Agent S

“Hello is it Agent S?” Asked a sweet voice

“Yes, I am. How can I help you? Please come in.” I was busy but how could I ignore such a beautiful voice from a gorgeous girl, after all I am a Man

“My name is Isha, and I need your help. Could you please help me?”

“Of course please tell me everything.” I had another case

You know the thing about detectives is that they don’t usually get any interesting work. Most of the time all we have to do is chase husbands or wife to get proof of their infidelity.  Sometimes police also came to ask for my help but I mostly liked to work alone and I hated the simple cases where I had to tail someone for the simple purpose that they can get a divorce.

“Mr. S aaa Agent S I mean Sir.” She Stumbled

“Please call me Lokesh.” I tried to make her relax

“So Lokesh, My twin sister Nisha is in a big trouble.”

“How’s that so?” I enquired

“My sister was in an accident and a man died. Police is claiming that he died due to accident but my sister swears that he was already on the road and she tried to apply the car break but still she hit him and also hit another car causing the accident.” Explained Isha

“Hmm, if we want to make sure that Nisha is innocent and we would have to prove that the man was already dead when Nisha’s car hit him.” I shared my views

I assured Isha that I will check with Police and my sources and will get back to you with the results.

I went to the Police station and met Inspector Sharma and requested him to see the dead body of the man. I also went to meet Nisha in the lock up and my God was she beautiful.

“Could you please let me know Ms. Nisha about the night?” I asked

“I was driving and it was raining so visibility wasn’t great. Suddenly I saw that a man lying on the road. I tried to break but I couldn’t control the car and after hitting the man I crashed in a car which was parked.” She said

Nisha started crying.

“Please don’t cry I would try my best to make sure that if you are innocent then Police sees that.” I tried to comfort her

Then I visited Morgue with Inspector Sharma to check the Body of the deceased.

“So Mr. Sharma, why do you think that Nisha is the culprit and the man wasn’t dead before the accident?” I asked

“Well Agent S, we did not find any distinguished mark on the body to suggest any foul play and still Post-Mortem is remaining which will reveal more about the case.” Mr. Sharma informed me

“In any case do you mind if I check the body myself.” I asked Inspector Sharma

I spent half an hour checking the body and once I was satisfied I notified Inspector

“So did you find anything?” Asked Sharma

“Of course, I would like to tell you that Nisha is innocent.” I surmised

“Are you sure and do you have any proof for your theory?” Said a very surprised Sharma

“Do you really think I would exonerate a suspect based on a hunch and not some solid proof?” I said smiling

“So what are you waiting for, then let’s close this case or at least release that poor girl.” Said Sharma impatiently

Once we reached the dead body I settled and once Inspector, coroner and other officers huddled together I started to show them all why I thought and knew that he was dead before the car hit him.

“As you can see that there are multiple marks on the body due to the accident, but if you see closely apart from those injuries, there are also tiny holes on his arms. Those tiny holes are caused by injection, and by the looks of it I would say that he was a heroin addict and he must have overdosed and must have died due to heart attack. He must have wandered in the middle of the road and died. And only after he died did Nisha’s car hit him. That is why she cannot be charged with the case of his death. You can ask Dr. Saxena and he would confirm the same after the Post-mortem” I finished

“Hmm, interesting theory now let’s see what does our Doctor think.” Said Inspector

I went back to my office and waited for the results of the Post-Mortem to arrive.

I got the call after two days and I immediately called Isha and asked me to meet at the Police Station.

“So the man was dead before the accident and Nisha hit his car after hitting him. So she would be released, let’s go and complete the formalities.” I said smiling.

“Oh! Thank you very much Agent S you are wonderful.” Said Isha hugging me

We completed the formalities within the hour and we got out of the Police Station together. I was surprised to see the similarity between the sisters of course they were Twins but it was impossible to tell them apart.

“Thanks Agent S, I am very thankful to you to make sure that I did not have to spend more time inside and God knows how much more time I would have to spend in if not for you.” Said Nisha relieved

“I am just happy that an innocent person didn’t have to suffer.” I said

I started to leave after dropping them to their home

“Hmm, Lokesh if you don’t mind may I know your full name.” Asked Isha

“Of course, I am Lokesh Shrivas.” I said driving away.

