A RETRIBUTION: ANONYMOUS- PART 5

"Hey.. C'mon in, Joy"!

Joy was smiling at Rakesh. He smiled at Patil too.

"I was thinking about you", said Rakesh. "C'mon in. Meet His Patilship". Rakesh started laughing aloud.

Patil was trying hard to conceal his disappointment. He forced a smile and greeted Joy.

Joy settled down, beside Patil. Rakesh's eyes were glowing with happiness. Like a child who has been surprised, pleasantly.

"How are you, Rakesh"? Joy had a soft voice, that was very pleasant to hear.

"Oh, just fine. You know how my wife treats me".

Joy looked uncomfortable. But he said with a smile, "Don't worry. Things will get better. Shall I make some tea for all of us"?

"No. Lekha would do it once she returns home. I know, she is at.."

"I will make one for her too. She could join us, once she is back, right"? asked Joy.

Patil felt that he was in an asylum and both the men, beside him were out of their minds. Rakesh had no wife! She was dead, in that accident. He was looking nervously, at Joy.

Joy seemed to read his thoughts. He said, "Why don't you come along with me, to the kitchen? I am not very good at making tea. You might help me".

Patil nodded. And both men, left to the kitchen.

Joy was letting the water boil. He turned to Patil and said, "I am sorry about that. You know, he still thinks that his wife and daughter are alive".

"No. That is alright. What do you do"?

"I am a.. well.. lawyer".

"Oh! How do you know this man.. Rakesh"?

"We are friends. We went to the same college. Who are you, by the way"?

Patil was excited. If this man was Rakesh's friend, he must know anout Mr. Nobody too. But, he must not take a chance- not now.

"I am just a friend, too. He was just telling me about a friend of his from college, whom everyone called a "nobody". Do you know who that is"?

Joy started laughing. "That was me. I was the nobody, he was talking about".

Patil was finding it hard to contain himself. He wanted to punch this man, hard on face and drag him along to station, right now. No. He must not do anything hasty.

Patil tried to sound surprised. "Really? But why was that"?

Joy was smiling. "Oh! I just wrote a story under the name "Nessuno", for a magazine. It means nobody, in Italian. Let's go to the hall. Tea is ready".

Patil was surprised. How can this man behave so well, after murdering another. He acts so cool. But no. He won't be getting out, this time. I'll make sure of that.

He followed Joy to the living room.

Rakesh, was playing with a Barbie. He saw Joy and Patil. He showed Patil, the Barbie.

"This is Mitu. Anu and I play with her, everyday, you know. She is her favourite doll. Look, I dressed her up"!

Joy, politely said to Rakesh, "You had done very well. I am sure Anu will be pleased. Here, take your tea. Look, I made one for your wife too".

Rakesh was suddenly angry. He threw the cup of tea. He was shaking with rage.

"She is not my wife. She was never my wife. I have no wife"..

Joy said, "That is alright. She was not your wife. That is alright"..

Patil was shocked. What was happening?

Rakesh, suddenly started crying.

"You know, Joy. I am not a nobody. I am a great lawyer. You know that".

Joy was trying to console Rakesh. "Yes, I know. Just calm down. Here, have your tea". He look Patil and gave him an uncomfortable smile- which meant to say- "Sorry about that"..

Rakesh was sobbing harder. "He stole it. That Sumit.. He stole my job, my money, my wife"..

"There..There.. Just clam down"..

Patil was staring at both men, not sure if he could have his tea. And startled by Rakesh's statement!

It took a long time for Joy, to calm down Rakesh. Rakesh was now looking at Joy, oddly happy, as though he'd achieved something. He was saying, "I have showed him, what a nobody can do, but"..

Joy looked at Rakesh, sympathetically. "Oh yes, you've! I need to go. It's getting late".

Patil gained back his senses. Let go of his man. Never. But how was he going to get him. Joy had already reached the door, when he suddenly turned back and said to Rakesh-

"By the way, thank you for getting back, my lost diary, my Anamika"...


-------- THE END----------

THE NOBODY: ANONYMOUS- PART 4

"I am in search of..hmm.. a nobody".

Rakesh was staring at this man. He seemed sensible. But this- well, perhaps, he wasn't in his senses.

"Sorry"?

"My name is Patil. Rishishresht Patil. I am the one who is investigating the Anamika murder case. Hope you know about it".

I know that, Your Patilship!

"Yes, I get that much. But Sumit wasn't Anamika. Commissioner said that on TV, right"?

Patil was irritated. "Yes. He did. Now tell me, did you know anything about this diary that Sumit had? You were his room mate and a friend of Sumit's from college".

"Friend? He was my roommie, all right! But he was no friend of mine".

