Hi friends,I am uploading the short story which I had submitted for Times of India Write India Contest.
Preface was given by Chetan Bhagat.
Rules
by the Author
The story should be a life lesson.
That's the only rule. Rest, use your skills and imagination!
Preface by Chetan Bhagat
She sat in the Starbucks cafe,
sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay
next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf. ..
Story starts now...
Madhulika dashed down the stairs, kicking
open the gate, paused for a nanosecond to look back. Next second she was running
with a blood stained knife in her hand. The long distance runner in Madhu made
her legs strike the ground at a steady pace through the green lanes of Koregaon
Park. Her heart pounded with fear. Knife may
attract attention! I am a fool to run like this! She pulled the blue silk
scarf from her neck, ducked behind a big Banyan tree and wrapped the knife in
it. Grey clouds and sleepy by lanes of Koregaon Park afforded her the luxury of
going unnoticed. She turned back to gauge the distance she had covered. Her heart
jumped into her throat. A speeding bike with two men was just 100 metres away.
They
are looking for me! She froze for a moment behind
the banyan tree. The bike went past, stopped at the cross roads ahead. They searched
in both directions, talked over mobile for half a minute and took a left turn.
She raced and took the right turn.
Damn! I didn’t come to Pune to become a
murderer and flee like a criminal! Looking back fearfully, she cursed her fate. Road was empty. Clouds
were threatening. Bolts of lightning flashed with a deafening sound. Run Madhulika! She darted again.
She passed the place where her misery started,
the gates of the Osho commune, where she bumped into Shikha Roy, her senior
from Kolkata.
‘It’s so good to hear Bengali after a week.’
Excited Madhulika hugged Shikha.
Shikha worked at an IT firm and was staying
in Magarpatta City. Her Boyfriend was accompanying her.
‘I have joined Symbi for MBA and am staying
in a Hostel.’ said Madhu .
Both chatted about Bengali films, literature
and Music. Her boyfriend became a little
impatient.
’Madhu! Our friends are meeting in
Starbucks Café and going on to a Movie. Will catch you later!’ She smiled sweetly
and left. Madhu turned back to resume her aimless strolling.
It was a Saturday afternoon. Madhu had wanted
to explore Pune. Her Hostel friends were busy. So she ventured out alone. She
googled Osho Park, captured the route map in her mobile. She had an
important letter to be couriered, so she took it along with her. She took a
Rickshaw to go to Osho Park. After spending 2 hours in Osho Park, she had run
into Shikha on her way out.
I
have to search for a good courier service. Idiots! In this cyber era, they want me to
send the refund request by post. Her request of email had fallen on deaf
ears. She heard a male voice speaking sweet Bengali.
‘Hi! I am Ajit! Are you a Bengali?’ A
suave, stylish, handsome guy with chiseled face and rimless glasses was smiling
at her.
‘Yes!’
‘I guessed right! Your silky tresses, beautiful
eyes and flawless skin say it all!’
I am
talking to a stranger in an unknown city. Madhu shrugged and started walking.
I have to find a courier!
She
scanned the names of the shops. Should I
ask someone! She stopped.
‘May I help you?’ She turned back .Ajit
gave a cordial smile. ‘I live in this
area! Think I can help you!’
Oh! Same
guy again! Your looks are stunning man! But I am not interested!
‘No! Thanks!’ She tried to look as if she
was just sauntering along.
Let me ask this shop owner!
She went near a shop. The shop was crowded.
‘Could you tell me where a courier shop is?’ She asked in a polite tone. Shop
owner was busy and not interested in answering her. Shit!
‘I love Robindra Sangeet. I am dying to talk about it. Let us chat
over a cup of coffee!’ Ajit was still following her. Madhu tried to ignore him.
She had other thoughts on her mind now. Her upset bowels! Roadside panipuri had
taken a toll on her digestive tract. I
have to reach the Hostel before my guts go crazy!’ She was wary of the
hygiene of public toilets.
Ajit was continuously talking about Bengali
writers and Films passionately. She found that his taste matched hers. His
impeccable Bengali impressed her.
‘Are you a Bengali?’ Her eyes widened.
‘No! I am a Multi linguist. But I love
Bengalis and their language!’ His eyes
twinkled.
‘I resigned from an IT company two years
ago and own a startup now.’ He looked dashing in a half sleeved white Shirt and
light khaki cargo pants. Madhu realized that she had got carried away by his sweet words and had walked pretty good distance .Roads were getting quieter
without much traffic.
It’s
high time I enquire about the courier shop. A petty
shop was quite empty.
‘Is there any courier service nearby?’ Shop
owner showed left direction but immediately changed his pointing fingers
towards right. His eyes were fixed behind Madhu. ‘Go straight and turn right in
the second lane.’
‘Thank you!’ Madhu started in that
direction. First,Second… She turned
to the right. Beautiful bungalows adorned the lane. There was a courier service
shop in a car parking area of an old bungalow but it was closed. Now her bowels
started troubling her. Oh! No! Not Now!
‘You have come very near our house. See my sister- in-law standing in
the balcony. She will prepare a good coffee for you!’
‘Sudha! Prepare a good coffee for my
friend.’ He told the beautiful, dusky woman.
‘No Thanks! I am not in the mood for coffee
now.’ Madhu turned back. Sharp pain in
bowels started troubling her again.
There
is a woman in this house. So no harm in going to the house. I will use their washroom at least!
‘If not coffee then please have
Milkshake!’They climbed the staircase of the Bungalow and went to the first
floor. Sudha opened the door and gave an unwelcoming smile.
‘She is my brother’s wife. He has gone to
US for a project.’ A fair plump old woman with bright bindi entered the hall.
‘She is my aunt. ’ Aunt smiled and folded
her hands. ’Namaste Beti!’
Two young men came out of the bedroom. Ajit
introduced them to Madhu.’Rohan and Rahul! My cousins cum business partners! Our
office is on the ground floor.’ They smiled politely and turned to Ajit.
‘Ajit! We will be back in 30 minutes!’ They
walked down the stairs.
Madhu was desperate. Cramps had become
severe. ’Mr.Ajit! May I use your washroom please!’
‘Please!’ Ajit showed her the way. After
easing herself Madhu came out and stood near the washbasin. Guys had left the bedroom
door ajar, she could see the computer screen. A slide show of nude photographs
of different girls! What the hell! Anyway
it’s none of my business! She turned towards the kitchen to bid adieu to the ladies but Sudha’s strange action puzzled
her. She was adding a white powder in the milkshake meant for Madhu. She was whispering to the old lady ’Should I add more essence, so that she will not be able to smell anything wrong.’
What
the hell is happening here?
Ajit was talking on the phone in Malayalam.
‘We have caught a bong fish. I called Sudha and asked her to be in the balcony
to gain her confidence. Sudha has arranged everything perfectly. She is an expert now. After sedating her we will do our job. I will send the video and
photos...’Ajit was continuing.
Thanks
to her Father’s posting in Kerala during her school days, she could understand
Malayalam well but not able to speak fluently. Madhu was terrified at the
planned chicanery.
How foolish of me to blabber about all my
interests and personal details to Shikha in a Public place. He has overheard
our conversation and used it to trap me in this hell! Thank God! I didn’t let
on that I understand Malayalam. I have to escape. But How!
She sneaked into the Kitchen. There was a sharp
chef’s knife on the table. She stealthily picked it up and started moving out.
But the alert old woman tried to grab madhu’s hands. Madhu swiftly tucked the
knife out of sight and slapped the old woman with the other hand. Sudha ran
towards the old woman who had lost her balance. Madhu dashed out to the
entrance.
‘Where are you going? You can’t escape from
us.’ Ajit winked with a nasty smile. He twisted her arm behind her back. His
vicious twist made her squirm but she gripped the handle of the knife tightly, turned
and lunged at Ajit’s abdomen. She pulled out the bloody knife as Ajit fell with
a sharp cry. She rushed towards the entrance with the knife and started running…Now
she was running with the wrapped knife.
Madhulika slowed down her pace as roads
were getting busier.
It is a main road! She turned back to
look for the bike.
No!
They have not found me yet!
She looked at both
sides of the road. The Starbucks symbol caught her attention.
Shikha
said that she was going to Starbucks to meet her friends!
Madhu entered Starbucks café, and looked
around for Shikha.
No!
She is not here!
Madhu climbed the
helical staircase and scanned the mezzanine.
No Shikha!
Tired and exhausted, she put her handbag
and scarf on a table. The sight of the two men emerging from the helix
triggered panic in her. She quickly ducked under the table, and pretended to look
for something. Two pairs of jeans clad legs slowly approached her table, but
stopped to attend the mobile.
‘Ajit! She is not here.’
‘What did the Doctor say?... Wound is not
deep!..Bandaged!...Good!’ Pairs of legs started moving away.
Madhulika’s muscles relaxed a bit. Devil is alive! Should I inform the police now? or should I go to hostel?...confused!
She slowly got up
and calmed down oblivious to the fact that her handbag and Blue silk scarf had been noticed by the guys.
