*From To Sathish* - Thread 3 - Page 49

Redemption-chapter 45

"We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and in spite of True Romance magazines,we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely at least, not all the time but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness."
Hunter S. Thompson

Hospital blues

"This is how most stories end in the hospital. Not with crash carts and sirens and electric shocks to the chest, but with an empty room, a crisp white bed, silence."? Jacob M. Appel, Phoning Home

The old man sat next to his wife as she was being prepared for her bypass surgery and he knew that he would have to step out to give her privacy with the nurses who had come to help her prepare.She reached out her hand and he gently took it and softly kissed it.Both had tears in their eyes for this was the first time in their nearly forty years of married life that one of them was going into surgery and for them who hardly fell sick,this was a total unknown and a scary experience.

She looked at him " it is going to be okay.I will probably be out in a few hours and a few more hours for the anesthesia to wear off and then back to old times.Remember to take your meals on time or your sugar levels will drop and you will faint like a sack of potatoes and i won't be there to pick you up."

He nodded okay and stepped out of the room and met Babu who was standing there.Babu and the old man over the past few days had become good friends and spent time chatting outside their rooms which were opposite to each other.

Babu saw the tears in the old mans eyes and gently patted his shoulder " It is just a bypass surgery and she is going to be okay.I will give you company as you wait for her to come out of surgery."

The old man smiled sadly " thank you babu."

Chennai Police Commissionerate

Police commissioner rakesh menon whispered " yes" without even looking up and his secretary entered quietly and placed a few folders on his table and then softly " sir,Inspector james gunalan of the S13 chrompet wants to meet you and he has been trying from yesterday to get an appointment.shall i show him in ?"

Rakesh menon leaned back " what time am i supposed to meet the DGP ?"

The secretary " 11.00 a.m sir."

Rakesh nodded " okay.show him in."

Police commissioner rakesh menon sat in his office wondering as to why the S13 chrompet police station Inspector James gunalan was coming to see him and sincerely hoped that it was not some corruption or extortion complaint against one of the assistant commissioners or the joint commissioners to whom he reported to.

Rakesh thought to himself " i just hope i don't have to suspend someone for taking a small bribe or asking for a discount for some lcd tv or washing machine.With the crap salary that we are paid,it is a miracle that the entire police department has not become rotten and corrupt."

The door opened and Inspector james gunalan came in ponderously with his tummy and nearing retirement age revealing to rakesh that the man would face lot of health problems,if he did not give up smoking,drinking and eating for three.

Acknowledging the salute, commissioner rakesh asked inspector james to sit down and politely enquired if everything was okay.

Inspector james said everything was fine and yet rakesh could see that the man was struggling to come out with whatever it was that was weighing heavily on his mind.

Commissioner rakesh stared at him for a few seconds and then slowly placing the pen on the table leaned back in his chair and " you have come so far and yet you are hesitating.Why don't you go wait outside and come back in when you are ready ? okay."

Inspector james nervously " sorry sir,i came here to volunteer information about the identities of the dead bodies in the parking lot of the pallavaram dhaba.It is just that i am scared that i might implicate myself by volunteering the information.As you are aware,i am just a few years away from my retirement and if i get suspended or kicked out,then my pension and other perks will all be at risk."

Commissioner rakesh smiled at james " inspector,if this case goes wrong and if police negligence or corruption is proved by an enquiry,not only you,even i will be suspended or transferred to some hellish place or worse they will transfer me to the traffic dept or administration dept in some other state.so stop wasting my time and come to the point."

Inspector james mustered up courage " sir,those men who were found shot dead in the parking lot are all from a timber mart near tambaram.All of them including the owners and the workers are among the dead.Sir,believe me when i tell you that i had no clue as to who these people were when i interacted with them and purchased some hardware and woodwork from them."

Commissioner rakesh menon " that is it.Is that all.so what man,people higher up and the whole goddamn government from the workers to the ministers take bribes or enjoy some consideration via women or holidays.And you are feeling guilty about getting paint,hardware and plywood at discount rates from these criminals."

Rakesh menon looked at james " Forget what you told me or rather what you confessed to me right now for i want you to go out there and gather as much information as you can from the timber mart.I will get a search warrant released immediately and take it and enter that place which i am sure was their den for all their criminal activities.I want to see you here at sharp 6.00.p.m today with a detailed report.okay.All the best."


Hospital Blues

Babu sat with the old man in the corridor outside their rooms and anxiously waited for news from the doctors.Babu could not leave his duty behind and since rudran had found electronic devices in the room,he did not let his madam out of his sight.He dared leave the room for the private security men stood guard watching everyone and everything with their trained eagle eyes.

The old man understood babu's need to be just outside the room and so he decided to wait outside along with him in the corridor.They made small talk and babu found it amusing that the old man was curious about Rudran and wanted to know everything about him starting from his childhood.Babu said a lot and yet left a lot unsaid for though he trusted the old man,he knew he should not be talking too much about rudran and his job,especially to strangers.

The old man looked at babu with a twinkle in his eye " loyalty is one of the traits of great warriors and you my man are truly a loyal person.Trust me for i mean no harm to rudran or his mother and frankly speaking i think things have been set in motion that have brought our lives and paths to cross here in this very hospital and maybe one day you will believe and trust what me and my words."

