SHORT STORIES FRIDAYS (54)

THE SPECIAL NOTEBOOK : A SHORT STORY BY ME

When Neeraj woke up the next day, he had completely forgotten about his wish. He started getting ready for school but was surprised to find that the kitchen was still dark and there was no sign of his mother, Radhika. She would usually get up by 5.30 AM to start making breakfast and lunch. ” Mom, ” called Neeraj, ” Where are you? Haven’t you made coffee or breakfast? “

There was no response. He panicked and rushed towards her bedroom. He knocked on the door as she responded with a groan, ” What do you want, Neeraj? I am not feeling well today. I am down with cold and flu. Why don’t you order something for us through Swiggy or Zomato? You can also have lunch at the school cafeteria.” Neeraj was shocked by her disheveled appearance. Her nose was red and tears flowed incessantly from her eyes. She looked horrible. Neeraj replied, ” Mom, let me skip school for the day to take care of you. I will call Dr. Prashant right now.”

Radhika smiled feebly at her son. She felt blessed to have him, especially, after Pranav left for his heavenly abode. He called the family doctor, Dr. Prashant, who prescribed some medicines and asked her to take complete bed rest. After the doctor left, Neeraj made coffee for both of them and ordered food online. He still couldn’t recollect that it was he who had wished for her sleeping the whole day in his special notebook.

They enjoyed their breakfast while Neeraj went to watch Netflix for some time.

After having his lunch, Neeraj went to his room to study for an upcoming test. He practiced mathematics and started reading history, when he dozed off after turning a few pages.

He slowly opened his eyes to find himself in an unknown location. He was in a small thatched hut with just a mat and a pot of water with a glass tumbler inverted on it. A stranger entered the room with a plate of stale rotis ( Indian flatbread) and onion. Neeraj asked, ” Where am I? Who are you? Why have you kidnapped me? ” The stranger chuckled, ” You are awfully inquisitive, aren’t you? Well, you are our guest of honor for a special ritual. Get ready quickly and don’t try to escape.” ” But, ” he wailed, ” Where’s my mom? She would be worried over my disappearance. Besides, she’s unwell.” The stranger grinned at him and left the food behind.

Neeraj wanted to escape from this horrible place. Where was he? He just remembered practicing a math sum and reading a few pages of history. Did someone manage to enter his room? He felt a sudden chill gripping his body even as his mind was yet to process the possibility of his idea. A couple of mean looking guys blindfolded him, tying his wrists with a strong rope. They dragged him to a place where he could hear the sound of the waves.

Suddenly, one of the men removed his blind fold and said, ” This is your last day on the earth, son. What’s your last wish?” Neeraj stammered, ” I just want to see my mom. Please allow me to see her for the final time.” ” Your wish is granted, ” said a familiar feminist voice. Neeraj turned around to find his mother, Radhika, with an evil grin on her face. “Mom, ” Neeraj said, “Please help me. These people have kidnapped me and want me dead.”

“Oh, Neeru baby, They won’t harm you unless I order them to do so, ” replied Radhika as Neeraj was shocked at his mother’s sudden change of image from a loving mother to an evil vamp. ” Why are you doing this, mom?” asked Neeraj, ” I am your own flesh and blood and not a stepson. Let me ask you something. Are you responsible for Dad’s death too?”

Radhika replied, ” You are absolutely right, Neeraj. I wanted your father to die so that I could inherit his wealth but he also named you in his will. If you die, then your share of wealth will also be mine. Before you die, I want you to meet your new dad, oh sorry, stepdad, Amit.” Amit was Neeraj’s tutor and his deceased father’s best friend. Neeraj felt betrayed and didn’t want to live anymore. His mother had cheated on his father and like a typical Bollywood movie, hatched a conspiracies for his suicide-murder.

Neeraj cursed her, ” What kind of a mother are you? You are a greedy, selfish woman who uses people to serve her needs and then does away with them after they are no longer needed.” Radhika hit back, ” Before pointing your fingers at me, why don’t you ask your conscience whether it was alright to make me sick for a day in order to test the powers of the notebook? ” Neeraj was speechless. He asked, ” How did you know about the notebook?”

Radhika said, ” You left your notebook lying carelessly on the coffee table. After having breakfast, you returned to your room. I opened it and found your scribbling. I just realized the power of this notebook because I was down with cold since last night itself. It grants your wish, right? I felt much better having medicines and decided to go ahead with my plan of punishing you for plotting against me. Sorry son, my feelings for you also died the day you chose your father over me. In fact, I am doing you a favor by helping you to reunite with your beloved father.”

Neeraj felt helpless after his mother refused to pardon him. He was resigned to his fate. His only solace was that he was going to meet his father in heaven. His only regret was his inability to hide the notebook from his evil mother. ” I am sorry, dad,” he murmured, ” I failed you miserably.” Radhika commented, ” Just a minute, son. I want you to sign this paper before meeting with your father. Do as I say and your end would be peaceful.”

Neeraj grabbed the paper from her and instead of just signing his name, he wrote, ” My mother, Mrs. Radhika Sagar, is a cold blooded murderer. She’s responsible for the deaths of her husband, Pranav, and son, Neeraj.” He handed over the paper to her. Radhika looked like an incarnation of the devil. She roared, ” Throw this impertinent boy into the sea.” The goons lifted him off his feet and then……..

Would you like to know what happens next? Join me next episode of The Special notebook for an unimaginable twist and turn in the tale.

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