Chapter 17
770 Words
Alfred’s diary was full of scribbles in slanting English. Notes from various missions. Notes from various investigations. Nothing seemed relevant to this case. There was a mention of Omar Usman of FTH, on a page and details about him were jotted down. Omar Usman held an important position in FTH, later terminated by Alfred. Besides the façade of a social worker in Afghanistan, he was involved in every non-social activity. He looked after the Society for Old Age and Orphans, a non-profitable organization established by FTH in Afghanistan. But later, after his death, it came out that it was a haven for smuggling and prostitution. Crimes were on the rampage. FTH denied all allegations due to a lack of proof. They had vanished all proofs and pieces of the evidence beforehand. Similar cases again erupted in different places of the world and each time due to lack of proof, FTH got easy to bail. “ Future Technology House” was a pioneer in concealing shreds of evidence and gaining the sympathy of all big corporate houses. Repeated accusations towards FTH and repeated failures to find any proof against them has enabled FTH to gather a team of its own. Many big houses have sided with FTH. They were either brought with money or by pity. Ultimately FTH has become the king in the east, with no competitor or criminal records.
"You are still awake, son", came mom’s voice from behind.
I turned around. Mom was standing on the door of my bedroom, looking sullen and forlorn. She appeared so thin and fragile.
"I am doing some work. But why haven’t you been on your bed still now?".
-"I can't sleep."
I know what she was passing through. I went towards her and hugged her in my arms.
"Mom, I am there with you, you know that right?"
She closed her eyes and rested her head on my chest.
"Yes, Michael. You are the last one of my children. My last hope of survival. If something happens to you too-"
She broke off. Her voice was quivering with fear.
"Nothing would happen to me, mamma'. I tried to reassure her.
-"Yes. I can see that. Band-aids on your temples, your hand is wrapped in bandages and I heard that a bullet has grazed past you".
I smiled sheepishly at her. I remembered the time when every time in the Annual Sports of the school, I and Alfred used to come back in dirty soiled dresses and bruises in arms and elbows, mom used to shout at us like this. She still looked the same, except for the gray hairs and glossy teary eyes.
"Don’t worry Mom. Your son will always be with you. I am not leaving you by any means".
She nodded and I rubbed her eyes with my sleeve.
"Michael, I need to ask something from you."
-"Yes, mom. Ask away anything."
-"Jasmine would be discharged from hospital after a few days. That poor girl has no one to take care of. Can we bring her here to your place?"
-"Of course mom. Not only she is a part of our family but also her life is in danger until the criminals are arrested, we can't let her go back to Busan".
-"Yes. She has suffered a lot. My poor girl. Here she would find shelter, love, and care of all of us."
I nodded.
"Mom, this is your home too. You can take any decisions under this roof. No need to ask for my permission."
She smiled weakly. Then she moved towards the study table.
"So what are you working on? Can I see it?"
- "Yes. Sure. That’s Alfred’s diary. I dug it out from a trash bin moments before they came for it".
Mom turned the pages and touched the leaves gingerly with care. "My boy used to write well."
-"Yes, mom. Do you remember the prize he got for good writing in tenth grade?"
-"Yes. Those are the only things left with us right now. His memories. He used to write English very well."
She turned a few more pages and caressed the diary. I went and stood behind her with my chin on her shoulder.
Then suddenly she stopped leafing and stood still.
"What happened mom?’
-"What is the full name of FTH?"
-"It's Future Technology House”.
- "But then why Alfred has written something else as its full name?"
I leaned down and gazed at the place she was pointed. On one corner of an empty page it was written clearly in slanting English:
“ FTH = Frank Ting’s House”
- Writer
