A  NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

P. KRISHNAMOORTHY

It was 9 a.m. on November 3, 2001. The Sunset Boulevard in the lower bay area of Los Angeles was busy as usual.  I entered my office on the 9th floor of Landmark building, that housed the Weekly “Los Angeles Explorer”. My nameplate “Dean Martin, Reporter” on the cabin door glittered in gold backdrop.   The first call on the telephone was from Susan Hayward, the Chief Editor, asking me to drop by in her office.  I could sense a kind of remorse in her voice.  She also said I should see her immediately.  I came out of my cabin and walked the distance of a few yards to her Editorial office.  I was shocked and surprised to see her face suddenly sullen on seeing me.  She offered me the seat across from her chair.  Slowly she said “Marc is dead in Afghanistan.  We just got the news. I have informed all staff to meet in ten minutes for a condolence meeting”. 

“Susan! I hope what you told me is not true.   Even yester morning I spoke to Marc, and he said everything was fine over there. How did this happen?”

“Marc was killed, not at the bombing site but in his house where he was staying... Around 2 am three masked men, two armed with rifles and the third carrying a jungle knife entered the house.  After they spoke in their squeaky voices, the first one shot him straight in his chest and the bandits escaped with their booty of money, satellite telephone and camera equipment. By the time the medical help could reach him, he was already dead.  Before death, Marc wrote a gripping account of his latest findings on the bombing, supported with clear and captivating pictures.” Susan maintained a pause and focused her attention on me. “Dean!  In his place I would like you to continue that assignment”. That was a quick shot at me, which I least expected.  She wanted a straight positive answer. It was difficult to respond to her immediately.   I was also unable to give her a negative decision, as I must go on any assignment as per my contract with the weekly. “Susan. Just give me a day. I would get back to you on this” I thought I bought some time from her to think about it with my wife Laura. “Dean! You could take a day’s time. But I expect you to come out with a positive answer as we had already made arrangements for your travel”

The solemn prayer meeting observing a minute’s silence for Marc’s soul to rest in peace was well attended by all staff.  The whole official mood was desolate and depressed. I could imagine the ordeals his family had to go through now, as Lucy, his wife, was expecting her second child.  Marc worked with me in Bosnia.  He was too good to others. Seldom one found him unhelpful. His sudden end was certainly not the one he deserved for all his best qualities. 

War against terrorism. This war was not confined to one region in the globe. It might certainly be extended to any part of the world when the terrorists identify their targets. This would mean that the traditional and conventional entry and exit plans of a war would not be in place. Also, there was no time frame agreed upon to it.  During the cold war period when wars fought like the Vietnam, they were fought against an ideology.    This time, America was fighting an unprecedented unique war – a war against terrorism coated with religious color and targets all over the world.   In this backdrop, no one was sure as to the period of one’s assignment to cover the war stories.  Today may be Afghanistan and tomorrow some other country.  Any assignment I would take over now would mean that it would be followed up with other targeted locations. 

It was a turbulent time during dinner for Laura and me when we discussed the assignment issue.  I had to accept this assignment in all fairness, as the same was offered to me a month earlier when Laura was on a surgical table for a stomach ailment. Due to Laura’s medical condition, Marc instantly offered to go on the assignment instead of me. Poor Marc was no more now. After deep deliberations and no options left, we had to reconcile and decided that I should proceed as required. 

“I would certainly take care of Lucy for her delivery and after, as Marc helped you to stay during my surgery” Laura was graceful in committing this to the bereaved family.  I was on the next day’s evening flight to Islamabad via Karachi.

 From Islamabad I scrambled to get onto one of the U N flights to Kabul. I had to take a ground travel from there to Taliqan near Kunduz in the north. The bone-jarring long travel was in a dilapidated land cruiser for the whole day.  En route at many points we were flagged down by camouflaged men for interrogation. It was difficult to differentiate between such men. It was quite an experience of life and death each time when they checked and questioned us. The narration of incidents I heard from the driver, who spoke broken English, was bone chilling. 

Many journalists and cameramen found themselves caught in the middle of the shifting enmities of Afghan clans. The bandits made their heydays with the looting of cash, cameras, and other expensive equipment of the journalists.  One of the photojournalists was shot nine times by a gunman as he was cowering himself in a drainage ditch. When he jumped out for fresh air, he was shot in the back. Fortunately, his vest saved him but he had to run for hours for safety. It appeared that there was a high price offered by local chiefs on the heads of westerners, which was the incentive besides the booty for the bandits to go after them. 

By the time I arrived in Taliban, it was late evening when the setting crimson sun silhouetted the mountain range and provided a spectacular splendor. The roaring sound of the F16s in the sky continued, disturbing the tranquility of the beautiful mountain area.  

I just got into the same house where Marc was living. It was quite an effort to acquaint myself with the new environment; I tried to get some sleep. It was a nightmare with all the stories I heard enroute and the death of Marc in the same house.  My counterparts of other media revealed that despite all these high risks, the drive to put a spotlight on events in Afghanistan with every journalist continued.  Of course, the professional competitive pressure to test the limits of safety to get a story did exist.  

The next morning after a quick breakfast, I was scheduled to cover a refugee camp that was five miles north near Kunduz.  After familiarizing myself with the directions to reach the camp, I followed a group of refugees who comprised of young and old - men and women, children, and infants with their meager belongings. Their adversity was written all over their wrinkled and depressed faces.  Even when they had lost everything in life, they have  not lost their undaunted faith in their religion. Their suffering dated back to two decades of war with total devastation. All they had inherited as legacy from the wars was maimed people who lost their limbs in the land mines. The quantum of violence they had witnessed during the long periods of war, had immune even the children against fear, leaving indelible impressions of violence and severity without any sense of their meaning. 

After walking a couple of miles, we had to cross a hanging bridge with broken wooden sleepers.  The gushing river under the bridge roared with its speed.  We tried to cross the bridge in smaller numbers; of course, the preference went to the old and maimed.  When I was in the middle of the bridge, I heard a creaking noise from the sleepers; obviously they were unable to bear the weight of many people.  In some places there were some sleepers missing and one had to be very careful in crossing these gaps. When I encountered one of them, by my side there was a little boy of five years. He had to limp as one leg was maimed on a land mine.  I knew he would not be able to cross that gap on his own.  I helped him by carrying him and crossed to the other side. By that time, we were at the end of the bridge. I carried him through to his father who was waiting at the other end.  I was so happy that I could help him to reach his father; but I was surprised, as the father, a middle-aged man, in rags with heavy beard, looked strangely at me and snatched his son from me. To my shock, he slapped the boy on his right cheek so strongly I could feel the pain myself. Tears rolled by from the young eyes and through silence he begged his father to forgive him.  It was more a puzzle to me. After all I helped the boy to reach his father, as otherwise, with his incapacitated leg, he might have slipped into the gaps between the bridge sleepers. Instead of thanking me for the timely help, he frowned at me. Above all I was pondering over the reason for his slapping the boy so strongly. The boy’s father spoke in his lingo very harshly looking at the crowd and the boy. I could not even imagine as to what his words could have meant. This was witnessed by many in the crowd. A young guy from the crowd, who spoke broken English, understood my predicament and embarrassment.  

“I know how much you felt at the behavior of the boy’s father”.

I am so happy I found somebody here to understand me and asked him:  Could you please tell me what the boy’s father meant in his lingo”.  The stranger nodded his head. 

“You know, we people here we cannot afford to live in the luxury of dependency.  Any suffering or danger, we had to handle them independently. If you had not helped the boy, he would somehow found his way to cross the bridge, that meant he got strength and confidence to handle situations of this sort. If God’s wish was that he should reach his father, he would certainly do even with his maimed leg.  Now that you had helped him, the boy’s father felt that his son had become a dependent and he would expect in future external help in such instances. This was what he did not like. By slapping the boy, he made him understand this concept of their life”. 

It was a totally new experience for me. Even though ethically, it appeared to be a senseless attitude on the part of the boy’s father, it did contain some sort of unusual and undermined truth in it.  It unfolded the concept of molding somebody. Of course, this would vary in each environment. Even in an affluent society where adversity was totally unknown, one still get molded with other types of disciplines to survive in society. Even though individual strength was equally well stressed in affluent societies, they were not insisted upon through hard learning as the boy had gone through.  But in societies of such people filled with downtrodden, illiterate poverty-stricken masses, their only source of courage to face any eventuality would be only through individual strength and hard learning.  It was more required in such an environment as the risk of death always haunted them all the time.  Such individual strength could well be developed only through strict norms of religious faith.  That was there with them.

While the boy’s father was complacent to see his son reaching him safely, he was more concerned with the ultimate weakness with which the boy would get molded with. No amount of convincing to the contrary would replace their immense faith in such concepts connected to life.   For a while I felt proud of such people as the boy’s father who had the courage of conviction and who still would like to live for tomorrow even though they were not aware of what tomorrow had for them. They lived in fear all the time and to alleviate fear from one’s mind, prayer to God was the best panacea they found which was provided by religious faith.  

