The Past

Trotting down the alleyway humming a tune, I found myself cornered up by a bunch of street dogs looking at me as if I were a delicacy to them. They usually did and had become a habit so soon. Putting my hand in the left pocket of my coat I took out a crimson packet of sugar free biscuits. Perceiving it water dropped from their mouths, rolling through their cheek and fell on the burning ground. As they gulped a few of them I stroke their backs straightening their black and white fur. It seemed the hottest day of the year to me as the sun’s rays fell on my neck giving me a strain. I continued my way to the Heera’s tea shop after getting an empty packet from the dog’s early dinner. As I entered the main area of the town, I met head to head with my friend who had a tough time finding a job to raise his family. He greeted me with his usual smile and ambled towards his home without saying a word. Most of the people knew me here due to my regular visit at the tea shop but still I think it is my eagerness that makes me talk to new people now also. It is a habit from my childhood time. Being closed to my final destination I realised that someone had been watching me from close quarters. As I entered the cross road I found out a SUV decelerating at my side to rest. The door opened with a click and a robed man with a book in his hand stepped out with his heavy boots. His serious eyes gave me the feeling that he was in no time to joke around. Reaching out his hand towards mine with a smile he spoke,” I do not think you recognize me.”My answer was already read by him on my face so I did not speak. Then his eyes started glittering as he spoke,” I am the one who was a bestie for you.” I, was in high spirits after listening to this and putting my hand on his back made him sit on the bench and had to ask many questions but the first question as always popped out from my mouth,” So what have you been doing in these years.” “I became a writer,” came his proudy reply. “And what is that book for?” “That was the exact thing that I wanted you to ask to me. Do you remember the fun we had escaping some lunatics at my uncle’s wedding?” “Yes,” “I wrote a short story on that which got published in this book. I want you to comprehend it.”

Holding the book in my hand, visions of the day just came in my mind and did not stop till I was in my bed fully ready to read the book. Holding it upright I examined the contents and opened the page of my friend’s story. I began to read from the starting...

 

The fortnight had come at last and grabbing my coat I went to my friend’s house with my mom. As I knocked the door came a quick reply,” Coming, just at the end.” Through the fields we reached the place where my uncle’s wedding was gonna take place. Taking a wide look of the undepictabely decorated place I entered with joined hands greeting each person whom I recognized. My friend came at my side as I took a plate of sweets. He was trying to say something but his mouth full of chili potatoes was not contributing. I walked into a corner of the hall with my friend to enjoy the rich taste of the rassgulas to prevent greeting everyone now we heard a squeal from the nearby woods which no one else heard. Quietly moving out from an open window we dodged a paw which sprang out from a nearby bush. A tiger’s cub had popped out whose left paw was bleeding badly. We had no words left to say after that scene. My friend calling me pointed towards a deserted trail. Running at our maximum speed we got into a clearing then entered a field so that no one could see us.

We hid the tiger in our coat and ran towards the veteran. Reaching onto the main street a van headed ‘SHAMBOO CIRCUS’ jerked us. A stout man looking not very friendly stepped out and asked us to show what we had in our coats. “They are just berries” said my friend acting normal. As we crossed him some of his men came running for us and we had to split into two. Most men came on for me. They shot with their tasers at me with no mercy. I threw every single thing which came in my way at them but they were too quick. I once realized that I was too lucky that their accuracy wasn’t good but the dead end was too unlucky for me. I put down the coat through which a bunch of berries popped out. I too was surprised at this. The men giving me a dirty look went back. After their departure my friend came from his hiding spot and exclaimed,” I exchanged the coats before the chase at the field. I didn’t think you had not noticed that but as it is said ALL IS WELL THAT END’S WELL.” Giving him pat on his back we continued our way to the veteran. 

Keeping the book aside I knew now what I had to say to my friend the next day. I switched off the lights and went to sleep on my cozy bed without thinking about it anymore. The next day as I got up I directly went up to my mobile where I had to call. Dialing his number I realized that he was not around his mobile phone. Taking the book with me after getting fresh I locked the door and picked up my Jawa to go to his house for my opinion as promised. As I drove through the cross road I entered the locality where he was living. Making my bike stand at the parking I entered the flat where he had been living recently. I ringing the bell got greeted by no one coming at the door. He had always picked up my phone bit now when he was not picking I started to worry and also he could not leave his phone at his home if he was not there. I put on a hairpin lying nearby in the lock using it as a lockpick. The door opened with a little click and I got tripped by a dustbin whose garbage was scattered here and there like nothing. As it put my step further it was more disgusting than the dustbin trip. All things were out of their place, the walls scratched, garbage everywhere and a few drops of blood on the ground. It felt like someone had raided the house. I searched the whole house thrice or I think twice but my friend was no where to be seen.

Police had arrived at the scene before I expected. After the comprehending of the book I thought that Amar had spoken much about the circus men so I think that they must have kidnapped him to take revenge on him after realising their insult. After giving answers to the police's questions I turned on my mobile to check nearby available shampoo circuses. There was no circus available here but there was one in Indore which was the nearest and also one of the 2 available in the whole country. Without thinking any further I straight went to my home and started packing things for the escape trip.