Patil waited. Rakesh spoke again.

"He was a back stabber".

Patil again felt irritated. He could gather that much about Sumit. He was not sure about meeting this person, first of all. Every one said that he was out of his mind. Rakesh, who had once been a celebrated lawyer who rose quickly in his firm- suddenly lost everything due to an accident. Now, he had no family, no job, no money.

The only reason why Patil was there to meet him was that, he was Sumit's room mate at college.

Rakesh and Sumit had worked for the same law firm. There were even rumours that Sumit was behind Rakesh's accident. Patil felt sorry for this man in front of him. But now, he was in no mood to listen to his woes.

"Look, I just need, whether you knew any Anamika when you were in college"?

Rakesh smiled. "No. There was no Anamika. But my daughter's name is Anu. You want to see her photo"? He pointed to his study table.

Patil was really frustrated. But this man was now, his only hope.

"Do you know any person who was a nobody. I mean, who never talked to any one or was not any one's friend"?

Rakesh stopped smiling. He appeared to be angry.

"No one is a nobody. I am not a nobody. You are not a nobody. If we were, we wouldn't be talking to each other like this, would we? But you know, him? Every one called him a nobody. Fools. When everyone calls him a nobody, he becomes a somebody. Idiots. They never realized it. I was the only one who saw it".

Patil was surprised. Rakesh went on.

"He was my best friend at college. He never spoke much. He was the most brilliant boy of our batch. Not many people knew him. And not many remembered him. But I remember him. For he is the only one who remembers me. He comes to see me, often you know".

Patil was desparate. He was shivering. He was trying hard to control himself. He asked, as calmly as possible, "What was your friend's name"?

But Rakesh was looking at the door. There stood a man, thinking, whether or not to enter the house.

Rakesh was smiling. He seemed very happy. He almost shouted when he said-

"Hey.. C'mon in, Joy"!

(To be continued..)

AN UNSAID DESIRE: ANONYMOUS- PART 3

The smoke filled the room. There had never been so much smoke before. The door was opened.

"Rishi, what happened? What have you done to yourself"?

Rishi looked up. He smiled at Dev. Rishi spoke.


"You saw the TV"? Dev replies, "Yes, I did. We both know that he's one big idiot. Why did you run to him and tell him what you'd found"?

"I had no other go, Dev. I just thought, the commissioner should know it, at least. I told him not to do what he did. There is, now, no hope left".

Dev looked thoughtful The silence lingered for a few minutes, until Dev, finally, broke it-

"Rishi, what did you have in mind, originally"?

Rishi lighted a new cigerette. He began-

"From whatever I was able to gain from the reports, the man behind the murder is highly confident about his anonimity. He completely believes that he is a nobody and no one would ever know him.

This man is also sensitive about his creativity. All he wanted was that he, and no one else should claim over his words. And this was where we could've nailed him".

"How"?

"He only wanted people to know that Sumit was not Anamika. As long as the truth does not come out, the real Anamika would remain agitated, desparate. He would've let out his glimpse- again- some how or the other. But now, since he got what he had wanted- there is no hope left for us".

Dev looked at Rishi, sympathetically. They has been friends for a very long time. Dev had always admired Rishi for his intelligence and nerves. He was one honest man- struggling to survive in a leering world, filled with corruption.

Dev spoke again, "If the real Anamika was indeed the murderer, why do uou think he didn't kill Sumit before and only now, after he came out of his shell"?

Rishi knew this would come from Dev. He smiled.

"I am not very sure about that, yet. I can give you what I think, though. I think, the real Anamika, actually never knew who'd taken his works from him. And Sumit too, was initially not sure whether or not to come out of his shell. But later on, I guess, that Sumit too got convinced that Anamika, indeed, was a nobody. So, he decided to let himself known".

Dev was watching Rishi. He appeared to be desparate, yet, helpless. Rishi had never been so helpless before. Dev was concerned.

"Rishi, let's get out of here"..

Rishishresht Patil. He had never felt pain. He who had accepted the world that surrounded him- he, who had got himself used to the suffocation- who had healed his paining heart- that screamed out. Rishi, was desparate. Secretly desiring to meet a man who had made him helpless and weak. Rishi wanted to meet him- whom the world called- "Anamika".

"I am in search of a nobody", said Rishi.

(To be continued..)

ANAMIKA : ANONYMOUS- PART 2

[After reading my post "Anonymous", some readers felt that a sequel to it would really appeal. But, I personally felt that it was just right the way it was. Later, I thought, why not? I had never written a sequel before to any of my stories. I always struggle to end it, and just end it. So, this is my first attempt at writing a sequel. Hope it's all right!]