The Brave One

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It was the worst rainfall I had ever seen.

The torrential rains had turned the rivers into Life-Takers. They were no more the Life givers that they once were. It sent everyone into frenzies of panic and disdain. Everyone was looking out only for means to run out of this place into safety and into the comfort of their loved ones.

I had to find an escape route too, and luckily I was spared the agony of having to worry and care about my loved ones since I was travelling alone. But the thought of leaving so many people in misery and running away from my duty to help them weighed heavily on my mind. So I decided to stay back. As long as the rain continued lashing, there was very little we could do. So we waited... waited for the rain to stop… waited for the morning to come.

**************

The morning brought with it an ugly picture of devastation and destruction caused by the fury of nature, by the torrential rains and the flash flood last night. We were dumbfounded witnessing this cruel act of nature. Being on a higher ground, we had been considerably safer, but there had been so many thousands of them who had not been as lucky. The rivers had breached their banks and showed no signs of receding. So many had been washed away, others trapped beneath debris of buildings razed to the ground and thousands of them stranded without food, water and roof over their heads. 

The large scale of devastation was shocking. We jumped headlong into the rescue operations joining hoards of other rescue workers.

That’s when I saw that angel.

**************

She must have been only 8 or 9 years old but she was one of the most active members of our little group. She was a virtual bundle of energy and it must have been her infectious energy that kept us all going. We saw her little feet scampering around looking for people in need and running to us with the little details.

“Uncle look over here, someone’s trapped under this debris.”

“Didi, please come here, there’s a small child crying for her mother.”

“Bhaiya, help me carry this sheep to the other side.”

She kept up her search for the entire day, scouting for people needing help and bringing it to our attention.

“Beta, what is your name?” I asked her.

“Nimmi” she replied even as she ran carrying a bottle of water for an old man who had just been rescued.

Her ‘never-say-die-spirit’ was the stuff heroes are made of, I thought as I saw her help the old man sip a little water.

We erected tents so that they could act as temporary shelters for people who had been rendered homeless. Go back to the buildings was ruled out, because they could come crashing anytime if it rained again.

The sun had begun to make his descent over the horizon signaling the end of the day. We were terribly tired after a long day’s work, and as we retired to our tents, we saw Nimmi still running around. 

“What are you doing sweetheart,” I asked her running my hand over her head. 

“I’m going to fetch wood Uncle,” she said, “The nights are very cold here, and we will need to get a fire burning to keep us all warm.” 

Why didn’t we think of that!

She led me to a clearing and a couple of us helped with chopping the wood, while she bundled wood neatly into stacks. 

“Why don’t you rest sweetie, we’ll take care of the rest” I told her, looking at her tired face. 

“After carrying this stack to the tents” she insisted.

I took out my mobile and clicked a picture of hers with the pile of wood stacked between her tiny frame and her worn out hands. 

Our own little squirrel helping us to rebuild lives, just like the squirrel in Ramayana helped build the bridge! I thought and smiled.

**************

“You worked very hard; you must be tired, aren't you? You did a great job!” I said.

She smiled.

“You are a courageous little girl.”

More smiles

“Are you here all alone? Where are your parents? They must be worried to not have you around. Did you tell them you are here?” I asked suddenly realizing that I hadn’t seen her family since morning.

“We live down a hillock in a little shanty. As soon as the rain got heavier, our house collapsed and we all had to run to higher grounds” she said, visibly tearful now.

I was shocked. 

“Why didn’t you tell me that before? We must look for your family members” I said comforting her.

“My father taught me everything I know, so if I am all right my family would be fine too. I am sure they are. We have to take care of the people who need our immediate attention.” She replied.

What an angel of compassion and bravery! She was a soldier in her own right!

I had joined the rescue operations because I was alone, because my family was safe, and because I was quite capable of taking care of myself. But this girl had joined in to help, knowing pretty well that she was young, alone, separated from her family and unsure of their safety and whereabouts. 

**************

The resonating sound of thunderclouds woke me up. Nimmi was sleeping next to me with all the other homeless children. She woke up too. Soon it began raining again and the river seemed to be overflowing again. By morning the river had swollen! 

