The different shades of life take us through a roller coaster ride. As Danny saw a roller coaster, he felt his life rewinding back to 40 minutes earlier. After all his life had been a roller coaster since then.
40 minutes earlier –
Danny parked the car in his garage. The car was totally serviced. He was feeling very happy today. It was their anniversary after all. He had brought flowers and chocolates for his wife. He had got a ring to put it on her. She would be so glad.
He knocked at the door. No response. He knocked again. Pressed the bell. No response.
He pushed the door. The door was open. Silence inside. Everything seemed normal. Except she was not there.
A white note was stuck at the refrigerator –
‘Oh, your lovely dear wife, is so beautiful. If you want to see her then come to the City fair in next 30 minutes. Your time starts now!’.
His eyes were frozen to the note. He clenched his teeth. He didn’t know who had done this. But he knew his wife was in trouble. A fear ran through his spine. The first time. He tore the note to pieces.
He realized he had no time. He rushed to the garage.
25 minutes earlier –
He was rushing through the city. Signals, cops did not matter today. He never thought he would see such a day. The cell phone beeped.
The message said – ‘ In the fair, a gift awaits you at the Russell Popcorn shop. Tell the boy - your name.’
He looked at the number. He called back. Beep beep! No response. He tried again. No response. He threw the cell out.
Damn it!
He accelerated. He was going mad. The game had begun. He was the mouse.
5 minutes earlier –
He had taken the gift. It was a box. Something oozed out of the box. Blood. His forehead was sweaty. He looked all around. He could see smiling faces. Faces smiling at him. Everyone seemed to be a culprit there.
He opened the box. His hands were shaking. A finger lay in the box. It was hers. It was hers. The pink nail paint was still there.
His eyes were bloodshot now. He would have torn apart the culprit. He searched for the person frantically. But no hope. He looked at the diamond ring again.
He was tired. But the flames of revenge kept on raging within. He carefully took out the note, kept under the finger.
‘Go to the roller coaster. There is an adjacent building. Climb to the roof top. A gun is hidden under the black septic tank. Take it. You know how to use it, don’t you? On the western side of the roof, your target is tied up. Take an aim and shoot it. Your wife will be back home if you complete your assignment. All the best’
He threw the paper away.
He didn’t have a chance. His wife was his life. He had to do it.
Now –
Danny looked at the roller coaster. He saw the building. He rushed to the top. It was empty and dilapidated. The stairs creaked as he ran to save his wife.
The roof was a big one. Broken furniture, sacks, stones was the order. He looked for the tank. There it was. The gun lay wrapped in a polythene bag. Two bullets. He loaded the gun.
It was not a time for remorse. He never had ever anyways.
He looked around now. No one seemed to be there. Where was the target?
Wait, something is moving there. What is it? It’s someone. It is alive. His target was right in front of him.
He hesitated for some moments. He never hesitated before. Was it her wife? No! This cannot be true. The message said his wife would be back home safe.
He looked around. He didn’t care who the target was. He wanted his wife. He will find out who is doing this to him and tear him with bare hands.
He took aim and shot. The figure moved for some time. Then it was silent.
He turned around and wanted to go back home. Wait. Who was it? He went back to the body.
The rope was untied. The body slumped to the floor.
He could not feel anything. The whole world seemed to have stopped. He was short of words. A slight gasp escaped his mouth. He wanted to scream but he could not. His head was bursting.
His wife lay on the floor.
There was a loud bang on the door. ‘Down with your gun’, the cops shouted from behind. He knew he had no chance.
‘ The police today captured Danny after a frantic lookout for more than two years. Danny, a psychopath, was wanted for over 23 murders in the city. He would murder people and cut their fingers to keep them as a memorabilia. The police got a tip from an unknown caller. Danny was caught on the roof of a building situated amidst the Company grounds. The City fair is being currently held there. Danny was trying to kill his wife. His wife was found unconscious and had a finger cut. The finger was retrieved from Danny’s possession. Danny might face a trial in few days and his hope of staying alive is very slim.’
***********************************************************************************
Danny was sitting in his cell. Staring at the wall. A policeman came in and handed him an envelope.