Babu was puzzled at all these strange thoughts and talk by the old man and wondered if he was expected to say something when one of the duty doctor came up to the old man and informed him that the surgery was over and that his wife had been shifted to the ICU ward.He requested the old man that he could see his wife through the glass window of the ICU ward,but that she was still under the effects of anesthesia and told him to wait until tomorrow morning before he went in to see her.

The old man thanked the doctor and turned to babu " kindly excuse me for i am just going to go and see my wife and i will be back soon and we will talk more."


A Short History of Medicine
2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1850 A.D. - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."
1940 A.D. - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."
2000 A.D. - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root."
~Author Unknown

I am sorry that i got the names of murky's brother and son mixed up.for in chapter 30 i introduced selvam as murkys son and got the name mixed up in chapter 40 where i mistakenly say maaran.by the time you read this i would have edited the error.thank you.

Redemption-chapter 46

"[Saint Anthony] said, in his solitude, he sometimes encountered devils who looked like angels, and other times he found angels who looked like devils. When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint said that you can only tell which is which by the way you feel after the creature has left your company."
Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

All of us in our lives endure once,twice or many more times mental and emotional trauma that comes through death,betrayal and the breaking of our heart.But we forge on,some stronger,some weaker and some just zombies and soon time heals the wounds and scars,only memories remain

But there are some who know trauma from the time they are born and they know it,live it until they transform themselves into trauma themselves.They fill their souls with anger,hatred,vengeance,greed and jealousy and they become something which they were not when they were born.All that anger leads them to the dark side of crime and then there is no coming back.

Thailand

Murky sat on the beach looking in the direction of the west,where the setting sun was sinking low taking its light away from the east and allowing darkness to get on with its game.Darkness,night for that is when the predators come out to hunt,kill and eat.

Murky poured himself a large measure of scotch and then raised the glass towards the west and smiled grimly " mr.rudran,welcome to the darkness,welcome to my nightmare and i hope you will enjoy your stay in it.It is time for you to experience the pain and trouble you have caused me."

Madurai-long ago


Murky was born as Markandeyan and he was named thus for he survived many a brush with death and those encounters started when his mothers womb was kicked by her pimp who also turned out to be his biological father.

Shenbagam was dark as most dravidians down south are but she was blessed with a great body and a slightly above average face.After having been molested by men in her house,shenbagam could take it no more and ran away to madurai where she was pushedin to sex trade at the age of 15 and was in great demand from the start of her career.Her pimp was smart and knew he had a winner on his hands and groomed shenbagam and soon from 50 rs her rates went up to 1000 rs and even then the demand for her did not stop.

When she told her pimp that she had missed her periods and that she might be pregnant,the pimp smiled and told her he would take care of it.But shenbagam refused to abort the child and though she was beaten and tortured by her pimp she refused to give up her child.

The pimp decided that nothing could be done and thought he would make use of her while there was still time left before her tummy started to show her child.

Men came,many men came,mounted her while she lay wondering about what her child was going through in her womb.She did not have to worry for the child began its life in prostitution and misery would know no other feelings or emotions.

From the womb,murky was beaten and'when he was just three days old,his pimp father took him away and abandoned him near a field outside madurai.But fate intervened and he was rescued although he had been without food for nearly two days.He was somehow brought back and united with his mother and he grew,grew watching men come and go in all hours of the day and always in the night.

Then a smalltime gangster took her under his protection and they lived together and a few years later murky had Maaran,his younger brother for company.But the peaceful times did not last long for his stepfather,the gangster was killed and so he,his mother and brother fled,fled a distance and landed in a village.the first few days were spent begging and surviving on the goodwill of a few of the villagers there.But once that dried up murky's mother started doing odd jobs like sweeping,washing and also helping in the fields.murky and his younger brother also joined their mother and for a time they were at peace although the going was hard.

Murky grew up fast and soon earned notoriety when he stood up and faced down some gangsters who were passing through their village.By the time he was 20,he had been in and out of jail many a time and this only added to his reputation of a person to be avoided.But these traits were in demand by local politicians and landlords and murky was used as a bouncer and muscle to terrorize his bosse's victims.

But then one day murky came home to see his mother being raped by a local party councilman and well that was the last time anybody saw him alive.murky killed him and buried him where no one could ever find him.

The police came again and again,probing,questioning murky for they suspected him in the disappearance of the councillor.But without a body,without a crime scene or any evidence there was nothing they could do and and left him alone.

A few months later his mother passed away although she was not even 40 years old and murky thought this was the right time to put this part of life behind him and start a new part in chennai.He and his kid brother travelled to chennai and slowly and surely murky climbed the ranks in the criminal world.

He did return a couple of times to see selvi whom he had been in love with and when she told him she was pregnant,murky married her the next day and promised to look after her.to them was born selvam,but who was no more for he had been killed by rudran.


Markandeya

Sage Mrikandu was a great rishi and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He and his wife Marudvati dedicated their life to the worship of the lord, and their only regret was that they had no child to pass on their piety to.
One day, Lord Shiva himself appeared before Mrikandu in response to his prayers, and said, "Mrikandu, I am very happy with you and your wife. I have decided to grant you your dearest wish - a child. However, you have a choice. Do you want a son who will be smart and intelligent, but will only live for 16 years, or do you want a long-lived, but foolish son?"

