The remote ****

Rudran fingered the remote, surfing the channels. He settled on a movie. The scene had a few rough characters who had entered a sprawling mansion. As he watched idly, two of them walked toward him. They were pointing at him and gesticulating. Rudran sat up in shock. He pressed the remote repeatedly. But the men were already near him now. Next thing he knew, he was sitting on the wooden straight-backed chair. His legs and hands were bound, and tied to the chair. He was blindfolded and gagged as well. With some squirming and struggle, Rudran had managed to free his eyes, and loosen the gag. He looked around. He was in the middle of the desolate building. It looked like an unfinished house. The remote lay near his foot. He used his toe to press a button.

Rudran was startled by an unexpected barking sound. But he saw a hyena ! It ran toward him baring its nasty looking fangs. Rudran recoiled in terror. Just as the animal was about to pounce on him, it inexplicably cowered, turned and ran, disappearing down the staircase.

Rudran closed his eyes. Waves of relief washed over him. Just them, a crashing noise. Rudran strained to turn around to see the source of the sound. Absolute stillness.

The heat and still air was stifling. Soon Rudran fell into a fitful sleep.

“Wow. This is fantastic.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Exotic.”

Rudran stared at the group crowding around him. There were at least a dozen of them. They were careful to maintain their distance. As if Rudran was a dangerous wild animal. They stared at him in curiosity. A few snapped photographs.

A shrill whistle sounded. “Alright. Let’s go.”

The group trouped out, following the man with the flag. Rudran was alone again. Just as he was closing his eyes, there were sound of approaching people. The trumpeting of an elephant startled him. Soon the group appeared. A caparisoned elephant, with two men on it, dressed in full regalia. The entourage consisted of well over a hundred people. They followed the elephant, chanting eerily. Deafening drums and blaring trumpets accompanied the group. The entire procession approached Rudran. As he started in horror, the elephant walked right up. And to Rudran’s astonishment, they passed right through him ! And they trooped into the TV screen. Soon the sound died out. It was deathly quiet again.

An hour passed uneventfully. Then the old man ambled up. He was almost doubled up, and walked at an amazingly slow pace. He appeared almost immobile at times. Eventually he was close to Rudran. The old man smiled a toothless smile. Then he picked up the object and placed it in Rudran's hand. Then abruptly, he turned around and marched, goose stepping out briskly. Rudran stared open mouthed, looking in the direction in which the old man had disappeared.

Rudran was slipping into a delirious sleep again, when he suddenly remembered the object the old man had thrust into his hand. He looked down. His eyes were misted and he had difficulty making out the object. Then he recognised it. It was the remote control. He pressed a random button. Rudran was startled to see a lady dressed like a waitress, approaching with a plate of food. She came close, removed the gag and proceeded to feed Rudran. She was almost done when it dawned on Rudran that she was his wife. She smiled at him.

The lady had disappeared. Rudran pressed another button. And the surroundings dissolved into blackness. Soon it brightened again. Rudran was sitting in the living room of his house. He was reading aloud from some notes. He was reading the news. Rudran stopped abruptly. He had the remote in his hands. Rudran stared at it for a long moment. Slowly he let it slip and fall silently onto the carpet. He closed his eyes in relief.