Hello everyone. Guess what? I am back with an original short story! This one was written by me some time ago, and I have mixed feelings about it. Anyways, I hope you like it.
The Strange Case of Shoumyo Das:
One of the little suburban streets of Kolkata seemingly lit up as Mr. Das turned round the corner and walked up it, towards his own house at its other end. He owned an apartment in a small block of apartments. It was a small two-room-kitchen affair, nothing fancy. He himself was a man of moderate height, with a thick mop of jet-black hair and a small, but keen pair of eyes. He had no family and was unmarried, but what he did have was friends, lots of them.
Shoumyo loved the world and the world loved him back. He was a philanthropist in his own way. The big firms donate a lot of money to charity, but what they miss out on is the sheer joy of seeing the smiles on people’s faces whom you have actually helped. Shoumyo, though, was not deprived of this. Replacing the piece of toffee which a beggar boy had just dropped on the ground was probably as far as his means would allow him. But the true gratitude which he received in return, not even all the world’s money could have bought him. He had no vices, but there was one thing seriously wrong about him. He believed and he trusted. Shoumyo believed whatever people said to him and trusted everyone he saw. That was his biggest fault.
Shoumyo’s friends were simple people just like him, and were very fond of him. His ready smile and concern for everyone warmed their hearts. His life was perfect and there seemed to be no problems. But that’s just it! Perfect is boring! People strive for perfection all day long, but when and if they do receive it, they have nothing to do. If you are not perfect, there is always scope for improvement and excitement. But when you have achieved it, there is nothing more you can do and you start feeling frustrated. This rule, however, applies not only to humans, but nature herself. And so, it came to happen, that nature started to devise a plan for the disruption of his peace.
Mr. Das was walking home from his office as usual. His manner of walking was as usual too. While he gazed up at the azure sky while walking straight, he suddenly heard a familiar crackling sound under his feet. He looked down and found a little rectangular piece of paper stuck to his shoe. He pulled it out, held it at a distance, and squinted at it. It was a lottery ticket. And a lottery for Rs. 1,00,00,000 too, at that. Surprised, he looked around, trying to spot the person who might have misplaced his or her ticket, but the results of his search were unsatisfactory. He took it home with him.
Shoumyo’s friends came over later that evening, and he decided to show it to them. “I found this ticket on the road today. I saw around, but could not find anyone to whom it may belong.”, said he, “What do you think I ought to do with this?”
“This lottery business is all a scam! I wonder whether anyone who bought these tickets will even get a penny out of it.”, said one of friends, Bhanuprasad.
“Do try to be optimistic for once, Bhanu. I think you ought to keep this with you and try your luck at it.”, said Aunindo.
“Aunindo is right. Finders keepers, losers weepers, remember?”, said another friend. And so it was meant to be.
A few days later, when the result of the lottery was due, all his friends gathered in his house once again. Ignoring his nominal protests, they switched on his computer, and looked up the website on which the result was due within ten minutes. Shoumyo took out his tickets and held it in front of him. The results were announced. Bhanu read out the winning number from the screen: “1-9-A-7-2-C-z-3-4”. Shoumyo then read out from his ticket: “1-9-A-7-2-C-z-3-4”!
People around him started cheering for all they were worth. Shoumyo could not believe himself as he absent-mindedly shook hands with those who offered him theirs. In one corner of the room, though, sat a thin young man, with a very ostentatious scowl on his face. But it was not only a facial, but a mental one too. The young man, then, broke into a smile and joined the rest in congratulating their old boy.
Shoumyo had never seen so much money in his life, and when it accosted him in his face, it became unbearable. Consequently, he called one of his friends for advice. “Morning Shoumyo, why the unexpected call?”
“Good morning, Moni. You know that I have never seen such a lot of money in my entire life! I simply cannot figure out as to how do I spend it. That is why I have called you, for advice.”
“Well, if I were you, I would go and deposit the money in the bank the first thing tomorrow morning. It is dangerous to keep such a large amount at your house. Stupid of those lottery fellows to give you Rs. 1,00,00,000 in cash!”
“I think you are right. I will do just that.”
“Hey, why don’t you come around and see me now? I am going to the bank now and if you bring your money along, I’ll deposit for you.”
“All right! I’ll come to your house, then.”
“That settled, then. But don’t come from the main road, though. There is some repair work going on and the whole road’s been closed off. Come from the other road that goes round the back of the old market.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me know.”
Shoumyo took the briefcase and started walking towards Moni’s house. The sky was overcast and made the dim light of the winter sun seem even gloomier. He reached the alley which crossed the back of the old market and led straight to his friend’s house once it opened onto the main road.
Devoid of any extra light and decorated by the long, looming shadows of the back of tall buildings and the large market itself, the alley was a weird place to be seen in, with Rs. 1,0000,000 on your person. But as I said, if there was any fault in old Shoumyo’s person, it was his sheer trust in everything in the world. A trust, which is the easiest to betray. He turned into the alley and started walking down it. He had hardly walked a few paces when the narrow confines of the street resonated with a deafening bang. Shoumyo Das lay dead; and the skies wept…
Outro:
So that was it, guys. I really hope you enjoyed it. I will try and write more such stories for you to read. If you liked the story, please subscribe to my blog. Goodbye and see you soon.