Marriage Cassette

"Hello aunt!"

"What's special? You are sounding great!"

"Ha ha ha, my marriage has been fixed in the coming month.

"Wow! That sounds great!"

"You need to definitely come. I will be waiting for you."

"Sure beta."

She gives phone to her Mom.

"Hey. Sharada hi."

"Hi Vasundara."

"You must come for my daughter's marriage."

"I will come for sure."

"Don't forget Sharada. I keep remembering you anyway."

"Okay. I will come and plan according to that from now onwards."

"Okay. Bye Sharada."

"Okay Vasu."

Vasundara's family got busy in arranging things for the marriage. On the wedding day, relatives had started pouring in. They were chit-chatting with each other as they had met after many months and they were seated in front of the beautiful stage.

The music was playing in good rhythm, the kids were running here and there, guests came in with golden smiles and occupied the seats. Vasundara had lost her husband after 15 years of their marriage. So, she had done all the arrangements and she felt very happy to do things on her own for her daughter. Vasundhara was the only one who took care of her daughter.

Someone spoke from the behind, "Vasundara aunty, you've got a call. Phone is in the main hall."

"Okay. I will go...."

Vasundara left from crowded place and picks the phone and says, "Hello ?"

"Hi, this is Sharada."

"Ooh yeah where are you?"

"I won't be able to come for marriage Vasu, my son fell sick. Suddenly we had to admit him to the hospital."

"Anything serious?"

"No nothing serious. Doctor has not given a reason yet."

"Okay take care of your son Shaaru."

"Okay Vasu."

Vasundara became busy with the people around her and went on to the marriage stage.

"Mom!!!!"

"Where is Sharada aunty?"

"She told that her son got sick. She will be unable to attend the marriage."

"Oohh sad Mom. Anything serious?"

"No fine beta.."

"Vasundara ma’am can you give these clothes to your son in law?" Poojari interrupted.

The marriage went on peacefully. Everyone enjoyed the event. Many got drunk and danced in merry and some who were hungry they filled their plates with more dishes.

Vasundara felt very sad now because it was time for her daughter's bidaai. It made her cry. Vasu's daughter called her "Mom, why are you crying?"

"You are going to leave me," she said.

"No Mom. I am not going anywhere. I am not going to leave you, Mom .I will come to you two times in a week."

They both hug each other and tears strart shedding from both of their eyes.

"Beta, be good, be polite and respect all people in their home, don't be like you are with me in our home. Okay?"

"Is there anything more to say?"

Both giggled.

The car started. She needed to leave now with her husband.

They both sobbed again and they both waved hand until they reach the end of the road.

Next day -----

Vasundara called Sharada to know whether her son is doing well or not !!!

She tried calling her two times but no reply.

After the third attempt, Sharada picked up the phone and said, "Hello."

"Hi Sharu. It's me Vasu

“Hey Vasu, how was the marriage?”

“Yeah it's good.”

“I missed you and the event.”

“Yes we too feel the same about you.”

“Is your son doing well?”

“Not much as the doctor has not been able to give an exact reason for the fever.”

“Ooh!!! Change the hospital immediately Sharu. Now-a-days these doctors are only working to get money.”

“Yeah I need to change, will see two more days if we don’t see any change we will. I will update you Vasu.”

“Okay Sharu.”

“Okay Vasu.”

“Take care. I am hanging up. I have more work to do.”

“Wait I forgot one thing.”

“What was that?”

“Send me the marriage CD.”

“Okay sure!!! I will get it in a few days. I will courier you a copy dear.”

“Okay. That's lovely Vasu.”

After some days.......

Sharu got a call from Vasu.

“Hey I have couriered the CD, if my guess is correct it will reach by today itself.”

“Wow that's great Vasu.”

“By the way how is your son doing?”

“Nothing has changed. He is still in the hospital Vasu.”

“What type of fever is it? I didn't see anyone those who suffered fever these many days. Let me search a good doctor and will call you back.”

“Okay. Thank you Vasu.”

“And update me after you get the courier.”

After that, the doorbell rang.

She thought that it will be definitely a courier boy.

When she opened the door, she was appalled by seeing the policeman standing in front of her and one more man who looked like a constable.

Her mind ran with many questions like Why they came her ? How they find me? They came to enquire about the last night scene? They came to arrest me?

“Hello madam, are you okay?” Police interrupted her random thoughts.

“Yes sir what can I do for you?”

“Ma’am we were just confused with this address, in these circled streets. Can you please tell us if you know?”

She explained the address to them and shut the door!

She felt relaxed and hit the bed, within seconds she was asleep.

When she woke up and went to fetch water from fridge.

Her maid said, "Ma’am you got one courier."

“Where is it?”

I kept there near the TV desk.

“Okay I will see!” she said to her maid. She picked the CD and her face blushed by seeing the couple’s picture on the CD. “Wow lovely couple,” she thought. She took out the CD player and inserted the CD and settled herself on a soft couch.

She was excited to see the function and arrangements.

The CD started playing.

She was confused because the scene playing did not belong to the marriage. She wondered whether the CD delivered was the wrong one. In the scene, a lady was getting ready to attend the marriage.

She calls her servant. “Hey where are my car keys?”

“Yes ma’am keys are in the main hall wait I’m bringing ma’am.”

“Jaldiii!”

“Ma’am here are the keys.”

“Doesn't she look like my maid?”

“Okay I will come late night or I might come by tomorrow. Lock the doors and sleep. I will call you if I come at night.”

“The house in the video looks like mine.”

