It had been raining continually for the last two days and no respite had been forecast by weather people for the next twenty-four hours. Of course, this place was known for this type of rains. Who was Manav to grudge such type of events? He could not have controlled it even if he had tried to stop the rain. Even with all the advancements in technology, certain natural events like earthquakes, cyclones, heavy rains, etc. had stayed outside the control of human beings. They struck at developed as well as poor nations without discrimination. Of course, human beings have also invented many more lethal weapons of destruction.
Manav really enjoyed the rains, but even he was becoming restless with the incessant rain. It was like a house arrest without any court orders. He was wondering whether he should go for another cup of tea or wait for some more time. Since morning he had already consumed four cups of tea.
His musings were disturbed by chimes of doorbell. He was not expecting anybody. It was foolish to even expect that some of his relatives or friends will visit him in spite of rain. Perhaps someone had pressed his bell by mistake. He decided to ignore it.
The bell rang again. This time there was no reason for doubt. Someone was certainly at his door. He walked to the door and peeped through the keyhole. Although he could not see clearly, but it appeared to be some male.
It was just after 11.00 in the morning, there was no reason for any suspicions. He opened the door without removing the safety chain.
The man at the door was unknown to him. Still, not to be impolite, he asked the man. “You have message for me?”
The man said, “I have travelled quite a bit of distance. Can I come in? We can talk inside.”
He removed the safety chain and asked the man to come inside.
The man occupied a seat on the sofa opposite him, which was under the ceiling fan. For the last few days fan had been making some sound. He had not given a complaint for electrician due to sheer laziness. He noted to write a complaint today itself as soon as the rain stopped. The sound of fan made it difficult to converse. Both of them had to speak louder to make themselves heard.
Instead of speaking, Manav looked at the man questioningly. The man got the hint.
The man began, “You look like a nice person. I am just confused.”
Manav asked him, “Confused about what? You haven’t told me your name and the purpose of your visit. ”
The man was silent for a while, when he spoke his voice seemed more sure.
“You are very active on social media. Why do you spew so much venom against us?”
The man had still not given his name, instead he had been talking of social media. Maybe he was some person against whom he had made some comment on social media, although he could not recollect anything.
Manav was about to ask him what did he mean by spewing venom when he noticed there was a revolver in man’s hand. He realised that he had been writing against certain social ills on social media. Perhaps the man was zealot, representing some sect.
The man noticed that Manav had seen the revolver in his hand. He aimed his revolver on Manav and put a finger on trigger.
Fear overpowered Manav’s senses. He had seen such revolvers on TV and films but never faced the one himself. Perhaps the man wanted to scare him. He was certainly successful in that. You can argue with a person but not with a gun.
The man noted his fear. For a while, Manav saw compassion in man’s eyes.
“I have nothing personal against you. Although you appear to be nice person, but it is time you remember your God. Not that you have not earned this by posting vituperative posts against us on social media.”
Seeing death in the form of person, Manav resigned himself to the inevitable. He had not prayed in his life, but this time he did hope for a miracle.
The man was just about to press the trigger, when there was a loud sound like a roar. Manav wondered if death brought this kind of sound with it. He shut his eyes.
….
Manav felt a sensation in his body. Perhaps he was alive. He tried to open his eyes. He was relieved to find that he still belonged to this world. He looked across at the sofa where terrorist had been sitting a while ago. Perhaps he had changed his mind and shown some mercy on an innocent person.
There was no one on the sofa. Just then his eyes fell on the floor. The man was sprawled on the floor and appeared to be unconscious. There was blood on his head and face. Manav looked around for a benefactor who had saved him from certain death in the nick of time. As he looked up, he saw that the ceiling fan was missing. He understood the situation immediately. The fan had come unhinged and fallen on the man. It was lying a few feet away from him on the floor.
….
Even though the man had been trying to kill him, he felt his duty to save the man’s life. He dialled for ambulance and police in quick succession. The ambulance and police both arrived within less than ten minutes.
The policeman had one look at the man lying on the floor and looked at him.
He asked him, “Do you know this person?”
Manav replied, “This is the first time I have seen this person. He was trying to kill me.” Then he gave a full account of events since the arrival of person.
The man was loaded in the ambulance for taking to the hospital. The policeman followed the ambulance in his vehicle.
Before leaving, he told Manav. “You are lucky to be alive. This man is a dreaded terrorist. For that I guess you should be grateful to your fan.”
Then he left.
React
