Deception and cheating can have dangerous consequences. Revenge is one way as seen here.
I HAD never in my wildest dreams thought that I'd be sitting in the wheel chair with my lower half paralysed. This had to be a punishment from God for driving The doctors congratulated me that I survived the accident. That was the only saving grace. I am a doctor myself. Being busy throughout the day and during nights had alone kept me going. I liked that life but since the accident three-months back, I was confined to the wheelchair. The visitors too had become occasional. Did I have a care in the world?fast and meeting with an accident.
Not really. If I remained idle also, there was no worry to earn as I had inherited a lot after my parents' death three years back. I saw rain trickling down the windowpane. Life is futile if one is not mobile. Should I commit suicide? That's a good idea for a person without any family members. Then I thought of uncle Nasir, who had helped me selflessly throughout this period. He would not approve of my thinking. Alone at home, such weird thinking is bound to take place. I am remote-controlling everything. For security, I have the revolver close by.
I switched on the electricity in the boundary wires. Uncle would not be coming now as he is held up elsewhere. Did I hear some noise? Who could come at this unearthly hour crossing all security measures? I thought I could protect myself. He was a tall man, walking leisurely. It must have been easy for him to just walk in. I had an uneasy feeling. He asked me to stay cool and lighted a cigarette. "I have come to kill you. I have been paid well for the job. So I will execute it."
"It is my policy to make my victims aware of the true position of why I approach them. This is the least I can do for them". Although numb with fear, I appreciated his frankness. So, after all, death was near. But why would he want to kill me? "I know you are anxious to know why I want to kill you. Perhaps later, before killing you, I will tell you. Nothing personal. Just executing my job. I am a trained, experienced and full-time killer", he laughed loudly. "You are an invalid. I know, I know."
"It will make the task so much so easier. But I don't like that. There won't be any struggle, no fight, no begging for life. Not much fun, eh? No problem. To substitute for that, I will tell you my life story. Why I became what I am. No harm, you are anyway closer to the other world now." I touched the revolver lying next to me. The metal felt cold, extremely cold. Or maybe I was numb with macabre thoughts. Shall I shoot him now? Bastard had the audacity to enter my home and threaten me. But I had to hear him out.
If at all I was going to die, I should know who wants me dead and why. I would like that. It was sounding exciting. He was willing to tell me that. Who knows he would be dead meat after telling me the secret. "My father was a very cruel man. He used to beat us all for no reason. If he liked he would start off with any one of us. And my mother bore the brunt of his thrashings. She couldn't even complain. Where would she go if she did that? And we all, too small to defend ourselves, took the beatings."
"My body ached but that was my fate. I wanted to run away but I didn't want to leave my mother and other brother and sisters. I was twelve then and that was thirteen years back. I wanted to do something but I found myself incapable of doing anything. When I thought of the future it looked bleak. Should I die? It will end one burden of my mother but what would happen to her. I shouldn't die nor run away. I must think of something. I must save her. But a weak, shy and reserved boy could not have done anything."
"But one night when my father started beating my mother mercilessly, it broke the camel's back. I lifted a brick lying outside our hut and with all my might threw it at my father. It hit the target. And he fell to the ground. He did not get up. I lifted the brick again and again and thrashed him till I could only see pulp. I couldn't care less for my mother's shouts or my neighbours watching me. I had killed a demon. I stood there helpless. My mother asked me to run and I ran."
"I had tasted blood. It became my profession with the passage of time. My transformation was total and complete. I was no more shy, reserved or weak. I liked my new profession for which I needed no degree and I was my own boss. And before you die I must tell you never trust anyone, least of all your relatives. Maintain distance from everyone. I am on contract with your uncle Nasir. You are too rich for his comfort. He had arranged for your parents killings and I was instrumental in your accident. All too natural, eh! But why am I remembering my younger sister seeing you."
"But Bastard, you are not my brother," and I stood up and shot him point blank. I had stood up! My uncle had seen my goodness only and not the other side. My mobile rang. "Oh, Sana, are you still awake. I was passing by. I was just wondering whether everything is OK. Switch off the power in the wires. Then I will come in." Uncle you may enter but the other world. I moved away from there. If he could survive live wires, he must live by all means.
Interesting concept -- the person in the wheel chair has about given up on life and the killer came from an abusive home and was turned into a killer. The killer dies and the doctor find a reason to live again. So, her paralysis was mental and not physcial. I wonder why she couldn't stand up and thought she was crippled. I also wonder why the need for so much secruity to protect her. Does she know that someone wants her dead or does she live in a place where there is much danger? I read the story twice to see if I missed anything.
