Short Story 6 : The Hand Which Held

The Hand Which Held

                                        - T ABRAHAM

    It was a great escape from the disaster talked about in the Candy Bazaar. This day was the very beginning of the spring season. The day when the crowds of tiny toddlers to young adults gather together and play in the Fluffy Park, which is almost full during this time of the year. Happy moments are said to come to an end sometimes and this has happened in this place of energy, joy and happiness.



(SOURCE: AI GENERATED IMAGE)

    There was a threat to all the children of Candy Bazaar these days. It was because of the asylum breakouts increasing each day in their locality and these insane animals ravage upon these budding minds playing innocently inside the park. One such incident has happened in the recent past and then it was followed by many more. Their parents were very much concerned about these incidents of rising number of crimes and many were unwilling to let go of their small ones to play in the Fluffy Park. Amidst this growing darkness in the air, little Stuffy and little Pinky went all alone to the Fluffy Park during one afternoon.
    ‘Why are these people afraid nowadays Stuffy?’ asked little Pinky to little Stuffy. Little Stuffy did not give any reply but they both kept on walking until they reached the Fluffy Park. Once they reached the place, little Stuffy saw the Lemon Tea stand which was parked nearby. ‘Let’s have some lemon tea, and then go to the swing’, said little Stuffy to little Pinky who was still waiting for an answer from little Stuffy about the tragedy which makes the elders of their neighbourhood shudder. Once they both were refreshed by the drink, both of them went straight to the swing and stood beside it.
    Little Pinky was really very annoyed at this moment and repeated her question to little Stuffy. ‘Really? You don’t know what’s happening all these days’, asked little Stuffy to little Pinky and continued, ‘it is because of the recent asylum breakouts, which has caused a great havoc and disaster all around. But you need not worry until I am with you. We both are safe until we are together.’ Little Pinky started to panic and the words inside her mouth crept deep within her. ‘Cool down Pinky, but it’s alright. We don’t see any creep or a weirdo. Isn’t it?’ said little Stuffy. ‘But what if they are really crazy as a lion and… and…’, stuttered little Pinky. ‘Stop stuttering Pinky! They are not as insane as you think them to be’, assured little Stuffy.
    They both started to play in the swing and it has been thirty minutes. ‘Stuffy…. Stuffy…..’, called little Pinky. ‘What happened?’, asked Stuffy. The swing in which little Pinky was seated was being pushed by someone who came from the nearby tree and the mysterious person stood hiding behind. ‘Who’s that?’ asked little Stuffy and went behind the tree. The mysterious person had gone forward and took hold of little Pinky. ‘Help….help…..’ cried little Pinky as her mouth was being covered with a cloth to prevent her from screaming. The mysterious person along with little Pinky on his shoulders started to run towards the gate.
    Little Stuffy was shivering and crying. He started to run behind the mysterious person and started to cry ‘help….help….. kidnapper….’. It was the time when inspector Raiden was on his regular rounds. Mr. Raiden caught hold of the mysterious person and handcuffed him immediately. He took little Pinky, little Stuffy and the mysterious person to the Tedding Police Station.
    ‘Why were the children left all alone in the Fluffy Park?’ asked Mr. Raiden to Mr. and Mrs. Eddy. ‘They both have sneaked out when we weren’t in the garden’, said Mr. Eddy to Mrs. Eddy. ‘My girl is safe now’, said Mrs. Cephal, who was none other than little Pinky’s mother. After a short interrogation with the Eddies and Mrs. Cephal, the inspector started to question the kids. Little Pinky started to describe how she was been carried away by the stranger and how terrified she felt. But suddenly she said, ‘I felt like I knew him already. Those hands which held me, were like the hands which held me two years back in time. It was as gentle as papa’s’. The inspector talked with Mrs. Cephal for a while and came to know that Mr. Cephal is still alive, but he has been admitted in an asylum after an accident which has made his face distorted and beyond recognition.
    Then, finally he brought in the mysterious person for an interrogation. It was clear that he was from an asylum and had been admitted there for around two years. ‘I was nearly smashed to death two years back in time. But my face got smashed and my mind as well. I am not myself and I like to roam around laughing out aloud’, said the mysterious person. ‘I felt my daughter in that little girl when I carried her on my shoulders. She is my daughter….’, and the mysterious person was sobbing. As he was wearing a black cloth covering all over his face none of them got a chance to look into this stranger’s face.
    ‘Remove it and show us your face’, demanded everyone. Once the covering was unleashed, it terrified all of them except for little Stuffy and little Pinky. Seeing the frozen look on the crowd present in front of him, Mr. Raiden asked, ‘Do you know who he is?’. There was silence, which was broken by the sobs of Mrs. Cephal.
    Suddenly, little Pinky jumped and hugged the stranger and shouted ‘Daddy……, you’re back!’. The stranger started to laugh along with little Pinky. But the sobs of Mrs. Cephal was still in motion. Even though two years have passed, even amidst the distorted face and insanity the smile blossomed out which made Mr. Cephal come back to life. ‘I had been watching you a few weeks back my girl. The security of the asylum had been sick and it was fortunate enough for some of the inmates to breakout. But it was a gift to reunite with you. My lovely daughter’, said Mr. Cephal.
    Amidst this Mrs. Cephal and all others began to laugh their hearts out upon this weird reunion and the darkness faded away from their lives. The darkness found in the Candy Bazaar no longer worried the family.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

From Miller Memorial Library to the Anna Centenary Library - 25/06/2023

Prose 1 : One Human Body But Ten Fingers

Book Review on 'A Room of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf