keep walking!’

    The voices slowly faded away along with the sound of the footsteps. But we stayed frozen in anxiety, with our backs glued to the tree. After a considerable amount of time passed and the voices were far away, I turned around. I saw that no one was around and tip toed back to the tree beside which we had left the corpse. I could feel Akash close behind me. It was unbelievable how close we came to getting caught.

    We both stood on either side and looked down in more shock than we had just recovered from. The shallow grave that we had dug was hollow. The corpse was gone.

    We stared back at each other, unable to make sense of what exactly happened and what we should do about it now. I was almost about to devise a plan to escape, when Akash suddenly broke the silence.

    ‘We have to go back to the cabin.’

    ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ I cannot believe that he came up with that!

    ‘What’s your plan then?’

    ‘We search for it!’ I couldn’t think of anything else.

    ‘Oh ya? Where do you wanna start? There are no signs of the body being dragged or being moved in any way! Even our shovels are still here! How are you possibly going to look for it?’

    My eyes scanned the darkness around us in vain. I could realise that he was right and we literally had no idea how the corpse got out its own grave and disappeared. This is going to cost us really bad.

    ‘Nandini,’ Akash tried to convince me, clearly getting impatient. ‘We are not responsible for this. Let’s keep it that way and go back to the cabin before someone else sees us!’

    I quickly changed my mind and agreed, ‘You’re right.’

    We both grabbed our shovels and started jogging back towards the cabin. A sudden loud ringing startled us both. We looked at each other realising that it’s not coming from either of our phones, they were both on vibrate. Then Akash took out a different phone from inside his jacket – the dead man’s phone was ringing.

    Akash was about to throw it away, but I quickly grabbed it and answered it. He furiously mouthed at me, ‘What the hell-‘

    ‘Is it done?’ It was a calm and serious voice on the other end of the call. The caller-ID was blocked which is why he had no idea who it is.

    I kept holding the phone tightly to my ear but I didn’t say a word. Akash was looking at me with a big question mark on his face.

    ‘C’mon, do you have both their bodies?’ the voice was getting more eager, but clearly did not suspect that someone else had answered the call. I was waiting for this speaker to give up some more information before he realised he isn’t talking to the person whom he think he is.

    ‘Are Akash and Nandini dead or not?!’ The voice got louder and after a short pause he ran out of patience. ‘Fine, you stay where you are, I’m coming!’

    The call ended.

    I looked up at Akash and told him what I understood from this short phone call – ‘We are the ones with the target on our back, not him.’

    ‘We have to get out of here,’ Akash concluded after a while.

    He took the phone from my hand and smashed it on the ground and broke it. I watched all the tiny broken pieces, thinking about how our lives had become so volatile and how we have to leave behind everything we had earned.

    ‘It’s time to start running again, isn’t it?’ I asked Akash, but I already knew the answer.

    In reply he just took my hand and we started running towards the main road, never looking back.

     

  • The Last Gamble

    The Last Gamble

     

    "Mom and Dad don't look for me,I am leaving ,going away from this avaricious and malign world where hypocrites has taken its toll.

    Remorse has filled me from top to bottom.I am tired now and want to reside in a deep slumber.Your loving son Chaitanya(chintu)".These were the last words written in a short note to his mother.All this while what had happened that cajoled Chaitanya to take this drastic step?It is seeming abstruse now but the decisions inferred from the past.Let's delve into his past and sneak.

                     Chaitanya ,a 21 year adult from jaipur was a jolly and benign lad until one stormy night turned his life upside down.Chaitanya of his age was a college student,doing chemical engineering.He was the topper of his class ,a tech savvy adulated by the juniors and his mates.His wits had analysed so many problems that it had become a touchstone now .However his financial conditions were so poor that he couldn't afford a college dress.Being a rickshaw driver ,his father earned hundred rupees a day and his mother was a maid-a hand to mouth situation .It was scholarships that helped him met with his studies.His scintillating eyes had spunk in them that spoke volumes about his unmet desires and an urge to fulfill it.

         His goal was to earn so much of wealth that he could inundate his parents with it,by any means.And in quest of that he didn't realize what he was up to.

    Time fleeted and the day came.It was a stormy night as if demons were waging war against God.

    Birds were taking the flight to  their nests with omnious din.It looked as if the  weather was making prophesy for a coming mishap.

          Spooky,uncanny and tempest tossed ambience had intimidated the residents.Yet somewhere the covert affair was taking place .It was near badi haveli where few men in black with briefcases and pistols were hovering a mendicant."Please leave me,What have I done to you?" whined the poor wrath.

