Smile Is Miles Away

The flat is little secluded but there are some houses surrounding it. Actually, madam big people want the big house. And that is only possible if you move away from busy city life. But do not worry you will get all necessary items within 2-3 km. Some food joints and coffee shops are also nearby. Kittu baby can go alone on the scooter.

It is ok Madan Ji, we like the house.—Beena.

Beena along with her daughter Kriti (alias Kittu) moved into new house. Kittu’s dad was away for some work. After settling down they were relaxing. Kittu was watching TV. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Beena was little surprised. She opened the door. A lady in her 50s draped in the sari was standing.

“Hi, I am Kamakhya. I am your neighbour. Just came to meet and greet you. You can come to me anytime over the cup of coffee, lunch, dinner.

"Hello, baby. Is she your daughter?”- Kamakhya

“Yes, she is Kittu. Kittu says hello to aunty.”—Beena.

But Kittu did not turn her face.

“It is ok. I think she is not well that’s why she is wearing scarf”- Kamakhya.

“She is perfectly alright. Actually, she is fond of scarves, her fashion statement.”- Beena.

“That is great. Why do not we spend some time together tomorrow over lunch at my place? You will also get to know more about surrounding. Good night. See you tomorrow.”- Kamakhya

Beena accepted the offer.

Next day she was going to Kamakhya’s place with Kittu.

“Why do not you remove your scarf sometimes. You are not riding your scooter. You are not going to college.”- Beena.

“Mum please, I do not want anybody to know the truth. I do not want to feel ashamed.”- Kittu.

“Oh my dear, nothing will be revealed. Trust me. “- Beena

Beena and Kamakhya were enjoying their gossip.

What would you like to have Kittu, tea, coffee or Milk?”- Kamakhya.

“I do not like milk products.”- Kittu.

“Ok, I will get some soft drinks for you. I must say you look very classy in the scarf. You know I have one special scarf made of fur. I will gift it to you.”- Kamakhya

“Aunty I do not support products made of animals.”- Kittu.

“Oh, I appreciate this. Very good, very good. But you know my Kitty is very fond of milk and softness of fur. Let me introduce you to my darling Kitty.”

Kitty…..Kitty…come, darling. Look who has come to meet you.”- Kamakhya.

Both Beena and Kittu were ready to greet daughter of Kamakhya. But the one who enters the room was a cat.

Meowwww…………….. Kitty was actually a cat.

Kitty jumped in the lap of Kittu.

Kittu jumped from the sofa and started running towards Beena.

“Mummy Mummy save me.”-Kittu.

Kittu was running recklessly. Suddenly Kittu jumped over Kitty and pulled her scarf. Kittu fell on the ground and Kitty was holding her scarf.

Kamakhya tried to take the scarf from Kitty’s jaw but what was that. There was a wig inside the scarf. Kamakhya looked at Kittu. She freezes to see Kittu’s head. She was completely bald with some filthy marks on her head.

Kitty ran towards her home.

“I am so sorry for Kittu’s behaviour, Beena. Is Kittu ok? Please forgive me”. – Kamakhya.

“I will talk to you later.” – Beena moved to her home.

Kittu did not come out for many days. One day Kamakhya came to see her. Beena asked her no to meet Kittu as she does not want to meet anyone. They both sat in a drawing room.

“I do not have kids. My husband passed away years ago. I am living all alone. I am fond of kids and like Kittu as my own daughter. If you do not mind I would like to help her if required. You can trust me. Has she met with any accident?”- Kamakhya.

“Kittu was just three months old when we went for a picnic in a jungle. Her father was holding her when I was trying to click their picture. I asked my husband to move behind. As he moved he lost his balance and Kittu slipped in a gorge from his hand. Though rescue team arrived early but it took three hours to get back Kittu. When she was taken out, there were injury marks on her head. It was believed that some wild creature has hit her head with its paw. After that hair never grew on her head. She started wearing the wig and covers her head with scarf most of the times. She actually hates animals. None of her friends knows this fact.”- Beena.

“Oh God. Poor child. This is really traumatic for any girl. But do not lose hope. Now science has made tremendous development. We can look for good doctors who can help her in getting the hair of her own.”- Kamakhya.

“We have tried everywhere, but of no use. But still looking for.”- Beena.

“Do not worry. I am with you in your search. And please convince Kittu to come out of her room. Do not stay her lonely. I have brought this gift for her. Kindly hand it over to her.”- Kamakhya then leaves.

Beena went to Kittu’s room with some fruits. But Kittu asked her not to cut any fruit right now. Beena told that she is going to market. She handed over the Kamakhya’s gift to Kittu. After a while, Kittu opened the packet. It was a blue silk scarf. It looked so gorgeous that Kittu could not resist her wrapping the scarf around her head. She stood in front of a mirror. She was looking very pretty in that scarf. She blew a flying kiss towards her image.

Suddenly Kitty (the cat) came into her room and tried to pull that scarf. Kittu was trying hard to take hold of the scarf. But she felt that she would not be able to hold the scarf back. In a range of fit, she lifted the knife lying in the fruit basket and hit Kitty hard. Kitty was hurt badly. She tried to run and jumped from a window. Kittu looked down from the window. She saw Kitty lying on the floor. She ran downstairs. She reached the spot but now Kitty was not there. She was searching for her badly. Suddenly her mother came. She asked her what she was looking for.