Mrikandu replied immediately, "Lord, we would rather have the intelligent son, even if his life will be short. Of what use is a long life if one is not intelligent enough to make use of it for the right purpose?" Lord Shiva was happy, and disappeared, granting the sage his wish.

In due course of time, a child was born to Marudvati. He was named Markandeya', literally meaning the son of Mrikandu'. Even as a child, he stood out among the other children of the ashram with his divine luster, which grew as he absorbed knowledge like a sponge.

At a young age, his father performed his thread ceremony and started teaching him the Vedas and the Puranas. The child picked up the mantras easily, stunning the inmates of the ashram. In a few years, he had mastered all the Vedas and the Shastras, and made his parents proud of him.

As his sixteenth birthday drew near, Sage Mrikandu and Marudvati started becoming apprehensive, remembering Shiva's injunction, and fearing that they would soon lose the son whom they loved so much.

Markandeya noticed his parents' apprehension and asked them the reason for their sadness. Sage Mrikandu explained to him the circumstances of his birth, the conditions laid down by Lord Shiva, and his approaching death. "My son, we were so happy at the prospect of getting an intelligent son that we did not worry about the short life span. But now, we cannot bear to be parted from you, and thus are worried about what will happen just a few days from now" he said.

Markandeya smiled and said, "Father, you have taught me the Vedas, the Puranas and the Shastras. You have taught me that the lord always listens to the sincere prayers of his devotees. So please do not worry on my account. It is lord Shiva who has decreed that I should live for 16 years. I shall pray to him, and ask him to extend my life span. He will surely answer to my sincere prayers." Speaking thus, with a confident smile, Markandeya went to the river bank, and, making a Shiva lingam with sand, started praying to it with all his heart.

Days passed, and Markandeya was immersed in his prayers, when Yama, the lord of Death, arrived to take his soul from his mortal body. Seeing the fearful form of Yama, Markandeya hugged the lingam he had made, tightly.

Yama laughed, and said, "Child, it is my duty to take you today. Nothing and no one can save you now." Saying this, he threw his noose over the boy, but he was so close to the lingam that the noose encircled the Shiva lingam along with Markandeya.

As soon as the noose touched the lingam, Shiva was enraged, and burst out of the lingam, and kicked Yama. "How dare you throw your noose on me!" he shouted, stunning Yama. Caught off-guard, Yama tried to explain that it was his duty, but Shiva was furious. He said, "This boy has come to me for protection, and he shall have it. Yama, you can never touch him. He will be immortal."

Yama was disappointed, but had no choice, and thus chastised, left for his abode. Shiva blessed Markandeya not just with a long life, but also with immense knowledge.

Markandeya returned home, making his parents very happy. He went on to become one of the most learned rishis of all time.


It is funny that in this ancient legend it was lord shiva who gave life to markandeyan and soon it will be the same namesake in the form of rudran that murky aka markandeyan will face.But all that in the coming chapters.


Our lives are like the many streams and rivers that run,flow and eventually are embraced by the seas which is the cosmos and the eternal truth.souls from all walks of life dip,bathe and cleanse themselves in the river ganga and they enter the water,dark and light alike.what,who,how and when is decided by that invisible force called destiny and one whose secrets we will never know.

Murky started his life in sin,anger and pain and has lived in it making everyone else responsible and making every one pay for what he suffered.

Rudran also started his life with the tragic loss of his brother and yet he grew up knowing that he had to fight and protect others from suffering the same tragedy.

what a difference and how diverse their thoughts between these two individuals.one is a hero and one is the villian and as long as light and dark wage war they will be born in some form or other and continue to do battle.

"Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanirva Bhavathi Bharatha,
Abhyuthanam Adharmaysya Tadatmanam Srijami Aham'.
Praritranaya SadhunamVinashaya Cha Dushkritam
Dharamasamsthapnaarthaya Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge."

"Whenever there is decay of righteousness O! Bharatha
And a rise of unrighteousness then I manifest Myself!"
"For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and
for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age."

I saw two small budget films that were released many months ago and loved them for their simplicity and for the way in which the director never compromised their vision on how the films should be told.

The first film was Dum laga ke haisha and the second was Highway.

I was blown away by Alia bhatt's acting in the film and also the music by a.r.rahman.

I hope to see baji rao mastani soon and will post my reviews.

Redemption-chapter 47

"Sooner or later everything you thought you'd left behind comes around again. For good or ill, it comes around again." ? Stephen King, Insomnia

Of the many things i have learnt about life and to a certain extent about myself is that no matter how difficult a certain task is,it can be done,completed when i focus only on it rather than think of why,when,can i,will i,should i,what if.Answering all those irrelevant questions and drained of energy,mental and physical i struggled at a given task.Then gradually i thought like arjun seeing only the eye of the bird,i too saw only the task at hand and brushed away all other thoughts and distractions.For example,before going to the gym,i used to wonder what exercise i would do,had to do and that confusion invariably actually ended up confusing me and it made me question my thought process.Then i fixed my routine firmly and never budged from it and only made changes to it the previous day and not on the day or the time when i was about to start my workout.I began to apply this thought process for my acting work,normal daily routines and soon it became an essence of my mind and life.You can see those results in my steady stream of chapters and thoughts when previously i used to post lot of jokes and other works borrowed from the web.I still occasionally do share a thought or article but not as much for now i have so much to tell,share and write from my mind and soul.In the end,in three words i give you this " just do it."


