The boy in the pipe

I shut my novel and prepared myself for bed. ‘Thump Thump Gurgle Gurgle’ I turned my head and sighed, “Not that sound again. I am pretty sure it is my neighbour”. But surprisingly I sat up all night and wondered, where is that sound even coming from? It’s been like 1-2 hours and I am still up awake in bed waiting for it to stop. Time to talk to my neighbours! I glanced at the clock and it was showing 11:00pm, I can still talk to them now, I thought.

I walked out of bed and prepared myself for a midnight altercation and spoke to myself!

“Mr. Kulkarni, I would like if you would……….Hmmmm! No, too polite! He will just ignore me off.”

“Mr.Kulkarni it will be nice if you …… No, it is too dumb.”

“Focus Anita! Focus!” (Sometimes, in my opinion, being angry on yourself reaps good benefits)

“ So how will I convey …………………….”

I could almost hear my heart pounding, while I created all scenarios to speak to him.

But even after so much of planning, I decide to accost him at his doorstep completely unaware of his grief.

Knock-knock

A red and swollen pair of eyes and a wavering smile greeted me.

“Hello, darling, It is a bit late, isn’t it?” asked Mrs.Kulkarni

All my anger vanished when I saw her, “Oh, Mrs. Kulkarni, I am so sorry to disturb you, but there is some noise coming from here that has been disturbing me and my sleep. Just wanted to make sure if…..”

“OH SO NOW YOU THINK WE ARE CREATING THE THUMP AND THE GURGLE SOUND? THAT SOUND WHICH IS NOT EVEN LETTING US GRIEVE FOR OUR SON!” she shouted.

I was taken aback. She took hold of my collar and pulled me inside. I gasped at the sight in the hall, which usually had large colorful Kashmiri carpets, lay a white shroud. Wrapped in it was a small boy of 7.

Mr. and Mrs.Kulkarni were crying over him, I walked up to them and asked, “How?”

Fresh tears came out of Mrs.Kulkarni’s eyes, she spoke no more. Her husband replied, “ He was playing on the terrace, when he slipped on the puddle of water and……….” It seemed as if he lost all his words. “I have called the ambulance and it will be here in 15 minutes. We would like to be alone for a bit.” I nodded and turned to left, when I saw a red and blue stripped pyjama and walked towards it. I had gifted these to their son just a month ago. I heard Mrs.Kulkarni saying something, so I just walked away without even going near the pyjamas.

When I reached my door step I just looked sideways to see a small foot disappearing into the ventilation pipe.

I blinked it was gone.

I went back to bed, mourning for the little boy.

Then in the doorway I saw him, standing and smiling

I saw him, Mr. Kulkarnis son!

He tilted his head and smiled.

He pointed his hand towards the window.

 I did not look and got up to shut the door

I was just so scared, that I heard a click and the window opened. I turned around to see the little boy climbing up the window smiling .

I ran and shut the window on his hand.

I was scared and went into bed.

Then I saw him again on the roof like a lizard, he was smiling tilting his head and then the door and window opened.