The Envelope ***

Vimal looked tense. His baby was sick, and the doctor’s bill had emptied his wallet. And now his brother in law had come, and Asha was suggesting dinner out. No choice. He would have to withdraw the last $500 and skimp for the next few days up to payday.

Vimal was too proud to broach the subject to Asha. She came from a well to do family and would never understand. She knew Vimal’s savings were meager when they got married, but did not realise that he was scraping the bottom of the barrel now. He earned a reasonable salary but things always came up unexpectedly, and nowadays every month was a struggle. It cannot go on like this. He would have to talk to Asha. But he was afraid how she may react. Would she tell her parents and ask for help? That would be the worst thing that could happen. Of course Mr Purushothaman was a generous man. But Vimal’s pride would be shattered. He would not be able to face them again. He would have to keep this to himself. At least for now.

Mathavan lowered the newspaper and looked at his son. He could instantly tell that Vimal was all tensed up. What was the matter with him? He had a good job, a beautiful wife, and now an adorable daughter. Why couldn’t he be happy? He always looked as if all the troubles of the world were on his shoulder.
“டேய், என்னடா குடி முழ்கி போன மாதிரி இருக்கே? எப்ப பார்த்தாலும் சொகமாவே இருக்க? என்ன பிரச்சனை உனக்கு ?”
(Dey, why are you looking so glum ? Lately you have been looking depressed all the time. What is the problem ?)
Vimal just shook his head.
“ஒண்ணும் இல்லப்பா.” (Nothing dad).

***
Vimal and Asha had left. Sundari came up and sat next to Mathavan.
“You know, I think something is troubling Vimal.”
“Yes I know. I asked him. He wouldn’t say.”
“What do you expect. We should understand. He has commitments. He is careful. But his wife comes from a rich family. And she has brothers and sisters. They have to live up to them. All this is becoming great pressure on Vimal. He is finding it difficult to cope. And he can’t talk to anyone about it either.”
“Oh…. I see.”
Mathavan sat thoughtfully. Sundari was soon engrossed in the serial.

***
Vimal appeared more cheerful today. He played with his daughter, smiling at her adoringly. Mathavan watched for a while. Then he got up and went to his desk. He returned with the yellow envelope. Mathavan looked at the envelope. It looked bright and shiny. He handed it to Vimal. Vimal looked up.
“What’s this appa?”
“It’s nothing. Just a little help from your father. To help you cope.”
Vimal’s face fell. He looked at the envelope. Then he looked down. The silence was awkward. Vimal could feel his wife’s eyes on him. He dared not look up. The shame was unbearable.
“Vimal, take it. I know you are struggling. You need it.” He thrust the envelope at Vimal.
Vimal got up abruptly.
“Asha, come on. It’s late. Let’s go. Goodbye appa. Goodbye amma.” He grabbed his little daughter and moved to the door.
Mathavan stood uncomprehending. He still held out the yellow envelope. He stood still holding out the envelope long after his son had left. He turned slowly, to see Sundari watching him. He looked at the yellow envelope. It looked very different now. It was no longer bright and shiny.
***
Vimal was silent and brooding in the car. Asha watched him. Then she touched his arm.
“Why does he have to be so condescending. Am I a beggar? I can manage my life. I don’t need his charity.” Vimal burst out, as his emotions broke free.
Asha stroked his arm delicately.
“Your parents love you. He was just being your father. He did it out of love. You should take it in that spirit. You should not have hurt him.”
Vimal looked at his wife. He stopped the car.
“I think I need to go back.”
Asha squeezed his arm and smiled.

The Encounter ***

Marlene gazed at the moon, visible framed in the side window. As she watched, her thoughts drifted. What a day it had been! And to think she had woke up expecting the unexpected. But what had happened was totally incredible. Out of this world. Marlene closed her eyes and laid her head against the soft cushions. The house was quiet. Only the soft ticking of the grandfather clock was audible.