Hero

Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid... He is the hero, he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world.-Raymond Chandler

The old man's phone rang and he answered and he stood still as a surge of power ran through his body as the voice on the other side whispered sadly.It spoke briefly and yet the conversation it felt like an eternity.

The old man took a deep breath and raised himself to his average height and yet he felt like a giant.A smile filled his face and a new purpose strengthened and filled his every footstep.He walked quickly and went to the ICU ward and standing outside,searched for his wife.He saw her in the last bed and heaved a sigh of relief.His forehead against the glass pane,his breath fogging up the glass,he stood gazing at his wife and then stepped back and drew a heart in the fogged up spot and then went back to staring at his wife.

He spoke to her from his soul" The time is here my sweet one.It is now or never and i know that you will approve of my actions.There has never been you or me for my thoughts and actions have always been about you and only you.If something should happen,then remember and never forget what i have told you.Bye for now.I will try my best but if i should fail then keep on fighting the good fight."

The duty nurse looked at him and gently " sir,you don't have to worry for she is perfectly all right and you can take her home in a few days.In fact the doctor will be here in a few hours and if she is awake,he might make her walk for a short duration."

The old man nodded and looked at the nurse with tears in his eyes " thank you.thank you very much.Just take good care of her."

Wiping his eyes he got into the elevator and going down to the reception area,searched for a ideal place to sit and watch the entrance without him being noticed.He slowly and methodically scanned the entire area for suspicious looking characters and was relieved to found no one for he knew that his instinct would have immediately warned him about them.

8.00 pm


The time was about 8.00.p.m and the reception area of the hospital was nearly empty but for the hospital staff and then it started.

The old man saw all five of the private security men who were supposed to be guarding rudran's mother coming out of the elevator.He wondered what was happening and quickly went up to them and asked them why they were not at their posts watching over the old lady.

The person who was in charge of that shift " sorry sir,but we got a call from our boss that there is no more need of security for mr.rudran's mother for the danger is over and there is no security threat for both of them.

The old man knew something was wrong,really wrong and he frantically tried explaining to the security men that there must be some mistake in their security detail being withdrawn so abruptly and he begged them to hold on while he found out what was happening.

One of the security men " sir,the prime minister is coming in tomorrow to meet the chief minister and then there is some kind of dinner afterwards where he is meeting all the top businessmen of the state.so we are going there and we need some rest before that.so,accept our apologies and try to understand our situation."

The old man did not know what to do and then did the thing he did not want to do but had to do for there was no other option.

8.10 pm

He quickly dialled the number that had given to him and had been told to use it only in a case of real emergency.

He waited as the mobile rang on the other side,urging him to pick it up and then he picked it up and answered with his deep voice " hello."

Rudran had been taking a bath when he had heard his mobile ring.normally he would have continued with his bath and then called back but something in his mind whispered,urged him to take the call.

The old man took a deep breath " rudran,do you remember me."

Rudran's mind made the connection in a split second " the old man from the hospital."

Rudran was shocked and irritated for he wondered how the old man from the hospital had access to his personal number when to his knowledge only five or six people knew about it.

The old man spoke hurriedly " you are wondering how i got your number.it does not matter.what matters right now is that the security detail protecting your mother in the hospital has been withdrawn and you need to rush here as quickly as possible for i think they are going to attack your mother.I will try and do something to distract them but come now,right now."


Ending the call,the old man quickly rushed to the reception and asked for the security chief of the hospital.Finding him he informed him that rudrans mother who was in the third floor might be in danger and asked him to send a few people to watch over her and also alert the police.

8.15 pm

Then he quickly rushed to the elevator and getting into it rose to the third floor and ran towards rudrans mothers room where babu was on the phone.

Babu turned to the old man in panic " sir,what is happening.rudran just called to tell me to lock the doors and not open it until he came and personally asked me to open the door."

The old man looked at babu " There is no time to explain but i want you to trust me now for we might have very little time.Bring the lady and put her in my room for they will not be looking for her there.come now,hurry for it might be all ready too late."

Babu did not know what to do but his instincts told him that he could trust the old man and he gently asked rudran's mother to stand up and slowly they walked her out of the room and into the opposite room.

The old man looked at babu " listen,close the door and bolt the locks and for safety's sake push the table and chairs and place them behind the door.Do not open it until Rudran gets here.Okay."

8.20 pm

The security head of the hospital knew that the old lady on the third floor was somebody important and that she had her own private security to watch over her.He quickly scanned the feed from the cameras on the third floor and saw that none of the private security men were present in their positions.Not knowing what to make of it,he asked two men from his team to go and take a look and to report anything suspicious.

The two hospital security men went floor by floor and reaching the third floor carefully but quietly looked around but everything was normal.The duty nurses were going about their duties and since it was dinner time,food was being delivered to each floor from the hospital cafeteria.

