Mo Yaling

The News

Shankar is a skilled thief. Neither in his nature. Nor as his profession though. But he is always excited to steal for his friends as and when required. Though I’m NOT in his friend list, but he always admires me for my various skills. So when he messaged me – I was almost sure that he would be able to steal away the keys of this prison from my father and would rescue me!

Hence, when the door opened with the faint screeching sound and a thin fine line of light fell over me, I almost jumped in excitement. But right then I heard a noise from the window - ‘Sh! Sh! Sh!’ I looked at the window and my heart leaped up to my neck – it is Nayna! I sprang up from the bed, shut the door quickly with a gentle pressure without making a sound and went to the window. I only hoped - Nayna hasn’t seen that the door was about to open!

‘What my love?’ I hold her palms which she had forraded through the grills.

‘I have something to tell you sweetheart. Promise me you’ll never mind!’

‘I won’t! I promise! Just tell me!’

On my back I sensed the light of the corridor is gradually filling the room. What the i***t is doing! He will ruin my plan to escape! I tried to cover Nayna’s eyes with my full figure as much as possible. But before I approach towards her, Nayna just dragged my hands and brought me closer to her. Then she clutched my head with one of her hand, pulled my face against the blank of grills and kissed me deeply. I was so moved with this gesture – I just closed my eyes. For the next few moments I just swayed away with the heavenly lips of Nayna.

After a long kiss she removed her lips and said, ‘the house is full of relatives. You have to share the room with Raju and Birju – please!’

‘What! What the-!’ I couldn’t utter a single word!

The very next moment a click sound illuminated the room with warm white led light. I surprisingly noticed that Raju and Birju is standing side by side with grin in their faces. Somebody from outside latched and locked the door once again.

GOD! And I was thinking that my deliverance has come to rescue me from this prison!

Nayna looked at my face and asked innocently, ‘What my love?’

I could only say (in a very low voice, so that she cannot hear of course), ‘I hate you!’

Raju and Birju had brought a packet full of dinner for three of us. The food no doubt was very tasty, but I had to just kick them down through my gullet!

After having their dinner those two swine-in-law started snoring as if they were having their slumber for the first time in their life! And I kept looking on my mobile watch – how it tickled passed the flight time! I opened the w******p and typed on Shankar’s message box – you flat faced pig! You rotten dog! I gave you a simple job to do – and you pissed it off! Within no time Shankar replied back with a thumb up emoji! GOD! Pull me up!

When I lost every of my hope – I just concentrated on my marriage. I called up my father and gave him few instructions. The rest I have finalized just the day before yesterday. After the breakfast my mother, accompanied by her sisters came to Nayna’s house. Nayna’s father pulled up a tent especially in front of my prison window and arranged few cots to sit upon. My mother and my aunts had their seats on the cots and started gossiping among themselves. Nayna and her mother and other female relatives started attending them with royal care. Me too were getting royal care along with them. Everybody was so caring about me that I was forced to flow away with their emotional wafture!

In spite of everything I was missing the expedition very much. Steve is an exclusively interesting and educated wise person. I had learned so many things from him in those previous expeditions.

There were NO chance of joining the journey any more, still I didn’t got freedom from that prison. Only on the day of marriage, just before a few hours of the auspicious moment, few of my brothers and sisters and few in-laws came in like a splash of wave and dressed me up and prepared me for the marriage. After some time I heard the beats of drams and fire crackers outside the house. I presumed that my relatives has came for the marriage. I was feeling very awkward. I was supposed to come here with that procession.

Suddenly my phone rang. I saw my old friend on the screen.

‘Hey old man! What’s up?’

‘How’s your marriage going young man?’

‘It’s silly man! I’ve neither seen this kind of marriage, nor heard! Leave this topic – what about your expedition?’

‘It’s been postponed.’

‘WHAT!’ I jumped off my position. ‘SERIOUSLY!’

‘No – I was just joking! Sorry!’ Steve broke into laughter.

I didn’t know what to say! I was so angry! ‘Just … just … GO TO HELL!’ I yelled over the phone and disconnected.

I threw my phone in anger through the door. Someone was entering the room – the phone hit his groin area with a good force. The man made a muffled sound of pain as his physic twisted, though he caught the phone instantly. I saw it was Shankar. Where the hell did he came from?

‘YOU! What are you doing here?’

He took some time to manage himself.

‘I was guarding the door.’ He replied as he grappled to breath.

‘Guarding the door! You were supposed to steal the key and rescue me!’

‘I too wanted to! But bhabi said that if I guard the door properly, she’ll reward me after the ceremony!’

I was so flabbergasted that couldn’t say a thing. WHOM I’m getting married to! HOW could she assume every steps of my plan? WHAT is she!!

But I couldn’t had enough time to think of her. My father along with some other elders of my family came to me and escorted me to the mare standing outside on the street decorated with flowers and umbrella to carry me on her back. Shankar was the chief person who was dancing with the drum beats as if he has achieved something! How shameless can a person be! I rode on the mare. She crossed the gate and came inside, merely ten feet and I had to get down! What a foolish convention! My would be mother-in-law then came along with other family members and greeted me inside. After that the marriage ceremony went along like any other marriage happens. Nothing special. My mood was off like anything. I performed all the rituals like a robot. Everybody present there enjoyed the marriage ceremony except me.

Three days has passed after the marriage. Nayna has annihilated all my angers and dreadful feelings regarding my disability to join the expedition with Steve with all her abilities. I too have started looking forward for a beautiful conjugal life. Suddenly Shankar arrived that morning – excited.

‘Have you heard the news?’ He uttered as he controlled his breath.

‘What news?’ Nayna asked as she enters the room with the tea-tray.

Shankar didn’t reply. Instead he forrarded his smart phone.

I took it from his hand and became astonished to see the news on the screen – Eminent scientist and adventurer Steve Oda got missing on the second day of his new expedition!