WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL
by
Archana Vinod
It's a beautiful Monday morning. The streets are teeming with people. Most of them are working men and women, racing ahead of the clock. The other half are kids heading to school. The rest of them... seniors out on a casual walk. The winter has just begun to bid adieu to the suburbs of Ahmedabad, so it's a rather pleasant experience to be out under the warmth of the sun.
At a suburban railway station, Manik grunts and groans as he boards a moderately crowded local train with a laptop bag strapped over his shoulder. He's not quite used to squeezing himself through the door of a local train with a couple more others at the same time! It's really beginning to get on his nerves!
He quickly grabs onto one of the hand straps and clings on as the train begins to inch forward.
That's a hectic start to the day, but he is still excited and looking forward to it, because it's his first day on a new job! Just a month ago, he had managed to bag a really great role at a Fortune 500 company in the city. Now that's something that he had really wanted! It's the turning point in his career. Well... it's just this "travelling" that's left to be taken care of. He had gone around town searching for a new place to stay. Preferably one that is closer to his workplace, but in vain. Hopefully, by next month, it should get sorted out.
He stoops a little to get a glimpse of the view outside. Seems like the trains in India weren't built to accommodate huge people. A person standing at 6'3 and above would seriously have a tough time getting around. Good Lord! His back aches already! Gently, he shoulders past the standing crowd in the jam packed compartment and gets to the door earning many dirty looks as he does.
Whew! Now that's what's called as oxygen! Well, not exactly... the so called fresh morning breeze has already taken the liberty of blending in with the thick fumes expelled from the train and other vehicles plus the disgusting reek of the toilets at the station. The vile odour slowly begins to thin out as they move farther away from there.
The train gradually picks up speed and chugs through a suburban society - identical double storeyed brick houses on opposite sides with two rail tracks running in between. Pretty clean though, unlike some rural areas which the train sees every day.
Manik begins to enjoy the ride. It's rather thrilling to stand at the door and have the wind blow at your face while enjoying the sights outside. But soon, the excitement fades away.
The train slows down and comes to a halt. He looks around wondering if they have reached a station. But doesn't look like it. The others are pretty undeterred. Seems like they're used to it.
Manik glances impatiently at his watch. They have been here for around three minutes. Is something wrong? Maybe I should ask someone, he thinks. His eyes fall on the balding, middle aged man standing at the door.
MANIK: (in a low voice) Are we at a station or something?
THE BALDING MAN: Not really. There's a crossing here. The express train is due to go past us any minute. (pauses to listen) Talk about the devil. Here it comes.
Manik pricks his ears and catches the loud familiar BLARE of a train closing in really fast.
WHEEE... WHIZZZ... CHUG-CHUG...CLICKITY CLACK... CHUG-CHUG... CLICKITY CLACK...
Manik watches quietly as the blue whizzes past them at an eye blurring speed.
MANIK: This happens every day?
THE BALDING MAN: Every day except for the weekends.
The express train finally clears up for them to get past. As it slowly begins to inch forward, Manik's eyes fall on the house just across the empty track. It's a decent looking single storeyed house with a dainty vegetable garden. The house has been designed to have its back facing the passing trains. But what really catches his attention is none of these...
A beautiful young lady crouches low as she happily sprinkles a generous handful of grains for her pets - a couple of chickens and a rooster. They pick at the ground furiously as she smiles and plays with them.
Manik is absent minded but has his empty gaze fixed on her beautiful smile and expressive eyes. She's so cute, he thinks with a soft grin. Her innocent smile... her big sparkling eyes, her lush, silky hair...
She giggles as one of the chickens nuzzles and pecks at her playfully.
So innocent... yet there seems to be so much of sadness written across her face, something which one would recognize instantly. I wonder what it is. It's almost as if she's drowning her sorrows with the only world around her - the chickens. Does she live alone? The house looks pretty empty. The only part which gives an illusion of being alive is the kitchen at the back of the house. But that could probably be so because of her presence in there.
Her childlike innocence zooms out to nothingness as they pull away farther. They're now zipping over a single track and closing in on the next station. Minutes later, Manik alights at his stop.
EVENING
The evening sun begins its descend over the horizon. The sky gleams a bright orange hue with the dark silhouettes of people, vehicles, buildings and other structures against it.
Manik is lucky enough to get to sit next to the window. He leans against it as he stares dreamily at the sights whizzing past. His first day at work was rather uneventful but it was thrilling nevertheless. He has been entrusted with a really big responsibility - to shoulder the company's overseas projects. Though this was something he had done before, it was still different in the sense that he had a bigger team to handle, around twenty five engineers locally and ten others abroad. It gave him a really satisfying important feeling.