It was late evening when I returned home.  I called up Laura on satellite telephone and narrated my morning’s experience.  She was equally moved by that and informed me that Lucy delivered another girl and both the mother and child were in good shape.  Tears rolled in my eyes as I thought of Marc who was not there to see the second child. 

The next day I had to cover another refugee camp in Khulum, a small village on the west side of Taliqan.  I was fortunate enough to get a lift in a jeep heading towards that direction.  After an hour’s grueling travel, I found a big camp in Khulum for the refugees moved from Chardara, a southern village. In the first tent I met an elderly lady in the 70s holding her both hands to her head, looking down at the mother earth; obviously she must have been pondering as to what kind of suffering she had still to undergo.  With the help of a local interpreter, I initiated my interview:

“Madam, you looked like you lost everything. Are you alone or you have your family also in the same camp?” 

The interpreter translated my query to her in their lingo. As a response, there was a sudden outburst from her.   She started crying loud. I could see her eyes filled with tears. 

“My son, you are asking about my family. I am alone now in this world”. She maintained a pause. I was thrilled when she addressed me as her son. I could feel a sense of human values being exchanged there. 

“I lost my first son, who fought the war against Russians a decade ago.  After capturing him, they tortured him for information on others. They severed his hands and threw him in the open field.  When I reached him, he was still alive, and he told me about the torture they inflicted on him. He promised me that he did not divulge any information to them. He was alive barely for few minutes and then he died.    Though I lost him, any day I am a proud mother of such a son who fought the war and reached God ahead of me.”

She wiped her tears with a pause to recollect her memories.  Obviously, she had something further to say.“After his death, I moved to Chardara to start a new life with my second son. .  It was a long struggle to live there. Continuous drought badly affected our agricultural produce. There was no work in the village to earn any money. We hardly had anything to eat for days together. Obviously, misfortune was not inclined to leave us alone.  I thanked God for sparing him at least for the rest of my life. The other group controlled us and imposed a lot of restrictions on our day-to-day life.  My son joined them, and they trained him in their camps to be their warrior for the war.  In the last few days, one evening I saw the whole village was ablaze. Thick dark smoke engulfed the whole area. People were running for safety.  As I was outside my hut, I ran to a nearby cave in the mountains.  I saw my son coming towards me with others to pick up guns and ammunition from the cave to fight the enemies. Before he reached me at the cave, there was another hit and he was killed. I cried for help to save him; nothing was possible as everything happened very fast. Probably the Lord had left me to live to tell the tales of my two sons who fought the wars and became martyrs”. As she uttered these words, a peaceful smile appeared like lightning in her wrinkled lips that obviously countered her tragic feelings inside her.  

What a soul-stirring story. I was spellbound all through her narration. A soul trying to balance the extremes of life. Another example of undaunted faith which disciplined her mindset to convert a negative phase into a positive one. Probably only adversity would be able to provide this uncommon courage and not affluence that always instilled weakness.  

That night in my home was more of an inquisitive time to check on the comparatives of life on the planet earth.  For a moment I thought as to why this animosity among global people. They all belong to planet earth. Then why the boundaries and barriers between countries? I remembered the famous interview of the first astronaut after his return from space.  When he was asked as to how he viewed the planet earth from space, he replied that he was so happy to see the whole planet earth without barriers and boundaries marked that was unlike shown through various colors in maps.  Could such a living be possible anytime? If so, when? I know I would never be able to find an answer to this enigma. I hit the bed to sleep that night. 

The next three days were punctuated with bursts of gunfire. I had to stay in my place as the unrelenting heavy carpet-bombing continued near our area. Corpses of soldiers and some civilians were lying splattered in the fields. I was very cautious to take my every step for fear of land mines and of any retaliation from any rival group. I took pictures of the ghastly scenes like the scattered face of a young child staring with dazed eyes. It was sad to witness horrific scenarios.  The awful smell of the dead was getting momentum. As I was walking my way into the fields to see the devastated village, I could see a lonely mud-walled hut with minor flames around it. As I reached the hut, to my shock I heard a child crying.  The flames were still bright. I wanted to get into the hut at least to save the child. From the entrance I could see a horrible scene of a family of three lying dead inside. Obviously, they were the victims of the morning bombing. I could see the crying child next to them profusely bleeding in the right hand. The child might be of two years old.  The fire at the entrance barred me from reaching the child. With all this, a mouse appeared from the rear side of the hut and started playing in front of the child.  When it was circling the child, I could see the child stop crying and started laughing at the mouse’s game. The scene was vivid in contrast combination.  I suddenly remembered the biblical lines - agony and ecstasy.  I saw those lines being enacted before me.  Even amid agony through a bleeding hand, there was ecstasy in the child at the mouse’s game. When the mouse stopped circling and making screeching noise, the child started crying out of agony. By this time, the fire slowly got into the hut from the entrance. Before it reached the child, I wanted to save the child. As I made my first move to go into the hut, there was a sudden high flame from the rear spread into the hut and charred the child and the mouse beyond description.  

I regretted my belatedness that was responsible for the child’s death.  I became sick at this very thought and cried myself for the sin I committed. Though my eyes had witnessed earlier many ghastly scenes, the sight of the little corpse of the child never faded from my memory.  The weeping and the laughter of the child – agony and ecstasy – still lingered in my ears with all intensity as it happened. 

I returned home totally depressed. I called Laura and conveyed the contents of my guilty conscience.  She remained a silent listener to my confession of a sin unknowingly committed by me. Besides this, the scenes I witnessed during this assignment included images of civilian victims and thousands of people displaced from their homes massing at the neighboring borders to save themselves from further onslaught. If we all remained mired in our partisan definitions of what constituted terror and what constituted a genuine struggle for freedom and dignity, we would never see the light of the day of peaceful coexistence with global morality.  I felt I should return home and if necessary, I was prepared to relinquish my job. 

On the next day, I got a call from Susan recalling me to headquarters. This action was prompted in line with major media organizations that pulled out their correspondents in view of the many deaths of journalists in a short time. Immediately I called Laura to inform her of this news and I could imagine her happiness on my homecoming. I would be with my family for Christmas.  I could never forget this November and a November to remember forever. 

 

  ART BY

                                                                                                   P,KRISHNAMOORTHY

 

EMOTIONAL HEIST     - P.Krishnamoorthy

Jeferson’s square was busy on that morning with the rushing speed of the people for their routine daily tasks.  The sun was also moderately warm, helping them in their endeavors.  John Mathew, the Manager of the local People’s Bank parked his car in the parking area of the building and reached his office. Before entering his cabin, as is customary, he wished his staff a very good morning before going through the official messages.  The bank’s usual clients were at various counters of the bank, and the staff were busy complying with their requirements. That day’s clients include people from various walks of life.  Some of them had come with their young ones.  Being the first day of the week, everybody was busy attending to their tasks. After the initial set of people, the inflow continued with the new arrivals and the exits comprised of people who had finished their work in the bank. 

In the new arrivals, there was one John Smith, a well-built man of average height.  After he passed through the security guard, strangely, he had put a skull mask on his face. With a Glock 17 handgun he was walking into the bank.  Just to indicate his mission indirectly to the assembled people, he fired a shot at the roof. As he anticipated, the people were taken by the shock of a gunshot. By his warning shot he also ordered them to surrender their personal cell phones and they all acceded to the gunman’s order.  As the counters were located a few yards from the entrance, a glass door separated the hall   from the entrance.  Following Smith, Albert, the second in command of the heist, entered the premises. After passing through security, he took out a skull mask from his jacket and placed it on his face.  He was also in possession of a Glock 17 handgun pointing at the hostages.  They were perplexed, looking at each other with fear in their faces. Their hands were also tied up with ropes. Some were with their young children who were worried about their young one’s reactions to the frightening masks of both the guys. Then Albert took them to an adjoining room.  As the staff members were also in the hostages’ group, Albert was keen to find out from them about the cash vault of the bank.

While these developments were brewing in the hall, John Mathew, the Manager casually came out to the hall from his cabin. He was stunned to know about the heist and their skull masked ‘architects’ organizing to rob the entire cash reserve from the bank. He was totally helpless to solve the plight of their loyal clients who were held as hostages.  After a brief argument with Smith, John Mathew made up his mind to use his emergency code to tell the police from his cabin.  When he was about to go to his cabin, Smith sensed his plan and immediately tied his hands. He was kept separately from the clients’ group. Smith ordered Albert to expedite the collection of all the cash from the vault, as time was running out and anytime the police would have got a complaint from any outside source about the heist. The cashier was asked to go with Albert to open the vault. While the collection of currencies in millions was being taken from the vault into the bag, there was a sharp argument between John Mathew and Smith about the heist and its consequences. John Mathew even forewarned Smith and threatened that the police would be arriving anytime from a signal sent by him through an invisible code.  This statement of John irritated him. Presuming that he had already sent a signal, he was upset with him. He pointed his gun towards John and shot him in the chest and caused John’s instant death. After the shooting without any remorse on his face, Smith was very keen to expedite the progress of taking the cash reserve from the vault.  With the shooting of John, the other hostages were frozen with fear, and no one was dare enough to raise any noise over the event. 