They called their chief and reported that everything looked normal and calm and were requested to stay on the third floor until this problem was cleared.

8.30 pm

The hospital security chief Kannan was a retired sub-inspector and he was not one to take any complaints or observations lightly for many a time in his career with the police department,he had found clues and helped solve cases with the help of strangers and their watchful sight.But that was in the real world,outside these protected walls of this elite hospital and kannan did not know what to make of the old man's request.Yet,he was glad he had followed it up and now that there seemed to be no danger,he thought he would take one last look at all the feeds from the many cameras that were installed in the hospital.

Kannan saw a movement in the parking lot and let out a sigh of relief when the doors of the vehicle belonging to the private security firm that were in charge of the old lady on the third floor open and five members of the detail get out and casually amke their way towards the entrance of the hospital.

The team of five private security men were stopped by the kannan,the hospital security chief and were asked for identifications and he asked their team leader why the delay in taking up their shift of watching over the lady.

The tall,tough looking gentleman who obviously was a retired cop " Traffic was really bad and moreover lack of co-ordination from our office led to a lot of confusion among our force for we were first sent somewhere else and then were asked to come here.We rushed and tried to be here as soon as our other team members left but we are humans and cannot be expected to fly like birds over congested roads.But now we are here and there is nothing to worry about and you can ahead with your duties.I apologise for any inconvinience caused by our security firm."

Kannan nodded " well,that is a load of my mind and now i can get back to my duties.Good night gentlemen."

The tough looking guy from the security firm smiled wryly " good night,well our night is just starting and there is nothing good about it for we will be spending time walking up and down the third floor,watching over our client.so,let me wish you a good night and hope at least you sleep well."

Kannan nodded " guys,it comes with the territory and the work is the same when we were in uniform working for the dept and now we are in our safari suits working for the private sector.But at least the pay is much better,isn't it."


8.40 pm

The five men calmly got into the elevator and 20 seconds later exited it on the third floor.One stayed back near the elevator and the other four entered the corridor.One stayed back near the entrance of the corridor and the other three slowly and casually walked through the corridor.

The tough looking guy who was obviously in charge of the team stopped at the duty nurse's counter and introduced himself and after making small conversation with the couple of nurse's who were starting the night shift left them and went and positioned themselves near the entrance of the room in which rudran's mother was in.

The ear piece crackled " Are you and your men ready ?. Just get it done and get it done quietly and calmly and leave no clues behind.okay.After the job upstairs,quietly exit the hospital and you,just you go to the security room and remove the hard drive or the external hard disk.You have seen the photos and so you know what to do.If the disks are not removed then your faces will be revealed.Now you don't want that do you ?. Kill,i mean kill anyone who gets in the way and don't leave anyone alive who you think can be a threat.So follow my instructions and leave in that black innova next to which you have parked the security vehicle which you drove in.you will find the keys in the car and the money in the trunk.drive and keep driving and do not stop until you reach villupuram and you will find another vehicle there,which you will use to get to coimbatore and then stay underground for a few days and then all of you go your ways and i will call you again when the next job is ready.Understood."

The tough guy's name was Senthilnathan and yes,at one time he had worked for the police dept in madurai and that too in the encounter division,which took down notorious rowdies and criminals who killed for money.But corruption and insubordination finally took its toll and he was kicked out of the dept and from then on,he and a few like minded people from the dept who wanted big money joined to form a secret gang and carried out jobs for their secret boss,who they had met just once when he had recruited them.Over the past decade,they had carried out such executions all over the country and they had killed,men,women and children of all sizes and shapes and a couple of times,entire families.Everything was always planned to perfection by their boss and then instructions would be sent to them and all they had to do was be there at the right time and finish the work and exit quietly.


The toughie quickly scanned both sides of the corridor and then slipped into the room and was shocked to see it empty.He quickly searched the bathroom and panicked finding it empty.But he was a veteran and so he calmly came out and nodded to his men who understood what was happening.

Senthilnathan slowly walked towards the nurse's station and told the nurses that the old lady was not looking so good and could they come and take a look at her.

Both the nurses rushed out of their duty station and ran towards the room and senthilnathan quietly slipped in behind them.

The handgun he pulled out from behind his shirt already had a silencer screwed on to its nose and he pointed it towards the nurses " okay,where is the old lady.i am going to ask you just once and then if the answer is not right,i will put a bullet in one of you and then the one who is remaining will answer correctly."

The nurses like the many you find in most hospitals in south india were from kerala and just young lives in their early twenties.They were trained to treat patients but they were not trained to handle guns being pointed at them and being threatened to be shot at.one of the nurses who was more timid than the other whimpered and looked down as she realised that her bladder had let go and was now forming a puddle at her feet.

Senthilnathan looked at her and then shot her in the head and then turned the gun at the other girl who put her hands up " wait,please wait,please don't shoot for the lady must be out in the balcony on the other side of the corridor.sometimes patients are advised to get fresh air and also are asked to spend time in the sunlight.so maybe after dinner,her companion must have put her in the wheelchair and taken her to the balcony.see,there is no wheelchair here in the bedroom and on this floor,every room has a wheelchair.please believe me for i am telling the truth."

senthilnathan inhaled deeply and smiled at her " okay nurse,you are going to lead the way to the balcony and you are going to do it quietly for i will be right behind you and if you make one false move,then you will join your friend in death.okay."