As the train closes in on his stop, his eyes drift off to the beautiful young lady he had set eyes on in the morning. Yep, she's still around. This time, she's busy getting the chickens into their coop. Manik smiles. Is this what she does all day? Chickens? Ha-ha.
THE NEXT WEEK
The same routine again - playing over and over like a broken record. Manik has found the door to be his favourite spot in the day. Though the vile, disgusting stink hangs around for a couple of minutes, the rest of the journey is rather enjoyable.
It's the balding man again. He has definitely become less cold than their first meeting. He bares his large, white horse-like teeth and chats away to glory with Manik. It's a rather funny contrast considering the fact that the man was incredibly dark-skinned. The only part of him which puts one off-guard was his dazzling white teeth and the soft whitish hue of the sclera of his eyes. He had a rather funny voice to top it off, almost like he had a mouth full of hot potatoes. However, the man is definitely kind-hearted. It's there in his eyes.
THE BALDING MAN: Kamal is the name. What's yours?
MANIK: Manik.
They slow down at the crossing, just like every day. Manik finds himself searching for the beautiful young lady again. Other than his job, she has become his favourite part of the day. She was like a good luck charm. Seeing her made his day complete. Blessed. Everything that he set his heart and mind on happened like a piece of cake. Surely, there is something about her. Wise old people have often spoken about such "good luck charms". Seeing such people early in the day is a boon.
There she is... feeding her chickens as usual. He nods, amused. Seriously, this girl seems to be obsessed with the bird. Not all's the same, however. This time, her hair is glossy wet and left open to its full magnificence. It gives him the impression of a proud peacock with its glorious train feathers spread out for the admiring eye. He sighs, she looks really divine after a bath. I feel so energetic already. ~Deep Massive Sigh~
Hang on... Manik's heart sinks for some unknown reason as he spots the mangalsutra hanging down from her neck and the red powdery sindoor adorned on the parting of her hair. She's married... since when? How come I never noticed this before?
The train slowly pushes off from there and leaves his heart and guts splattered over the track in the process. Manik tries to shake off the weird, sick feeling. So what if she's married? What's your problem? You don't even know her. And get this... she doesn't know you either. So stay put.
But somewhere deep down, a voice whispers that he wished he knew her.
THE NEXT DAY
Manik was a bit late and missed his usual train today. He manages to catch a different one couple of minutes later though. As it chugs past the houses, he wonders if this train will stop for the express train like the other one? I bet it won't, he thinks with an ever increasing grudge. He feels a bit low after last day's shocking discovery. But still, he wishes to get a glimpse of her every day. Somehow, she has become a part of his daily routine.
To his surprise, this train slows down and stops too. Funny, all the local trains give way for the express?
MANIK: (to the man standing next to him) Another express train crossing?
STRANGER: No. Another local.
MANIK: Oh, okay. How long does it take?
STRANGER: Five minutes sort of.
Manik smiles. The longer the better.
He cranes his neck eagerly to get a glimpse of the "Murgi". Murgi? Murgi!!! He laughs. That's a funny name for the damsel. I don't know her name anyways. So let her be known as the Murgi, for the time being...
There she is. But engaged in a different task. This time, she's busy hanging clothes on the line as her chickens peck away at worms. Manik feels mischievous, pulls out his phone, turns on the video cam and begins to record her live. He smiles as he looks into the screen. She has this very serious look on her face as she picks up each crumpled cloth from the bucket, wrings it, snaps it open and spreads it out on the line. More like a small, cute kid trying to wear a serious expression while she "thinks" that she's doing something incredibly big.
What happens next, sends a sharp clench into his guts. She turns around casually and looks straight at him.
His eyes are like gooseberries as he continues to stare into his screen. Her expression has changed from "serious" to "dangerous". Sheepishly, he lifts his eyes off the screen and meets her glare.
She wrings the cloth as she continues to stare at him, rather uncomfortably however.
Nandini's point of view - that guy standing at the door with the phone... was he shooting me with his cell phone? Good lord, he was... that look on his face... this is so embarrassing. I wonder what he captured... worse... what if he does something vile like upload it on Youtube or some other po*n site?
Nandini quickly gropes around her blouse, just to make sure that nothing was popping out and exposed. She quickly grabs her pallu and wraps it around her bare waist, gnashing her teeth and narrowing her brows as she does. Guys these days are such sickos. All what they want in life is to get laid. This guy was probably getting turned on at all this. Eesh!
