Imarti handed the ten paisa coin to old Prithiviraj, picked up the packet of salt he had kept on the narrow glass topped shop counter and walked away from the shop towards the doctor’s house before he opened his toothless mouth. Old Prithiviraj, the bald Marwari in a dhoti with white drooping whiskers had leased the shop in 1936 from the municipal committee and was known to offer unsolicited advice to his customers. Imarti recognized the louts from the dhobi ghat on Shakur Ki Dandi who stared at her hips and passed lewd comments from outside Kaluram Halwai’s shop next to the general store. “Have a hot spicy samosa with us” Billu, the dark one in a red shirt shouted after her. “Please accompany me to the company bagh for some ice cream after that my darling” Saleem, with thin legs encased in tight black terricot pants added his bit in a high pitched voice. “Listen you two behenchods, am I dead that she will go with either of you?” Fateh, in a lungi and short dirty white kurta smirked. Some urchins in torn clothes gorged on stale fritters thrown to them in a brown paper envelope by the swarthy oily haired Halwai grinned.
Full Novel
The Moonless Night - 1
I Imarti handed the ten paisa coin to old Prithiviraj, picked up the packet of salt he had kept the narrow glass topped shop counter and walked away from the shop towards the doctor’s house before he opened his toothless mouth. Old Prithiviraj, the bald Marwari in a dhoti with white drooping whiskers had leased the shop in 1936 from the municipal committee and was known to offer unsolicited advice to his customers. Imarti recognized the louts from the dhobi ghat on Shakur Ki Dandi who stared at her hips and passed lewd comments from outside Kaluram Halwai’s shop ...Read More
The Moonless Night - 2
II Doctor Ahuja washed her face and reached for the towel. She had returned from a night shift at hospital. When she looked up Usha, her college going daughter, appeared in the mirror. “Dulichand is at the back door. He looks worried and has asked for you” Usha announced. “And…” something stopped Usha midsentence. “And what?” “Rohit wet his bed this morning and refused to attend school.” “Wonder what has happened now?” the Doctor ignored Rohit and the tea getting cold on the dining table and went to the back door followed by Usha. “Please come and see what ...Read More
The Moonless Night - 3 - Last Part
III “What is the matter with you?” Usha was irritated with Rohit. She realized he had not wet his “Nothing, just feeling unwell” the boy lay facing the wall. “You always make excuses to bunk school. You could take an auto-rickshaw today. Why avoid classes needlessly?” Usha loved her brother but thought discipline was important. “What happened?” Rohit whispered. “Imarti has gone to the hospital with high fever. Why do you whisper?” “I heard what Ma said to you” the boy spoke and turned towards his sister. “What’s wrong with you?” “I think I know who did this. I ...Read More