“Ezhil…., Uncle……” Everyone out there muted themselves for a while hearing the man’s words except the young girl.

“Who the hell is that dammit Ezhil, uncle, this, that? Nonsense” The man roared.

“Aren’t they here?” The young girl started to blabber. “Please leave me. please.”

Out of fear they cried, yelled, and prayed. They didn’t know whom they were yelling at. They weren’t capable of doing anything more than that. The surrounding wasn’t supportive. They couldn’t even think of an escape. The blood smell was the greatest issue for one, for the other it was dark, for some it was the inability to move. They tried their best, at least to know the reason, for being there in that situation. Everyone was facing the same threat but was fighting separately in different ways. Some begged for release, a few threatened, and another few even pleaded for mercy. Somehow, they convinced themselves of being guilty of something. A solution can be derived only when the problem is known. The unknown problem only has an unknown solution. It was far away from them.

One amongst them gathered the courage and tried to have a conversation with their common unknown enemy. 

“So, what’s your plan? What’s going to be our destiny?” A guy who was sobbing once now asked stoutly.

When a person experiences a threat to their life, they are just left with two extreme options. One is fear and the other is courage. The guy passed through the tunnel of fear and chose courage as his weapon to save him.

When there wasn’t a reply, the guy repeated. “So, what’s your plan? What’s going to be our destiny? I know you are here. Answer me.”

Crows cawed; insects squeaked but the man wasn’t ready to reply.  

“You are a coward. I will kill you, man. You scoundrel” The indignant guy bellowed. He yelled at the man by using the most abusive words he knew; he did know that it didn’t make any sense still he continued until he was tired. Meaningless words enter the world either from the incapable person or when a capable person switches off their reasonable mind. Here the scenario was quite different, a capable guy in incapable mode. Even though his unknown enemy chose to be silent mostly, he didn’t give up his fight. The least possible thing he was capable of doing was a verbal war. He was doing it in every possible way he knew. Some were tired and stopped fighting back. But only two people among them didn’t give up. Constantly they were questioning their mysterious enemy. The rage-fueled up within them for each unanswered question.

“Be silent. I hate these things.” The man yelled after a long time.

“I can’t be silent anymore. Leave me. Why have you kidnapped me? What’s your plan? What did I do to you? Who are you?” The guy fumed.

“Be silent. I hate these loud noises. Do you understand? I want just peace, leave me alone.”

“Just leave us. You can be in peace, sir. Please.” The girl stuffed her anger within her and pleaded politely.

The irritated man confusingly asked, “How can I free you? I don’t have any superpowers, to free anyone.”

“He is a psycho. He is playing a game with us. No way, he will never let us free.” The guy muttered and was about to give up.

The word psycho hit the man hard, his ego was touched. “How dare you call me Psycho. Be careful with your words or you have to face the consequence. Remember that you are speaking to a police officer.” The man threatened.

“Are you a police officer?”

“Are you sir?”

“Are you uncle?” The guy, the girl, and the young girl were astonished concomitantly.

Original Copyright © Sukanya Pon