Manik's point of view - Shit yaar, Manik! What's wrong with you? Were you actually filming a strange girl without her permission? Recording her video? For what?!!? This was something you'd never done before, so what happened now? Have you lost your marbles? She must have thought of you as a jerk! God, this is so bad. SO BAD!
Nandini's point of view - Hey Aiyappa, if Anandji comes to know about this, then that's enough for him to turn the entire neighbourhood upside down. Better move fast.
She begins to rush off without completing her chore but stops dead as the train begins to move and Manik replies with an unexpected gesture - "sorry".
Her big eyes go embarrassingly glossy as she gapes at his sudden move - a quick hand placed on his ear like an embarrassed little toddler begging for forgiveness. She's confused at first but finds it rather adorable - a big tough looking guy trying to be a softie? Now that's cute. But what if he's teasing me? Nandini no longer feels safe and disappears into the kitchen.
THAT EVENING
Mother Nature can be a bitch at times. You can never count on her. Completely unpredictable. When she throws one of those nasty temper tantrums we really don't appreciate it, but guess what... she blames us... saying that we f****d with her mood. Well, guess she's right. We have been really nasty with her, messing up her face, throwing all the junk around and vandalizing her beautiful greens. So why not? What's wrong if she decides to give us a tough time?
Sometimes she's so sweet with her beautiful lamp shining down on her children and at times... she's like how she is right now.
Darky murky clouds loom in the evening sky. Dangerous bolts of lightning flash threateningly at anyone who dares to linger out for long.
Manik's train slows down as it closes in on his stop.
Humongous, fat pellets of rain begin to plop to the dry earth. Nandini bolts out of the kitchen and out on to her backyard in a little bit of hurry. Her clean laundry which she had so painstakingly washed and spread out in the morning to dry is on the verge of getting soaked to the core. As she dashes through her chore, she pauses...
... to see the same guy who shot her this morning. With a cell phone that is... And this time, he's at the window... laughing... at her!
She feels mightily embarrassed. What's he laughing at? Could he be teasing me? These guys are all the same!
Manik's point of view - Now this is a wonderful treat. Getting to see Murgi dashing out like a chicken being hunted down by a wild dog. Coming to think of it, she actually looks like a chicken. A real, live chicken with a bright red comb and round, beady eyes. She even walks like a chicken! Not to mention, she looks so cute with that scowl on her face. So innocent! Ha-ha-ha!
Nandini pouts at him, rolls up the gathered laundry into a ball and darts back into the house just in time.
THE NEXT DAY
A pretty cosy morning. The rain last evening had managed to drench the thirsty earth to its heart's content. It's the perfect day to remain in bed, tucked up under warm covers. Wake up to a late coffee and a lazy breakfast. Brunch rather...
Manik is out on his daily routine however. He's in no mood to stay under the heavy blankets. No. It's not his job that he's looking forward to. Rather, it's the large chicken that he'd love to see. A perfect feast to his eyes and heart. He has become so used to seeing her that the very thought of spending a single day without a glimpse of her would be a disaster. In fact, he has even started to take that route on the weekends. However, all what he gets is five seconds. Because the weekend trains never stop long enough for him to get a good look. If it weren't for the express train that runs on the weekdays, he'd never get to know her. Let alone, seeing her.
This morning, as the train passes by her house, Manik watches out for her eagerly but sees her nowhere. Strange, she's not out today? Probably got out earlier today. The chickens are out as usual, except for the big Murgi... Might have realized that I'd been watching her. Maybe she felt bad about this whole thing?
EVENING
Still no sight of her. Where is she? I wonder if she's alright. Could she be sick or something? Or maybe she has gone out somewhere?
THE NEXT DAY
Same old story. Murgi's nowhere to be seen. Manik is very disturbed now. I'm going to wait till evening. If I don't find her, I'm going to walk right in.
MANIK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Manik seems to be going through a serious case of the blues as he lazes around on his bed. One look at him would give one the impression that he's dead. It's almost as if his mind and soul had abandoned his body and gone on a joy ride to some wonderland. For the umpteenth time, he watches the video he had captured that day. He just wants to be lost in that moment once again - the moment when Nandini realizes that she is being watched, the embarrassment and confusion that follows, the disapproval, the strong urge to run away and hide.
MANIK: (grins) Murgi... (chuckles) Murgi... funny... (chuckles again) I just want to see that look on your face when you hear me calling you like that. Ha-ha-ha.
