Lesser Mortal
Lesser Mortal


Laxman was very possessive of his mother. The more he loved his mother the more he detested his grand aunt Bano under whose guardianship they stayed. His father was a reckless alcoholic and could sell anyone to get his daily quota of country liquor. So Laxman and his mother Paro had moved out of his house when Laxman was just seven years of age. This is when Bano took pity on them and gave them shelter. But Bano had given shelter for a cause. She could sense business idea through Paro.
Bano's friends had told her to take Paro and her son under her tutelage and take the services of Paro. They had told Bano of huge business potential from Paro. Because Paro could work hard and could be used as domestic help at other's homes. The money she earned could be kept by Bano and in return she could give them a shelter. Some daring male friends of Bano had even given her the idea of teaching Paro the technique of massage. As she had a good physique she could satisfy her men clients by giving them massage and earn good money.
But Laxman didn't like when men passed comments on his mother or came close to touch her. He protested by getting angry growling at them or throwing stones at them. Bano would then scold him or beat him. She saw her business opportunities being driven away. This is why Laxman detested Bano. Paro then took Laxman into her arms and cuddled him and kissed him with tears of joy pouring down her cheeks.
Bano would then shout at Paro and say, 'Don't be foolish and emotional. Use the body God has given you to earn a living,'. Laxman now growing up could understand these people and their greedy habits and wanted to protect his mother. He was studying in the government sponsored free primary school. Paro wanted her son to go to school and study as much as possible. She wanted him to get a better life than hers. But Bano wanted maximum business opportunities from the services of Paro.
Many opportunities had come to Bano to let out Paro to various men for different nights and they would pay her ransom money. But Bano feared Laxman because he would protest and protect his mother at all cost. Once a male client had paid handsomely and taken Paro to a rented one room cottage of Bano which Bano had taken for her varying business interests. Then Laxman had brought his friends and created a massive ruckus and rescued his mother. Bano was counting her losses.
So Paro could only be utilised as a domestic help and none other work. Laxman would not allow any indiscriminate services rendering by Paro his beloved mother.
Day night struggle continued for survival of Laxman and Paro. Laxman now completed school and ready for college. As they didn't have much money they both had to work to pay for the night college of Laxman.
Laxman worked hard and even studied diligently to get that elusive degree. This degree would make him eligible for a job.
In college a girl named Rita admired Laxman. But Laxman had no time for distraction. He had his goals drawn up and was working towards achieving them and the last thing he wanted was distraction.
Rita's father Suraj loved his daughter very much and in fact loved her so much that he spoilt her. He found out through informers that Rita admired Laxman. At first Suraj tried to reason with Rita that she concentrate on a career than falling on frivolous things like love. But Rita would not budge from her goal. She being a rich man's daughter was spoilt and knew to acquire her objects of desire at any cost as she had been brought up this way. Rita tried all tricks of wooing Laxman.
During college days she would purposefully cross roads with Laxman and tried to seduce him. But Laxman ignored all her passes. So Rita, determined not to be disheartened decided to wait patiently for any opportunity coming her way rather than depending on force and coercion. Her father Suraj being a small time politician wanted to help achieve her dreams with the power of his muscle men. He wanted to abduct Laxman and forcefully compel him to accept Rita as his friend and later as partner. Hearing this Rita objected as she knew the type Laxman was.
In college, Laxman who had been deprived of all life's good things, got an opportunity to play games. He specially liked cricket and excelled in it. L
ady luck was gracious on Laxman and he got a call to play club cricket. Club cricket was a happening event these days with lucrative sponsorship offers for talented players.
Laxman got a call up and got bought by a premium club as a rookie all rounder with a six digit price. Though he got priced at the entry level tag but this was ransom money for someone who had been as poor as a church mouse all through his life.
Laxman immediately stopped his mother to go out working for others. He invested money on a garments boutique and made his mother it's owner. He appointed trained personnel to teach his mother and other new recruits to stitch clothes and manage the nitty gritty of a store.
Rita was at first happy at the elevation Laxman got in life. But soon she found that she had competition among other women as Laxman 's popularity as a cricketer grew. She started despairing and found Laxman getting more and more elusive. Suraj her father seeing Rita in such a state could not stay laid back and wanted action. He had to flex his muscles. But how to bend a popular sportsperson and compel him to like his daughter. Suraj was for the first time found himself helpless and powerless as Laxman was becoming popular by the day.
This was the second year of league cricket and Laxman 's talent was well established. His wealth was now growing and secure. His mother Paro was managing her business satisfactorily.
Suraj becoming desperate thought of a diabolical idea. Like the devil he was, he feigned a suicide attempt by his daughter and called up press where his daughter Rita was forced to make the confession that Laxman had ignored Rita's wooing and forced her to take her life. Rita went on and said that Laxman had promised to marry her. She played the doctored voice of Laxman from her mobile phone for the press to hear where he is heard promising to marry her.
The next day it was all over the press and newspapers. Suraj and Rita thought that Laxman's popularity would get a beating and he would be booked under law.
Laxman was taken to court for hearing before a magistrate. But his popularity swelled to exponential levels. Many of his admirers were ready to give the court the money for the bail. His popularity zoomed to astronomical levels and many companies eyeing this as a business opportunity signed up Laxman for endorsement of their products.
The earning of Laxman had gone up to cores by the day. Rita and Suraj had to bite the dust.
Laxman himself a mortal gave the proof by his actions. He had made so much wealth that he had become complacent. Nothing could now worry him. He got embroiled in an ugly spat with a rival club group. Politicians jumped in this imbroglio. Many opposed Laxman for the first time. His popularity started getting a beating. Many commercial endorsements were withdrawing their monetary commitments. Suraj was eyeing this opportunity. He fabricated many frivolous cases against Laxman and ensured to prove it in the court of law by paid witnesses to give evidence.
Laxman lost the case temporarily and was taken in custody. His mother Paro came to visit him in jail and was very tearful. Laxman was hard put to bear his mother crying. Rita also came to visit him in jail and this time she displayed genuine grief. She put reverse pressure on her father Suraj to withdraw all cases against Laxman.
Suraj seeing Laxman in a corner was ready to withdraw all of the cases. Then Rita played a psychological game. She had to win the heart of Paro to win over Laxman. She played like a perfect would be wife of Laxman and Paro was won over.
Paro could only ask Laxman to accept the love lures of Rita and accept her as his. She told Laxman that Rita had suffered already by loving him so much. So it was his duty to not cause her further suffering. Laxman as always could not refuse his mother and accepted Rita as is without any conditions.
Suraj was very happy and gladly withdrew all the cases against Laxman and soon he was set free. After coming out the first thing he did was to marry Rita who was overjoyed.
On the next Sunday's newspaper Laxman life story came out with the heading 'Life of a lesser Mortal'. Undoubtedly it was a rare hit and the paper sold like hot cakes.