STANDARD 12 B
Madhukumar woke up to the sight of the spinning ceiling fan set in full speed. He lay lazily staring into the white circle for some time. As he sat up groggily the monster headache hit him with all its might. He understood it was the effect of hangover. He groped for the liquor bottle which was almost empty. As he was about to pour the remnants into the glass he found dead flies floating in its bottom with the liquor blended with soda. He drank it straight from the bottle and placed the empty bottle on the table with a thud and held his heavy head in his arms waiting for the result of the alcohol which he had just taken.
What a day!
Finishing the last fifty plus pages of the latest John Grisham thriller, a sumptuous lunch with his favourite pearl spot fish curry, a film at 6 pm with his wife Radhika and winding up the day eating out were his plans.
But everything went hay-wire.
He had slapped his wife for the first time in his life.
Not once, twice.
After that he booked him into a hotel room with a full bottle of liquor and hit the bottle hard.
A practice, totally out of his character.
He will apologise. He will reconcile. There will be no more disputes between them in the future. He will swear that and make her swear about that.
This should not happen in the future. He reminded himself with a sigh.
He stood up and took his cellphone set in silent mode and pressed a button. The display got illuminated informing him there were 29 missed calls.
Majority of them from unknown numbers!
What is happening?
He settled his bill and handed over the room key at the reception.
His cellphone vibrated in his hand.
An unknown number!
He hesitated to take the call for some seconds and decided against it.
“Hello?” A male voice. Not a soft one.
“Yes.”
“Is this Mister Madhukumar?”
“Yes. Who is this please?”
“I am a parent of your student Thushara of 12B.”
“What is it?” He felt irritated.
“I am sorry sir. But I want to meet you. It is urgent.”
“Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”
“It won’t take more. Spare me a couple of minutes.”
“I am not in the mood. I am a bit under liquor, frankly put.”
“Come on. Everyone does it on a holiday. No big deal. Where are you?”
The person was insisting.
“I am in the town.”
“Town? Where in the town?”
“Just outside Hotel prince.” He told hesitantly.
“Give me five minutes.” And the person hung up.
It didn’t take five minutes for him to turn up. A police invader jeep came to a screeching halt at the hotel parking. Policemen filed out. A two star tough looking police guy approached him briskly.
Madhukumar stood there with his heart thumping violently against his ribs.
“Are you Madhukumar who teaches at Divine soul?” The policeman gruffly asked.
His mouth suddenly went dry. He nodded like a zombie.
“You are under arrest for murdering your wife.”
The police guy placed his beefy hand on his shoulder.
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THE REST WILL APPEAR IN MY SOON TO PUBLISH COLLECTION OF STORIES-WHAT'S IN THERE FOR ME-TALES ONE FREE A DOZEN.
