You Are Never a Stranger

by Surakshit Markanti

  “I had a lovely dream,” I told Sofia and I completely explained her everything very meticulously.

  “Was I really a short tempered guy?” I asked her.

  “You can’t conclude something based on dreams,” she clinched.

  “Who knows, I may be getting my memories back in the form of dreams?” I started something new.

  “Will see, but get ready soon, we need to leave,” she hurried me.

  “Where are we leaving? Is it to central jail?” I mocked.

  “To a place more dangerous than that, ” she chuckled and said “my home.”

  5. Call a Stranger

  “Sofia, you are a very kind person, so lovely and talented. Do you know what you are?” I asked her a weird question.

  “I know that I am a fool,” she mocked me.

  “No, I am serious; answer me,” I asked her.

  “Yeah, I do know, what kind of person I am,” she said in a sad tone.

  “But, I don’t. I don’t know what kind of person I am. I want to know about me, if I was a kind-hearted, sweet boy or a cunning stupid whatever I was, I want to discover myself,” I confessed.

  “You are,” she paused.

  “Am I?” I asked in excitement.

  “I’ll let you know when the time hits,” she teased me again. The way her mood shifts from one tack to the other is very peculiar she had got some special talents.

  “When will that happen?” I asked gloomily.

  “When you praise me,” she giggled.

  I started to praise her in a sarcastic way “Sofia you are the most charming lady in this world, the way you smile makes the boys go gaga, everyone must be a crazy fan of your sexy eyes, and the chain you wore isn’t visible even under your charm” she interrupted me.

  “Enough of your praise,” she laughed.

  “Sofia,” I shouted in excitement.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked amused.

  “Chain, my platinum chain, not every shop in the city sells them, let’s go to each and every shop and inquire; then we can find who ordered it,” I said in excitement.

  “I didn’t get you,” she said in a low voice.

  “Come-on girl, If am able to trace who ordered this chain, I’ll at least be able to know my name,” I laughed in excitement.

  “Then what’s next,” she asked a logical question.

  “I know, what you meant, but I’ll at least be a step ahead to reach my goal,” I said sadly.

  “Why don’t you consult media?” she gave a foolish idea.

  “I don’t want to make fun of myself and I guess there is some sad murder mystery or I guess some people tried to kill me. I can’t go public so easily,” I made a master theory.

  “You think too much,” she said frankly and continued “though I support you,” she encouraged me.

  “But how do you know if you are from this city?” she continued to ask another question.

  “I don’t know, let’s try out my luck,” I told her and we were on our hunt.

  We ran into each and every shop we heard who promotes or have platinum trades, and asked if my chain matches their work. After a hectic wandering, an old man in one of the biggest jewelry shops in the city agreed that it is their design.

  “Please sir, I want to know who ordered this chain,” I requested him.

  Sofia even showed him my ring,

  “Even this ring is brought from here,” he said at the first sight.

  “How do you remember?” I interrogated.

  “It was our engagement collection. We offered 50% off on them, and so I do remember well,” he told.

  “Can you trace the contact or name of the person who brought it?” I asked again.

  “Wait a second my son, I’ll tell; it takes time,” he told and continued to blabber.

  The word engagement excited me, is my dream true am I really engaged; my inner-self poked me. My heart blushed in happiness; I smiled like a mad man.

  “This chain was ordered in the name of Aria,” he said after some time.

  Aria, is that she; my heart said yes. I didn’t want any further confirmations. It is she, my heartthrob; her name made me the happiest person on earth. I felt like I am just a step away from her.

  “Can you tell me, on whose name these rings were booked?” I asked.

  “Am searching, this kind of rings sold a lot, we had good business” he smiled proudly.

  “Why are you here?” a man glared at me as he accompanied the old man and shouted, I felt excited that someone recognized me.

  “Do you know me?” I asked him in excitement.

  “Who allowed you in?” he shouted at me and turned to call out loud “security!!”

  “What’s the matter, bro,” I asked in a cool enunciation.

  “Get lost,” he raised his hand to hit me while he is controlled by a few of his security men who are on time and others came to me with a polite request to step aside.

  I stood waiting out for Sofia; thinking what went wrong between both of us, Sofia still remained in, having a conversation about me. I stood out impatiently waiting to know what the matter was.

  “Why is he angry with me?” I asked Sofia at the very next moment she got into the car.

  “You abused his mother,” she said frankly.

  “Why would I?” I questioned as if I remember anything.

  I don’t know the reason what far I did so, but I hated myself for doing so, abusing a woman is a severe crime. I abused myself.

  “Don’t be upset,” she tried to console.

  “Did he say anything else?” I asked her, I wanted to know who I really was, no matter even I hate myself, I wanted to know the real me.

  “He said, you were an arrogant guy, who was obsessed with money, totally prudish and ill-mannered,” she said frankly.

  I was yearning to know who I was and from the moment I heard what I was, I started to hate myself. My inner-self went dumb; the discovery of me is only hatred. But I need to accept my past.