    "You have seen what you shouldn't have "reciprocated one of the frantic with a grin.His face was concealed with a black cloth.Loud came a thud,the bullet had ripped the poor's chest and he died.At this time,Chaitanya was returning from his extra classes in a humdrum fashion.The moment he passed the spot he saw the black squad with one of its leader instructing the gang.

    The corpse was lying at the side bleeding.Chaitanya hid himself behind the wall ,eavesdropping."We have got a tough mission tonight ,What is decided has to be done today in the destined time.You have got five hours,prepare your ammunition ,AK-47 and cyanides .Remember we would choose dying rather than surrendering ourselves .So get go ".On hearing this Chaitanya was dumbstruck  and shuddered in his grip.He was about to escape when his umbrella fell from his hand.Unfortunately he was caught ,Yes "Caught"  caught in the rattrap of his materialistic desires shunning himself from the ground reality.

        One of the member Aqib got hold of him.His eyes were bloody red with rage and terror. "This boy seems to be a genius,a meticulous one,he can be of some use " said Aqib in a didactic tone."Well boy what's your name "asked Aqib."Chaitanya "he replied. "Um! What do you do?" nudged the man in black."I am a chemical engineer "replied chaitanya in a pride tone."Well!I see he can be a great help, whats say Afzal? asked Aqib putting a sinister smile.Afzal nodded and assented to it.Afzal darted into the dark room and bought with him a brief case .

    Chaitanya was dubious about their intentions when the man arrived and handed him the briefcase."What is this?"asked the boy."See for yourself"replied Afzal.Chaitanya unlocked the mystery briefcase and was astounded and taken aback.The bag was full of cash worth fifty lakhs  as estimated by the boy.He hadn't seen such a lumpsum in his entire life.He was going crazy and amazed and had goosebumps."Why are you giving it to me?"asked Chaitanya in a surprised tone.

    "Ahaha,We want to hire you for a deadly task and in return we would pay you two crores ".reciprocated Afzal.

    "What's that deadly task?"asked the boy curiously ."As you are a chemical engineer you have to prepare an explosive for us that could take million of lives"exclaimed Afzal."How can you be so brutal and take innocent lives?Sorry I would not be a part of your venture".said Chaitanya.He knew that the amount he was been offered was so huge that he could fulfill his aspirations but at the back of his mind he did not wanted to betray his country.Initially he rejected but on being coaxed by the terroists he agreed.

    He was brainwashed by Afzal against the country and it's government,the callous audiences who sit back and watch the obnoxious crimes and the whole lot.He was so obsessed with the money that he finally agreed."I am going to make TATP,it is going to meet ur wishes."cited the boy."What is that?"interrogated Aqib.

    "It is  triacetone tripeoxide which is highly unstable and uses hydrogen peroxide and other ingredients."answered Chaitanya.

    He went to the labs and prepared it overnight and next morning handed it to the gang."Thankyou we appreciate your effort ,here is your money go live your life lavishly and we will proceed to the wrath of the city, hahahaha!"exclaimed Aqib in a hysterical laugh.

    It was one week nothing was to be heard or seen .Chaitanya bought a new bunglow and purchased a brand new car.It was the same day a terror mishap took place in  few parts of the city and blasts killed a thousand of people.Their was chaos in the city and people were been rescued and run into hospitals.Their were wailings ,shreaks and the sound of ambulance and then a deadly silence.When Chaitanya heard the news on the grapevine he rushed to the place to see the spectacle himself.

    His confrontation with the scene tremored him and he quivered under his grip.Nothing could have broken him as the howlings of mothers for their childrens and husbands .

    He was culpable for he destroyed the happy livelihoods .The scene got etched in his mind and that night he couldn't sleep .Realization dawned upon him and he was guilty.At the midnight ,out of the blue he disappeared leaving a short note and vanished into the darkness.

              Next morning when his mother went to his room and found a note they went to the police and lodged the fir.His parents were dumbstruck to found his child acts and he being the creator of the  massive destruction  broke his parents .The trust was gone now.After a few days a news broke out in the nearby village that a dead body was found.On hearing it the police went to claim the body and found out that it was Chaitanya .The postmortem report showed that it was a suicide case.His parents were in a deep sorrow  mourning as their only son had left them.As you sow so shall you reap ,this adage so fits in the scenario.Chaitanya  got paid for his deeds  and many dead souls got justice through divine venegance.This gamble took him to his death bed .

      We should be satisfied with what we have .Happiness comes with small things and with abundance come tensions grievance therefore its said "A fool and his money are soon parted".