The Tiger

Timeliness. That was never Vikash's virtue. She looked up in despair. It was getting dark. Mullaitivu was not far away. The smell of the acrid smoke sickened her. And the rumbles in her tummy were getting quite loud.

Where else but in Kanaltivu ? The coins in his palm were shiny. The skin of his forehead glistened with sweat. And inexplicably, a cold wind blew. The hobo shuddered and drew the overcoat tighter. A shrill whistle startled the girl. It was the bus. Overloaded as usual.

Pablo wanted to win. He wiped his bald pate. It was an uphill task, but he knew he could make it. If he tried. And then Vikash came. He was a mess. And bloodied so badly. He was a Tiger. In fact he still is.

The gunshots were ear-shattering. They all dove into the undergrowth. As if that could save them. Soon a grenade was lobbed. And they all blew up. Human bodies and parts thereof splattered everywhere. The bus continued to move. It was on fire, but no one was rushing to get out. They were in no hurry. They were all dead.