‘Hello Danny’ – the envelope said. Danny opened up the contents. The content had two pictures, the same diamond ring and a letter. He opened the envelope-
‘I know you might be thinking how did you get caught since you always thought yourself to be smart and clever. I was on your case for the past 2 years and I must admit that you certainly did not leave any clues or hints whatsoever for me to follow you. You could have been a free man even now if you had not entered that house 10 days ago. You found a girl, happily playing the piano and waiting for her husband. You slit her throat from behind, cut her finger and took off with the ring. The ring, which was given so fondly by her husband. You killed my beautiful wife , Danny. You made me your worst enemy. But you had no remorse, you had no conscience. For you it was just another murder. For me it was end of life. But I wanted you to catch you. I wanted to make you go through the pain, the feeling when our near or dear ones go missing. I wanted you to die but not before you understood what death actually meant.
You dropped your car servicing center card at my home. Maybe it was fate against you for the first time and how fatal did it prove for you. It did not take me more than a day to track you down. For the next few days, I kept a watch on you and your house. I was surprised to see that you had a wife. I thought of a plan for my revenge. It did not take me much time to abduct your wife and leave the note for you.
I was watching every expression, every action of yours. You felt helpless, pained and distraught just like your victims. You thought you controlled your life, their lives. You thought you were a GOD. This time, you had nothing but your misery. This time you lost.
Your wife is fine and recovering from the bleeding because of the finger injury. The gun had false shots equipped with tranquilizers. She would be fine and I will ensure she does not have to struggle in life. There has to be a difference between a human and an animal like you. There are a few gifts with this letter to remind you of your sins. Had to put in some effort to get them though.
Rot in Hell, Danny!
Your friend.’
Danny kept silent. He looked at the photos – one had he and his wife smiling at a beach, another had his wife sleeping in the hospital. The ring shone in the darkness.
He looked up and closed his eyes. The roller coaster had stopped.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Friday, 11 March 2011
2011 # Story5 - The Love Game
'Do you love me?’ she asked with the naughtiness I was so familiar with.
I did not say it as was my usual technique to irritate her and looked at the other direction. The game had started.
'My sweetheart, my love, please say that you love me? Please na!’ she made her 'I am so sad' face again which was one of those weapons I initially could not oppose to. However, with time, I had managed to overcome this weakness of mine.
I just gave a smile. She loved that smile of mine. And it was my weapon!
She looked at me for some time. Her eyes were so beautiful. The first time I saw her in the city mall, I could not just take my eyes off her.
'Now this is being stubborn. Why do you do this to me? What is the harm if you say it once that you love me? Is it so hard to utter 3 simple words for your beloved? I am not talking to you. Huh!’ she tried her second weapon of 'mock anger'.
I winked at her. She gave me a nudge. A hug couple of seconds later. A peck on my cheek.
Those old tricks of hers.
This was almost the daily routine for us. She would suddenly come to me and ask me to profess my love to her and I being the adamant guy of all time would not do it. She would try every trick in the Girl’s book to make me say those words and to give her a fair credit, she did manage to do it almost every time. It was our favorite game before marriage and we still continued with it. I must admit she won almost every day.
At the end of the day, whoever lost had to give a surprise, big or small, to the winner. Childish it was, but we had our own personal happiness attached to it.
'Ok wait, I will get your coffee now and then mister, I shall see who wins today? Ok?’ she ran into the kitchen.
I wanted her to win today. I so wanted her to win every single day.
Tears rolled from her eyes, as she made the coffee in the kitchen. She muttered to herself ' Why do you have to win like this Sid? If you had asked once, just once, I would have lost to you every single day. For once, Sid, please speak. For me. For our family. For our love.’
It had been 2 years post that accident, since I lost my voice. Every single day she tried to make me speak. I was the unspoken winner since then.
I did not say it as was my usual technique to irritate her and looked at the other direction. The game had started.
'My sweetheart, my love, please say that you love me? Please na!’ she made her 'I am so sad' face again which was one of those weapons I initially could not oppose to. However, with time, I had managed to overcome this weakness of mine.
I just gave a smile. She loved that smile of mine. And it was my weapon!
She looked at me for some time. Her eyes were so beautiful. The first time I saw her in the city mall, I could not just take my eyes off her.
'Now this is being stubborn. Why do you do this to me? What is the harm if you say it once that you love me? Is it so hard to utter 3 simple words for your beloved? I am not talking to you. Huh!’ she tried her second weapon of 'mock anger'.