"Anamika murdered"..

"He was found dead by...."

"Sumit's relatives, refuse to.."

"... the police have nothing to give us, yet. Jeyant Mishra, with camera man ..."

Patil was exhausted. He swtiched off the television. He had never handled such a bizarre case before! His meeting with the commissioner that morning had been pathetic.

".. murder weapon is a Chef's knife. A carbon steel one. The damages are more for the tang had become loose just as the knife.."

"We don't want u'r theory Patil. We want- Who"?

"We are working on it.."

Patil opened his eyes. He saw the file marked "ANAMIKA" right on top. He reached for it.

Sumit had been quite a successful lawyer, well liked by his colleagues and clients, married, no children, he had been living alone, though, for the past three years.

Patil encircled the word "alone" and wrote "?" over it. He read on.

Since one week before his murder, Sumit had attended nearly four official parties. During one such party, he had drunk heavily and had to be escorted back home by some colleague.

An alchoholic writer? Patil chuckled. He imagined the media's reactions over it!

The pages were full of names of his clients, their addresses.. Patil shut the file.

He knew two facts about the murder. one. The murderer wasn't a proffessional. Two. There had been a very strong reason behind it. Patil had reasons to believe these two facts. The murder was not perfect. The tang of the knife had come off the handle. The murderer had left the blade behind.

Secondly, the murderer had tried to leave behind a message. Over Sumit's corpse, a page from a very old diary had been intentionally placed. The writing over it, read the name "ANAMIKA". Also, the knife had been plunged with such force into Sumit, only a man who has been saturated with anger could have done it.

The telephone rang. He had been expecting this call. He listened attentively. His eyes shrunk and bulged as he listened. He put the receiver down.

Sumit's ancestral home. Wasn't very big, but he certainly had a big family. Patil spoke to the widow, first.

Sumit and his wife had been living together only for about a year. Sumit was alchoholic and almost constantly abused his wife. So, her in-laws brought her back to their ancestral home. No one in his family had ever tried contacting him since then. Next, Patil spoke to Sumit's father.

Commissioner was shocked. "Are you sure, Patil"?

"Sir, Sumit's father claims that as a young man, Sumit was never remotely interested in writing. Infact, he was never very good in any of his subjects. Some of his friends from college too, share the same view about him, as his father.Next, the hand writing on the page from the diary and that of Sumit's do not match. The writing on the diary is a few years old.

I tried contacting "The Messiah". The editor says, that Sumit came to his office a few days back and showed him the diary- saying that it was a collection of his works. Which was when, he also gave the editor, his next story in person, which was again from the diary..

I inquired the watchman of Sumit's building about the visitors he met that day. He showed me the register he maintains with the visitors' names on it. And I found this"..

Patil spread open the register. One of its recent entries read- ANAMIKA..

"And this writing, matches with the one on the diary". Finished Patil.

".. So he was a fraud, then! He was never the writer"!

"I am not sure about that, yet. But I ask you, not to reveal this to anyone until we find the person behind all this.. "

".. Patil, you may leave".

Patil was exhausted. He was also, frustrated. He had one chance. But now, he lost it. There was no hope.

".. the lawyer, is after all, not Anamika, announced the Commissioner, today.."

"... shocking truth. Let's hear what the fans here have got to say on this.."

"... they call it a betrayal of their trust. With camera man.."

Joy switched off the television. He looked at the diary he was holding. He turned its pages; his words, his thoughts. A few pages left blank towards the end- he took a pen and wrote:

"The few pages of Anamika"...

(To be continued..)

ANONYMOUS

The breeze seemed to sweep away his thoughts. He was trying to concentrate on his shoes. That way, he needn't look into anyone. This wasn't new. He always did that.

Joy. He was a nobody to anyone who'd see him for the first time. With ordinary looks and a polite, shy demeanour- hardly anyone would find him interesting. He wasn't very tall- neither too short. He was neither dark nor fair. He was neither too smart nor dull. Joy. A man- among many men.

Joy's life started with an alarm. A tea and news paper were his companions during the morning hours. A hasty shower; he usually boarded a crowded bus to work- A man among many men.

His job usually left him with plenty of time to think. A dusty office, and a name plate that read-"Joy Kumar, M.A.,B.L (Advocate)", hardly fetched him any client. He had never had a chance to know, how good a lawyer he was! He was anonymous.

Anonymous, the nameless, or- "Anamika". Every one knew Anamika. A wizard. A creator. A writer. Everyone adored Anamika. No one had ever seen her. Or him! But everyone knew Anamika. Her words were her identity. Or, his!

