SILENT SIGNS (Short story)

SILENT SIGNS

‘Premji... I will kill you on the spot if you don't reach there in time!’ wife cautioned me over mobile phone.

‘Anxiety, thy name is Mom!’ I told myself.

It was nearing 3.30 in the evening and I was on the way to that expensive English Medium School, where my kids are studying. Monsoon paid a surprise visit and I was forced to take temporary refuge under a huge Banyan tree, aside the railway cross.

The railway-gate remained closed, awaiting the huge metal beast. Rain was coming down harder and the short queue of vehicles started growing on both the sides of that narrow railway-gate. And at last, a local train disappeared through the rain.

♥

An Auto-rickshaw, unoccupied, had come to a halt beside me.

‘Will you please drop me near the Central school? You know... that school is quite new to my sons,’ I requested the Auto-rickshaw driver, a man in the fag-end of forties. ‘If I don't reach there in time, they will start crying.’

He stared at me for a moment. His eyes seemed very heavy.

‘Might be watching the late night matches of Euro Cup,’ I told myself. ‘Auto-drivers are great admirers of football!’ Unfortunately, he didn't care me at all and the rain kept on intensifying. Suddenly, the railway gate was opened and several engines roared into life. To my dismay, the he sped away.

‘Shit,’ I cursed myself.

‘Please get in... Sir,’ he returned within a minute. ‘Even, I too have a son...,’ he told calmly.

‘That's O.K.... thank you.’

The auto-rickshaw crossed the railway gate. He, desperately, tried to accelerate, though the heavy downpour made the windshield glass virtually opaque. The ringtone of his old Nokia mobile phone resembled the angry voice of the dissidents during a political party meeting. He picked the call up in loud-speaker mode.

‘Sunny, he has fainted again,’ I could clearly hear the panicked male voice from the other end. ‘Poor boy is in real bad condition.’

‘I know... I know... That's what the doctor said, while discharging him from the Government Medical College Hospital... yesterday,’ Sunny, the auto-driver, replied painfully.

I could see the heaviest downpour of my life, in his eyes.

‘Nhummm’

The auto-rickshaw continued running swiftly.

‘He advised us to take him home... It seems, no hope... May be... he wanted to save us from further debts... but... you know... I don't have a home.’

‘I know.’

‘Dr.Markandeyan, the most famous neurosurgeon, promised me to remove his brain tumor tonight... but, I have to surrender Rs.100000/- ($2000), by the evening... he is charging only for the expenses.’

‘Then?’

‘Students and staff from his beloved school... they gave me Rs.25000/- ($500)... Auto-rickshaw driver's union, they paid me another Rs.25000/- I had to vacate my rented house... to get the advance amount paid ...Rs.10000/- ($ 200)... If anything happens, I don't have a place to...’

‘Don't worry...,’ I could listen to the painful reply.

My heart started fuming like volcano about to burst. Forgive me God... Forgive me...

‘I don't have a place... now... my friend... to dump my household articles... The gentle house owner, allowed me to keep them in her empty car shed, temporarily. Somehow, I have to arrange Rs.40000/- ($800) more by the evening,’ he changed the gear.

I could see the huge buildings of their school through the rain. ‘O! Shit!’ I had to curse myself as I hadn't taken my purse purposely.

♥

‘Premji... keep your purse at home...,’ my wife continued her telephonic conversation.

‘Why dear?’

‘You know ‘why,’... When I am striving hard to meet our monthly expenses, Rs 5000/- is hidden in your purse... that too for purchasing oil colours... your newly found expensive passion.’

‘O.K... dear... Peace of mind is more important than passions!’

‘Good... You can pursue your passions and realize your dreams when we become rich...,’ she laughed from the other end.

I love her laughter after every silly fight!

♥

The Auto-rickshaw was stopped near the school gate and I handed him over the one and only Rs.100/- note with me.

‘Sir, I don't have change to pay the balance,’ he told.

‘That's O.K, brother.’

‘Thanks... brother,’ he sped away....

All I could offer you is the prayer of my life!

♥

‘Daaaad… you are crying!’ My sons, whom were standing near the security room, shouted aloud.

‘No my boys... My eyes are drenched by the unexpected rain.’

Pain, thy name is life!

Premji