  “Are you fine?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I am totally fine, but just upset that I wasn’t a good guy” I confessed.

  “There are no good and bad people, situations are either good or bad,” she explained and praised that I am a sweet boy.

  “He wasn’t lying, I can sense his aggression and aversion towards me,” I made a theory and asked, “and did they say my name?” I asked her.

  “No, they wanted you to suffer,” she said sadly, “though the rings were ordered on your name”

  “It’s okay, I should have thanked the old man, he at least told Aria’s name, am happy for that” I smiled a little.

  “I wanted to apologize him. I don’t know what exactly I have done to him, but I regret my behavior in past,” I confessed her, got down from her car and walked straight into the mall.

  I gazed at him, his anger isn’t controllable, but I overtook him by saying sorry. A single word sorry calmed the entire scenario. I never know a single apology would show such a vast difference. I left the place.

  I stood on the terrace, gawking at the sky and the stars, the sky looks so miserable. I imagined the sky to be my life, every star shining is virtuous in me and the moon is her, my Aria. Few of the stars went fading as few of my characters are predictable and it went on the odd side. I still couldn’t believe myself, if I was really a wicked guy. My inner-self poked telling me that my engagement dream is true, where she asked me to control my antagonism. The more stars disappeared the sicker I felt.

  Sofia came running to me with a huge smile on her face. “We found out who is that, who that bouquet guy is,” she told.

  “Wow, that’s astounding!” I replied in a cherished tone.

  “He is Mayan,” she told.

  “How did you manage to get it?” I asked her.

  “We traced each and every contact, it charged a lot and Rupan took the pain of going individually and in checking each and every guy from our left out contacts,” Sofia explained, I should th
ank Rupan for what he did and am glad I found a link to trace myself.

  “Nice!” I clutched the number from her and called him from her mobile.

  “Hello,” I said slowly once he lifted the call.

  “Hello,” he said in a similar manner and continued “Is that you?” he asked.

  “‘Thanks for your life, I built mine over it,” I said the statement he wrote in the letter he gave to me.

  “Well, it’s you. I was a fool to send you that bouquet. I shouldn’t have,” he said with sarcasm.

  “Why did you send it to me?” I questioned him.

  “Just,” he said and laughed “I didn’t guess it would make such a mess”

  “Well, how come you know I was here?” I raised another doubt.

  “Don’t be foolish, I knew every moment of yours, including your new friend Sofia” he said seriously.

  “Oh man, tell me who am I and who was I?” I asked pathetically. It was foolish to ask him that question.

  “There is nothing left in your past, start a new life,” he suggested.

  “Where is Aria?” I asked eagerly.

  “You still are the same, a big question bank.” He laughed and continued “Well though you forgot your past, still able to trace her name, I don’t know if I need to praise your promptness or do, but what I still suggest you is to start a new life, don’t mess things, I may be Mayan for this world but am a big villain in your life. Goodbye,” he cut the call.

  “Shit,” I shouted loud.

  “What’s the matter?” Sofia asked silently.

  “We need to find a further clue, this went all wrong. He is not going to help me; instead he is against my discovery to my past. ” I said frankly.

  “Don’t be in a rush, it’s absolutely okay if you do not know who you were, the fact is you are never a stranger in this world, you got yourself, do not be upset,” she advised.

  6. Unknown Truths

  “Get up soon,” Sofia poked me 100th time to wake up.

  “Why,” I asked lazily.

  “We are going to a temple, go get freshen up soon,” she shouted at me.

  “I don’t want to go anywhere,” I said still under the control of my sleep.

  “Just pray to God everything will be alright,” she suggested.

  “Really?” I questioned her with little hope.

  “Yeah,” she smiled.

  The temple is spotless and calm, it enriches anyone’s mood. I felt far better. Smiles of kids playing busily; cherished my mood.

  “Sofia,” some male voice sounded louder behind me. Then a guy came running towards us and smiled at Sofia. But her reply is not admirable, she remained pale.

  “How are you?” he asked Sofia.

  “Does that bother you?” she gave a sharp reply.

  “I am sorry for everything,” he bawled.

  “Get lost from here,” Sofia said furiously.

  I stood staring at both unknowing what to do.

  “I was stressed as I didn’t have money. I couldn’t depend on you even for silly things, now I earn in millions, please come back to me,” he requested her. He might be her husband, I made a guess.

  “I don’t want your money or you,” she shouted.

  “I am working under Simon Robs; I am a diamond trader,” he said proudly.

  “You work under him, the guy about whom rumors are heard that he kidnaps innocent tribes and makes them his slaves for mining,” she was telling-off him while he interrupted.

  “Those are rumors,” he dismissed the statement.

  “From when did you start working for him?” she interrogated.

  “Two months, his business multiplied by that time,” he said proudly again.

  “Okay, it’s time for us to leave. He is my lover and we are going to get married soon,” she said pointing at me.

  I remained silent; because my inner soul suggested that being silent is better in such situations where everything is unknown.

  I merely understood that she made me a puppet to escape from that weird situation, though I am happy that I am helpful to her in some or the other way. I can’t repay the favors she did to me.