Several people had gathered around to look at the raging waters knowing how dangerous it could be. Suddenly we heard people screaming for help. Apparently someone had slipped into the marsh while looking at the waters. We rushed to see what had happened. While we ran towards the river, I saw Nimmi run back into the camp tent. 

Poor child, she must be scared, I thought. 

How wrong I was! Our “little hero” came running to the banks within a minute of us reaching there, holding a rope in her hands, and throwing it in to the boy who was just about to slip into the river below! 
What presence of mind!! Her parents had really taught her well. 

We threw the rope but the kid was too scared to catch the rope with one hand.

“Please hold the rope while I go down to bring him up.” I told my team.

“No, let me go down and catch him as I am lighter and it would be easier for you to pull me up” said Nimmi.

“She is right” said someone.

We lowered her with the rope tightly secured around her waist. Slowly and expertly Nimmi made her way to the frightened kid and grabbed him with both her hands. We started pulling them but somewhere around the marshes the rope got stuck and no matter how much we tried it remained stuck. But Nimmi loosened her waist support and urged the little kid to grab the rope over her head and helped him reach to the ground safely, letting him use her hands for support. 

Everyone cheered!

But she was still not safe as the rope was still stuck, and she could not climb up without support. We saw her leg slip and I almost missed a heartbeat. She was hanging precariously over the river. Nimmi’s face was as calm as ever. 

Hold on my little angel, I prayed.

I kept trying too, tugging at the rope, jerking it so that it would come loose. Suddenly, the rope felt loose and excitedly I yanked it up. But my heart sank when I saw that Nimmi wasn’t at the other end. Where was she? I frantically looked down, my heart beating wildly, my eyes searching every corner of the marsh. Maybe she was stuck somewhere. 

Then my eyes fell on the rope. The end of the rope was broken. I couldn’t believe I had lost my little angel. For a very long time I sat there with my face buried in my palms, weeping like a child. 

**************

After a few days, Army helicopters flew us back to safety. I sat glued to the television watching the updates, identifying familiar locations and recounting those difficult days. I thought of the brave heart Nimmi, wondering if her family was safe and if they had ever found out about their little girl. I took out my mobile and looked at her picture. Her deep black eyes, so full of determination. Carrying that pile of wood in her worn out hands. 
The news reader announced that the count of bodies had been rising and as the river subsided, more bodies were being washed ashore. Among them was the body of a 9 year old girl with a cut rope secured to her waist. 

Water – The Wine that flows through my veins

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Ingredients used: (1) A Bottle of Wine (2) A reclusive billionaire-vigilante (3) A Superhero

This was just another day in my life. The Innovative, Spectacular, Dashing, Photogenic, Successful, Entrepreneur, Billionaire and Lonely man.

Yes I had everything; but I didn't have someone else to share my wealth. There were thousands of girls who would marry me in a flash, but I didn't need someone who was after my money. 

I've had many people like that who pretended to be my friends so that they can enjoy the luxuries along with me. I didn't mind them at least they kept me company.

Why I was so alone for one I didn't have parents... See my Dad killed my Mom when I was very little and then he adopted me later when I was 10 years old without knowing that I was his son. Since my Dad killed my Mom I killed him when I was barely 10 years old and ran away from home. 

I kept on running since then just one possession a bottle of Wine nicked from my Dad's home. I resolved to drink that when I truly felt peace with what I had done.

All through my life I managed myself, studies double hard and worked double hard to support myself. Started my business and through intuition and good luck and lot of hard work, I was able to bring my company to such heights. And though I was successful and people admired me for the last few months I had become a recluse, avoiding public contact. I had stopped attending meetings and left all the important work to my very capable managers.

The reason was this all though I am 40 years old now, it’s been 30 years since that fateful night and the Wine Bottle was still intact and had a place on my bar. I was drinking day and night, every wine, every whiskey, everything but I couldn't open that bottle. How could I? I still wasn't able to convince myself that I did the right thing and consequently could not feel the closure or Peace.