THE NEXT DAY
Manik is fidgety this morning. He stands at the door and taps his foot impatiently as he waits for the crossing to close in fast. The train begins to slow down at its usual spot.
KAMAL: You alright?
MANIK: Yeah.
KAMAL: Sure?
MANIK: Haan, bhai.
KAMAL: You look rather troubled.
MANIK: Yeah, it's just that I'm a bit...
His voice trails to a stop as his eyes fall on a breath taking sight.
KAMAL: What? What happened?
But Manik hears nothing. All what he can see is an extremely gorgeous young lady clad in a heavenly red salwar outside Murgi's house. The fabric fits her perfectly, hugging her delicate frame elegantly, her marvellous curls and curves more pronounced. A crisp dupatta with a generous blend of blue, green and red hues rested over a shoulder.
Kamal watches a dumbfounded Manik. What's wrong with this guy? What's he looking at?
Manik is totally knocked out. This is her house... but who's this? It can't be her... Or is it?
The beautiful lady stands before a small mirror on the veranda outside the kitchen, setting her lush open hair and adorning her luscious forehead with a red bindi. It's almost as if a goddess had incarnated on earth as a human being... a divine gorgeousness fills the air.
To Manik's shock, the woman turns around to leave but pauses. She has her big, warm, chocolate brown eyes fixed on him. God, he gasps, it is her! I don't believe it! She... looks... incredible! Good God!
Nandini gapes at him in disbelief. This guy again? Why do we keep bumping into each other every day? Hope he wasn't filming me again! Maybe I should stop stepping out at this hour. He seems to be pass by at this time of the day!
To her surprise, Manik flashes her a broad grin and a thumbs up sign. Mind blowing, he gestures.
She feels powerless as she blushes involuntarily. Her eyes bat rapidly as she feels overwhelmed at this sudden gesture. This was something she wasn't used to - appreciation. So being complimented this way... and that too by a total stranger... not to mention extremely good looking and decent, totally gets to her. But he's a stranger after all. And he's a man to be precise. In short, men are not to be trusted.
Whatever it is, she can't help but try and supress the teeny weeny smile that is screaming to come out of her lips. She sneaks a look at Manik once again and finds that the train has moved off at a good distance already.
Manik stands at the doorway and continues to grin at Nandini. He flashes her an additional thumbs up sign. He's literally on his toes now! All what he wants to do is fly out of the train! It actually feels like he had sprouted wings. But his broad smile fades off to an embarrassed sheepish grin as he catches Kamal beaming at him.
KAMAL: So that's it, eh?
He just chuckles softly in response.
THAT EVENING
The beautiful mouth-watering aroma of a delicious curry boiling on the stove lingers in the air. The sun is on its way to sleep as Nandini gets busy in her garden, picking fresh curry leaves and cherry red tomatoes.
The blare of a train makes her to look up and blush almost instantly. It's that train again... and it's him again! The train waits impatiently at the crossing for the other train to pass.
She tries to ignore him but looks out of the corner of her eyes and notices him playing another game of "dumb charades". What's it now?
He gestures - the smell... is beautiful! I'm... hungry now... What's... cooking?
The struggle to keep her smile at bay is enormous. And yet, it escapes from her lips.
Suddenly, a loud voice snaps her out of her fairy tale world. "NANDINIII!" The loud voice of a man bellows from within the house.
She quickly turns around and retreats to her kitchen with the freshly plucked leaves and tomatoes just as the train begins to move again.
Manik isn't smiling anymore. That loud voice... was rather disturbing... unkind... cruel... there was not even a hint of love in that voice... but what's more distressing was the terrified look on her face when he called out. Nandini... Is that her name? That's a beautiful name. But I wonder... who could that person be? Could it be her husband? She's married I can see. I wonder how he is with her. Is he good to her or is he rude? I hope not. How can anyone be rude to someone like her? She's so delicate, cute... innocent, tender. She deserves to be loved and handled with care. Not get pushed around!
THE NEXT DAY
Anand sits down for an early breakfast. He's in an exceptionally bad mood today, possibly from having a little too much to drink last night. It's something that he decides to continue in the morning as well.
He slams down a thick glass tumbler onto the table and pours out a large peg. Nandini comes out of the kitchen rather meekly and places his breakfast on the table - parathas and chole. He looks up drowsily.
ANAND: Why do you bring the same shit every day?
NANDINI: (in a low, trembling voice) Ji?
ANAND: I asked... why do you bring the same shit every day?
NANDINI: But... yesterday I made you rajma... and...
