THE SUMMER NIGHT

Summer temperature was soaring high as if determined to break all the records of the past hundred years and adamant about testing the tolerance capacity of the living Earthian. The children were advised to plant trees as it had become impossible to stop harmful ultra-sun rays. Sreeja felt pity for the new generation who must be wondering why the previous generations, who had done deforestation on such a large scale, expected the younger ones to maintain the ecological balance.

Sreeja lived alone in a rented house in Mumbai with her four-legged partner Furry. After dinner, she daily strolled outside her residential complex for half an hour with Furry. That night, the street was unusually crowded as during daytime none dared to face the heated sun. She preferred not to listen to music at that moment though she was a music lover and so concentrated on her accompanied partner. 

It was 11 P.M. She felt a sudden pull. She looked down and saw Furry was trying to drag her in a particular direction. She followed. It led her to a dark corner of the neighborhood park. She noticed a shadow sitting on a cemented bench. She threw torchlight from her mobile at the human structure. A teenage girl got startled by the flood of light poured on her. Hiding in the darkness, she was perhaps sobbing and so got more disturbed at a stranger's presence. 

She seemed a known face to Sreeja. Oh! She was the daughter of Mr. Mehta. Sreeja went near her and asked if she was in trouble and needed any help. The girl showed her displeasure at the unwanted interference with her privacy. She rudely denied it. Sreeja left her saying ‘sorry’ for disturbing her. She also decided not to inform the Mehta family about her meeting with their daughter, crying alone outside the park. 

A week later, she was utterly shocked to hear that Mr. Mehta’s daughter committed suicide. The news shook the entire locality. Sreeja attended the condolence meeting and got informed that the poor girl was harassed by her boyfriend. He was her college mate and belonged to an affluent family. He demanded absolute control over her and mentally tortured her. When she announced a breakup, he leaked her personal photos and videos on the internet.

Sreeja was sure if the girl could open up with her that summer night, she might get a solution to the problem. She felt sorry for the girl and decided to forget that night’s meeting with her.

At night, she again strolled in her surrounding area. All of a sudden, she felt something very unusual. A chilled air numbed her senses. She visualized the deceased girl with a folding hand. Sreeja gathered courage and uttered, “I could save you if once you had trusted me. Now, you have lost your precious life, but the real culprit is still behind the bar and enjoying his freedom. “

The girl disappeared. Sreeja noticed a mobile phone on the grass. She understood there must be some solid evidence, perhaps something was recorded on the phone, proving that the boy was guilty. She immediately went to Mr. Mehta’s house. She knew he would never believe that she had met with his dead daughter. So, she cooked a story. She told him that once she and his daughter were in the elevator. At that moment she noticed his daughter’s mobile phone in her hand. While strolling she saw the same phone lying on the grass outside the park.

Mr. Mehta rushed to the spot and informed the police. The police collected the evidence. Sreeja was relieved to know later that the boy was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. After the justice was done, she never saw the girl. She was certain that the soul finally rested in peace.