Rama Moondra

“How on the mother earth, someone can be so ruthless?” I was shivering with mixed emotions. I could sense fever gripping me. I know it’s my defense mechanism whenever I have my heart bleeding heavy.

So here is the last part of sad grime tale of a human. It fails all psychological reasons to be inhuman and defies every law of humanity.

Sandeep met Poonam in school days. Small crush of teenage grew stronger but Sandeep was son of an army officer and transfers of postings was integral part of their lives. So, he left city at the age of fourteen. Six years later Facebook brought them together again and love grew on internet. They met and Sandeep found that Poonam had only her father surviving now. Sandeep had lost his father meanwhile. Families met and one fine day, in a royal ceremony they took their vows.

Life was picture perfect. His mom decided to pursue her Ph.D. in U.K. and Sandeep was delighted for her.

Sandeep left for his posting leaving the bride alone after six months but kept calling five times a day. One day, the neighbor called Sandeep. They were not sure of Poonam’s conduct as a young man was living with her ever since Sandeep left. Surprised, Sandeep enquired about this. “Oh…they ruined my surprise for you. He is Nitish…my nephew from a distance relative of mom’s side.” Poonam’s voice was clear and assuring.

Sandeep never met Nitish or heard about him. He came back for a brief vacation and Nitish had left by then. Sandeep now wanted to start family and Poonam was unable to bear his touch even. The couple had a small fight over it. He felt the relationship lacked warmth of all kinds. Confused and irritated Sandeep wanted to talk it out. “I also need to know who is Nitish and which relative does he belong to? I spoke to your father and he does not know anyone with that name.”…Poonam blamed him of spying, fight went ugly and she started packing her clothes. That’s when Sandeep discovered the box of snakes.

It all happened in two nights. Poonam was missing and when she was caught by Police, Sandeep had no evidence to prove anything against her. She said, she left home on pretext of fight and what happened after that was not known to her. Sandeep now does not have patience or finance to be able to fight all these lies.” I can prove all that happened but have no reason left for. I am done with life.”

Sandeep became victim of situation where he lost all his belongings, physical wellbeing, career and civil rights. It was a very well thought and planned game against a loving, caring male who just wanted an ordinary life.

Every word of this story is truth including the names of people.

Sandeep..I and my readers will  pray for you. This is for you to have courage to let go, to live life the way it is and to face it so bravely. May god be with you always.

I am so thankful to god to give me friends like Vikrant and Sid who made sure to be around when I needed someone to be there.

Please read earlier post Evanescence .

Next Morning was a bit heavy on heart for him. Though he reminded the woman to let the reptiles go, he was not feeling assured at all.

Sandeep searched for the box of reptiles in her cupboard while she was in shower. No sign of those creepiest crawlies anywhere, he sighed in relief.

That night after basking in glory of marital bliss and great home cooked food, Sandeep was fast asleep. “I never felt so sleepy and tired but that night it was getting impossible to keep my eyes open.” He said.

Late night, the clock must have struck 2 am. Sleepy, heavy in head and sensing some discomfort on his body, Sandeep woke up to the night of horror. At least a dozen of reptiles were on his legs and crawling towards him. Some of them were on the bed too. He was alone on bed and the room. Trying his best to shout, he realized that his shouts were voiceless. He was shouting but could not hear himself.  Though he was trying to throw the creepers but unable to get up. Was it a nightmare? Was it happening in reality? His throat was dry and head was spinning. Hazy and unclear, he tried collecting himself. Why the cough syrup tasted awful? Why she insisted even when he was not coughing.

Suddenly the fact dawned on his half conscious brain. He was drugged. His body was unable to move but his mind, though hazy, was registering incidents around.

He fell unconscious. Next morning, his maid discovered him on the floor. No signs of reptiles or even the lady. All the ornaments, expensive household stuff and she herself were missing. The home looked ransacked and looted mercilessly.

It’s a miracle that Sandeep survived despite being venom infected and drugged. His body is half paralyzed now. Once upon a time, an army officer is reduced to a mere physically challenged person on a wheel chair.

My numbness could be excused. Vikrant could see me absolutely distorted. Worried, he texted but I was unable to move myself. Trying to pretend normal, I politely declined the offer to eat. The last part of this nerve wrecking story was pending still…Why did she do it to him? Where is she?

This is yet to come tomorrow in the last post.

I have gathered courage for a while to be able to write this series.

I kept getting calls from an unknown reader of Udaipur. Capt. Sandeep Sharma was following me to come and be his guest. “Your all stories so far are going to take a beating after you hear mine.” He said repetitively.

So, one fine day, amidst my busy, hectic routine, I planned the trip. The idea was to have dinner with him and leave late night to be able to catch up with work next day. I was sure not to be alone in City of Lakes so I called up Vikrant and he was at Udaipur before I reached. Friends are the best blessing in one’s life and I am the real blessed one.

The steward led me to dinner table which was pre-booked. Vikrant happily spaced himself on another table ordering himself a big plate of tikka and some beer.

I waited patiently for half hour and then started getting restless. Sandeep’s phone was unanswered.” Someone fooled me.” I sent a text to Vikrant and we kept chatting from tables next to each other.

“Hi Ma’am!” I stood quickly looking up  but went numb and quiet for a while. The stern, strong voice had no resemblance with the person on wheel chair. “Thanks for coming. You know now I could not have.” Sandeep has sad, very sad eyes. Sober, gentle and pain smeared on his face like black ink, Sandeep gave me a feeling of heaviness in my heart. His story actually fails Bollywood tales of horror and grime. I am going to finish it in three posts. You have to be with me, my dear reader…

Sandeep got married to his childhood sweetheart with fanfare and royalty. It could have been happily ever after type but fate had something else in store.

Life took a different turn altogether one night when Sandeep found out his wife’s hobby was keeping pet snakes. Stumbling on a box full of snakes in her cupboard was horrifying. Petrified and angry…he asked her to leave all three captive snakes immediately. The lady shamefacedly agreed . Next day before leaving for work Sandeep asked her plans of leaving those reptiles. She promised a call to Wildlife Association or Zoo and do the needful.

More on this tomorrow. Be with me please.