No one knew but I was also trying my hand at crime fighting to help secure the nights safer for citizens. Police was dubbing me a Vigilante who was punishing, beating criminals and dropping them in front of the Police stations to be arrested. I had hoped that helping others every which way I could would help me find peace, but peace still eluded me.

I considered myself a murderer and felt no different than my Dad who had killed my Mom. This internal turmoil was eating at me from inside.

I kept on living like this and there seemed to be no way out for me. I wasn’t going to any of my offices though sometimes my managers came in to take my signatures on important papers, but that was all I stayed in all day and nights and drank and sometimes after dark I would wear some kind of disguise, so that I could help people without being identified.

Within few months I started to feel little bit happier and thought that I could after all get through my depression.

But before that I had repent for my sins for a long time but if that’s what required for inner peace so be it. I would pay my due and take my time to reach peace and drink that bottle of wine which started to mock me, saying stuff like;

“You are too weak.”

“You will never be happy, you killed your parents.”

“You try to kid yourself by beating up some lowlife that you are doing the city some good. No! You are not.”

“You are nothing but a pathetic little drunk.”

“I am not a drunk, I can stop drinking whenever I want and I am truly helping people.” I said to myself.

******************

It was a fateful day in September when I met the angel who changed my life and showed me my way.

She was an actual Super Hero with powers and all and she seek me out one evening.

She told me that she saw me one night taking care of few criminals and then she followed me to my building. She was hovering in front of my 50^th Floor balcony and asked me to open the door to let her in.

“Are you Super Girl?” I asked her puzzled

“Ha Ha Ha Ha, No I am not Super Girl. My name is Shakti” She replied

“Yo… You are an actual Super hero I mean heroine.” I stammered, I never stammered

“That’s Okay just call me Shakti. You seem troubled if you don’t mind you may share your problems with me. May be I could help you a little.” She offered her help

I don’t know how I knew to trust her, I only knew that she could be trusted and I told her everything, from start to the finish.

“So, you killed your Dad, who had killed your Mom and you are still running towards peace but you can’t seem to catch it.” She summarized.

“That is pretty much about it.” I helped

“I know you already know this but you were only 10 years old when you burned your Dad to death. That was a very young age and you were blinded by the fire of revenge.” She said

“But that still doesn’t mean that I could get away with murder and that too my father none the less.” I wasn’t convinced.

“But you are already repenting for whatever you may have done by helping all these people. Making sure that some petty criminal doesn’t take away some poor kid’s parents too.” Shakti explained

“Do you really think so?” I wasn’t fully convinced

“Of Course even if you would’ve surrendered then you would’ve been thrown in juvenile house and I am not too sure that you would’ve been able to reach here from there if that would’ve been the case.” Said my angel

“That does make sense, I tried to explain all these things to me but why does the peace still elude me and that Wine bottle seems to mock me all the time, taunting me.” I said

“Bring that bottle here, we would celebrate a new beginning today and end of the era.” Said Shakti smiling

When I came back with the bottle and the glasses, Shakti placed her hands on my temples and pressed lightly and came to see a vision.

I was still with my Dad and he was alive like nothing had happened. I was 13 years old now, when my step-mom died. It was a very sad day for all of us. Dad married again, I was 17 years old now studying away in boarding school. I got the news there that my step-mom had died again. Somehow I knew that my Dad was killing all his wives and that he was a serial killer.

I was back now, and I realized that I had done a good job by killing my Dad and saving lives of all those women. I felt peace for the first time ever when I realized that I wasn’t evil but my Dad was and I put an end to his evil.

I was finally at peace with myself and knew my purpose in life and all thanks to Shakti. You shared that Wine bottle with me to celebrate my victory over my mind and my life.

Alas Shakti had to go as she was fighting injustice throughout the world, but she promised to visit me regularly and before leaving she gave me two wonderful gifts before leaving Invincibility and the ability to flight. I was basically Superman but not an alien but a human.

Next morning the office had a surprise as they saw their Boss amongst them for the first time in more than a year. I was ready to handle my responsibilities now, business during day and helping citizens during night.

By finding peace within me with the help of Shakti, I was able to work to bring peace to my city and to keep the citizens happy. For I was finally happy with who I was.