A Short sweet Mummy story

She screamed in pain so loud that the entire floor was able to hear her. After one and a half day of labor pain she just thought of one thing. I want this baby immediately out of me. A couple of hours later, her screams were overpowered by yet another sweet screams of a baby. Finally the baby was out. Doctor showed her the baby and said, ' congrats.  You have a baby boy. ' She leaned back and thought 'Thank God , my baby won't go through all this pain stuff' .  She fainted.

Fast forward 2 years later,  she was in the same hospital and in the same labor ward.  Same screaming , no, this time even more as baby got in an inconvenient position and the doctor was trying hard to position it back manually. She started having shortness of breath and was administered oxygen.  She was about to give up when the baby gave in finally and came out. Doctor showed the baby to her and said, ' congrats.  You have a baby girl .  She looked at the baby tenderly and thought ' Thank God , my baby will now experience the beautiful motherhood I am cherishing. ' She fainted contentedly. 

Episode 4

Doctor Srinivasan looked at the clock with a sigh. It showed 9.30 PM. It's been 4 hours and  30 minutes since he was sitting in the same position. Earlier it didn't seem to matter but with age ticking 65 it started causing severe backache. He turned to his attender and asked how many patients were left . He replied 'Two more sir' . Srinivasan looked relieved. He asked him to show in one first.

He had come in for a hand sprain his wife explained. He gestured the patient to sit in the adjacent chair and gently helped him rest his hand on the armrest and started examining it. He asked ' what's your name sir? ' He replied ' I am Ravi doctor' .

Srinivasan let out a little gasp and slipped the patient's hand. He shrieked in pain. Quickly gathering himself, he mumbled an apology blaming his sweaty hands and gently took his hand again.  He should control himself whenever he hears the name Ravi.  Ravi may not be Ravi anymore and also ironically Ravi won't need a doctor anytime. He smiled sadly.

After examining the patient Ravi's hand, he tied it with a crepe bandage, wrote a couple of medicines , gave instructions to his wife and asked the attender to show the last patient in. 'Finally I can go home in half an hour. Then for a nice hot bath, crispy puri and karma, warm glass of milk, classical songs and a nice sleep. He was dreaming blissfully when Kandasamy walked in with his brother.

Srinivasan gestured them to sit with the usual niceties and asked them his complaint. Kandasamy's brother Munisamy started explaining, 'He claims to have seen something unexplainable at office today doctor. Since coming back home, he looked stunned and confused and was thinking a lot. He got all feverish and complained of a blinding headache. Please give him a good sleeping pill so that he will sleep and let us also sleep doctor. '

Srinivasan laughed and asked Kanda about his pain and started examining him. He wrote some tablets and asked him to take for a couple of days. He then enquired casually ' why don't you share with me the reason for your headache? 'Kanda hesitated a little . Then said sadly ' you will also laugh at me doctor. ' Srinivasan replied ' Try me.  Maybe I can give a satisfactory explanation and you can put your mind to rest. ' Kanda's face showed a little hope and started explaining the thing he witnessed about Vinoth fully.

Srinivasan was all ears. He could hardly believe at last his quest was coming to an end. He could not contain his emotion. He remembered his father's words. 'For generations we have preserved this a secret and have carried on the search with utmost secrecy and dedication.  Handle this with caution. '

As Srinivasan was lost in thoughts, Kanda was convinced the doctor has believed his story.  He looked at him eagerly for a plausible explanation. Srinivasan stared at him for a minute.  Then spoke, ' Kanda what you have witnessed today is a truly paranormal event. I would like to meet this person myself and get things clarified'.

Kandasamy was skeptic. He was sure Vinoth will never accept the truth nor will forgive him for telling on him to this doctor. He voiced his thoughts to Srinivasan.  The doctor thought for a while and said 'You give me this person's phone number and address. I will arrange to meet him accidentally and move on. '  This seemed a good deal to Kanda. He obliged. He browsed his phone and shared Vinoth's number.  He promised to go to the office now and get his address from the records. The doctor asked him to hurry.