  “This guy?” he shouted, pointing at me with a strange expression as if I am an alien.

  “I’ll ruin your life and kill you,” he warned me, while Sofia and I walked away without bothering his nuisance.

  “Who is that guy, Simon Robs? Does he really kidnap people and make them slaves?” I asked her on our way back to her home.

  My inner-self kicked me for raising a useless topic because I know she would be upset because of what had happened at the temple.

  “I don’t know, exactly. I heard people say so, but he is a very rich guy. He uses many scientific techniques in mining and he is continuously mining diamonds past 30 years,” she told everything that she knew.

  “I think there is a relation between Simon Robs, his diamond business; those kidnaps and me,” I guessed something which doesn’t have a logical base.

  “Don’t frame your own stories,” she stated.

  “Why not someone takes a step ahead and files a case against him. He is doing crimes” I cried.

  “No one dared to file a case against him. Many people tried to get into his cave and no one came back with their life, it is heard that he built a huge palace in the mining cave.” She told.

  “I’ll file a case against him,” I told frankly.

  “Okay, I’ll be there to support you,” she smiled unknowing my true intentions.

  “I am happy to have you,” I said with a smile.

  “I didn’t even apologize, I am sorry, I stated you my lover in front of my ex-husband,” she cried.

  “It’s absolutely fine, I don’t even find a way or source to thank you for everything you did to me,” I smiled.

  “I wish it could be true.” She is continuing to say something when we stopped at a red signal near MJ road. I saw a kid begging; who came near to our car to beg alms, but the very next moment she had a look at my face, she ran away instantly. She certainly recognized me; my inner soul is pretty sure.

  “Sofia, park the car somewhere here and follow me,” I told Sofia and ran behind the girl.

  Once the girl perceived that I am following her, she started to run. It isn’t tough for me to chase her. Soon, Sofia joined me in chasing her. It is a slum, dirt flooded everywhere, neatness and happiness is a far alien to them, I wanted to help them in some or other way.

  “Do you know me, kid?” I asked her once I caught her.

  She was reluctant to answer initially and I asked in a polite way “Please do tell, if you recognize me,” again.

  “Follow me,” she told me. Sofia and I did as what she said; we walked with her, through many lanes and streets in the slum and finally reached a small hut.

  She signaled us to get into the hut. Once we were in, she showed me a little cripple, cute little boy but without both the legs.

  “He is my brother, he lost both of his legs because of you,” she said firmly in a sad tone.

  Sofia and I are left shocked, no words uttered from my mouth, I cursed myself for letting that kid be in that situation.

  “What happened exactly?” Sofia asked that girl.

  “Last year we had to face a lot of troubles and were in severe poverty compared to the way we are today, I still remember those days; we used to sleep on the streets. And on one such night, you hit my brother with your car, while my brother was fast asleep on the pedestrian walk. The moment I heard the crash I woke up from sleep and started weeping for what has happened to my brother. You then got down from the car and saw my brother, but there was another guy who forced you to get into the car, and both of you drove away, ” She told everything that she has seen on that day and that is the reason she started running today after seeing me, I thought.

  “I am sorry for your loss,” Sofia apologized on my behalf.

  “Why didn’t your parents file a case against me?” I asked her. I know if they would have do
ne, I should have been in jail instead of in a hospital.

  “Yes, we didn’t register a case against you because your father came to us and he apologized for our loss and gave my dad money to buy a new house. Later on, you came here with your dad and another sister and gave some more money to my father to support our family as compensation. You even apologized to my brother for your mistake,” she continued…

  My father and hopefully that girl might be Aria. I at least did little good to wash away my sins, I consoled myself.

  “Do you remember how do they look?” I asked the girl.

  She opened a box of her and took a paper piece from it and showed on old man pictured in a newspaper and told “He is the uncle who came here.”

  It is articulated on the newspaper that ‘Pride of our state Mr. Dev tops business stream with a new venture ‘accident prone sensors.’ It is an article praising his achievements in business and about his kindness and NGO he runs.

  “Why did you hide this photo?” I inquired her.

  “No particular reason,” she looks pale “though I owe him a big thanks for giving this house at least, down there are people who die even without this”

  “Why are you begging again, my dad gave you money, right?” I still continued to endure.

  “My father took all the money and ran away, I need to take care of my little brother too,” she cried.

  “I am sorry,” I said sadly.

  “A mistake is not a crime. Crimes are done by those Golden Mask men who kidnap so many children and kill them,” she said angrily.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “So many of my friends were kidnapped by Golden Mask men and that rowdy Rana, only their dead bodies came back floating in the lake, with so many cuts and bandages,” she cried.

  “They are used for humanoid tests I guess,” Sofia told using her doctor’s knowledge.

  “Is Simon Robs behind this even?” I asked her.

  “May be? It is heard that the Golden mask army is under his control,” she told.

  “I am going to file a case against him,” I said angrily.

  “First, let’s go and meet your parents,” she suggested.