I will wait here till those demons vanish! She went down, placed her order, took her coffee and luckily found a
free table near a window.
She sat in the Starbucks café, sipping her
coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her
handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf… She couldn’t believe the way the
day had unfolded.
Now I
don’t need this knife! She opened the handbag and put
the wrapped knife inside.
After spending thirty minutes in the coffee
brown interiors of Star Bucks, she walked out of the café and waited for a
Rickshaw. It was raining heavily .Rickshaws were packed. She started losing patience, but regained energy as a Rickshaw slowed down near her. She hurriedly
got into the Rickshaw and asked to be taken to ‘SB Road.’
It was raining heavily .Name board of a
shop alerted Madhu. Am I going in the wrong
direction? Before she could gather
her wits, a bike slowed down near the Rickshaw.
Oh My
God! She
froze in terror. Same guys! One of
the men grinned at the Rickshaw driver and showed a Thumbs up sign.
Shit! All belong to the same
racket!
She thought of
jumping from the Rickshaw. I may break my
limbs and worsen my condition. Is this the end of my life? Loud crackling thunders started shattering
Madhu’s
confidence.
Tears trickled from her eyes slowly. She
wiped them with her hands. Rickshaw stopped near the gate. Rohan pulled her out
of the Rickshaw.
Now she was taken to the house in ground
floor .Interiors were different. It was like a studio. Flash lights. Erotic Paintings, statuettes! Disgusting!
Ajit was reclining on a couch. She was
surprised to see the energy in him despite the injury.
‘Darling! Have you come back? I was waiting
for you.’ He smirked. He turned back to Rahul and Rohan. ‘Guys! Make
arrangements faster. This enchantress is elusive.’
‘Bastard!’ muttered Madhu. He ignored her
and turned to Sudha.
‘Sudha! Bring the nectar!’
‘Ajit!I would suggest that you inject her. That
will be more effective and long lasting.’ She gave a cold look at Madhu.
‘You Bitch!’ shouted Madhu. Sudha ignored
her and went to a room.
She hurriedly came back and called Ajit. ’Send
Rahul and Rohan to Bhaiyaji’s house to bring the drug.Quick!’They immediately
left for Bhaiyaji’s house which was nearby. It was pouring outside. I have to escape!
‘Baby!’
Ajit raised her chin with his forefinger.
’Sudha was my first catch. Initially she
also resisted like you. But see how she is cooperating. Now we have hundreds of
women. Girls fall for me and end up like this.’ He turned and smiled at Sudha. She smiled cruelly at Madhu.
‘We have branches all over India. You have
to cater our rich clientele. Those rich and spoilt fuckers want only housewives
and young college girls. You have to heed to us. And… You will!’ jeered Ajit.
‘We will have all your videos and photo
graphs with us.’ Madhu ‘s heart pulsated
at seeing his sardonic smile. Her eyes were fixed on his wicked face.
Very
Handsome but wicked! Now I am going to kill you to save many innocent girls. Nothing wrong in murdering a Satan!
She used her fingers to locate the scarf in
the handbag, searched for the handle of the knife, and picked it out of
the handbag. Her silk scarf fell to the floor, she gripped the handle and with
a swift movement, she tried to stab him, but a violent blow on her wrist
stunned Madhu, her grip loosened and the knife fell to the floor. She tried to
grab it but Ajit slapped her brutally. Madhu lost her balance and fell clumsily.
‘No need of any injection. You bitch! I
will teach you a lesson!’ Ajit pounced on Madhu. Madhu steadied herself and
kicked his groins.
Ah…! He groaned with pain. ’Sudha! Give me
the knife! I will kill this …! I don’t like intelligent women.’
Madhu was terrified at the devilish
expression in his eyes. Sudha quickly picked the knife from the floor and moved
towards him. He stretched out his hand, with a quick movement Sudha stabbed
with vengeance. Not Once but Thrice. Blood spilt out of his guts and spread all
over. Ajit slowly toppled to the bloody floor.
‘Thanks for giving me the courage. Today my
sins are washed. ’ Sudha was shaking terribly.
‘I will handle this. Get out of here before
they come!’ She shouted at Madhu.
Madhu started running towards the door. ‘Take
your scarf and get lost!’
Madhu picked up the scarf and started running
… the splashing drops slowly washed away the blood stains on her blue silk
scarf.
6 comments:
nice like a movie
Thanks for the feedback.
Story line is good.
Thanks for the feedback!
Padma akka,
Nice story line and gripping one.Keep it coming.
Thanks for the feedback!
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