As soon as Kanda left to do his bidding , the doctor took his mobile and dialed a number. 'Son, we may have reached an end to our search. I am waiting for the address. Once I get it we will get there immediately. Get ready and make necessary arrangements. Dr. Raj Srinivasan, who was on the other side of the phone acknowledged his dad and got ready.

He got out of the house and proceeded to lock it.  Remembering something he stepped inside the house and walked to the room filled with ancient medical transcripts and grand pictures and paintings of his ancestors , Rajarajan being first in the line. He smiled at him and said, 'I think your revenge has come only this far then. Nothing good or bad lasts forever.
Goodbye. ' 

Episode 3

Thondaiman was completely out of his wits now. He could not keep in pace with the way things were swirling around. Things that happened a couple of months back slowly reeled in his mind.  King Ravi Varma who loved hunting was in one of his trips when he accidentally shot an arrow at Pughazhendi,  son of the chief physician Rajarajan to death. Rajarajan was summoned to the palace.

On seeing Rajarajan,  Ravi Varma ran up to him, grabbed his hands and said 'Please cut off these hands of mine. I have made a terrible mistake. I have ruined your life'. The King could not meet his eyes.  He hung his head in shame and looked upset.

As Rajarajan looked confused, the King continued ' I accidentally shot your son lurking in the bushes thinking him to be a deer.  I am the one who killed your son. Please forgive me'.

It was more than Rajarajan could bear.  He could see things clearly now. His son, his only son could have stayed alive had the King been alert in the trip. He would not have got orphaned had the King been more careful and vigilant.  He burst out in agony.
His lips trembled and limbs shivered. He thundered, 'You do not know the pangs of pain a death could cause. I will make you realize it.  I will make you see the death of each and every one you shall ever love in this world to make you feel the pain I suffered today. '

Present day

After an unexpected encounter with Kandasamy, Vinoth planned to leave the city and go north to start things afresh.  He decided to write his journal first.  It has been his habit to record things in his daily routine in his journal.  Once done he decided to plan things ahead.  Relocating to a new place of the country with a new identity will be an herculean task.  But he was left with no choice.

He could not let his secret out. Not that he minded anymore, he feared his pain may grow exponentially if he is to repeat all he has gone through.  He decided not to linger on his pain further and made his way to the basement.  He always saved his money in a chest.  He knows he cannot invest in anything or in a bank fearing identity issues. Loose cash was always his thing and had helped him so far.

He took out his duffle from the attic and started packing his personals. His ring got caught in the frayed threads of the bag.  He removed it from his finger and slowly removed the threads from the much decorated signet ring of King Ravi Varma the third.  

Episode 2

Vinoth woke up with a start.  Though he had this same dream again and again he could not put his mind to rest.  The man laughing hysterically before taking his own life is not an usual sight to behold.  But he knew he could never forget that.

He looked at the clock.  It showed 5.37. He knew the alarm would wake him up by 6. Not able to decide whether to get up or lie again he tossed around. Then remembering to send some mails before the start of usual work at office he decided to get up. 

He grabbed his laptop and started to draft a couple of mails.  After double checking he sent the mails.  He got up and left his Cosy bed and hit the couch in the living room. He switched on the TV and started surfing the channels.  News channels were flashing news about some hurricane at Indonesia which claimed many lives.  There were disturbing scenes of many people crying and kids corpses everywhere. He couldn't take it at all. 

He got up in a trance and decided to leave for office to improve his mood. He got ready and drove to office. Vinoth was received by Kandasami, the office attendant.  Kandasami was just opening the main door of his floor when Vinoth entered.  He was surprised to see Vinoth that early.  

'Good morning sir. What is the matter? Why are you so early to office ? 'he enquired.  'Nothing special Kanda. Just woke up early.  Thought to complete work fast and leave a bit early today. That's all.  Do you always come at this time to office' . 

'Yes sir.  I always come and keep things ready for you people to start working. Now tell me sir. You wouldn't have had your breakfast . Do you want me to get anything for you'. 