I winked at her. She gave me a nudge. A hug couple of seconds later. A peck on my cheek.
Those old tricks of hers.
This was almost the daily routine for us. She would suddenly come to me and ask me to profess my love to her and I being the adamant guy of all time would not do it. She would try every trick in the Girl’s book to make me say those words and to give her a fair credit, she did manage to do it almost every time. It was our favorite game before marriage and we still continued with it. I must admit she won almost every day.
At the end of the day, whoever lost had to give a surprise, big or small, to the winner. Childish it was, but we had our own personal happiness attached to it.
'Ok wait, I will get your coffee now and then mister, I shall see who wins today? Ok?’ she ran into the kitchen.
I wanted her to win today. I so wanted her to win every single day.
Tears rolled from her eyes, as she made the coffee in the kitchen. She muttered to herself ' Why do you have to win like this Sid? If you had asked once, just once, I would have lost to you every single day. For once, Sid, please speak. For me. For our family. For our love.’
It had been 2 years post that accident, since I lost my voice. Every single day she tried to make me speak. I was the unspoken winner since then.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
To the 3 greatest forms of woman!
The fever –
The temperature had risen to 104 degrees. My whole body was aching with the fever. I was shivering in cold. My lips were dry. Everything around seemed to be a blur. My father was pacing up and down in the hall. Suddenly, he ran to the telephone and dialed up another doctor’s number which he had just remembered. Engaged. Engaged. Engaged. He looked at me with disappointment. He suddenly rushed out of the house in heavy rain. I was alone now and terrified.
I closed my eyes in pain and a drop of tear trickled down. I asked God for some mercy. I could no longer sustain the pain. I do not remember how long I winced in that situation.
A soft click of the door and could hear faint footsteps.
A hand appeared. A wet cloth was placed on my forehead. A kiss on my cheek. My eyes closed and I was lost in deep slumber.
I opened up my eyes the next morning. The fever was gone. So was the pain. The lady, whom my father had divorced, was still sitting beside me. She hadn’t slept the whole night. My mother still loved me!
The gift –
’25,000’, my sister was shouting. She had received a gift cheque of Rs. 25000 from the university because she had topped it. Blah! She was always the studious one. She was ugly and I didn’t like her at all. She had big fat glasses. She was fat. My friends made fun of her.
‘Mom, Dad, Raju, I topped yes! I am going to put this in the bank now. This will be for my masters in the XYZ college. I am so happy!’, she was dancing around. Dad just smiled. Mom gave me a look ‘look at your sis!’. I hated her to the core.
‘I want a X box’, I demanded to my parents. Mother gave me a stern look. We belonged to a middle class family where chocolates were like cakes and a chicken dish at home was like eating at a five star. But being the apple of their eye, I had always made my parents give in to my demands. Not this time though!‘Raju, you would not get it and that is final’, my dad scolded. I gave a grumpy look. My sister eating an ice cream, could just show a tongue. I hated her the most.
‘Happy birthday, beta’, my mother shouted in my ears as I opened up my eyes. ‘Get ready, we are going for a picnic with Ramola Aunty’, she shouted again. Aah! Birthday mom, its mine! Should have let me sleep. My sister came in. Not today you fatso! ‘Happy birthday bro!’, she came ahead to kiss me. ‘Yeah yeah ok!Thanks’ and I rushed to the bathroom.
A package lay on my bed. I jumped on it! Opened it! Xbox! Wow! Mom Dad I love you! I was dancing around!
The small card lay on the ground being stomped by my feet – ‘Happy birthday brother, your loving sister’!
The crash
–
‘Give me a call when your reach ok? I will be worried otherwise’, she spoke with her usual worried tone.
‘Yes love! Now let me board the plane. India is hot!’, I managed to blurt out some words in the crowd. Bus, train or plane, we the Indians treated every transport the same. Jostling and bustling.
‘Ok listen, there is a snowstorm ahead today at LA. So please be careful and take a cab from the airport only. You never know about the behavior of these goras against us!’ she said. I loved her for all this.
‘Yes my sweetheart, I will. Ok need to disconnect now as boarding the plane. Cya soon and love you!, I gave a kiss and put the phone in the bag.