The nurse nodded and slowly she opened the door and quietly started walking towards the other end of the corridor which was about thirty feet away,when senthilnathan saw in the distance an old man pushing a wheelchair with what looked like an old lady in it.

But then the old man saw them and he screamed " help,help,police,police " and started running towards the elevator and smashed into the one of the men who was guarding the elevators.


8.45 PM

Senthilnathan raised the gun and put a bullet into the nurses head at point blank range and pushed her body aside and ran towards the people whom he and his men had come to kill.

All four of the killers covered the ground of the corridor and found their team member lying on the ground along with an old man and a wheelchair lying overturned.

Senthilnathan put three bullets into the old man and then into the form lying covered under the wheelchair and quickly turned it over to see it was just pillows and quilts covered with bedsheets and made to look like a person was sitting in it.

Senthilnathan screamed in anger and then lifted his man from the ground and realised that the job had gone badly wrong and now it was too late to go searching for the people they had come to kill.

The old man raised his hand and tried to say something but blood gushed out of his mouth and senthilnathan in desperation knelt next to the dying man " you old bas***d,where is that old lady,tell me now or i will put a bullet in your eyes."

The old man stared at senthilnathan with bright shining eyes and then smiled weakly as the blood kept gushing from his mouth.

The elevator made a noise and the old man slowly but surely raised his hand and pointed weakly at it " He is here.Just in time."

8.48 PM.

Senthilnathan turned as the doors of the elevator opened and all five stared at Death as it stood tall on two strong legs and it held a handgun in in its right and a evil looking knife in its left.Time seemed to stand still and frozen for the five men but not for rudran and his handgun spoke rapidly and three fell dead and then he dived to the right as a few of the killers bullets sprang at him but only found empty space.Rudran's hand gun barked quietly and the remaining two crumpled to the ground dead and dying.



To be continued

Redemption-chapter 48

"It's not that we have to quit this life one day, but it's how many things we have to quit
all at once: music, laughter,the physics of falling leaves,automobiles, holding hands,the scent of rain, the concept of subway trains... if only one could leave this life slowly!" Roman Payne, Rooftop Soliloquy

Death like life has been a constant companion from the time my brain started memorizing and capturing videos of my life and the world around it.After all these years,with grey in my hair and on my chin,the grey areas of my mind and soul are still grappling with the concept of death and embarassingly what to tell someone when death has come and touched them and their family with its cold and lifeless fingers.I think of so many beautiful things,subtle and touching poetry to caress them and to soothe their wounds but strangely all my mouth mumbles is " i am sorry."

Then i realised the power of a hug,the energy of the touch by a hand on a shoulder and it seems to work,really work for i have had men and women,old and young cry their hearts out on my heart and having felt better,called me up and thanked me for coming and being there.


Dying wish


Rudran hurried to the side of the old man who still hung on to life but barely and who flashed a bright smile,seeing rudran besides him.

Rudran felt for the first time in many years what he had felt when bhairav had gone all those years ago.He gently lifted the old man and looked in to his eyes " why? why did you do this old man? you don't know me,i don't know you and yet now i am forever in your debt."

The old man smiled in pain " son,it is okay.honestly,i am happy to die for a great cause and even more happy that i am going to breathe my last breath in your arms.Promise me."

Rudran felt the tears pour down and on to the mans face " promise me that you will rise above your redemption and live life for your self and not for the one who has gone.Rise Rudran,rise above your grief,rise above your need for redemption for many pray and wait for your rising."

Rudran could not make sense of what the old man was saying " old man,what are you saying for i am not able to understand what you just said."

The old man smiled and then taking what was his last breath as life slipped away from his body whispered " one step at a time " and died in rudrans arms.

Rudran gently felt for a pulse on the old mans neck and finding none started sobbing and then he looked up and roared his pain and anger.The roar was so loud that it was heard throughout the hospital and it vibrated through all the glass windows on the third floor.

This is how the chennai police found rudran on the third floor of the hospital,with a dead man in his arms and surrounded by five dead men.

In the Icu,the old lady had just come out of the effects of the anesthesia and she heard the roar and then she felt the passing of her loved one as life slipped out of his brave body.

She cried " shivam,shivam,you stupid old man.you have finally done what you have been whispreing to me all these years.And now you are gone and i am left here all alone.oh,you stupid man."

The nurses rushed to her side " mrs.kamalam,mrs.kamalam what is wrong ma'am.Ma'am please tell us if you are in pain."

This was not the pain that a mortal body can give a person but a pain that can only come from a broken immortal soul.

Hi Satish,

Thank you and i am glad that all of you liked the chapters.

Yes,sadashivam and kamalam are from the previous story and a few more characters might pop in to twist and make this current story interesting,gripping and just plain good to read.

I wish you all a very good day.Be well.

Redemption-chapter 49

"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else." ? Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven


The light came to the child and their minds were united.The child whispered " who are you?"

The light whispered " Some call me god.some call me creator.But i just am as are you."