“Okay ma’am.”

Sharada’s eyes are looking for the lady’s face in the video but face was not showing in the video. The lady in the video took the car keys and started the car.

The lady’s side view was visible.

Sharada started from her place which takes 2hrs to reach Vasundara’s house.

She was horrified she can now see the face of lady in TV.

That was me. She was horrified. She played her favourite Hindi music.

She travelled for an hour. Vasundara’s house was far from city and needed to travel on silent roads.

But she took a wrong route. Sharada reached a silent road where no vehicle or person was visible.

Suddenly an object passed in a flash in front of her. She stops suddenly. She feels tensed and afraid and she see a droplets of blood flowing on the front glass. She wondered where this blood came from. She removed her seat belt and got down to see what happened.
There was a girl who was lying on the road. She went near her. Her eyes were wide open and blood was flowing from her head to ground.

She checked the pulse. There was no heartbeat.

Ooh god she was dead.

I can't face that. How can I be so reckless? What do I do now? Where do I hide her? Or can I bag her in my car and go to my home? No I can't hide there it will be risky for me. Police won't leave me. They will put me in jail and torture me life-long.

She decided to bury her in the soil. She opened the back door of her car and picked some useful tools to dig the soil.

I need to hide her as soon as possible.

“What the hell is happening!” she exclaimed.

She’s reminded of the same scene happened to her on the marriage night.

She sees the scene where she is digging the soil to bury her.

“Oh my god, it is the same, yes it is the same.”

Whole lights started flicking. She was dumbstruck.

She tried to turn it off but nothing worked from the remote. She tried to switch off but it didn’t work.

She immediately took the car keys and started it and drove to the place where she buried her last night.

She walked some distance and saw nothing. There was nothing. She couldn’t see the soil that was dug. Then where did she bury her.

Her heart thumping more than normal.

Her eyes shed tears. She cried loud and loud.

She again took the car and returned to the house.

She was afraid to enter into the house.

She peeped into the room. She saw that maid was watching tv.

In the TV, her friend’s daughter was on stage sitting in front of pujari and he started saying shlokas.

“What is this?” She thought and entered into home.

“Mami where you went ? Without seeing the marriage function?”

“I am just not feeling well so went out to took tablet.”

“Ooh okay,” her maid said and asked her if she can I prepare something?

“No not needed. I just want to sleep.”

“Okay mami.”

And she went to her bed room and fell on the bed.

And started thinking about the whole scene but she didn't find any answer.

She slowly fell to sleep.

After some hours, she heard some loud voices.

She lazily woke up and saw nothing around her. Her phone was ringing which was lying next to her.

She could sense that the sound was coming from hall.

She slowly stepped out of the room.

She saw that there was a light flash.

She was near to that flash now that was nothing but the TV playing.

She was shivering now she saw suddenly saw a lady’s face flashing on TV and started speaking to her

Her story. 

“I am Sasika, from a beautiful family. We all live happily in Manasvapuram.”

Sharada’s mind immediately went on the sign board that she had seen in the same village name on the sign board on that day.

“I have a brother who is studying in 7th class who was very cute and more lovable to me. All the people say that we are best brother and sister in the village. He gets me anything which I like. I too love him very much.

“But one day I was horrified. I didn't expect that, my life will end on that day. That day my brother and I got late to come back home from our tuitions in the city. I started crying when they stopped my vehicle and pull me out. I cried when they dragged me into bushes. They were four guys. I shouted and screamed and my brother fell down immediately. I called him immediately but he was unconscious because his head had hit a stone. I cried when they hit me and my brother. I cried when they stuffed cloth in my mouth. They tore my clothes and pinned me to the ground. I didn’t see their faces. They hit me hard and tears didn’t stop pouring out of my eyes. In that moment I remembered god.

"We pray to god, when we feel weak."

“Yes I felt weak when the guys put their weight on me and beat me with stick, when they craved to have my body, when they squeezed my breast and bit them hardly, when they changed their positions themselves to get pleasure, when they tortured me again and again for hours.”

“My lips were bitten hard. I saw the blood drops from my lips. My sindoor mixed with blood and flowing down to touch the ground. My legs, paralyzed. My back skin was peeled all over with the stones and mud where they dragged me like a doll.”

“I cursed myself for being a girl.”

“After they set me free I was not able to stand and move. I couldn’t raise my hand to pick the clothes and cover myself. I felt my heartbeat slowing down. I saw them when my eyes were closing down. I saw them when they lit the cigarette. I saw them now clearly. I remember their faces. One among them was your son.”

“Oh my god! My son?”

“Yes your son.”

“You know your son is suffering from fever from many days because of me.”

“No one can help him. He’s going to die.”

“God showed me their faces so I could kill the bastards.”

Sasika spoke with more angry and ferociousness.

With that anger she shouted at Sharada.

“You know how my family is suffering after my death?”

“You know that they haven’t had a proper meal since the day of my death!”

“I know how difficult it is but don't do this to us. What can I do now? Please Sasika you are innocent. My son did an unacceptable thing. What can I do to stop you to kill my son?”

“If it is unacceptable, how can I accept Sharada?”

“There is nothing to do Sharada it's all over.  How can you ask like that about your motherfucker son?”

--Phone rang--

Sasika said to Sharada, “Go and pick the call. It is for you only.”

She picked the call and said, “Hello.”

The other side of the voice was gasping for more breath and said "Madam…”

“What happened?”

"Your son is missing from the hospital, we searched the whole hospital but we didn't find him."

“What?”

Sasikaa laughs out loudly.