Some time in your life, there comes a day when nothing goes right. Absolutely nothing.
The plane could not take off because it developed a technical snag. Shoot! We were rushed into a lounge and asked to wait. Another plane was scheduled in hour. The TV blared ‘US is expecting a snow storm anytime.’. I managed to call my wife and updated her.
The plane took off. I was now missing her badly. I looked at the wrist watch. It was given by her. It beeped ‘Love you Sid’ every time you touched it. Girly, but full of love. It had been a year since I came to India for my business. And she stood like a pillar all the time when it wasn’t going well for my business in the US of A. I had clinched a multi -million deal now and it was time for celebration with my love.
‘Ladies and Gentleman, we are experiencing very bad weather and visibility at the airport is zero. We are experiencing….’, the pilot’s voice faded out. I could see the faint lights of the city from the window. There was a sharp noise, the engine sputtered . Darkness. The beautiful city was now rushing to us at a breakneck speed. There were shouts. The air hostesses were screaming to be normal. My heart had stopped. I took my wrist watch and kissed it. Her face appeared in front of me. I could now see the ground clearly. Boom! Ear splitting noise. I was surrounded by flames. I passed out.
Darkness. I could not feel my legs. I could not see anything. I could hear faint noises somewhere far. I could smell burning wires and bodies. I tried to move my head without any success. I was trapped in this debris. I was alive but dead for the world outside. I tried to shout. Was my tongue cut? Was I dead?
I pressed something in my hand.
‘Love you Sid’, ‘Love you Sid’, ’Love you Sid’, it beeped. I did it again. It beeped. I did it again. I wanted to be out. I was not dead. Can you hear me? I am not dead. ‘Love you Sid’, it kept on beeping.
A bright light blinded my eyes. ‘Sidddddddddddddddd’, the familiar voice shouted. ‘Please help him, please. Oh My god! Please!’ someone was shouting. Was it her? I could hear couple of radios burring ‘we got a survivor here, we got a survivor here’. ‘Siddddddddddddddddd’. Who was that?
They took me out in a couple of hours. My leg was smashed and I had a broken neck with 30 % burns. Yet, I was alive. Because of the watch? Because of my love? Because of her, who heard that beep when everything around was dead? She, who drove over 200 miles in that snowstorm? She who believed that I was alive? She who brought those medics and cops once again, 22 hours later after the search party was gone?
She gave a smile. I could not have died. She was my life and she was still there. With me, for me!
The temperature had risen to 104 degrees. My whole body was aching with the fever. I was shivering in cold. My lips were dry. Everything around seemed to be a blur. My father was pacing up and down in the hall. Suddenly, he ran to the telephone and dialed up another doctor’s number which he had just remembered. Engaged. Engaged. Engaged. He looked at me with disappointment. He suddenly rushed out of the house in heavy rain. I was alone now and terrified.
I closed my eyes in pain and a drop of tear trickled down. I asked God for some mercy. I could no longer sustain the pain. I do not remember how long I winced in that situation.
A soft click of the door and could hear faint footsteps.
A hand appeared. A wet cloth was placed on my forehead. A kiss on my cheek. My eyes closed and I was lost in deep slumber.
I opened up my eyes the next morning. The fever was gone. So was the pain. The lady, whom my father had divorced, was still sitting beside me. She hadn’t slept the whole night. My mother still loved me!
The gift –
’25,000’, my sister was shouting. She had received a gift cheque of Rs. 25000 from the university because she had topped it. Blah! She was always the studious one. She was ugly and I didn’t like her at all. She had big fat glasses. She was fat. My friends made fun of her.
‘Mom, Dad, Raju, I topped yes! I am going to put this in the bank now. This will be for my masters in the XYZ college. I am so happy!’, she was dancing around. Dad just smiled. Mom gave me a look ‘look at your sis!’. I hated her to the core.
‘I want a X box’, I demanded to my parents. Mother gave me a stern look. We belonged to a middle class family where chocolates were like cakes and a chicken dish at home was like eating at a five star. But being the apple of their eye, I had always made my parents give in to my demands. Not this time though!‘Raju, you would not get it and that is final’, my dad scolded. I gave a grumpy look. My sister eating an ice cream, could just show a tongue. I hated her the most.