Vinoth just realized how hungry he felt.  He asked him to get a loaf of bread and a small jar of jam. When Kandasami came back he offered to make his sandwich to which Vinoth obliged. 

He was talking and moving his hand frantically with the knife in hand when Vinoth  reached to take a piece of bread. Swish went the knife and slashed Vinoth in the palm.  He shrieked in pain.  Kandasami dropped everything and took Vinoth's hand and pressed it hard to check bleeding.  

Vinoth was protesting against his help.  'Leave it Kanda. I heal fast. It's nothing. '

' Please bear for a minute sir.  I will get the first aid kit'.  Kandasami left for a couple of minutes and came back with a roll of cotton and a bandage.  

'I am telling you.  There is no need for all this.  I heal fast.  The bleeding has stopped' Vinoth protested. 'I will check for myself sir.  Please show me your hand' Kandasami persisted.  He grabbed Vinoth's hand.  

He gasped.  There was absolutely nothing in his hand. A drop of blood or even a scar.  It seemed like the hand had grown new flesh after the wound.  It was as clean as a whistle.  He looked perplexed.  Vinoth looked blank.  He simply said 'I told you. I heal fast.  Don't worry' 

Kandasami was not satisfied.  He looked as if he had been slapped in the face.  He was very much confused.  He had seen the wound just 5 minutes back and now there was nothing. He started to clean the desk.  When he cleared the knife from the table he could see blood on it.  He looked terrified.  He turned to see Vinoth who still looked blank.  

Not knowing what to do he left the room.  'There is no choice left for me now. I don't think I can hold on my secret any longer. I have to fake my death here and leave to some place to start life afresh.' He thought sadly and typed 'Symptoms in sudden heart failure victims'  in Google. 

The Revenge

Episode 1

King Keshav could not believe his eyes.  He closed his eyes and spent a moment pondering whether he was really awake and opened it to read the message brought by the messenger for the second time.  It was from the commander in chief Thondaiman of his neighboring rival Kingdom .

The message was short and simple - Release our king or prepare for war. He wondered if his army has captured the King on their own and was bursting to tell him.  His army replied the negative.  He was well aware that a war would be inevitable if the king was not returned back to them.  He decided to  reply in the most polite way he knew - 'Though I love to meet you at war I don't know where your king is '.

Thondaiman was training his cavalry when the messenger gave him the reply. He was pretty sure that King Keshav has kidnapped his beloved King , Ravi Varma the Third when he went out hunting.  He was preparing for a war to avenge him.  But the message turned things around.

He ran the stairs to break this news to the minister Vadivelan who was staring at the window aimlessly.  'The King is not even kidnapped then. I fear he is lost. We must get our search parties to start searching again'.

Vadivelan did not reply.  He simply continued staring. Thondaiman came near and shook him only to find him dead. Thondaiman shouted at the guard nearby to find the physician.  The guard ran about and brought the royal Physician Rajarajan along. He examined Vadivelan and declared him dead of a sudden heart attack.

Thondaiman's grief knew no bounds.  The king missing and the minister dead he did not know what to do next.  If not for his grief he would have noted the grudge  smile in Rajarajan's face when he excused himself.

He turned around and was about to excuse Rajarajan out of the room when he noticed the latter pull out a dagger. He shouted 'My will is done. This is the first blood shed' and laughed hysterically before passing the dagger across his chest.

Pretty mom - A 2 minute story

She stared at the mirror for the thousandth time at self wondering how to better her looks. Took out her wedding album and admired the way she looked 4 years back.  Now after having two two kids and not finding time to groom she looked bit forlorn.  She heaved a sigh and started to Google for instant brightness.  Her toddler son came running to her and grabbed the album.  She started showing her beautiful self to him proudly.  He identified his dad immediately but refused to believe that's his mom thanks to the heavy makeup. She tried hard to make him believe but he didn't. She thought he didnt believe because she wasn't as pretty as she was then.  Her toddler replied 'mummy you are very beautiful and the lady in the picture is not as pretty as you' . She hugged him hard and the spark in her eyes as a mother shone more than the stars that night.  :-)