Love With A Fraud

For the first time I saw him in the 'Elixir' Bar & Restaurant where I used to go often to give myself a chance to get rid of the angst of my life, which used to leave with two pegs. When a tall man with an attractive face opened his lilting songs they soothed my heart. I had sent my song requests to him many times, impressed with which he used to come to my table singing and included me in singing. Gradually we started having intimate talk. Of course, I weighed my words while talking with him in a subdued manner, but my heart longed for him and did not keep any check on my emotions. I was gradually being drawn towards him. Had he shown his love, I would have definitely reciprocated.

On that day, he sang this song “Wo Ladki Sabse Alag Hai” (That girl is quite different) in his attractive voice. It seemed as if I was sitting in the lap of that melody. As if he was propitiating me with that song. From the very heart, the dreamy bubbles rose and in a moment got burst. He knew only to throw pebbles into a calm pond of the heart. In a way, this indifferent human attitude towards me was making him a crazy person.

After all how many men are there in this world that show a genuine interest on a girl but only to turn into a selfish interest.

One day he suddenly came to me and said with great affinity. "Congratulate me and also feel sorry for me."

''Congratulations for what?''

"I have got the chance to sing a title track for a Daily Soap of TV; I am offered Rs 6 lakhs.''

"Wow what a great break through ... many many congratulations ... but why sorry?''

"Sorry because, the music director will release my money only when I give him my G.S.T number. I am a singer, can sing the most intricate song, but I am not adept in paperwork. I take the help of a CA But before I complete all formalities more salt and pepper would fall on my wound of deteriorating finance.''

"Can’t you request him to make payments without documentation formalities this time?''

He is a number one cheat. Every one may not find him easy to deal with. He does not listen to anyone, but he puts his finger on everything. Once while buying mutton he showed his finger saying “not this, not that “while the butcher was chopping and in the process his finger came under the chopper. In spite of that he has not left the habit of fingering. He had fingered enough in my songs. I sang the song in 5 ways, only then he locked my song.

''Oh, is that so!"I reacted with a sincere response.

When a sentimental relation got established with him I asked in a subdued tone, "How much money do you need?''

"Rs.80 thousand!"

Overflowing with a polite smile, his face became the I Card of his gentleness. So there was no scope for any doubt. The very next day I drew Rs.80 thousand from my account and handed over to him. But from that time onward he was absconding. The reason for his absence was not even known to the Hotel Manager. The attempt to talk on mobile number, given by him to the Manager, also proved futile since his number was switched off.

"Why is he not coming? Has he fallen sick?"

A small part of my brain brought also this thought whether he was a cheat! But disproving my mistaken notion he turned up near my table after about 15-days, on a Friday evening, and began to say in a tone filled with regrets.

"I'm sorry; I could not meet you for all these days, being involved in the paper work. I have given my music director my G.S. T. and he has made the payment to me."

By saying this, he took out a cheque and showed me which was for Rs.6 lakhs. I got the happiness then for many things - happiness for my mistaken notion of him proving wrong, his happiness to receive the money and above all the happiness of his return to my life. I congratulated him jubilantly, but even my congratulations could not remove the depression seen on his face.

“Why are you looking sad?” I asked anxiously.

There is a bank holiday on the occasion of Eid tomorrow; the day after tomorrow is Sunday.... This cheque will not be cleared before Tuesday. I have to return your money too. I can pay you even on Tuesday but the Afghan Money Lender, from whom I had taken a loan of Rs.50 thousands is after my life saying, “Pay the money today or else I shall break open your skull.”

His words scared me enough. This time again I told him that he would pay the money to the Afghan Money Lender by taking money from me. And on Tuesday, when the money comes into his account, he should return my money. I could feel from his eyes that he was filled with emotion, but was silent as there was no other alternative than to accept my proposal. I drew the required amount and gave him. He went away thanking me repeatedly. I immersed myself in this pragmatic realization that several days have elapsed after Tuesday. This time he has absconded not to be seen again. Time had brought some change in him. I got rid of all conjectures and realized one day that he was a cheat who, playing well with my sentiments, went away looting me.

I was an ethical hacker in a renowned IT company where the fat salary after meeting all my needs left substantial saving. Losing money was not a reason for my worry. What was disturbing me was the chicanery. The feeling for retribution choked my throat. I ransacked his account in every possible way through the internet. Even by my hacking skills, I could reach his account. I saw that he had Rs.8 lakhs in his account.

"You must have collected all this money shaving the heads of many people, like me. Look Mr. Rookie, what am I going to do with your ill-gotten wealth? "Thinking in my mind, I transferred all the money from his account to the account of a social institution. Now he had become an utter pauper.

The time had healed my wound. After 14 months, I recovered from this emotional accident and returned to my old colour and on that day, crossing the car parking, I moved towards the shopping complex, when in front of my eyes I saw a poor blind girl staggering and falling. I ran towards her and helped her to stand up. As soon as I leaned to pick up her materials which had fallen on the road I was rudely shaken to see the picture of Mr. Cheat in the broken photo frame lying there.

"This photo?" It is of my brother's photo. My brother had died on the same day last year by heart disease. Today, on his anniversary, I took out this broken photo frame from the blind shelter to fix it when I fell.

Upon hearing this my liver came to the mouth, but still I asked her, "Why didn’t you get your brother treated in a good hospital?”

Brother did not want to leave me as an orphan in this world, therefore he had collected money, by running here and there, a big part of which has been hacked by a hacker. So he died without getting any treatment. By saying this, the girl left the deep breath of sigh.

I heard everything in silence with deep sense of regret as if I was completely dead and was carrying my own dead body on my shoulder. I was thinking whether he was a cheat or myself!