‘Happy birthday, beta’, my mother shouted in my ears as I opened up my eyes. ‘Get ready, we are going for a picnic with Ramola Aunty’, she shouted again. Aah! Birthday mom, its mine! Should have let me sleep. My sister came in. Not today you fatso! ‘Happy birthday bro!’, she came ahead to kiss me. ‘Yeah yeah ok!Thanks’ and I rushed to the bathroom.
A package lay on my bed. I jumped on it! Opened it! Xbox! Wow! Mom Dad I love you! I was dancing around!
The small card lay on the ground being stomped by my feet – ‘Happy birthday brother, your loving sister’!
The crash
–
‘Give me a call when your reach ok? I will be worried otherwise’, she spoke with her usual worried tone.
‘Yes love! Now let me board the plane. India is hot!’, I managed to blurt out some words in the crowd. Bus, train or plane, we the Indians treated every transport the same. Jostling and bustling.
‘Ok listen, there is a snowstorm ahead today at LA. So please be careful and take a cab from the airport only. You never know about the behavior of these goras against us!’ she said. I loved her for all this.
‘Yes my sweetheart, I will. Ok need to disconnect now as boarding the plane. Cya soon and love you!, I gave a kiss and put the phone in the bag.
Some time in your life, there comes a day when nothing goes right. Absolutely nothing.
The plane could not take off because it developed a technical snag. Shoot! We were rushed into a lounge and asked to wait. Another plane was scheduled in hour. The TV blared ‘US is expecting a snow storm anytime.’. I managed to call my wife and updated her.
The plane took off. I was now missing her badly. I looked at the wrist watch. It was given by her. It beeped ‘Love you Sid’ every time you touched it. Girly, but full of love. It had been a year since I came to India for my business. And she stood like a pillar all the time when it wasn’t going well for my business in the US of A. I had clinched a multi -million deal now and it was time for celebration with my love.
‘Ladies and Gentleman, we are experiencing very bad weather and visibility at the airport is zero. We are experiencing….’, the pilot’s voice faded out. I could see the faint lights of the city from the window. There was a sharp noise, the engine sputtered . Darkness. The beautiful city was now rushing to us at a breakneck speed. There were shouts. The air hostesses were screaming to be normal. My heart had stopped. I took my wrist watch and kissed it. Her face appeared in front of me. I could now see the ground clearly. Boom! Ear splitting noise. I was surrounded by flames. I passed out.
Darkness. I could not feel my legs. I could not see anything. I could hear faint noises somewhere far. I could smell burning wires and bodies. I tried to move my head without any success. I was trapped in this debris. I was alive but dead for the world outside. I tried to shout. Was my tongue cut? Was I dead?
I pressed something in my hand.
‘Love you Sid’, ‘Love you Sid’, ’Love you Sid’, it beeped. I did it again. It beeped. I did it again. I wanted to be out. I was not dead. Can you hear me? I am not dead. ‘Love you Sid’, it kept on beeping.
A bright light blinded my eyes. ‘Sidddddddddddddddd’, the familiar voice shouted. ‘Please help him, please. Oh My god! Please!’ someone was shouting. Was it her? I could hear couple of radios burring ‘we got a survivor here, we got a survivor here’. ‘Siddddddddddddddddd’. Who was that?
They took me out in a couple of hours. My leg was smashed and I had a broken neck with 30 % burns. Yet, I was alive. Because of the watch? Because of my love? Because of her, who heard that beep when everything around was dead? She, who drove over 200 miles in that snowstorm? She who believed that I was alive? She who brought those medics and cops once again, 22 hours later after the search party was gone?
She gave a smile. I could not have died. She was my life and she was still there. With me, for me!
Thursday, 3 March 2011
The Fall
He looked around. The city was looking beautiful. He looked down. The river below was deep and enormous. There he was standing at the edge. It was tough but he knew it was for once and all.
He prayed to God, remembered his wife and children and with one big sigh, jumped off. He could see the river fast approaching, ready to take him inside and then inches before, with one big jerk he was pulled back.
'Bungee jumping is awesome, shall do it again' , he thought as he smiled!
He prayed to God, remembered his wife and children and with one big sigh, jumped off. He could see the river fast approaching, ready to take him inside and then inches before, with one big jerk he was pulled back.
'Bungee jumping is awesome, shall do it again' , he thought as he smiled!
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