ANAND: (cuts her off) I've told you before. I don't like all this garbage. When are you going to start preparing some non-veg? Three f*****g years of marriage! What an utter waste! My whole life has gone for a toss!
Nandini is quiet. Though she's used to hearing hurtful words from her husband Anand, the sadistic pain associated with the same is something that never fails to sting her over and over again. Stabbing and hurting her has become one of the many pleasures of Anand, besides drinking and gambling. Day after day, she keeps reminding herself that she's not the one who destroyed his life, rather, vice-versa.
ON THE TRAIN, MEANWHILE
What greets Manik's eyes this morning is a rather unpleasant sight. It's not something which he expected to see. He's not alone. Like him, most of the passengers on the train are equally shell-shocked.
KAMAL: What the hell is going on?
Anand wields a knife as he viciously shoulders past a crying Nandini and grabs one of her chickens mercilessly. She begs him to stop, to spare it... but he pays no heed and snaps its neck brutally.
MANIK: That bas***d... what is he doing?
To everyone's horror, he slashes the poor bird's throat and slams it down to the ground. In a desperate state of shock, the pain stricken bird flutters its wings noisily, squawks with a throat full of blood and rolls madly on the earth.
Nandini throws herself to the ground, cradles the wounded hen in her arms and watches its gaping neck squirt out a gallon of blood all over. She trembles and sheds inconsolable tears as the bird's wild movements fade away.
The train begins to move. Manik's heart pounds madly at what he just saw. It's not about killing the chicken that shook him. But the outrageous act which was done by that man. He possibly knew that she loved those birds and yet he killed it viciously in front of her eyes, purposely... to hurt her... scar her for life... how can he do that? How can he do that... to her?
Manik spots a couple of guys giggling at what they just saw. Obviously, to them, all this is fun. Sadistic acts of killing a helpless and innocent bird or animal... or even the heinous act of a woman getting beaten black and blue by a shameless excuse for a man. His anger is unbearable, unfathomable.
MANIK: (shouts and shoves past to the giggling men) Hey! You! You think that was funny? Huh? Do ya?
The giggling men are confused at first but attempt to defend themselves as they sense trouble.
MANIK: (grabs their collars) Now which part of that was funny? Come on! Spit it out!
GIGGLING MAN: F**k off!
Kamal gets to Manik quickly and pulls him off.
KAMAL: Hey! Cool down man! Just cool it!
Manik is mad with rage. He's literally uncontrollable. With great effort, Kamal drags him away to the door. The giggling men prepare to lunge at him but get restrained by other passengers.
MANIK: (to the giggling men) Saw that guy? You're one like him! Disgusting! Pathetic!
KAMAL: Shush! Cool down! What happened to you?
He struggles to catch his breath as he looks away. Kamal's consoling hand stroking his back goes unnoticed.
THAT EVENING
Nandini sits huddled on the steps of her kitchen veranda. Her precious pet, her favourite of the lot was killed brutally this morning. What's worse was what followed. He ordered her to cook it for him, but she refused. Downright! And the result? The fiery purplish scars on her face.
Tears threaten to fill up in her eyes again, but she had been crying all day that it's hard to continue. Her head is pounding not just from the headache but also from the severe beating that she had to endure this morning.
Just then, a little boy's voice snaps her out of her thoughts.
THE LITTLE BOY: Didi!
Nandini looks up, surprised and finds the boy trying his best to get on to the compound wall. She wipes her tears and hurries to him.
NANDINI: What? What is it?
THE LITTLE BOY: That bhaiyya asked me to give this to you.
He points towards the local train which had just pulled to a stop at the crossing. She had been so drowned in her own thoughts that she never even saw it coming! Her heart sinks as she notices Manik standing at the door. She didn't see him this morning, like she usually did. Chances are that he saw her... and everything else that happened.
The little boy hands her a folded paper and a small perforated box. A scratching noise from the box catches her attention. What could it be, she wonders and opens up the paper.
"I thought that you'd like to have this. I'm sure you'll love it... Manik."
Manik... is that his name? She opens up the box to reveal... A tiny, fluffy yellow chick. Her heart leaps in joy at the sight of the adorable thing chirping away. And it sinks almost immediately as the gruelling incidents of the day come flooding back to her memories! She might have been gifted with a new chick but it can never replace the one she had lost. Her eyes begin to swim in tears once more as she gently holds the chick close to her heart. The blare of the train's engine forces her to look up...
Manik's gut writhe inside to see her in so much pain. Are those shadows across her face... or did he even go to the extent of laying his fat fingers on her?
The train slowly begins to move away. The boy feels lost as he stands in between the duo and looks back and forth at them, wondering what is going on.
Nandini feels devastated at having experienced so much of compassion from a total stranger. So much of care and concern. Why not from Anand? Like any other girl, she was clouded in a mist of beautiful dreams as she entered his miserable life only to get burdened with his heartlessness.
She looks up at Manik, now farther away than before and notices him at his gesturing game again...
Please don't cry... he gestures... tears... don't look good on you... smile... you look mind blowing that way...
In spite of her pain, she manages to smile through her tears. How can't she when he forces her to?
Excellent, he nods and flashes a thumb, that's more like it.
THE NEXT DAY
It's so true when grandma used to say that a wound hurts the worst the next day. Yesterday wasn't as painful as it is today. Her body screams in protest as she limps out of the kitchen and out on to her back yard with a bucket full of laundry. The bruises on her face are more pronounced and swollen than last night. And what's even more painful is the fact that her pets knew what was wrong... they knew that their dear friend was slaughtered brutally last morning... they knew that their friend Nandini tried her best to protect them... they knew that she loved them with all her heart and soul... they also knew that a kind hearted boy gifted her with a young chick last evening. They have been exceptionally gentle with the little thing, treating it as their own baby, teaching it to hunt and search for its own food...
It's a herculean task for Nandini to pull out the laundry from the bucket and spread it out on the line. Anand had been so cruel to her yesterday. He had slapped and punched her across the face several times, he had even kicked her in the stomach. It has been the same for two years. She has no clue why Anand changed so suddenly. He used to be good to her in the initial days, until... he took to drinking and gambling. And possibly... even sleeping with other women. That's what she heard... and it broke her heart.
What followed was pure torture of her heart, body and soul. Her spirit stood up to his shit but her body broke down after a few months. She could never have a child again. The damage was irreversible. There was nothing that could be done. She still couldn't understand why she continued to live with him. She never loved him anymore. She was terrified of him and would do anything to get away. But she was too terrified to even move. Such was her state! Her plight can be compared to that of a frightened, paralyzed mouse trapped before a mischievous cat.
She feared that he would trace her down like he did last year! She had managed to flee from there after an episode of relentless torture. But once he found her... it was hell. She would rather stay and get beaten once in a week or two rather than get three years of beating at a go in a single hour.
Unnoticed by her, Manik watches her from his train. What he suspected last evening was true... the bas***d hit her. He is breathless and furious as he sets his eyes on the fearful looking bruises over her face. His heart pounds in agony as she suffers her pain silently, struggling to lift up a simple object such as an empty bucket.
He had to talk to her. If only he could talk to her. Just then, the little boy he saw last evening walks past them on the track carrying a tray loaded with hot tea.
LITTLE BOY: Chai... chai...
MANIK: Hey Bittu...
The boy stops and takes another folded paper from him.
MANIK: Just give this to that didi in that house na?
BITTU: (smirks) This is business. What will I get?
MANIK: Oof! Tu bhi na yaar, seriously! (pulls out a chocolate and stuff it into the boy's pocket) Now get out of the track fast. You wouldn't want to get run over by the express train.
BITTU: This chocolate will not work tomorrow. I need Cadbury's. Understand?
MANIK: Fine! Fine! Hurry!
The boy crosses the track just in time. The express train blares past them and blocks out his view.
Meanwhile, Nandini opens the paper and reads it:
"Did he hit you yesterday? Sorry if I'm intruding but it's just that I can't see you like this. By the way... Is your name Nandini?"
Nandini looks up and finds the local train sliding away. Manik's face is etched with worry and pain.
She stares at him for a moment before nodding twice. Yes... to both questions.
Anger flares up on his face and contorts his features dangerously. He hit her... badly... how can he? He manages to smile soothingly at her as he sees the troubled expression carved into her face.
AFTERNOON
Manik had stepped out for a quick lunch when he bumped into the tea boy Bittu. He couldn't help but invite the little twerp to lunch. His mannerisms and everything else is rather cute as he considers himself to be a mature grown up and even goes to the extent of behaving like one.
But the information he shares with Manik this afternoon, drowns him in gut wrenching sadness.
BITTU: That guy is such a bas***d bhaiyya. I've never seen him being nice to her or even talk to her politely even once. I mean... how can he be so rude to her? She's such a sweet lady. Do you know? She gives me veggies from her garden every day.
Manik listens quietly, smiles and nods.
BITTU: And bhaiyya, that bugger... he hit her so badly yesterday! Punched her in the face and kicked her in the stomach? Doesn't this guy have a heart? How can he even do that to her? And it's not the first time it's happening!
Manik's eyes sting with threatening tears of fury. At the same time, he's confused. Why does it hurt me so much to know that she's hurting as well? What is it with me?
THAT EVENING
Anand is furious! He rummages through the drawers and cupboards, carelessly ripping out the neatly arranged clothes and papers from them and scattering it all over the room.
ANAND: Nandini!!! (no answer) NANDINI!
NANDINI: (hurries in) Ji? Did you call me?
ANAND: There was three thousand rupees in this locker. Where the hell is it?
NANDINI: If you remember, you had taken it two days ago!
ANAND: You liar!
SLAP! Nandini is instantly frozen as his hard fingers burn her tender cheeks. She gasps at the sudden assault.
ANAND: Tell me! Where did you hide it?
The huge lump in her throat blocks out her voice. The tears stinging in her eyes blurs out the disgusting scowl of her husband's face from her sight.
ANAND: WHERE IS IT?
NANDINI: I--- I--- you--- took it--- that day---
ANAND: Again! How dare you! Bloody liar!
Her vision is instantly blacked out with another powerful SLAP. This time, it sends her hurtling across the floor. With a furious roar, he raises his leg and kicks her mercilessly in the gut like he always does. She groans and coughs in shock and pain.
The doorbell RINGS and stops him from assaulting her further.
He opens the door with such brutal force that it almost gets ripped off its hinges. Instead of a warm smile, the man at the doorway is greeted with a vicious scowl from Anand.
ANAND: Who the hell are you?
It's... Manik. His gaze drifts off to Nandini, squirming on the floor. Almost immediately, he realizes that she was being assaulted by the savage of a man. He bolts past Anand and helps her up gently.
ANAND: Hey! What the f**k! Get your hands off her!
Manik doesn't bother to respond. He helps her on to her feet and looks into her eyes as he does. She trembles violently in his hold as her body still struggles to accept the torture it was subjected to just a while ago. His vision fades to black and his eyes brim with hot, angry tears as he spots the fresh finger prints etched across her soft cheeks that was forced to harden itself to his relentless slaps and punches.
ANAND: (growls) So... what I heard was true! Stories about you screwing around with other men, letting them into the house to spread open your vile legs for them, you filthy bitc---
He raises his hand to hit her yet again but gets blocked by the strong arm of Manik.
MANIK: (with a low, shaking voice) Enough! You've crossed all limits. You call yourself a man? You shameless wretch!
ANAND: (through clenched teeth) You're making a big mistake... standing on my ground... in my house... and challenging me!
Without warning, Anand attacks his opponent with his free arm, but Manik's quick reflexes kick in on time to block the blow. The man's expression is twisted fearfully as Manik violently wrenches both his arms. Nandini is terrified at the sight before his eyes. Here was the kind stranger she had been seeing over the past few days from a distance, right before her eyes, protecting her, fighting against the wretch who chose to only harm her. She feels a deep sense of gratitude for Manik. For giving her something which she never even asked for... care, concern... love?
BLAM! Manik's powerful kick to Anand's chest sends him sprawling across the living room and over the couch. He is dazed and breathless as he struggles to recover from the blow, it almost feels as if he was just hit by a truck! He clings onto the couch and scampers to his knees as he glowers at the duo helplessly.
MANIK: (turns to Nandini, talks to her in a low voice) I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen. I never meant to intrude on your personal life, but...
Nandini doesn't know what to say. She just watches him quietly as he talks, the soft look in his eyes consumes her, it's something that she had longed to get from Anand, but...
MANIK: Nandini... (gets closer to her) I don't know if I did the right thing, but, it's just that... I think I care too much about you and can't stop thinking about you... I don't want to see you like this. That's not how I've dreamt about you. If it's okay with you... and I hope that you'd agree... I wish to show how I've always pictured you.
Nandini is frozen to the bones as he holds out his empty open hand, longing for hers to rest on it.
MANIK: Will you come with me?
Silence, broken by Anand's furious scream.
ANAND: I'll kill you! bas***d! Get out of my house! F**k off!
MANIK: (ignores Anand) I promise you... you'll never have to cry a single day for the rest of your life. It's a promise. Do you trust me?
Nandini searches his eyes for the missing pieces she had always longed for. For the words she had yearned to hear... for the touch she had craved to feel... Is she making a wise decision? Entrusting herself into the hands of a total stranger? She had only seen him for the past few days and yet she feels this strong connection which pulls her towards him.
