Freedom ***

Elvin had another new toy today– an Apple I Phone. Vivek was speechless. Elvin’s parents were rich - filthy rich. And they lavished their all on Elvin. He had everything ! And flaunted everything he had.

Vivek sighed. He had spoken to his dad that morning about a phone. Vivek had expected it, and it came. A long litany of the merits of thrift, followed by the oft repeated story of the spartan life his father had led as a child. “Be contented with what you have,” he was told. Vivek resigned himself to his fate. He knew he would never have a phone. Unless he did something about it.

***

Vivek looked at the bound and gagged child. She was sobbing incessantly. He locked the tiny storeroom and headed for the pay-phone. Vivek covered the mouthpiece with a tissue paper as he spoke. He used a gruff low voice. “Listen carefully. We have your child. I want ten thousand. Get it.”

He went back to the storeroom. As he unlocked and pushed the door open, she saw him. The blindfold had come off. The child’s eyes widened in recognition. Vivek rushed over and tied the dirty cloth around her eyes again, wrapping it in a bundle around her face. He sat back. The girl looked like a mummy. But Vivek realised it was no good. She had seen him. She knew who it was. Vivek was in a daze. His thoughts raced. What to do now ? He looked at her again. Suddenly he realised she was slumped over. And very still. No! He rushed over and pulled the cloth away. He pulled the gag off. But it was too late. She had suffocated. The little girl was dead. Vivek sat down, his head in his hands. “God. Somehow help me.” Vivek screamed. And he sat up. He looked around, groggy for a while. He was in his bedroom. Could it be ? Yes. It had been a dream. More a nightmare actually. But what a relief ! He lay awake for a long time before he fell asleep again.


***

Elvin was flaunting the I-Phone again. A group of boys were hungrily pawing the sleek thing. But Vivek somehow felt a strange distaste. He looked for a while, and then moved away.