P.R.Harikumar

www.prharikumar.com

A Mortal Wound

A Story by P.R.Harikumar

Today is Sunday. Far from the hectic life of the city, he wanted to spend the day in his private room, all alone.

Having taken his breakfast he was lying in a lazy mood in his bed. He has nothing in special to do. He flew back to his past in imagination so as to keep himself engaged.He recollected his own younger days. There was not a single memorable episode in his past to cheer him up.However, in his lonely hours, he used to engage his imagination even in such sad incidents so that it could fill the vacuum in his mind.

In his imagination he was traversing a village, probably his own native village. He could listen to the loud cries of a mother being tormented by her husband. He could also hear the grumbling of young sisters against poverty and suffering.

While he was engaging his imagination like this he could listen to a gentle knock on the door. He was rudely shaken off his daydream. He wondered who could be that person to disturb him in the afternoon. He slowly opened the door. To his surprise, he found a dark girl on the doorstep. Uninvited the girl stepped into his room and stood in a corner.

She was in her sweet seventeen. Her eyes were tearful. She had a frightened look. Soon she closed the door and came nearer to him.

He just eyed her with suspicion. It was a familiar face. Suddenly he remembered having seen her many a time on his way to office. He could distinctly recall those lively eyes of hers;he never encouraged her; rather he sped away when he came near that spot.

Now he is cornered .He cannot escape the girl. She was just looking at him in all silence. Finally, he broke the silence and asked her what she wanted of him. The poor girl said that she wanted Rs.10/ ; her mother was unwell, they were starving. Even as she spoke like this she was moaning in sheer helplessness.

The man eyed the helpless girl greedily. Carnal feelings overtook him. He was observing with his eagle eyes her youthful exuberance. Her dress was shabby and worn out .Her face and eyes remained lifeless. Still she had a charm and appeal.

Soon he took Rs.10/ from his pocket and gave it to the girl. She received it in all humility. She just waited not knowing how to repay the debt. He slowly inched towards her. Concentrating on her eyes he slowly laid his hands on her shoulders. First of all she shuddered, later she yielded to his pleasure. For the first time in his life he was in the company of a girl whom he very much cherished.

He was all in passion and was trying to ravish her. Suddenly disturbing thoughts and scenes assailed him. He soon freed himself from the clutches of the girl.

He asked the girl to move away adding that she could approach him whenever she wanted help. Still she lingered. This time he remembered many faces like that of the helpless girl. He lost his balance and ordered the girl out. The girl left the room.

He retired to bed again and tried to console his brimming heart. The tearful eyes of the girl who left the room haunted him.

He wanted to wash off his sins. But he could not, however much he tried. Behind the four walls of the room he felt terribly lonely. Many an unrecognized weeping face frequented him in his lonely hours. Unable to contain himself he burst out in tears and thus unburdened his soul.