By the time the cops had the information about the heist through the security guard and arrived at the scene headed by John Peters, a senior police officer with necessary force. Well prepared Peters had the body armor to protect from any shooting. He wanted to assess the situation and found the first casualty was the manager,.  He understood the other hostages were at a distance from where John Mathew was shot. This time their faces were expressing a sense of satisfaction with Peter’s presence.  At the sight of Peters, Smith felt that he should not take chances with the presence of a cop. He took his gun from the holster and pointed at him.  Being a policeman Peters had a premonition of  Smith  targeting  him next. When Smith pointed at Peters, the latter was too quick and shot Smith point blank in the face. Peters wanted to find out who was Smith in real life. He got the mask removed from his face.   When Peters observed the tattoo mark on his right arm, he was moved emotionally with tears in his eyes as Smith was his own brother, separated in their early years from the family.  He also checked his own right arm for a similar tattoo mark.When he checked his jacket, he found a credit card with his name John Smith. Peters also wanted to know who the other person was shot earlier by Smith, and he found in his business card with the name ‘John Mathew Chief Manager of the People’s Bank’.  When he checked his right arm, surprisingly he found the same type of tattoo mark as Smith’s.  Peters got their relationship confirmed as brothers separated many years before. As many years had elapsed, their resemblance might have varied but their first name was the same for all the three.  Now Peters had the satisfaction of meeting them alive before their coincidental death.  Again, Peters was taken back when he realized that John Smith his elder brother killed his own younger one, John Mathew. All three brothers, John Smith, John Mathew, and himself were all separated from the family due to a natural calamity that happened years ago. 

It was a severe winter. Their small hometown had first a mild tremor followed by a massive earthquake.  Many multi-storied and other buildings were raised to the ground. Many died in the debris of the buildings.   Some of them were unable to come out from the heavy rubble... Casualties were in thousands. Both their parents died in the wreckage of the earthquake. No information was available about their brothers, whether they were alive or dead even after a long time. 

As he finished recollecting the memories, suddenly he saw Albert trying to escape with the bag full of currencies from the vault.  Peters tried to stop him. To protect the heist fortune for himself, Albert reacted with a gun shot at Peters and he died instantly. Albert escaped with the money.  With all jubilant happiness, Albert came out from the bank with the bag of millions. But his happiness was short-lived. Suddenly he met with a road accident by a truck and died very near to the bank. The heist money was returned to the bank.

The irony of the heist scenario was meant primarily to rob money from a bank.  But by coincidence, all three, who were earlier separated brothers – John Smith, John Mathew, and John Peters met as strangers in that heist without any knowledge of relationship.  They met in the heist in different roles with different motives - The two to save the bank from a heist and the one to take the cash reserves. Unfortunately, the rendezvous for all three in the heist was destined only to meet without any knowledge of relationship and die in each other's hands during their performance and the heist was a total failure and the entire money was returned to the bank.  The coordinating testimony for their relationship was a common tattoo mark in their right arms. 

 THE SHADOWS

                                  OF MY SORROW

                                                        - P. Krishnamoorthy

It was a Sunday morning. I came out to the portico from my living room to have a glimpse of the outside world . The nature’s shower began as a drizzle, later turned out to be a downpour in a vibrant rainbow backdrop; thus making the whole area of Dehra Dhun into a magnificent splendor. I came here on a short term assignment to oversee a project. Nature’s beautiful scenes do entice me as it helps me to forget the terrible tragedies I had undergone back home in Cochin.

I am Vijay and I grew up under the care of my maternal uncle and aunt in Cochin, India from my sixth year as I lost both my parents at that age. Both my uncle and aunt, amidst their two twin daughters, Vandana and Keerthana, treated me very well and I never felt the absence of my parents. When I got my MBA results, wherein, I had passed with distinction, I rushed to my home to inform the happy news to them.  “Uncle! I got distinction in MBA. The results were announced this morning” I said extending a packet of sweets. “Congratulations! I know you would get distinction” My uncle’s reply was instant, but he held a pause. “Uncle! why you stopped from asking something from me?” I gave out my inquisitiveness He hesitated and then continued “Vijay! You have to do me a favor” “Uncle! Don’t make me an alien by using words like ‘favor’. You have the right to order me anything that I instantly had to do it.”  “Son! Now that you have finished your academic career, don’t you think about getting married and settling in your life. I have a proposal to offer one of my daughters and I am sure you would have no objection to my request.” As I was not in a wedding mood, this uncle’s favor’ was like a bolt from the blue to me.

Right from early childhood though both Vandana and Keertana moved with me closely, I never had even an inkling of such a relationship with either of them. Vandana, was an introvert and reclusive girl and seldom interact with other people. Keertana was just opposite. She was a daredevil, extrovert and a mixture in any company. While Vandana was serious and systematic in everything, Keertana was happy-go-lucky and take things light heartedly. I liked Nandana more for her systematic, disciplined, and reserved behavior. Even before uncle’s choice, I gave my nod to marry Vandana with the condition that she should confirm her wholehearted consent for this proposal. “Of course, I would check with her on this. I am sure she would agree very willingly as she had understood you very well.”: Uncle’s voice was very optimistic and positive. Vandana was also very happy on this proposal when I proposed to her, instantly she confirmed her consent. In fact, she had an apprehension all along whether I might be interested in Keertana and my offer had cleared her doubt. 

Keertana was very active in finalizing the arrangements of our wedding. The way in which she had devoted her time and interest made me surprised. I was convinced she was not having any remorse for my choosing Vandana as my life partner instead of her.  Possibly the reason for this benevolence being she might have a boyfriend in the college or jaunts elsewhere.  My uncle and aunt were extremely happy and jubilant to see that no problem whatsoever would crop up in the middle and everything to go well as  planned. 

As this was the first wedding in the family, uncle was keen that the wedding had to be celebrated in a lavish style. As scheduled, the wedding ceremonies went off very well and also well attended by kith and kin and friends of Keertana.. The ceremony was in the traditional style and the reception was colorful with music and dance programmed. After a week, as planned by us, we went to Singapore for a honeymoon and after an enjoyable time of two weeks, returned home.  I was trying some opportunities for a job and finally got a placement locally with a good start as General Manager in one of the leading multi-nationals. With all things working out in my favor, life was enjoyable and happy. Vanadana also was very jubilant and happy on my progress. Uncle and Aunt were satisfied more with Vandana’s happiness. Keertana, as usual, was very busy in spending her time with her friends.

The efflux of time was very fast and we never felt one year had elapsed so soon since our wedding. All preparations to celebrate our first wedding day were on, and again Keertana took the responsibility for the lavish arrangements. Though Vandana and Keertana were twin sisters, the latter never expressed any emotional feelings of being single; she was also not reacting to kith and kin’s remarks and comments  of her single status. Vandana had hinted often to me about her single status and insisted that I should take immediate efforts to find a suitable alliance for her. I also felt guilty in my lethargic attitude to this. I would not have been a successful man today but for my uncle’s support all these years. By finding out and finalizing an alliance from a good family for her, I could feel I had done something for them as a token of repaying in return for all they had done so far.to me. I would also find out whether she had anybody in mind.

On the eve of our wedding day, we had to attend a close friend’s birthday day.  He was my close pal since my school and college days. It was arranged in Taj hotel that was an hour’s drive from our home. Vandana was very attractively dressed for that evening. I had not seen her so beautiful so far in her new gorgeous and elegant outfit. She always believed in being simple and traditional unlike Keertana. But to my surprise, she appeared quite contrary to her choice on that day.

Throughout the day, it was drizzling and when we started, it intensified and turned into a downpour. We waited for an hour for the downpour to stop. The family folks insisted us to cancel our visit. After a few minutes, the downpour became drizzle again and gave a green signal to proceed. I was at the wheel and drove the car at a safe speed.  Halfway through, suddenly the drizzle became downpour again along with thunder and lightning. Vandana was scared and terrified and wanted me to stop the vehicle. As there was no building in that area to take shelter, I continued driving. Even though the powerful headlights of the car were on, with the heavy downpour, I was blindly driving with very poor visibility . Vandana became very restless and shouted to stop the car. While we were arguing, I saw some moving object like a dog trying to cross the road in front of our car. To avoid hitting it, I swerved   the vehicle sharply, and I lost control of the vehicle. The car turned and hit a big tree with a loud bang and stopped. The windshield glass was shattered in pieces and hit Vandana’s face. She also had a strong impact with deep cuts on her face that were profusely bleeding. I saw her faint. I managed to get out of the car and realized that my face was also covered in blood. I got my cell phone and contacted an ambulance to be rushed to the accident spot. Still the torrential rain continued, and I was trying to find out Vandana’s condition. I also contacted my home to inform them of the accident. With no other option left except praying God to save her, I waited for an hour when the ambulance to arrive and transferred Vandana into the vehicle. The para-medical staff checked her condition and found the pulse falling fast despite their efforts to save her. We reached the hospital without further delay; but, to my misfortune, the doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

The following days at home were the days of sadness and sobbing. Each one tried to console the other but failed miserably, as their own emotional outbursts overpowered them. While the untimely death of Vandana left uncle and aunt literally ‘lifeless’ for weeks, Keerthana was equally gloomy and silent,  thus a graveyard silence prevailed at home. Aloneness was the panacea for my grief, and solitary staying late hours in my office offered me some relief. Also, by staying away from home I was able to avoid recollecting memories of Vandana’s concern for me on returning home every day.  As this prolonged, Keerthana was concerned and even waiting for me in late hours like Vandana.  

Keerthana’s changed attitude turned out to my mentally visualizing Vandana’s image in her. I accepted Keerthana’s concern as if they were from Vandana; I valued my interest with her as that of with Vandana. It was strange, absurd and illogical to feel and show interest for demised Nandana on Keerthana just because the latter had the same features and appearance as her demised  twin  sister;  for others this perceptibly inferred as if I had compromised to accept Keerthana in her sister’s place. This kind of a involuntary scenario impelled me to  change my mental visualizing of her as Nandana into Keerthana only. This led to our continued interaction more between us and blossomed into mutual understanding. Visibly the kith and kin including my uncle and aunt accepted our relationship and were happy to decide for us to become life partners. The wedding proposal between us had also clearance and consent from Keerthana. The wedding day had been fixed and as this was the second wedding for me, I wanted it to be  simple and take place in a temple. I was surprised at Keerthana’s decision also to go in my way despite this being her first wedding.

With simple and traditional decorations, our wedding was celebrated in a religious manner. All our kith and kin and friends attended and blessed us for a long, happy married life. Keerthana was in a gorgeous dress exactly like Nandana’s on my first wedding. We enjoyed our honeymoon trip to Europe and both liked Switzerland among other countries. At every given opportunity, memories of Nandana haunted me as I still was not able to fully come out of my ‘mental visualization’. After returning home, the official routine kept me busy, and Keerthana was busy with her college studies. The weekends outings and visiting friends kept us engaged.

“Vijay! Today afternoon my friend Sonali was giving her birthday lunch party. She had invited both of us Could you take a day off to attend with me” Keerthana waited for my response. “I am sorry Keerthana. I would not be able to attend due to pressure of official work”. Keerthana was not happy with my response. “You take my car and I will go in the company car to office” She hardly reacted to my offer except “Thanks”.

When I reached my office, the office staff were all waiting outside shouting slogans. In two groups. They were demanding the bonus issue to be settled immediately. Already police were at the scene to avoid any clash between them. I addressed the gathering and promised to settle the issue without any further delay. When the groups were discussing my offer, there was a call on my cell phone.  I answered the call and , that was from a hospital, After listening to the call,  felt as if a big blow had struck my head. I fainted. Immediately my office staff carried me to my office and after some first aid. They drove me to the hospital.   

The worst had happened again. I was informed that Keerthana met with a serious road accident when she was driving to her friend’s place. She lost control of the car and after a swerve, hit a tree and Keerthana had multiple head injuries and was undergoing surgery. The police explained that she was driving the car very fast and lost control... The doctors came out from the operating room and pronounced dead despite their best efforts.

After this, both my uncle and aunt were shattered and traumatized. Having lost both the daughters in succession, they could not reconcile their loss. They looked dazed all the time and any amount of consolation by others was not working out for them. I was cursing my fate. Possibly the accident would not have happened if I had gone with her to the birthday party. I was blaming myself as totally responsible for her death. The entire home appeared desolate with her loss. Her memories were echoing in every corner of our house. After Nandana’s demise at least Keerthana was there as a consoling factor. It was unfortunate that the twin sisters were snatched by the cruel hand of death in their prime of youth.

Time was always the best healer for all such tragedies. Though not fully erasing the unkind thoughts in one’s mind or memory, passing of time to an extent converts such tragic memories to come back to reality for every day’s living even though unseen forces of destiny constantly active. I do not believe in pre-ordained curses on families that would result in tragedies of young family members. When my bereavement was severe and filled with sorrow to the brim, I would loathe to hear any kind of dogma or philosophical elucidation or explanation on the successive tragedies; but my uncle’s explanation made me lend my ears. He was detailing these accidents as pre-destined curse, to twins might be the cause for the tragedy. The very fact that the accident happened in the same spot and at the same tree in both cases was a testimony for the pre-ordained curse acted to have the end of the sisters. Some attribute the family generation gene was responsible for this.  But my inner conscience every time echoing the curse was on me that turned out to destroy any girl becoming my life partner.. They were alive and very happy so far, they remained as the daughters of my uncle. Their end came only after getting married to me. I felt guilty of causing their deaths indirectly and I dare not even think of becoming a husband again. This curse would follow me like shadows of my sorrow for the rest of my life.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

“THE BREAK-UP’s AND AFTER…….”

(A Sequel to “Living Together”)

-         P. Krishnamoorthy

After a setback of events that pushed Pradhan to a vanquished stage by Shailaja, he was annoyed over the developments against him.  The incidents haunted him for many days and nights with the result he had to resort to drinking. Sharmila was unable to change his habits. Adding to this, he also stayed outside in a friend’s place for the nights. To change him Sharmila sought the help of Shailaja as he was her earlier ‘living together’ partner. Though she was aware of Pradhan’s behavior, initially she was feeling only sorry for Sharmila. In the meantime, Pradhan’s friend suggested to him to get a divorce from Sharmila and marry somebody to regularize his life. Accordingly, he approached a lawyer and filed a divorce.  Unable to bear his torture and the divorce notice by him, Sharmila returned to her brother Dinesh. Dinesh was very much upset with the divorce notice. He wanted to take revenge on Pradhan.  One evening Pradhan was surprised to see his sister, Asha, coming to him crying, as she received a divorce notice from Dinesh.  Dinesh wanted to divorce Asha as quid pro quo for what Pradhan had done for Sharmila.  Asha also sought the help of Shailaja to sort out the muddle. Shailaja was very concerned in the welfares of Sharmila and Asha as both pleaded help from her.

The petitions were filed for both the divorces.  Since both the cases related to the same events, the court had ordered both the cases to be tried in the same hearing. After a couple of adjournments, on the final hearing, the presiding judge pointed out the importance of inter-link between the two divorces.  The various anomalies in the arguments by both parties and their failure to establish the necessity for divorces. The arranged marriages were concluded after all considerations and consents by the parties and their families. Such marriages even go to the extent of astrological match in certain cases. Either in the case of Pradhan or Dinesh, there was no substantial proof to qualify for imminent legal separation from their wives except their personal wishes. In both the cases, the women had their own rights to contest the legal separation since there was no prima facie proof to the contrary. They had clearly established their eagerness and determination to continue living with them.  First Pradhan’s case. He gave his consent for the marriage with Sharmila only after his earlier ‘living together’ partner Shailaja got married to Deepak due to circumstantial necessity. But immediately after his marriage to Sharmila, he displayed in unlimited terms his animosity towards her. Of course, his contention that he agreed to the marriage only because Pradhan’s sister Asha’s marriage with Dinesh was a quid pro quo from him.  Finally, the judgement in the case was for both the parties to discuss and sort out their individual differences and save the consecrated and institutionalized system of marriage.  The judge therefore finally dismissed both cases.

After a long separation, he realized and convinced that his life as a loner was getting ruined due to chronic drinking contrary to ‘living together’ compatibility.  Sharmila was very happy to join him in reversing his recluse habits. Dinesh too was jubilant to have Asha after a brief separation.  His earlier quid pro quo demand was mainly due to his sister Sharmila’s failed partnership with Deepak under ‘Living Together’.

They were all partying, including Deepak and Shailaja, to celebrate their reunion. Suddenly Deepak interrupted the merriment and announced startling news. This gathering was made possible only because of Shailaja’s promise to Sharmila and Asha to initiate action for their reunion and her efforts through the presided judge who was her own maternal uncle.