The child chuckled and cycled its legs and gurgled " why are you here with me now ?"

The light took a moment " you must experience a few things for the sake of the purpose."

The child " okay.but why are you so sad?"

The light smiled sadly " I am sad that i have to sacrifice so many souls for the sake of others.well,many might and more might not understand the purpose.But certain times,sacrifices have to be made voluntarily and with courage so that it will lead and guide others towards the path of the light.But it is only the body for your mind is my abode and there it is always heaven."

Many years later,the child now a grown up man hung,nailed to the cross and smiled as the spear was pierced into his side and whispered " father,forgive them for they no not what they do."

He looked up in to the skies " is this enough or should i hold on for a little while longer."

The light whispered " it is done.come home."

Remember people,always remember that when you sacrifice your happiness,your time,your blood,your organs and sometimes your very soul for the sake of a higher purpose you are transformed into christ.Those are the only things,the only credits that go into the books and ledgers of this cosmic life and karma cycles and recycles it all back to you.

Every single atom in your body"the calcium in your bones, the carbon in your genes, the iron in your blood, the gold in your filling"was created in a star billions of years ago. All except atoms of hydrogen and one or two of the next lightest elements. They were formed even earlier, shortly after the Big Bang began 13.7 billion years ago.We are the cycle and are being constantly recycled and the voyage has lasted nearly 13.7 billion years.Right now i am satish,you are maghu,you are spain,you are durga.but stop to think what we were and how we were and what all forms our atoms and molecules formed.What a ride.wonder now what we will be in another billion years.Breathe,live,exist and rise for you and me are the universe.



8.49 pm-earlier

Kannan,the security chief of the hospital was in the parking lot about to get into his ageing maruti zen,when the flashes on the third floor caught his eye and when the flashes came again,he knew they were gun shots and he nearly died of a heart attack.He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 100 and after informing the control room who he was,told them about the gun shots.

That done kannan ran towards the hospital,yelling for the security men to follow him immediately and asked the reception staff to announce that there was an emergency and that everyone should lock themselves in their rooms and not come out until told to do so.The high end Bose speakers,softly crackled and the information was relayed.The hospital staff did panic but soon the whole hospital was under lock down and not a soul walked the corridors.

Kannan along with his security staff rushed into the security center where he quickly scanned the feed from the third floor.Kannan's heart missed a beat when he saw the body of a nurse in the middle of the corridor and then he saw the mayhem near the elevator where a man sat with a body in his hands and he was surrounded by five dead bodies.

8.53 pm-right now

Kannan decided that he would go up to the third floor and see what was happening for himself with few of his staff,when the police sirens announced themselves as their tyres screeched loudly and came to a halt.
It was the chennai police patrol car and a head constable along with three other police constables jumped out and rushed towards kannan who came to meet them.

He told them what he had seen on the security cameras and the head constable nodded and all of them got into the elevator and it hummed quietly as it rose to reach the third floor and a soft indian voice,with a fake american accent or british accent whispered " third floor."


8.50 PM-earlier

ACP Balaraman was just entering his house when he got the information about the incident in Global hospitals and when the word gunshots were mentioned he knew immediately what it meant and thought " omg,rudy,i hope you are okay my friend."

Then he smiled in frustration " crap,rudy you idiot.for gods sake no more dead bodies.because it looks like you are single handedly reducing the population of chennai."

He jumped into his vehicle and asked the driver to switch on the sirens and race towards global hospitals.


8.51 pm-earlier

Police commissioner rakesh menon was just about to sit down for dinner when the news about the gunshots heard in global hospitals reached him.Although he was dressed just in cotton pants and a collared tee,he slipped into his crocs and rushed into his vehicle and asked the driver to switch on the sirens and head towards global
hospital.


Right now on the third floor


Rudran heard the elevator doors slide open and his hand smoothly gripped his handgun and he turned towards any threat that might be coming for him and his mother,again.His eyes took in the hospital security chief kannan,whom he had met a couple of times and then he saw the patrol cops of the tamilnadu police dept.

Kannan recognised rudran immediately and he turned to the head constable and whispered " That guy is an IPS officer,some big shot from delhi.He is very close to our ACP balaraman."

The head constable looked at kannan and then at his constables " What,an Ips officer.now what are we supposed to do or how do we handle this situation?"

Thankfully for him,his doubts and confusion were put on hold as Rudran gently placed the old man's body on the ground and rose and stood facing them.He reached into his shirt pocket and removed his Id card and that was enough for the head constable and the other police men whacked out stiff salutes for this is how they are trained and their training and discipline meant respect for a higher officer,even if he was from another state.But that did not matter for they knew an Ips officer when they saw one and seeing rudran they knew this guy was made of a different cloth from them and one they wished to be and failed.

Rudran looked at them and then slowly placed a finger on his lips and asked them to follow him quietly.With his hand gun held in front of him,he walked in a precise manner and then he hurriedly made a call to babu and asked if they were okay.

Babu informed rudran that they were in the opposite room of the old man for he had requested them to hide there and rudran felt a pang in his heart as he realised how brave and intelligent the old man had been and all the while knowing that he might lose his life,trying to protect rudran's mother.

Rudran told babu to stay in the room and not to make any noise until he personally came and knocked on the door and told him that it was okay.