"The Messiah", everday, would receive a new story. A white cover- with the address typed over it. Inside, a short story- story that no one had ever heard of. Neatly typed, and neatly folded. "The Messiah" itself, wouldn't sell even one copy, if it weren't for Anamika's stories! People were dying to meet her. Or him!

4th of June. "The Messiah" had a news that excited its readers. "Anamika would reveal herself"! It read.

"The Messiah" threw a grand party. Only guests were allowed. These guests were those who hardly ever read Anamika. They wore designer clothes and attended fancy parties. A large crowd- outside the hotel, were calling out- demanding to get a glimpse of Anamika.

Sumit- a handsome man in his thirties. He was smart and people adored him, wherever he went. Sumit- a lawyer, a writer, a celebrity.

The crowd applauded. They now knew, finally, whom they had admired. Who had captured all of their imaginations. They cheered. They didn't want him to leave. Almost, everyone was smiling. There was one, however, who didn't join the celebrations. Who did not look happy about seeing Anamika.

Sumit had achieved what he had always wanted. He wanted to be famous. He knew, he'd be famous. He'd do anything to achieve it.

Later, that night, Sumit sat looking at the old diary. He turned its pages. ANAMIKA. The first page had captured his attention, the moment he read it. He remembered very well- the November night- a few years ago- he was in college. He had nicked it. From whom- he did not remember. All that he remembered about the boy was that- he was a nobody!

A knock on his door. Sumit thought- "Fans! They are so silly"!

The morning breeze seemed to sweep away his thoughts. He was trying to concentrate on his shoes. That way, he needn't look into anyone. This wasn't new. He always did that.

Joy came to a halt in front of a small shop. He purchased a tea and news paper. He walked into the park and sat over a bench. He sipped the tea and flipped
the paper. It read- "Anamika murdered!"...

A TAG AGAIN!

"5 cadres of people, whom I love to hate"!

Thank you, Arjun

I normally avoid it when some ask me this question- "whom do you hate"? I used to think that "hate" is rather a powerful word, not to be used, unless one really means it. But recently, I had been unfortunate enough to meet all these categories of people. I used to boast, until a few years back (read- before I met the characters) that I can never "hate" anyone. But, I was proved wrong- thanks to these "wonderful souls"- who've irritated and frustrated me in every single way!

Please note: Friends, who know me personally- this is for you: "You know who "they" are. And you can always ask "them" to visit my blog and comment"!

They talk like a kid
who's barely known the world
The silver on their hairs- shine;

They boss me around
and force me to frown
And claim aloud- "Oh! you're mine"!

All day long
they warm up the benches
Gossiping aloud- grinning;

They boast of their greatness
they let not, one speak
Subtle- they play: cunning!

Them, I hate
I hate them all
But not more than those here:

Traitors, who betray
the trust I hold-
And sell my faith for pleasures, mere!

I tag:

Padma Priya

Arvind

Vrinda

ICE AND THE TRAIN

The crowd. It seems to move so fast. I wish I knew why. Neither they stop, nor do they pause. They keep walking without a goal- or so it seems to me!

The taste of the ice can do wonders. It had changed the way I usually thought about things. Or is it because, I just feel so happy today? I was going out with my mom after such a long time!

Granny never lets me go anywhere. Nor would she get me ice candy. “What if you fall ill”? She says. I don’t like it at the Granny’s. Wish mom would take me along with her, this time, at least!

Mom is so pretty. Today, in particular. A white and green saree. Smiling at me always and holding my hand.

We moved fast. We ran. If not, we would miss the train. Fast, fast and finally, into the Ladies’ compartment!

I heave a sigh of relief. I lick my ice candy. So pleasant it tasted after that run! I turned to look at mom.

I find a woman wearing a white and green saree. But she wasn’t my mom. I turn around. Right, left, everywhere. There was crowd, but no mom. The ice was melting.

The ice froze in my heart. It was not pleasant anymore. It brought water in my eyes. I couldn’t see properly. I was crying- “Mom… mom..”! Only, no words ever came out. The last bit of ice, which stuck on to the stick, fell down.

The crowd would not care if I was lost. They would neither stop, nor would they pause. More water from my eyes. It kept flowing down. It made me go red- both on the inside and the outside. The ice on the floor had turned into water.

“Bharath”! I heard someone shout. I turned around. Mom was running towards me. She was crying too. The ice had left my heart. I was holding my mom. And, she lifted me off the ground. We were both crying. No, she was laughing, too. And I laughed with her.

I was clutching the ice candy. I was licking it. My lips were red. As soon as the door was opened, I rushed in and hugged Granny. She was smiling. She bent down and kissed me. She asked, “Had fun with mom”? I said, I did and smiled. Mom saw me smiling. She smiled back. I was happy.