 “LIVING TOGETHER”

P. Krishnamoorthy

With two weeks to go before her graduation, Sheila, a graduate student at Loyola University in Chicago, was recollecting her memories of the past four years. She was very excited and exuberant when she landed on American soil. As time passed, she was feeling lonely when she got the friendship of Pradhan, another only Indian student. With his acquaintance, she would forget her loneliness in his company.  In the college campus interview, she and Pradhan were offered positions in a leading pharmaceutical company in Chicago. The formal friendship between them became so close, they were leading a life on a ‘living together’ basis. Both liked this type of living, since it offered a lot of opportunities to understand each other’s choices - tastes, temperament, reactions to serious issues, crisis management, attitudes, give-and-take policy, etc. After one year, they were serious about becoming legal life partners. Tentatively they agreed to get married in the summer in Sheila’s hometown of Bangalore, India. As a sudden development, the company wanted Pradhan to proceed to Germany initially for a year to reorganize their operations. Because of this, both decided to postpone their wedding until next year. 

The concept of living together had its initial test through temporary separation. The ‘philosophy’ of understanding each other in trying times of issues had been lost in that one year. During this gap of separation, the conspiracy of circumstances played a part in ending their partnership. 

After the departure of Pradhan, on the next day, Sheila got a call from her father in Bangalore that her mother was critically ill due to a heart attack and her dying wish to see her in person. Sheila took the evening flight to Bangalore, leaving a message to Pradhan about the emergency and her travel. 

At the hospital, all the kith and kin were there waiting for Sheila’s arrival. On arrival, she was rushed to the hospital. As a special case, she was allowed to see her mother. When she was told that Sheila had come, she gradually opened her eyes and recognized her daughter. Sheila broke down on seeing her at that stage. Sheila’s father later informed her that her last wish was to get her married as promised to her distant relative’s son, Deepak, who was also present there.  The dying mother held the hands of Deepak and Sheila and blessed them as married couple and breathed her last. 

Deepak, a smart young man in his thirties, was employed as an executive in a multinational pharmaceutical firm in Bangalore.  At the sight of Sheila, Deepak was impressed with her personality.  Sheila was in a predicament to choose between Pradhan and Deepak, as she was ‘living together’ with Pradhan for nearly two years. Now she had to accept Deepak as her husband as promised to her mother’s dying wish.

Again, the concept of ‘living together’ was under a test.  Sheila and Pradhan had given up their ego, selfish preferences, possessiveness, old attitudes and compromising themselves in various other matters. They were now ready for a recognized ‘wedding’.  With the new development of the emotional environment in the mother-daughter relationship that ended in a very strong sentimental scenario, the ‘living together’ concept finally had to give up for the emotions and sentiments of relationship. 

Pradhan came to Bangalore from Germany for his sister, Asha’s wedding. By this opportunity, he had all hopes to meet Sheila, though she maintained total silence towards him.  Fate played again its game through Dinesh, the bridegroom fixed for Asha. He was informed by his parents that his marriage had a precondition from Dinesh that Pradhan should marry Sharmila, his younger sister.  With the pressure brought on Pradhan by his parents, relatives and in the absence of any details about Sheila, he finally agreed, and both the weddings were celebrated.

After the lunch session, Pradhan was recollecting his old memories of ‘living together’ with Sheila and how the scenario took different dimensions to the present situation.  Unexpectedly to his surprise, he saw Sheila entering the marriage hall with her son Sunil, a cute boy of four, along with a very smart young man, her husband. On seeing Pradhan, Sheila congratulated him on his marriage and introduced Deepak and Sunil to him.  She explained to him the circumstances leading to her marriage to Deepak. Pradhan was overpowered with feelings of obvious disappointment. With animosity dominating him, he asked for some personal details from Deepak.  Sheila was patiently listening to their conversation. She did observe frustration all over Pradhan’s face with the recent developments.  

Pradhan was recollecting his efforts to give up his personal choices for Sheila during their ‘living together’ life. He was rewinding the numerous compromises he made for her sake. As his frustration   continued to dominate in him, he finally decided to ask Deepak the most embarrassing question. Before he started his query, Sheila intervened and enquired Pradhan about his favorite golf game. Pradhan narrated his recent achievement of the championship in the Laker’s Golf Tournament in Germany. There was a pause in their conversations. Deepak was accompanying his son to the restroom. As both were alone, Sheila and Pradhan looked at each other seriously for a few minutes. Pradhan broke the silence by asking Sheila whether she was happy with Deepak. By the time Sunil and Deepak came back from the restroom.

There was irony in his tone when enquiring about her life with Deepak. She was annoyed at him at that query before Deepak. She said my evidence of happiness with Deepak was in the shape of Sunil. This was her apt answer to Pradhan’s query. Pradhan further asked her whether she could remember the compatibility moments and relative compromises between them during ‘living together’.  

Sheila explained that though compatibility was the cardinal principle for ‘living together’, in life there were many more elements beyond human control that could not be compatible under ‘living together’. One such element was the sentimental inner emotions between inseparable relationships like mother and children. When this element had to decide over personal issues, compatibility criteria would disappear.

Deepak was a silent spectator throughout with an informal smile.  Unable to control his desperation, finally Pradhan asked Deepak the embarrassing question - whether he was aware of Sheila’s ‘living together’ with him for a couple of years before the marriage.  On finishing the question his face had a triumphant smile and his mind was relieved from all tensions. He was also eager to get a reply from him.  Sheila was taken aback at Pradhan’s humiliating enquiry.  Despite her telling him the circumstances under which she married Deepak to fulfill her promise to her dying mother, Pradhan was still intensely possessive of Sheila, which induced him to raise that query to Deepak. 

While the concept of ‘Living together’ before marriage enables couples to vet one another’s compatibility, particularly in possessive attitudes, it would take a ‘back seat’ when circumstances force a situation of emotional sentiments based on blood relationship. 

Sheila was compelled to provide a strong response to Pradhan.  With a rejoinder, she asked Pradhan a similar humiliating query - whether he knew Sharmila was ’living together’ with Deepak for more than a year before her marriage. On hearing this Pradhan got devastated. He looked dazed. He felt a big blow on his head and the world collapsed into pieces. He was paid back by his own coin. 

The ‘living together’ between Deepak and Sharmila was broken due to an astrological prediction that if they get married, one of them would meet a tragedy in the death of the other in an accident. Both had agreed on the astrological prediction as it was a unanimous one from different well-known pundits. In this instance ‘living together’ had another setback as the astrological predictions overpowered the concept, as nobody would like to take the risk of death. 

 Destiny’s Dictum

P. Krishnamoorthy

It was the first weekend.  After a day’s grueling work, Kishore wanted to go to a pub with Sheila, a co-worker in Efficient Technologies, to have some fun and relaxation in Skyview Place.  Before leaving he called her on the phone about meeting In Skyview. He was thrilled to hear her acceptance.  Though Kishore’s intimacy with Sheila was nearly two years, it was the first time he got her okay to visit a pub with him. It was drizzling outside, and Kishore was eagerly awaiting Sheila’s arrival. There was music and dancing going on in full blast inside the pub. When she arrived, Kishore was so jubilant to see her in black ‘One shoulder mermaid’ formal dress. Before joining the crowd in the hall, Kishore picked up beers for them. The music was enchanting and created the mood to join the fun with the crowd. 

Kishore was a senior mainframe developer with eight years’ experience in the firm.  Sheila was his system analyst. Also, an engineering graduate from Mumbai, joined Efficient technology two years ago, became very close to Kishore, mainly thru professional proximity to start with, later became his lover and their togetherness ending in Kishore’s proposing her for life partnership. 

Kishore, also from Mumbai, was the only son for his parents.  Right from his childhood he was very possessive in everything. Since he was very brilliant in academics and top in athletics, both his school and college managements were proud to have him as their asset student. There was a call in his cell phone. His father from Mumbai was on the line. The message was his mother got admitted in the hospital for a massive heart attack in a critical condition. The doctor’s advice to wait for 24 hours before anything could be said. He wanted him to come immediately. Kishore was more attached to his mother. He would do anything to satisfy her. He got shattered on hearing the news. He rushed to Shailaja’s cabin and informed her that he had to go to Mumbai as his mother had been admitted to the hospital for a heart attack.  He wanted Shailaja to take care of his duties until he came back.

 When Kishore arrived in Mumbai on the afternoon flight, it was pouring. He was unable to control his emotions when he saw his father. He saw his mother lying in the ICU. The next day there was some improvement in her condition but still, as per the doctor’s advice, another 24 hours to go for a stable condition. The whole family members gathered in the hospital to enquire about her condition.  On the third day, she was out of critical stage.  Kishore had to stay until she was discharged and returned home. On her return, she was incredibly pleased to see Kishore. Among various visitors, his mother’s close and family friend Nirupam came to see her with her only daughter Shilpa.  During their talk, Kishore’s marriage with Shilpa was discussed. His mother directly voiced her decision that Kishore’s marriage would be with Shilpa only and she had already promised Nirupam on this. She wanted the wedding to take place imminently considering her present health condition.  Both Kishore and his father were reminded of the doctor’s advice that any reaction to any shocking news or contradictory message would affect her heart condition. Hence the whole family had agreed to the proposal except Kishore. He was not inclined to their proposal.  As his mother insisted the marriage to take place immediately, Kishore had no other option except to accept his mother’s decision. Accordingly, the marriage was celebrated in a simple manner in a temple. 

