Domino Effect

Mahima aka anime suddenly woke up shaking from her sleep as she felt she was suddenly hit by a red car on the roads. She touched herself and didn’t feel any pain in the body. She chuckled when she realized it was just a dream as a result of movie watching. She was a self-trained anime expert and she got an interview for 10 am in the morning with a rising anime company. She had sent them a 2-minute film clipping of her stuff and they seemed to have liked it and set up the interview for today. She went through her morning routine and booked herself an Ola scheduled for 930 am with an estimated ride time of twenty minutes. She would be in good time for the interview. She put on her favourite jeans and a kurti  and some silver jewellery to go with.

Manivannan cursed when he got a ride request. He was hoping for a big ride but it turned out to be a short ride in the jam-packed Whitefield-road in the morning hour. His early morning ride to the airport turned out to be messy with an overbearing customer and bad traffic. His customer and he ended up with a wordy quarrel about his driving. He would have to answer the Ola executive at some point in time in the near future and now this short ride. He finished his breakfast and coffee and on second thoughts decided to cancel the ride.

Anime got a ping on the phone. It was five minutes to 930 am. The ride had been cancelled. She let out a curse in Tamil “saniyan pidduchavan” meaning someone who has got caught up with Saturn. Her mother very religious and god fearing cautioned her against dragging Sani into the conversation. “One doesn’t know how Sani will react” she sighed. Anime said “poren” meaning leaving to her mom and rushed out. Her mother lamented to the goddess “porennu” Anime said instead of “varen” meaning coming. “Please take care of her” she prayed. Anime on the road hailed an auto who demanded twice the usual fare which Anime agreed to. As soon as she got into the autorickshaw, she felt a huge hit on her back and her world turned totally black.

Raghuvaran was a spoiled brat running twenty-five. Born to a wealthy and politically dad and being the only son, he was doted all along and got his way through demands and emotional black mail. He had a bad night the previous day and had got up with a hang-over. He remembered having a quarrel with his current girl friend who walked out with his rival in a whim of anger. he tried calling her as soon as he got up but she wouldn’t pick up his call. Not used to being turned down Raghuvaran was in a fit of rage when he decided to take out his car and go to her house and confront her. He hadn’t had anything in the morning and the acidity was adding fuel fire in his stomach. He still felt the hang over and cursed his bad judgement in taking out the car. But his rage against his girl-friend clouded his judgement. He didn’t notice the Ola taxi reversing and he hit the back of the car.

Manivannan had finished smoking his cigarette and his mood had improved somewhat. He eased himself into the car, turned on the ignition and put on the music when he felt the hit and saw it was a red-Audi. But the driver of the car didn’t stop and sped away. Manivannan instantly fumed and raced off after the red-Audi. The passers-by watched in amazement as if it was a scene pulled out of a sandalwood film.

Raghuvaran didn’t stop at the signal and zipped past almost dashing into the oncoming cars. Manivannan no less an experienced hand in driving followed likewise. Raghuvaran had to slow down somewhat as the streets had turned crowded in the morning hours. He was alarmed to see the Ola taxi catching up. He veered to the right and hit an auto head on at its rear sending the auto cartwheeling. It was seconds earlier Anime had got into the auto. Anime was lying unconscious and when brought to the hospital and got admitted into emergency ward. The auto driver got some minor injuries and given first aid and was seen in altercation with the police.

Raghuvaran ran out of his car but got caught up by the passers-by. Manivannan shouted at him and when the police came walked with them to the station to give his written complaint.

Vishnu was in a good mood when he woke up that morning. He looked forward to meeting Anime at 10 am. The clip she had sent was fantastic and very original. He wanted to get hold of the 10-minute film Anime said she had made. He felt that film could give the leverage with the NRI Tamil group with whom he was discussing a major animation contract for the Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan. He estimated that the contract to be worth Rs 10 crore and take care of the bread and butter of his start-up for the next two to three years. He was also hoping that Anime would be someone with whom he could fall in love with as her voice had sounded magical in the tele-conversation he had with her the previous week.

It was 10-15 am when Vishnu lost patience and started calling Anime. Her phone got picked up by some stranger from the road under some car. The stranger informed he had no idea whose phone it was but a very bad accident had happened a while ago. Vishnu rushed to the scene of the accident and learnt that a girl had been badly injured and taken to the Columbia Asia hospital near-by. When Vishnu enquired at the hospital, he was told that the girl was safe but would need some additional test to rule out any injury. It was left to Vishnu to inform her mother who sounded hysterical upon getting the news of her daughter’s accident.

The ACP who had some axe to grind with Raghuvaran’s family smiled when he heard the news of the accident involving Raghuvaran. He knew what a brat that Raghuvaran was and knew his father too. This accident provided an opportunity to milk him. He dialled Raghuvaran’s father Krishnaswamy. Krishnaswamy barked “do what is needed but get Raghuvaran out of this mess. Whatever the cost.” ACP wanted to hear only that and he swung into action.

Manivannan’s claim got informally settled. Instead of Raghuvaran another driver Muthu was jailed and his family compensated with an attractive sum for the 1-years of imprisonment. Muthu being a dalit and uneducated could not have dreamt of earning that much in the one-year period. Muthu thought that with the money obtained at-least his sister would get a decent groom and thus he would have done his duty as her elder brother. Auto driver too got adequately compensated.

A couple of days later Anime got discharged. It was a foregone conclusion that she accepted the company offer made by Vishnu. The following Sunday Vishnu was having break-fast at Anime’s house when he broke the news of the big contract of the Ponniyin Selvan animation. Anime’s mother looked at Vishnu with admiration and care and chanted a prayer to the Goddess that Anime would choose him as her husband.

My daughter had narrated the incident to me which really happened and the driver got scot free. Mr Krishnaswamy (name changed) was indeed rich and used his clout to set his son free. Of course, this version is fictitious and in the real accident the girl had died.

In this ancient land of Rama and Krishna dharma favours the rich and the powerful.