Reaching Indore I was welcomed by the rich greenery of the city. The flower's odour was so sweet that my nostrils could not bear it. Everywhere the sweet smell of the flowers made my tiredness of the journey go away from my body like petroleum. I reached at the destination, the hotel which I had booked. From the outer side it did not look like a good hotel. The old bricks with creepers climbing all around them. As I entered it I had the feeling of ' DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.' The hotel had a full brass finish and had a very good feeling. It had the 18s theme which was giving me a feel of a stay at heaven. The receptionist politely gave me the keys as I showed them the online form I had filled for the hotel's booking. I went up without perceiving anything more and entered my room no.13. As I went inside the room first thing was to put my suitcase in the admiral and walk down to where my bike had been parked.

I followed the arrows and instructions given by the map and drove towards the direction indicated. As I drive faster I enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the new city I had come to rescue my friend from the lunatic circus people. As I came near the second last circle the network connection got cut off. This was the first time I was in trouble somewhere else instead of my hometown. This could also be because I had always been travelling with someone for this or that work. This was my first time visiting alone a place new to me. As I parked my bike I saw a man looking nice drinking a cup of tea at a tea stall. This reminded me of Heera's tea. The most important thing about that man was that he was looking as a local. I politely greeted him and asked," Sir do you know where Shamboo's Circus is being held." "Of course sir, it would be my pleasure to tell you. From here you just turn towards the left and then to your left again. On the right side will be your destination. But sir, why do you want to go there? Haven't you heard that a lot of people had been lost there and the police too had not found them and unwillingly they had to shut down all the cases related to the circus. They did not have any evidence about the circus so they cannot do anything. Anyway it is your choice."

Giving an awkward look to the man and thanking him to tell me the way, I got on my bike and drove the way he told. After getting there I realized that he was not telling a lie. Only a few people were there that too were looking like tourists none of them were local. I got a ticket and entered the shabby tent which was decorated with just a couple of chairs. Taking my seat I waited for a bit and tried to observe all the paths which were leading to different rooms. As I was observing I got to see a manhole inside the tent which was giving me a disgusted feel. But looking with more concentration made me realize that I was wrong there was not actually one but more than one.

The show started while I was looking at one and an ugly joker which I had not seen since years like this one made his entrance an showing his tricks tried to made the audience's concentration towards him. As the show continued I bought some popcorns and a bottle of cold drink which was not as cold as my expectations. The show continued till 30 minutes and nothing unusual happened to me but as the show was at it's last stage, I started feeling awkward. My head started to pain and rotating. A hand was felt on my shoulder but my body was not moving so I could make a quick reaction. After a few time everything went black and I felt the pain of my dropping to my feet. While my eyes were closed I started to get visions of my mother who had been living in a village with my father trying to take me somewhere. As I followed her, I saw a white door. Before entering my other stopped and disappeared. I went in the door without thinking about anything else.

 Trying to reach the screwdriver in front of me with my foot, I heard noises of boots coming from the left. The whole place had been stinking and my nostrils were burnt to ashes from the odour. It was so disgusting to be kidnapped and kept in a sever full of rats, cockroaches and other different disgusting insects. When I had opened my eyes the first thing that came in my mind was that the kidnappers were so poor to have kept hostages in a place built by the government. I was having a tough time at that place. Some of the kidnappers face covered came in the sever from the nearest manhole and kept observing me for a minute or two. As he observed I noticed that he wore a gold chain around his neck and also had a few teeth made out of gold which were dirty like a true kidnapper.

The words which I had said a few seconds ago were taken back by me. After a few observations he spoke in his filthy voice," We have kidnapped you for the sake of money. Like every kidnapper now we will call your close ones for a large amount of money." Laughing, he then again spoke in a serious tone," So quietly tell me the phone number or else my men will burn you to ashes and you will directly go to hell." I gave a smile but my inner side was afraid badly. "Why are you laughing stupid. We are gonna kill you so be afraid. Look around you these people are all those who did not speak and were shot dead by me with no mercy." Listening to him I got reminded of my friend and without looking at the dead bodies he told.

I was going to ask him when taking out a black colured tape he put it on my mouth and started to laugh again. Then he exclaimed with his raging voice," Don't you think you are speaking too much? Anyway I am not killing you right now l. I will do that operation tomorrow. So enjoy the last day of your life here." Getting to the manhole he jumped out of it and giving a smile he turned his freaky face upwards. It was clear now that I had to escape from here as fast as I could. The man had pushed the screwdriver away the last time but I noticed a small piece of paper on the ground after he had left. Trying not to touch it with water, I tried to take it from my foot. The harder I tried more the piece of paper came towards me. I had to pull the paper last time but water had covered me from all sides. I ran my brain at my full speed and tried to take it on my shoe.

As I took it, I carefully drew it towards me. Trying to pull the chains off, all my energy got wasted in that but the last time, I tried to pull that screwdriver too. My foot was just 1 mm away from it. I tried hard but no result was there. Suddenly a big shadow appeared which looked like a ghost teeth like sharp needles and the body bent. As it came near me I started to wither. The shadow started running and I tried to shout in the bandage. Suddenly a mouse came galloping and pushed the screwdriver to my side. I thanked god for giving me this much luck. Pulling I tried to take it on my foot. Reaching my foot towards my hands I tried to unscrew the nuts on the wall to which the chain was joined. I felt that the screwdriver was in the right position in the nuts so unscrewed as fast as I could. Standing up I went up through the manhole but the sound of heavy boots started coming as my phone vibrated in my full sound. Running at my full speed I went up through the second manhole. I was so lucky again to have no one there. As I picked up the phone, escaping the shabby tent I noticed 13 calls from Amar. I called him and a raging voice echoed in my ear," Where we're you for so many days and what about my story's opinion?"