It was time for Kishore to leave Mumbai. As he was packing his things, suddenly he found his mother’s condition becoming critical again. This was due to a gossip she heard from a distant relative that Kishore was not happy on this marriage since he had already proposed to Shailaja, a colleague in his office.  This time the attack was so severe that she could not withstand it and instantly collapsed. Kishore’s return to Bangalore was delayed by another two weeks that was agreed upon by his management. 

After all the dust settled, Kishore with Shilpa returned to Bangalore. Shilpa was very jubilant as she was stepping into a new phase in her life. She had lots of insatiable ideas for romantic moments with Kishore during their honeymoon jaunt. On the contrary, Kishore was feeling guilty to face Shailaja after all the developments.

He was unable to justify his action to Shailaja as the developments were the outcome of circumstantial conspiracy.  They were beyond his control. He was recollecting his earlier days with her. All those happy times now appeared as mirage to him. More than his own feelings, he was thinking about Shailaja’s reaction towards him.  Since his arrival, she spoke to him strictly in a professional way and never mentioned anything about his marriage with Shilpa. This kind of silence on her part about his wedding added more guilt in him, for he expected her to come up with some reaction.  

As the days passed by, Kishore’s mental stability was losing strength.  To vent his feelings of depression he resorted to drinking combined with chain smoking. In the office he was unable to look Shailaja in her eyes. Only few words from her about his marriage, like it was taken place because of various circumstances which were beyond his control and to condone him for his action. But she continued her silence that was tormenting him a great deal.  Instead of directly telling him, she should convey them at least through others and her plans for future life which would make him happy. 

His formal marriage reception party that was delayed due to condolence period, was later fixed and all his colleagues decided to visit his home and welcome Shilpa into their fold.  They had fixed the time and day to meet her at Kishore’s residence. Kishore was sure that Shailaja would not join them to avoid any embarrassment between her and Shilpa before other colleagues. Surprisingly, on that day Shailaja came with them to his residence and met Shilpa. Since his return from Mumbai, Shilpa, through her Bangalore friend got all the news of Kishore’s love affair with Shailaja and his proposal to marry her. During the party, the strange behavior of Kishore towards Shilpa was observed by his colleagues. At least after some days, Shilpa expected Kishore to divulge his affair with Shailaja, but he never revealed anything at any time.  

In this scenario, his colleagues exchanged welcome greetings to Shilpa. A bouquet of roses was presented by Shailaja on everybody’s behalf. Shilpa’s enthralled looks on Shailaja and her reciprocal awestruck looks were equally powerful, each admiring their personal beauty.  After all the formalities and usual official gossip, they finished the dinner that was served from a restaurant, and they all left Kishore’s place. 

 Kishore was confused with Shailaja’ s strange behavior during the party. He expected her, being the only female member in the office group, to talk to Shilpa at length about the marriage and convey her condolence on her mother-in-law’s death. But Shailaja’s strange behavior of maintaining silence during her entire stay was puzzling to Kishore.  

Shilpa, after following up with Kishore’s activities like morning jogging and other rituals of taking bath and preparing to go to office, he seldom spoke to her. He also returned home very late at night. Obviously, Shilpa could see the rift becoming wider between them. Shilpa, as an individual, valued more of her self-respect. She felt she was neglected and insulted by him. Everyday seemed to become unbearable with his indifference. She agreed for youngsters to have girlfriends or get involved in love affairs before their marriage. But once married, she expected them to be sincere to their wives for a happy new life, without reminiscing about their earlier romances. Though Shilpa had no love affair in her college days, she too had handled many of her friends’ problems.  She had now reached a stage where she could not continue long with her miserable life.  As divorce option was against the wishes of her father, she had been to a professional marriage counselor to solve her problem. She was advised to give some more time as his behavior could change once Shailaja’s next move in life was known. Either she would leave her job or find somebody to get married to. Either way the professional proximity of Kishore would not last long.   

With both husband and wife’s life brewing to a breaking point, their reconciliation seemed to be impossible and reached a point where they had to be compulsorily separated. They even consulted the lawyers for a resolution. Kishore’s wishful thinking to marry Shailaja if his present marriage ended in a divorce, was more a remote possibility than a reality.  But would Shailaja be prepared to wait that long and agree to marry him?  Only time alone could sort out such a paradox. Even after Shilpa’s trip to her parents in Mumbai to get relief, did not get the desired result. The problem remained confused with no answer. 

Kishore would like to spend more time in the office. The advantage being Shailaja’s presence was available as she had to assist him officially even after office hours. With this their professional proximity increased and he enjoyed her company every moment. He even dropped her at her residence in the late hours.  He felt a kind of sentimental attachment towards her. Also, he was sure that she will come out to marry him if he becomes single again.  Her continued silence made him think that she was still in love with him.  After dropping her in the apartment, he stayed there overnight, as she feared his drunken driving. She informed Shilpa that he was staying at her place for the night because of his drunken stage.  Kishore felt very happy on her initiative as Shilpa got a message of his staying with Shailaja for the night.

When he raised the issue of divorcing, Shilpa bluntly refused.  Shilpa knew all his financial backing, his investments, bank accounts, his lavish apartment where they were living.  As the bank accounts were jointly made, she had free access to them. 

As days passed, Kishore’s mind was in turmoil. He had increased his drinking habit and become a total alcoholic. Shailaja was a silent spectator and not making any personal effort to stop his drinking habit.  It was also surprising for the management not to interfere in Kishore’s personal life as Kishore’s efficiency in handling official matters in time without any slip up. They were baffled with his on-time performance in attending the office and finishing the work.  Shilpa’s nagging continued and Kishore was becoming more desperate without any solution to the problem. 

 It was a Sunday.  Kishore was jogging in the nearby park.  After a few minutes break, he again continued his jogging and returned home.  At home he found there was total silence. He checked every room. Shilpa was not to be seen anywhere. Finally, when he checked the bathroom, he found Shilpa lying on the ground unconscious. Kishore shouted for help. With the help of some ladies from nearby apartments Shilpa was brought to the living room and found her dead. When Kishore checked in the bathroom, he found she was electrocuted for a long time due to a short circuit in the main switch adjacent to the shower area. 

According to Kishore, the whole scenario was providential. Shilpa paid her price for the torture she gave him. Kishore was very complacent now with Shilpa’s accidental demise.  His deceptive melancholic appearance during condolence period was remarkable whereas his inner conscience celebrated Shilpa’s demise. He construed her death was a divine dictum to clear his way to revive his earlier proposal to Shailaja. He was rewinding the scene where Shailaja was silent when Shilpa indirectly hinted at Kishore’s relationship with her. She could have said that she was not interested anymore. Instead, she made that scene open for future life partnership through her silence. His calculations clearly confirmed his longing for her. The ball was in her court now and he was very optimistic about the issue. With the exit of Shilpa, his inner joy and happiness made him start the offer. 

The testimony for such thinking was the occasion when he stayed overnight in her apartment at her request. He felt she was a well-wisher always. She reflected that feeling with her stopping him from driving after heavy drinking in the night. Probably she would have offered to revive their romantic days on that night, but for his alcoholic stage. Kishore was even rehearsing as to how he can revive the offer now.  With all kinds of positive approaches, he envisaged a revival. On the other side, he was also rehearsing to face a negative response from Shailaja for his offer. Then he compromised at least with getting rid of Shilpa’s torture. With a peg of large whisky, he concluded his soliloquy with a good night. 

Next morning Kishore got up early. As it was drizzling outside, he did not go for his usual jog. He was preparing to go to the office. He was all in good cheer as he was trying to revive his proposal with Shailaja on that day.   There was a call in his cell and one of the office staff called and asked him to come to the office immediately for an emergency.  Without giving any details, he disconnected the call. Kishore thought there was some fire accident in his office. When he reached the office, he found all the staff had gathered in the hall except Shailaja. When Kishore questioned, the office manager replied that last night she was murdered in her apartment and police were investigating. On hearing this, Kishore felt a big blow on his head and the whole world shattered to pieces.  He was feeling dizzy and fainted. The staff helped him to clear his dizziness and gradually divulged the details. Around ten in the night, some intruder entered her apartment. At point blank the intruder shot her with a hand pistol on her face and instantly she died. Neighbors called the police and removed the body to the mortuary. The intruder was caught while escaping and confessed the killing. It appeared that on instructions from a lady named Shilpa, he had killed Shailaja for a ransom of one lakh rupees earlier received by him. 

