SHORT STORIES FRIDAYS (58)

THE SPECIAL NOTEBOOK ( PART 5) : A SHORT STORY BY ME.

The next day, Amit entered Neeraj’s room to wake him up at 5.30 AM. Neeraj grumbled, ” What’s wrong with you? Today’s Saturday. Let me sleep until 7 AM.” Amit chuckled, ” It’s time for exercise and jogging, champ. You have to make it a habit. It’s good for your health. Be prepared for a massive change in your routine.” He forced Neeraj to accompany him for jogging and made him do push ups and squats.

His mother, Radhika, was waiting for them at the breakfast table. To his utter dismay, Neeraj found a bowl of fresh fruits and sprouts waiting for him instead of his favorite, parathas, or toasted bread with butter. Radhika said, ” From now on, we are going to follow whatever Amit says. Besides, we need to control our diet and weight.” Amit said, ” Well, you have two choices. Either you eat this or starve.” Neeraj almost gulped down to get up from the table. He didn’t touch the glass of milk. Radhika wanted to call him but Amit stopped her. He said, ” It’s alright, sweetheart. He will get used to it eventually. Especially, since he will be going to a boarding school next year.”

Radhika nodded and went to take rest. Neeraj’s life became miserable with Amit acting like Mr. Murdstone of David Copperfield. He would only give orders which his mom promptly obeyed. This was something that she had never done when Pranav was alive. She would keep arguing with him and almost kept doing whatever she wanted. Neeraj was contemplating his next move when Amit approached him with a grocery list. He said, ” ‘I hope you remember that I am going to marry your mother tomorrow. We need a few items. This is the grocery list. I want you to buy these items right now.” ” But,” protested Neeraj, ” Mom always does the shopping herself.”

Amit boxed his ears as Neeraj was in tears. He yelled, ” Your mother is carrying a baby. What kind of a son are you! Better do as I say or you will be in trouble. Start helping your mom around and try to be independent. Besides, you will be going to a boarding school next year.” Neeraj lost his temper and yelled back, ” Who are you to interfere in our lives? You don’t get to decide what to do with my life. Get it! I am not going to some fucking boarding school.” Radhika overheard their argument as she brought a cup of tea for Amit. She set it down on Neeraj’s study table and slapped Neeraj so hard that he winced in pain.

” How dare you talk to Amit like that? ” she screamed, ” Apologize to him this instant. ‘I will never tolerate insolence. You are going to a boarding school whether you like it or not.” Amit gave an evil grin as Neeraj said sorry and picked up the list. He returned home and handed over the groceries to Amit who was ready to give him the next task. Neeraj simply dashed off to his room and closed the door. He opened the school bag and pretended to study. Amit knocked on his door as Neeraj drawled, “Sorry. I can’t help you now because I am studying.” Amit went away, cursing Neeraj.

Neeraj suddenly remembered that his mother would be marrying that jerk, Amit, on the following day. He had to do something to stop the wedding. He locked the door and took out the special notebook. He scribbled :
“Amit stabbed my dad in the back by having affair with mom and ruined a noble relationship. He should also suffer the same fate as dad. His best friend should stab him to death and Mom should get to know his reality. I wish Mom could get rid of the baby.”

He didn’t speak much during dinner but noticed his mother giggling at Amit’s silly jokes. He wondered, ” What did Mom see in this son of a bitch? He looks like a monkey having Eczema.” After finishing his dinner, he went to his room, praying for the wedding to be called off.

Radhika was very excited as the moment for which she was waiting, was just a few hours away. She hoped Neeraj would realize his mistake and apologize to Amit so that they could live together as a family.

Finally, it was Sunday. Radhika woke up early and knocked on Neeraj’s bedroom. ” Neeraj, ” she said, ” Get ready son, we are going to Durga Temple. Amit said he would be there by 8:30 AM and it’s 7 now.” Neeraj groaned in disgust. He woke up reluctantly, praying for a miracle. God seemed to have answered his prayers as his mother received a phone call. She was about to faint when Neeraj caught hold of her. She was speaking to the caller, ” Thank you. I will be there.”

Neeraj asked her, ” What happened, Mom? Who was the caller and what did he want?” Radhika burst into tears and said, ” Amit……. Amit is dead. Someone stabbed him to death in his apartment. Oh, Amit! Why didn’t you listen to me when I asked you to stay over? It was Amit’s friend, Ahmed. He discovered Amit’s dead body and has already contacted the police. Neeraj, be a sport and order something for yourself online. You can take my card for the payment. I need to go now.”

Neeraj was delighted to hear the news but pretended to put on a sad face. The moment, Radhika stepped out, he ordered a special lunch with ice cream to celebrate his and his mother’s freedom from a tyrant.

Radhika reached outside Amit’s apartment in Andheri. She saw the paramedics carrying down a body in the gurney. ” Amit, my beloved Amit, ” she wailed, rushing to his side, but stopped as she saw another woman glaring at her. ” Who are you?” yelled the other woman, ” And why are you calling my husband, Amit as yours?” Radhika looked as if someone had stabbed her in her heart. She said, ” No, it can’t be true. You aren’t his wife. He told me he is single and proposed to me. We were supposed to be getting married today because I am carrying his child.”

The other woman felt sorry for her and said, ” I guess you are his third or fourth victim. It’s good that he died or else you would have been in his place instead.” ” What do you mean?” asked Radhika. Amit had a horrible secret. Who killed Amit and why?

Watch out for the next episode of The Special Notebook as a dirty conspiracy is unveiled.

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