ANAND: NANDINI!
His blood curdling scream was all what was needed to take the much needed decision of her life. Without second thought, she confirms her trust in the man before her eyes... Manik, and places her small tender hand in his giant, rough one.
ANAND: (screams) NANDINI!!
Furious, Anand picks up an empty whisky bottle and smashes the end away to produce an instant knife!
Nandini gasps as Anand closes in on them wielding the sharp, dangerous weapon with one sole purpose - kill!
ANAND: Did you really think that you could walk away so easily? Huh?
The man's eyes are round and blood shot. His face - horrendous! He drives the broken bottle straight at Nandini's gut but gets stopped with a powerful clasp to his wrist and a shattering blow to his nose.
Manik unleashes the full power of his weather beaten knuckles right onto Anand's nose. The soft cartilage is instantly and painfully knocked out of joint. Anand falls to the ground bleeding and writhing in horrific pain and Nandini's heart instantly melts.
NANDINI: (weakly) No... please. Stop. Don't hurt him anymore.
Nandini so badly wants to mop up the blood from his nose and put an end to his pain, but something holds her back. It's probably the fear and trauma pulsing through her, forcing her to keep a safe distance from her unpredictable husband.
MANIK: (to Anand) Even after all what you put her through, she still cares for you. Does that even get to you?
Without warning, Nandini races out of the house before letting out a quiet sob and heads straight to her favourite place in the house - the back yard, the kitchen garden and her precious pets. It was where she spent most of her boring day. Anand never slept with her, except for the days when he couldn't keep in his hormones. To him, she was just another wh**e who was willing to spread out her legs for a man. There was nothing in his heart for her. Absolutely nothing.
She opens up the coop, pulls out a puzzled hen, hugs it and cries her heart out. The bird clucks softly and pecks at her gently in an attempt to console her. Nandini is overwhelmed with a bag of confused emotions. Everything's happening too fast. She's not even sure if she has taken the right decision. She has nothing to lose other than these precious little birds. It was all that she loved with her entire being. She just can't bear to leave them behind. They were what gave her the strength to go through years of endless torture and hurt. They were what made her smile, her days pleasant... they were all what made her look forward to another miserable day with a smile on her face.
She is startled by a voice just above her shoulder.
MANIK: You don't have to leave them behind.
Without even knowing it, she holds her breath as she turns around to look at him, questions in her eyes.
MANIK: (smiles) I know what they mean to you so... separating you guys is out of the question.
She still stares at him, awestruck.
MANIK: (winks) Seriously. You can keep them.
Her heart brims over with gratitude for the One above. Has He really seen the countless of times she'd shed tears in solitude? Has He heard her all those times when she prayed fervently to deliver her from hell... has He really heard her? Is this His answer to her prayers? This man before her?
She lets go of all that was bottled up in her for years as she buries her face into his chest and breaks down. All the hurt, the humiliation, the loneliness, helplessness, desperation... and yet above all...the undying belief and hope in a miracle. And it has happened.
Manik is hesitant for a moment but gradually pulls her into his comforting embrace, encouraging her to let it out with gentle, consoling strokes to her back.
MANIK: (quietly) It's okay. It's all over. You're safe now.
MUCH LATER
It's true that even the beast of a man eventually gets pitied by people with a heart. Such is Anand's case. In spite of all his heartlessness, Nandini cared enough to call in an ambulance to attend to him. He is plastered up as he gets hauled away to the hospital.
MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE
Manik has managed to hail a taxi to get them home. The car is filled with the loud confused clucks of Nandini's chickens. She watches them scratch around in the large box that they are kept in and feels that she's finally headed to somewhere safe.
All of a sudden, she feels a warm, gentle touch on her hand. She looks down in bewilderment at the source of the touch - Manik's hand. There's this kind glow in his eyes which banishes all of the remaining fears and doubts embedded in her. There's nothing to be afraid of, she assures herself, you can trust this man. He loves you...
MANIK: Are you happy now?
She gazes into his soft eyes and wonders... is she really? After all what she went through, it's going to take a very long time to heal. It's not going to be easy. But is this what she wanted? Someone that she could entrust her heart to? Someone who'd protect it with tender care, love and cherish it like a priceless gift? Yes, this was definitely what she wanted. He was the one she had waited for all these years.
She smiles and rests her head on his strong shoulders, thankful and relieved that she had finally got through the toughest test of her life to win the biggest prize - the man beside her.
~THE END~