Kittu denied. She ran towards her room. Some blood drop was lying on floor and blood stained knife. Kittu mopped the floor with that blue scarf and wrapped the knife in the scarf and started moving. Her mother asked where she was going. She told she has to meet the friend at Starbucks café.

She is going there.

She sat in the café, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf. She was feeling weak. She was cursing herself for killing the Kitty. What to do now. This was the constant thought in her mind. It was more than 3 hours. She got a call from her mom. Unwillingly she started for home. While driving towards home a cat crossed her wary. She suddenly applied brakes. She followed the cat but the cat disappeared soon. Kittu found herself in a secluded place which looks like a jungle. She was carrying that knife and scarf. Something stuck her mind. She started digging the ground. She wanted to bury that knife and scarf. After some digging, she put the knife and scarf there and covered it. While returning she turned back. She saw a small portion of the scarf was showing. She pulled the scarf from the ground and moved to her home.

Next morning Beena was looking for Kittu. She was nowhere seen. Suddenly Kamakhya called and told her that Kittu was at her home. Beena went there and asked Kittu to come home. But Kittu did not turn her face. She was watching TV.

Kamakhya assured Beena that she will send Kittu home after some time.

When Kittu returned home from college she told Beena that she was feeling week and wants to drink something. Beena brought the soft drink for her. But Kittu denied that. She asked for something else.

“What you want dear. This is your favourite drink.”- Beena.

“I want a cup of milk.”- Kittu.

Beena was surprised to hear that. For the first time, Kittu has asked for milk.

Beena father returned home after a long time. Beena told about Kamakhya and certain changes in Kittu. Raman- Kittu father was not much involved in the talk. He was happy to know that Kittu is doing well. Kittu was not at home. Beena told she has gone to Kamakhya’s house.

When Kittu returned home, she was very happy to see her father back. She hugged her father. Her father was very surprised to see Kittu. Reason being she was wearing an expensive fur coat.

“Ohh is that my Kittu. Hey, honey, you are wearing fur coat. But you never liked it. This looks like an expensive brand. Which brand is it? Let me have a look.”

“Kamakhya has gifted this coat to her. She does not have kids, so she is fond of our Kittu.”- Beena.

Raman was observing that Kittu was mostly seen in furs these days. He was not having a good feeling and why Kamakhya is gifting these expensive coats. But Beena convinced her.

One night Raman was looking for Kittu. Beena told she is taking milk in her room. Now a day she takes milk daily. Raman went to Kittu’s room to say good night. When he entered his room he did not see Kittu on her bed. He was looking for her. Suddenly he heard a strange voice. He felt the sound of slurping. He looked at the window. He could not believe his eyes. He called secretly Beena. They both were stunned to see it.

Kittu was standing on the window on her four foot and slurping the milk as if she was a cat. Raman pulled Kittu from the window. She was shouting. Somehow he managed to calm her down. Kittu fainted. Raman made her sleep on her bed. Both Raman and Beena were sitting aside. Raman removed Kittu’s scarf and her wig. He moved his hand over head. He felt some unexpected growth on her head. Beena also touched her head. She joyfully told that hair is growing on her head. But Raman could not agree. He felt as if it is like animal fur.

Next morning Kittu was normal. She had breakfast with all. No one talked about what happened in the night. After having breakfast she told that she is going to Kamakhya’s house. She took one of her fur coat. Raman tried to ask her but she fled. Raman followed her. He saw that Kittu was trying to open the main gate of Kamakhya’s house but she could not. Raman thought she would return. But he was shocked to see Kittu climbing the wall like an animal and jumped on the other side.

Raman was shocked to see these strange developments in Kittu. All of sudden she started liking milk, fur coats which she used to hate. He asked Beena if anything happened. Beena told about that cat’s incidence. Raman asked where that cat is now. Beena said that she was missing for quite sometimes.

Raman found the story little weird. He went to Kittu’s room. He checked her wardrobe. It was full of fur coats and stoles. Raman found those items known to him. He checked the brand. -----SMILES.

“Oh no. this cannot happen. This cannot be true.”- Raman.

He ran towards Kamakhya’s house. When he entered the room, Kamakhya was sitting on the sofa with her back at Raman. Without looking at Raman she told – “Welcome to our world, Raman.”

“Who are you? How did you get these furs? This was supposed to be with someone else.”- Raman.

“With whom, Raman. Whom have you given these furs? You killed so many meek animals just for their furs, to make money. You did what you wanted. But you forget that we all have to pay for our deeds. GOOD OR BAD.”- Kamakhya.

Raman ran from her house. While running towards the main gate he saw Kittu was running behind a mouse in the lawn on her four foot like an animal. He moved towards her house and asked Beena to stay away from Kamakhya. They tried to control Kittu but day by day she was becoming ferocious. She also developed fur on her skin like a cat.

Raman was very disturbed over this. He was in garments import-export business. Years back before the birth of Kittu, he got a lucrative offer from overseas for supplying wild animal’s furs. As compensation was too good, he dealt in that business. They killed wild animals mercilessly and imported their furs illegally. Raman made huge money in this business. But suddenly his client disappeared and he had to stop this.

Raman thought of contacting his overseas client. He was told that there was a burglary at his residence and it was set on fire. His client died in the incident.

Now Raman and Beena were living with their daughter Kitty…………..the cat. Kitty was transformed into a cat woman. They were forced to believe that Kittu would not recover.

WAS THAT TRUE??????