“Hey! Who is this?” As the voice emerged from his back the guy went into hyperventilation mode out of fear.

The girl was engrossed in thoughts. She reevaluated her own words. She felt as though she did a mistake by voluntarily intriguing the man. “Why should we believe you? You might be anybody from nowhere. You are trying to traumatize us.” The girl uttered her suspicions irrespective of her fear and confusion.

The man laughed once again and said “So now I have to prove myself. Imm…. Shall I do a perfect march past and a salute. Then will you accept me as police”. His talks were full of sarcasm and sometimes out of context too. It didn’t matter to the girl anymore. “Ok do it. But to witness it switch on the light and untie me”. She thought it was a clever step from her side to move forward.

“Smart move. But somebody has to untie me, then I will help you” The man said with a sardonic laugh.

“You scoundrel, stop playing your shitty game. Tell me, what do you want?” The guy lashed out with fury. His patience level slumped into the deepest pit possible

Forthwith the guy pleaded for mercy. The guys’ sudden behavioral change shocked the girl and the other people there. The guy who was irate until that was pleading now. The girl couldn’t guess what was happening to the guy. But his cry for help gave a vision of his state to her.

 He begged not to strangle him. He moaned “Heyyyy…Please, leave me, please”. His cry deteriorated within seconds.

Hearing the guy cry, the helpless girl supplicated. She trembled yet she beseeched to let go of the guy.  Her cry for help dominated the secluded space.

He coughed and gasped for breath after a few seconds. “Hey, are you ok? Give him water, please.” The girl begged. She empathized with everyone around. It wasn’t a selfish act no more. But as time passed on, she was heading towards a numb state. She was drained both emotionally and physically.

Whenever someone initiated the cry, the other silent beings too started panicking and the outcry for help began. It became a routine. It triggered the speculation within her, she couldn’t believe it anymore, for her, every cry for help felt counterfeit. “Is it pre-recorded voices?” She asked within herself. As for her, the guy and the young girl felt real.   

“Please, stop shouting. I don’t think you will be safe here if you shout anymore.” The husky voice was born once again. It was the voice of a woman. A woman who didn’t portray any disappointment in that dark. She was fine to be there.

“He doesn’t like people who make loud noises. Did you observe that the people who ever shrilled and those who clamoured are taken away if they continuously repeat it? So, keep quiet. Be like me, then they won’t do any harm to us.” The woman cautioned them.

The guy was repeatedly coughing and breathing heavily. He felt suffocated.

 “Please can you open a window? Please I beg you. Please.” He begged for some air.

The girl responded to the guy. “Don’t panic. Be calm! And take a long breath, slowly and steadily”. He followed her instruction without uttering a word. She guided him and made him relax. Simultaneously, she was thinking about the woman’s caution. She couldn’t consider the woman as a victim in any way.

“Do you feel better brother?” The woman asked caringly.

“Feel Better? Can anyone feel better, when they are kept as a hostage and strangled? What are you asking?” Instead of the guy, the girl answered furiously. And by then she didn’t feel frightened for speaking up, this is what she has longed for all her life. The courage to speak up for herself and for others. She did it while going through a horrendous experience in her life.

“Hey cool! She asked out of concern.” The man said. “Arivuchelvi, these kids will understand as time passes, as I did.” The man said to the woman.

Arivuchelvi! Arivuchelvi! The guy, and the girl repeated the name.

Original Copyright © Sukanya Pon