Kishore was bewildered at the details. Immediately he rushed to check his bank account that showed a withdrawal of a similar amount by Shilpa two days before.  With a criminal mind to kill Shailaja, Shilpa’s accidental demise was a clear ‘destiny’s dictum’ as the price paid for her criminal act..  He was also regretting on his  destiny's decision that he should be in solitude. .

 

.

 MOONLIGHTING

- P.Krishnamoorthy

“Moonlighting refers to pursuing more than one job at a time and remote working has helped employees take up this option”.

With this introduction ‘MOONLIGHTING’ episode commences with the life of Jayanth Verma, a young man of twenty five years in the city of Bangalore, India. A topper in computer engineering graduation with full of ambitions and aspirations to become somebody highly regarded rich and well-known in the society. He was selected in the college campus interview by Tell Technologies a leading IT company for a computer programmer position with a handsome salary and perks to start with. At the time of joining Tell Technologies required him to sign as formal acceptance of various terms and conditions that included one dealt with moonlighting. As the offer was very attractive for a raw  graduate, Jayanth was very happy to accept the various conditions According to company regulation, he had to undergo training of one month before any assignment handled by him. He was also assured a pay increase after six months based on his performance. 

Jayanth was jubilant in taking his first on-line assignment with Orient Drinks, a leading firm dealing with food and beverage products.  As he successfully handled various programs for various processes, the first impression of his skills was quite evident and paved the way for future ones. At the end of six month Tell Technologies raised his emoluments to a decent level, his first ambition was to get a car from a two-wheeler. Since things were very favorably progressing, his life style also was gradually changing. He could afford to attend expensive pubs and his circle of friends of both sex became wider. In a short time Jayanth became very popular. His original computer skills and talents now added with practical knowledge of different assignments made him an indispensable to the organization. 

Two years had passed. Jayanth, though achieved laurels and recognition for his skills in computer literacy and public relations, they were not commensurate with his financial standing. He was exploring other avenues to make additional income. One such venture gave him an opportunity with a overseas assignment of challenging type to his skills thru online operation. Also he would be paid a very attractive   remuneration. The offer was from a leading American firm - .Energy Efficient. Though it involved working in the nights due to time difference, Jayanth took this challenge and commenced working for the new firm. They are also dealing with food and beverage products similar to the firm he was already working. Since it was just computer related job, he knew that there would be no competition between the two. He totally forgot the company's  ruling against 'moonlighting'. As the days passed with both jobs on hand, Jayanth was jubilant as  his bank balance also simultaneously increased. He moved to a spacious bigger house in a posh neighborhood. 

 As things worked in his way, he was thinking it was time for him to settle down in life. He was trying for a life partner. Through his attending various social parties, Jayanth was also lucky in meeting Sadhana, daughter of a rich jeweler in the city. In their first meeting itself, after both exchanged pleasantries, Sadhana proposed him for settling down in life. It was a ‘bolt from the blue’ for Jayanth, for, he had least expected that she would propose to him so fast. Since she was an attractive girl, with well-educated background and from a well-to-do family, he reciprocated her proposal. When he asked whether her parents would agree to their alliance, Sadhana confidently said her father would agree to her wishes as she was the only child and that her mother died when she was very young. 

Tell Technologies was very happy with Jayanth’s performance. But they were not yet aware of a ‘moonlighting’ being carried on by Jayanth in spite of his employers ruling that was against such assignments. He also knew that Energy Efficient was their main competitor in beverages'  business. 

Energy Efficient sent a discreet oral feeler to Jayanth whether he could help them in finding their processing formula for one of their fast moving soft drink. They also assured  him with  substantial financial reward for that help.  It was a strange coincidence Jayanth accidentally got access to the processing formula in one of his a programming phase. Jayanth jumped at their timely offer and passed on the processing formula of Orient Drinks to Energy Efficient,

With this competitor’s formula, extensive marketing network and  at reduced price, Energy Efficient had increased their market sales of the soft drink considerably over Orient Drinks. Consequently the value of shares of Energy Efficient had risen very well whereas the shares of Orient Drinks had a nose dive in the share market. On investigation Orient Drinks had found out the part played by Jayanth of Tell Technologies. Immediately they had cancelled the contract with Tell Technologies and proceeded with legal action on them Since moonlighting was against Tell Technologies’ rules that were stipulated in the employment contract with Jayanth, they suspended him from service to take  legal action against him.  

When these processes were going on, Sadhana’s prolonged silence without any move on her earlier proposal,  bewildered to Jayanth.  He had even an apprehension whether he would marry her and settle in life. Later he found the reason for her silence as her father’s demise after suffering from cancer. She was busy in taking care of his jewelry business fulltime. Even when he took the initiative and called her on the phone, Sadhana abruptly closed the call. This response from her, led Jayanth to assume that she would break her  earlier proposal of marriage.    

A week after,  one morning Jayanth was to meet his attorney to discuss about his legal problems. As he opened the TV, he was thrilled to hear the breaking news of Energy Efficient bought all the shares of Orient Drinks and taken full control. The next news was a 'jackpot' for him - Jayanth Verma would be the new Chief Executive of Energy Efficient.  With the merger Jayanth was happy that he would be relieved from all litigations.  Though Jayanth had all happiness on his professional accomplishment, he felt he was a total failure in settling in life.  As he was opening the entrance door to leave, there stood Sadhana holding a bouquet of flowers to revive her earlier marriage proposal and to apologise for her abrupt response due to a business emergency.     

                                                     The Frozen Truth

                                    - P.Krishnamoorthy

The air was filled with cold moisture from the intermittent drizzle. The flash of the lightning illuminated the dark clouds for a split of a second every time. Ranjit had least expected a celestial intervention on that night. Still he was happy as the lightning helped him to focus his target well. He pulled the trigger. The marksmanship of the murderer was accurate and the deed was done. The next flash helped him to view the victim.  Kishore’s final remains were in the form of mass of flesh and pieces of human parts splattered all over, through the hole created by his Magnum .5 rifle. It was gruesome and repulsive.  He bowed his head as a mark of respect and prayed to the departed soul to rest in peace. He believed in benediction as a form of confession of sins towards repentance; but he cherished this until a new challenge was thrown in.

Ranjit was satisfied with his accomplishment.   Kishore, the target, had a high price -tag, as he was a powerful politician with muscle and money power.   It was a test and trial to Ranjit’s talent.  Even a trivial mistake or miscalculation would have caused his personal disaster, as Kishore was a terror to many, including the underworld dons. Kishore’s assassination strangely coincided with Ranjit’s twenty-fifth assignment, which obviously meant that Ranjit had so far successfully evaded the long arm of the law, which followed even his shadows. His silver jubilee list also included some killings undertaken with ‘philanthropic flavor’ on behalf of poor whose victims were denied even access to justice system due to political clout of the offenders. 

When Ranjit returned home, it was few hours for the dawn. He decanted a large peg of ‘ Civas’ into a crystal and swigged it on the rocks.  The impact of the scotch was instant in his system, stimulating him for a smoke.  He lighted a Marlborough and puffed the first smoke as he gazed at the old pink-stripped shirt, hanging on the wall. It was more than a memento or a memoir to him, which he adored, as it was the last gift from his mother on his eleventh birthday.  He disdained it in moments of despair, since it was responsible for their separation; yet he valued it as the only available remembrance of his mother since their parting. 

 The chemical combination of the inhaled nicotine and the intoxication by the scotch led him to stroll down his memory lane.  First, he could visualize Bagalpur, his birthplace, a small sandy village located at 200  miles from Bombay on the Bombay-Ahmedabad sector inhabited by a thin population. The half dilapidated stonewalled Hindu temple and a semi-finished community hall were the only strong structures acted as the landmarks in the village.  The numerous thatched huts of that hamlet evidenced its impoverished economic state. Ranjit’s world was confined only within the four peripheries of the village marked by drylands and deadwood.   As the only child to his mother, Madhuri, he enjoyed comprehensive freedom and protection from all responsibilities. She compromised and condoned even his numerous serious mischief and lapses of discipline since she had an inherent fear that he would just leave her even at the slightest rebuke irrespective of its reason.  She took strides in every adversity to ensure Ranjit’s happiness. She worked hard labor to guarantee this even at a high price of her failing health. She worked from dawn to dusk as a housemaid in the landlord’s home for paltry wages, that were also settled in kind.  The village, so backward in facilities, had nothing much to offer to Ranjit in terms of education, employment or entertainment.  The small rail station, through which only two trains to and from Bombay passed everyday, was the hangout for Ranjit and his friend Shashi to enjoy clandestine smoking with left over cigarette bits. 

It was his eleventh birthday.  His mother woke him up early in the morning to take bath and wear new clothes.  She also got him some of his favorite sweets.  “Mom! Why so early in the morning?”  “Yes my son!  I have to go to work early today as I have to compensate for the money I borrowed from the landlord to buy you the new clothes and sweets”. 

