Short Story 4 : The Kidnapper
The Kidnapper - T ABRAHAM
It was during a cold morning in the town where the Eddies lived. The place where they stay is always known for it's misfortune that falls upon the families residing there. Everyone was asleep and when the morning turned up there was some confusion going on in the neighborhood. It was at the house adjacent to where the Eddies lived. There was a cry from the house where the Lydans lived. Mrs. Lydan was grief stricken and Mr. Lydan was blaming himself. There was a mention of their child's name 'Liddy'.
Then Mrs. Eddy went straight to the gate of the Lydans and asked, 'Is there anything wrong that has happened this morning ? I have been hearing you both and would like to help you if you need anything'. Then Mrs. Lydan said to Mrs. Eddy,' Mrs. Eddy.... our child Liddy has went missing from the house this morning. We came to know that someone has come into our house during the darkest time this morning and have taken our child with him. We are totally clueless about how it could have happened and whether she will be given back to us alive again'. Mrs. Eddy was totally shocked by what she has heard and did not respond to Mrs. Lydan and went back straight into her house.
Mrs. Eddy told to Mr. Eddy about Liddy's disappearance and the distress in which the Lydans were put into. Then Mr. Eddy told to her, 'Since, a CCTV has been installed near their house recently, they can find out who was the one who took Liddy with him'. As it was already time for Mr. Eddy to leave he took Stuffy with him to drop him at his kindergarten on the way towards his office. Mr. Eddy saw Mr. Lydan when he was coming out of his gate and told to him, 'I came to know that little Liddy has went missing since this morning. I think you are aware of the CCTV camera that has been installed recently near your house. You may call the police immediately and they might check for the CCTV footage which may help you identify who has done this to you'. Mr. Lydan just nodded his head to approve Mr. Eddy's idea.
The night came and Mr. Lydan did not get any information from inspector Raiden who was the inspector handling the case about the mysterious disappearance of Liddy. The days went by and each day felt like minutes passing by and each year was passing like hours in the household of the Lydans. There was a point where Mr. Lydan said to Mrs. Lydan, 'It has been ten years since our little Liddy went missing and we have not yet relieved ourselves from the grief and sorrow we have undergone from that very day till this day. Let us just pray that she safely returns back to us one day and believe that she is alive all these days and is still living her life'. Mrs. Lydan could not hold back her tears and became more weary than she was ever before and suddenly her tears were gone and the air of happiness and hope touched her weary soul.
But today there is something very special waiting for the Lydans, as there is an unexpected thing that is going to happen in their lives. Now Stuffy was fifteen years old and has been witnessing this incident for a very long period of time. Recently a new student has joined in the school where Stuffy has been for over ten years and the new student was none other than Liddy. A strange looking teddy bear drops her everyday to school and takes her back home. Stuffy came to know that Liddy is one among the rich kids in his school and her father was a businessman. Even though she was living in luxury and comfort she did not have a spark and glow in her eyes and face and always appeared dull and weary. One day Stuffy approached her and asked, 'Are you feeling well Liddy? What is bothering you? Is everything fine?' for which Liddy replied, 'I found out recently that I am adopted and I want to find my real parents. I am actually living with my kidnapper and I do not want to live this life of riches without being able to be with my biological parents'. Stuffy was shocked but something was piercing his inner conscience and he suddenly blurted out, 'the Lydans'. Then Liddy stared at him and said to him, 'I am not Liddy Lydan but Liddy Rydan'. Stuffy asked her whether she knows anyone named Lydan and she strongly refused.
The evening has come and everyone departed to their home after school. Stuffy opened a discussion about Liddy Rydan and how he felt that there is something to do with the Lydans regarding this. Mr. Eddy returned home from his work and heard the name 'Rydan' being mentioned by Stuffy. Mr. Eddy asked Stuffy, 'Do you know the Rydans my boy?'. Stuffy told him about the encounter and his doubts regarding Liddy. His father said, 'Mr. Lydan had a brother named Mr. Rydan who is a businessman and well off when compared to the Lydans. Mr. Rydan did not have a child and wanted to adopt a girl. But he wanted a child from a humble background to enjoy the riches that he had and was in search for it'.
Stuffy felt something to be acting as a connecting link to all the incidents that he is witnessing now. Then the very next day during the last hour at school Stuffy managed to transfer all the information that was put into his head by his father to Liddy and she was feeling quite weird. Then suddenly after a few minutes of silence Liddy asked to Stuffy, 'Could you please take me to the Lydans? I feel that they can help me in my quest to find my biological parents'.
Once the classes for the day got over Stuffy and Liddy went straight to the house of the Lydans. Liddy was so resolute in meeting the Lydans that she had forgotten to inform Mr. Rydan that she would come back home a little late that day. Mr. Lydan was watering the flowers of his garden and when he saw Liddy along with Stuffy he was able to recognise her and yes it was her, his own little Liddy who has vanished from the picture for ten years. Mr. Lydan rushed towards Liddy and asked her, 'Have you come back home Liddy? Where have you been all these years?' Liddy after hearing her father's voice started to cry and said, 'Mr. Rydan took me away from you'. Then suddenly to their surprise there was a crash sound near their house. When they all turned around it was Mr. Rydan's car that has got crashed with a bus. It was all over, and when the cops arrived they came to know that Mr. Rydan was dead.
Everybody from the locality were horror-stricken by the accident. But Mr. Lydan alone was smiling and his happiness has reached the peak level. Stuffy and Liddy stood staring at Mr. Lydan and the dead Mr. Rydan.
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