Rudran and the men slowly and methodically went from one room to another room and finally heaved a sigh of relief and he placed his handgun back in its holster.

Kannan looked at rudran as he made a call and walked away as he started to speak to somebody and then came back to face them.

Kannan " sir,the old man who is lying dead came to me and told me that the security for your mother had been withdrawn very suddenly.Then after he told me that he rushed off and a few minutes later these five security men appeared.I asked for and confirmed their identifictions and only then did i allow them to go about their duty.not even in my wildest dreams did i imagine that it would turn out to be such a huge mistake."

Rudran nodded " mr.kannan,dont worry about it for all this is beyond your expertise and you have nothing to blame yourself for."

The elevator noise alerted them and rudran with his hand gun out started to walk towards th elevator and ACP balaraman came rushing towards him.

Rudran calmly lowered his handgun and looked at his friend and shrugged his shoulders " i am sorry but there was nothing else i can do when they force my hands and they came here to kill so i had to retaliate."

But for Rudran everybody there nearly jumped out of their skins when a voice roared " what the bloody hell is going on here ?"

All of them turned to see Police commissioner rakesh menon marching angrily towards them and behind him came ten police commandos in full black and armed to the teeth and holding lethal AK 47's.

ACP balaraman rolled his eyes towards the skies " crap,that is it.surely heads are going to roll now."

Redemption-chapter 50

"In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega-a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets. " Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love


Rakesh menon had been in the post of Police commissioner of Chennai for the past three years and even before that he had been in the news for the past two decades for his bravery and discipline and everyone standing there,went silent and their right hands touched their right foreheads in stiff salutes.

Rudran stood among them saluting the police commissioner as it was his duty and Rakesh menon acknowledged them and locked eyes on Rudran and then looked at Acp Balaraman " what happened here ? quickly and briefly."

Acp balaraman " sir this is mr.Rudran,whose mother is being treated here and from what information i have gathered,these five men here lying dead here came to attack mr.Rudran and his mother and the gentleman fought back and killed them."

Police commissioner Rakesh menon locked his eyes on Rudran and he started connecting the dots and with his eyes still on Rudran he asked Acp Balaraman " how did he manage to kill all five men ?"

Acp Balaraman looked at Rudran who nodded " sir,with my handgun for which i have a license and the authority to use it to protect and defend."

Police commissioner Rakesh took in this information and then turned to the head of the SAG(SPECIAL ACTION GROUP) Assistant commissioner Abdul shakir " Abdul,arrest this man and take him to the headquarters.Take his handgun and send it to the forensic lab for fingerprints."

But Acp Abdul of the police commando team,hesitated and Rakesh menon blew his top " what are you waiting for,the tv and press.Arrest this man now."

Acp Abdul shakir looked at Rudran who nodded understandingly and handed over his handgun which Abdul took and then wrapped it in his kerchief and gave it it the man who was standing near him.

Acp abdul shakir looked at the police commissioner " sir,if i may say something."

Police commissioner Rakesh menon was just about to scream his head off and yet he controlled his anger " what is it Abdul? i just gave you an order and yet instead of carrying it out you ask me permission to say something.okay.out with it.quickly man."

Acp Abdul shakir looked at Rudran and then at his boss,the commissioner " sir,i think there is some kind of misunderstanding here.I think it is better to escort this gentleman rather than arrest him."

Police commissioner Rakesh menon crossed the two feet distance between him and Acp Abdul and stood facing him,eye to eyes " Mr.Abdul,is there something going on here which i am not aware of.but one thing is certain and that is i am your superior officer and the police commissioner of this city and right now you are violating my orders which will be cause for immediate suspension.anyway before we go there next,tell me why are you hesitating to arrest this man who has just agreed to having killed five men.who is this man and what is he to you.

Acp abdul shakir looked at commissioner Rakesh " sir,first of all,i cannot arrest him for he is an higher ranking officer and moreover he is my teacher."

The words of Acp abdul fell like thunder in everyone's ears and everyone stood stunned.

Police commissioner Rakesh menon looked at Acp abdul " what do you mean you cannot arrest him for he outranks you.who is this man?"

Acp Abdul shakir looked at Rudran and then at Police commissioner Rakesh menon " sir,this gentleman is Lieutenant general Rudran of the Indian army and if anybody can arrest him,then it is only you for he is of the same rank as you."

I am the wall and i stand tall
In the light of day and dark of night
I remain and will not lay down without a fight
I need no love,I need no tears
For they will bring me to life
Nay to them springs of mortal men
For i need to,want to remain undead
Only then can i wreak vengeance
Only then can i rain my wrath
On those who are dead and yet pretend to live
In the guises of parasites,eating,feeding
On the weak and Innocent
So i have become the wall
And i will stand tall and my will shall prevail

song for rudran by satish

Om Sivoham Om Sivoham Rudra Naamam Bajeham
Om Sivoham Om Sivoham Rudra Naamam Bajeham

Veerabadraya Agni Nethraya Gora Samhaaraka
Sakala Lokaaya Sarva Boothaya Sathya Saakshatkara
Shambo Shambo Shankara
Om Sivoham Om Sivoham Rudra Naamam Bajeham