These words moved Ranjit very strongly and he was brooding over them. He was longing to relieve her from her tribulations; but he could do it only by working and earning for which there was never an opportunity in the village. “Ranjit! It is getting late for me. Have the new dress and let me see how you look in it”.  After wearing the new clothes, Ranjit touched his mother’s feet to invoke her blessings.  “Ranjit!  I pray  ‘God to give you the serenity to change things you can, to accept things which you cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference’.  You should grow up to a respected man, revered by the society for integrity, honesty and character. You should be the vanguard and upholder of the principles of truth.  God will certainly bless you with all prosperity.  Promise me that whatever be the circumstances in life, you will not leave me”. 

Ranjit could see her blurred eyes full of tears. They were tears of hope amidst fear.  As she was holding his hands for the pledge, there was a knock on the door.  A messenger from the landlord’s place to take her for an urgent errand waited at the entrance.  Ranjit felt disappointed at his failure to promise her, as she desired. He came to the rail station and looked for Shashi.  He wanted to show his birthday gift to him; but he was not there.  The train to Bombay had just entered the station. One of the alighted passengers looked desperately for help to unload his heavy luggage from the compartment. Ranjit instantly offered his services even for a meager amount. He thought at least this would be a beginning in his quest to relieve his mother from her toil.  Before he carried the load, he removed the ‘gift’ shirt and left it in the compartment.  After unloading the baggage on the platform, he realized that he had left his new shirt in the train.  He jumped into the compartment to pick that. By that time, the train moved at a good speed. He was bewildered at the momentum of the train and scarred to jump from the compartment.  He looked at the few passengers in the compartment in a hope for help; but they only evinced their sympathy to him without any solution to his problem. His punctuated sobbing turned out to an outburst, as the train, in its speed, passed quite a distance from his village. He was perplexed at the sudden turn of events on his birthday.  He realized how the destiny’s directive had not allowed him to promise his mother against his desertion. Even in broad daylight, he saw pervasive darkness regarding his future and rejoining his mother became oblivion. Haunted by isolation agony, he became panicky. Continued crying and sobbing turned his eyes red and swollen.  By then, it was evening and the setting sun had already disappeared on the western skies, leaving the golden horizon for the dusk to set in. The long hours of starvation since morning made him weak and finally dozed him to sleep. 

When he woke up, he found it was next day morning and the train was in its final destination; the great city of Bombay extended its hearty welcome to him, as it did for any such visitors by first ushering them to its customary avenues for livelihood. Initially they started with begging on the streets, followed by stealing the people, indulging in drug trafficking for cortels and finally turning them as  hitmen before anointing to the throne of the underworld boss.  Though Ranjit hated each phase of these transformations, he had to go through them, as there was no other option for his survival. He could have easily become an underworld don in a short time with his success in each phase; yet he preferred to be a ‘top gun’’ that paid him reasonably well. It also allowed him to escape from the surveillance eye of the law, whose focus was always on the leaders.  In moments of introspection, he was very eager to see his mother by visiting the village; but with the number of years passed by, he was almost certain that she would have been dead by that time due to her ill-health.  

The stroll down the memory lane was interrupted by the surfeit of booze and smokes which finally knocked him down to bed.  The next morning when he opened the newspapers, he saw Kishore’s murder splashed on the headlines along with a photograph of the murder scene.  He was non-chalant and unperturbed, as he had seen many such on his earlier assassinations.  As he flipped the pages of the newspaper, his attention was sharply drawn to a small advertisement with a photograph of an old lady and words reading “I am sinking. I would like to see you before I die. Please come home.”  From the address and the photograph, he recognized that she was none but his mother.   Ranjit erupted into spurts of joy at the information that his mother was still alive.  But he was at the crossroads of eagerness to see her alive as well as an instinctive premonition of getting caught by the authorities.  However, his strong sentiments to see his mother prevailed, and he decided to travel by car overnight which would dissemble him to escape the police net.

When he reached the village it was three in the morning. He parked the car at a distance from his home and walked the distance. The early morning breeze was soothing and the half-hidden moon was mellowing with its soft light.  The stray dogs skulked the narrow lanes here and there. Even after an efflux of two decades, he found no major change in the village and it had its old impoverished rural existence.  He entered his old home. As he stepped on the threshold, the nostalgic memories of his childhood crossed his mind. He could not believe that he spent eleven years of his early life there. A solitary oil lamp in a corner lighted the small room.   He saw his mother lying in the middle of the room, groaning under pain.  Even the silhouetted outline of her body displayed distinctly the shrunken stature of her figure. With calibrated and silent steps he reached the bedside to see her closely.  She was merely a skeleton with minimal flesh. Her thin wrinkled brown skin concealed the color of the protruded bones.  The close wrinkles on the cheeks and the deep furrows on her brows with sunken eyes reflected the extensive sufferings she had gone through for her survival.  At the sight of her devastated health, he felt like screaming.  He controlled his emotional outburst to ensure no disturbance to her. Ranjit held her hands and instantly felt the familiar warmth in it.  He whispered into her ears, “Mom! I have come!” 

After a wait of two decades, she finally heard his voice and also felt his physical warmth, for which, all along, she desperately longed for.   Despite her struggle, she slowly opened her eyes with a faint smile. They peered at each other for few moments. She recognized him even through her blurred vision.  Her face bloomed like a fresh flower. A glimmer of light radiated from her eyes, which were stung with tears of joy that were seized from her since their separation.  The tears that welled up pulsed in her throat and finally burst into uncontrolled sobs.  Ranjit became lost in the torrent of feelings that rushed over him at her emotional reaction.   The sobs were finally silenced with an infusion of strength in her at the joy of seeing him.  She held his hands firmly and quivered warmly; “Ranjit! At last you have come.  While I am pleased to see you so prosperous and grown into a smart and handsome young man, I believe you had followed my guidelines of ethical means for your prosperity”.   An awkward shame suddenly engulfed Ranjit as the words “ethical means” kept ringing in his ears while the semi-darkness cleverly covered his guilty reflections.

“All these days, I was fighting a battle with death and refused to die as I was carrying a burden in my heart.  I was withholding an important personal detail from you all long, and I did not like to die until I revealed that to you”.

“I had been telling you that your father died in a traffic accident. That was not true. Forgive me, I had been a sinner all these years for lying to you. Before your birth, I was working as a housemaid in the next village and staying with that family. One night, when the family was away for a wedding, the landlord, in his drunken mood, raped me against all my resistance; out of that unfortunate incident, you were created. He promised to marry me as his second wife; but he did not keep that promise. Instead, with his money and muscle power, he made me to leave that village”.     As she completed her narration, she pulled out a photograph under the pillow and identified the man in the picture, as his father.  Ranjit could observe her placid face relieved and relaxed; for, after all, she was bearing the cross all these years.  She felt she had unloaded a heavy burden from her heart.  “If you ever find your father, show this picture to him; your paternity would not be anymore obscure”.

 Following these words, her sudden silence confirmed that she breathed her last.  It was a strange coincidence that the flame of the oil lamp also became extinct denying him to have a glimpse of the picture.   He got up from the bed and flicked his cigarette lighter and lighted the lamp again.  As the glow of the lamp gradually illuminated the area, Ranjit hurriedly peeked at the picture.  Even at a cursory glance, he felt a tremor under his feet and a heavy blow on his head.  He carefully looked at the picture again.  The whole world was falling apart before him and he was shattered to pieces. He even wished that he had not visited his mother and known his paternity.  Even his strong mental forte, that had infused courage in him several times in critical assassination scenarios, had a severe setback at that time. The man in the photograph was none but Kishore, his last victim. 

It took some time for Ranjit to get over from the impact of the shock, as the turn of events was so sudden and least anticipated. He felt extremely sorry and sad for his father to be killed by his own son. For the first time, he regretted his profession as a hitman and wanted to give it up.  He consoled himself on the bereavement. Ironically, on the flip side, he strongly believed that his father’s assassination was totally justified; he even asserted that his father deserved such an end and paid the right price for the desertion of his mother  Because of him, she had to bear a stigma  and consequent life-long struggle and suffering. He was also instrumental for her life- long struggle and suffering. He was ashamed and embarrassed at his paternity, which he preferred to be obscure as it was.  In short he wanted it to be a frozen truth for the rest of his life. 

It was already dawn in the village and the normal life was getting into gradual momentum.  He  stepped out of the hut and was surprised to see the whole area surrounded by police to take him. He was astounded as to how the police contingent came to the village. The police officer, who was assigned to arrest him, said,  “you must be wondering as to how we came here to take you.  We had been monitoring all your family details and movements. When we knew that your mother was in a dying stage, we only gave the ad in the papers; we were sure that you would come down to see her.  Finally we got you this time with a good evidence who witnessed Kishore’s murder”. Ranjit shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the hut.  The triumphed truth winked at him and whispered that he too had to pay the right price of punishment for all his killings including his father’s.