The sudden movement startled Marlene. She lay still, listening. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed Amy dozing nearby. She watched her silently. And then – there it was again! And then she saw it. The slight movement behind the curtains didn’t escape Marlene. She glanced at Amy. She continued to doze, blissfully unaware of the intruder. Marlene lay stock still. She shifted her gaze to the curtains. She moved imperceptibly. And then she saw the intruder.

In a split second she pounced. The intruder didn’t know what hit him. There was an ear splitting crash as the curtains came down, together with the rails. The vases on the sidetable crashed down, shattering on the floor.

Amy awoke with a start, and instantly started a fierce barking. Marlene was screeching and clawing among the fallen curtains. Amidst the chaos the offending mouse made a swift escape. Amy was whining now, surveying the disarray in the room. Marlene looked at her, and mewed triumphantly.

Jealousy ***

“Anneh, you don’t know me, but my name is Amar.”
“Ok…?”
“I am calling about Anu…”
“What about her ?”
“I was told you are engaged to her…”
“Yes, so what do you want ? Who are you ? How do you know her?”
“Anneh. Don’t get angry. What I am going to say may come as a shock. Please listen. Please stay calm.”
“Who the hell are you ? What do you want ?”
“I know Anu for a long time. We dated each other for many years. We were planning to get married soon. That’s when this thing happened. Her parents went and ….”
“Dey, what the hell you talking? Anu is my fiancée. I have talked to her many times. She never said anything about all this. You better not talk nonsense ok?”
“Anneh….”
“Im not your anneh. Put down the phone.”
“Sir, please be patient. Please listen. Anu is here….”
“What ? Anu is there ? Let me talk to her.”
“Mr Kannan…….”
“Anu? Is that you ? What is going on? What are you doing there ? Who is this guy ?”
“Mr Kannan. You must forgive me. I am in love with Amar….”
“What ? Why the hell you didn’t tell me this earlier? You made me lose face. I will kill you. I… I…. ”
“Mr Kannan…. Listen…. Listen.... Oh my God... he put down the phone la. Call him back. Quick….”
“Shit…. He is not picking up. How to get him ah ? He may do something stupid.”
" Oh God Oh God Oh God....."

****

As they entered the outer fence, they could hear the loud voices from the house.
“My God, Amar, this has gone so terribly wrong.”
“Quick, we have to go in and explain.”
As they entered, Kannan swirled around. They were stunned to see the gun in his hands. Black with rage, he lunged at Anu, shooting her point blank. Her head exploded amidst the screams of her mother. Recovering from the deafening blast, Kannan took aim and pulled the trigger on Amar. The bullet pierced Amar's chest. He fell in a heap.
“It was a terrible terrible mistake. We were playing a prank on you Kannan. Anu is my cousin. There is nothing between us. Im sorry… Im so so sorry…”
Amar slumped lifeless.

The Bagman **

An infamous valedictorian, he had little or no idea of how to use the sophisticated gadgetry he now espied on the deck. The flowing silvery mane gave him an air of sophistication. As they then hurtled towards their iconic target, the lights suddenly dimmed. You guessed it. It was time for Vernon’s ball. The barrage was impregnable.

The woman looked down, clearly discomfited. But she did seem friendly and non-judgmental. The view unfurling before them was spectacular, and somewhat unusual. The journey promised to be a potentially life-altering and transformative experience. Although she knew very well this should not be advertised with excessive anticipatory rhetoric.

As she searched the crevices, her enthusiasm though intense, was quite short lived.
There he stood, in a baggy, gray sweat suit, holding up a wall in the wrestling room. In a room otherwise full of guys with immense necks, massive shoulders and columnar thighs, this bespectacled fellow is obviously the one to seek out later this summer on the beaches of L.A. if you want to kick sand in somebody's face.
At last, they sat. Resigned to their fate. Eyes downcast as the dusk settled. Nothing could detract from their unadulterated despair.