If I Were You... by Kalai Selvi Arivalagan (crime books to read txt) 📖

That day was a tiring one. The last trip ended around 10:30 pm. Before winding up for the day, Vel once again checked the whole bus for any articles that were left in the bus. Those lost articles will be handed over to the administrative officer. People who lost their articles collected them from the office after submitting a request letter. While getting down the bus something got his attention.

Under the last seat in a corner something glistened. To his pleasant surprise it turned to be a watch. The watch looked exactly like the one he received in the parcel. He gazed at the watch and stood thinking for a while.

‘Come on, it is getting late.’ His colleague called him. Engrossed in deeper thoughts, Vel followed him to the office. It took more than thirty minutes to hand over everything at the counter. The clock showed 11 pm, when he came out of the office.

Unusually, he felt very tired on that day and wanted to go home as quick as possible.

Vel started to walk on the long stretch of road that took him home. Except roaming stray dogs, the road looked empty. Usually, he enjoyed walking alone on that stretch of road. Whether it is a full moon night or a new moon night, he enjoyed his late night walk. But on that day he wanted to go home as soon as possible.

He reached home within five minutes. After taking a refreshing bath in the cold water, he stretched himself reclining on the wall. He loved to sit like that after a tiring day. Dora brought in the plate with the food served. Placing the plate in front of him, Dora sat near him. With the right hand in the plate, his left hand entwined Dora fondly with love.

‘So, what is the news today?’ Dora started the conversation with a casual tone.

‘Hmm,’ without answering her question in detail, Vel finished his dinner quickly. Still, his mind was not at rest and he felt a sort of restlessness within him. Washing his hand in the plate itself, he lied down on the floor. Dora helped him to rest his head on a pillow, but he pushed it away and rested his head on Dora’s lap.

“Hmm, it is heaven” Vel whispered with much love without looking at Dora. The warmth the saree with its creases made him feel relaxed and comfortable. Nothing is equal to this warmth and nearness of love. Understanding his longing for some comfort, Dora fondly caressed the curls of hair that touched his forehead.

Her face beamed with pride for a moment, how he looks so handsome, am I not lucky to have him as my husband. Dora’s touch relieved his restlessness immediately, and he went to deep sleep within minutes.

 
The vibrant love songs of Koel birds woke up Vel in the morning. The male bird first sang the powerful note of his love song. The female bird from another corner replied it with its shrill note of love song and it sounded like a love duet. His eyes searched for Dora.

From the sounds coming from the kitchen, he could make it out. Dora was busy cleaning cooking vessels at the kitchen sink. He walked stealthily and hugged her from behind. Dora stopped cleaning the vessels, but did not tell anything to him.

The strong perfumes of freshly worn jasmine flowers engulfed his nostrils and made him feel so passionate in that hot morning. Landing a passionate kiss on her neck, Vel's hands locked her in a tight embrace, which made Dora struggle for breath for a while.

Vel usually enjoyed mornings like this for that helped him to be cheerful the whole day. Before Dora started to complain of breathlessness, he loosened his grip. With the same vibrant mood, he went to brush his teeth and to take his bath.

Vel forgot everything once he got into his routine work. Yet, the incident that happened in the next thirty minutes pulled him back into his grim mood.

The crowded bus entered the main road congested with morning traffic. Morning hours always created the maximum chaos everywhere. Whether it is inside the bus or outside, it made people to act crazily and show they are pissed off to the maximum.

The bus smelt of sweat and everyone wished they reached their destination as soon as possible. The impatient crowd at the bus stops always occupied half of the road. They never bothered to wait under the bus shelter. Even if a traffic constable stood there to control them, their irresponsible behavior created not only inconvenience but made the place a mess. The same thing happened on that day also.

The driver slowed down the bus near the stop. Yet, he could not control the impatient crowd that came running toward the bus which struggled to get inside at the same time. This resulted in one more mishap. The left front of the bus hit a passenger who stood half way in the road. Though it was not the fault of the driver the whole crowd now turned against him.

Luckily, the person was not badly hurt. The shock made him unconscious and everyone started to shout at Vel and the driver. The bus got empty in a few minutes and the traffic constable asked both the driver and Vel to come to the nearby police station and report.

Vel could not believe whatever that happened to him in the next few hours. He looked wearily at the Memo issued by his office, which told him that he and the driver of the bus were suspended for one week from work.

 Vel reached home as usual. He did not want to share the news with Dora and make her feel upset. Without talking much he had his dinner and went to sleep. Dora did not suspect anything unusual and thought he was tired after the tiring trips in the bus.

The next day morning he started for work as usual. Ignoring his mother’s puzzled look, Vel left his house in casuals. When he reached the depot, everyone started to question him the reason for suspension. After sometime, he got bored answering the same question again and again. He did not object to the disciplinary action against him, but replied the Memo stating his reasons also. For no fault of him, he did not want to accept the Memo as it is.

To avoid his colleagues, he moved out of the bus terminus and entered the nearby tea stall to have a cup of tea. The man at the tea stall was quite surprised to see him there at that time.

‘Hello, Vel, what you are here at this time?’

‘Nothing, to-day is off for me.’

‘I know you have off only on Wednesdays. But to-day is Monday.’

Vel got irritated. After a sip of tea, he gave a stern look. ‘Mind your business.’

‘Ok.’ Vel sat down in the chair there and started to read the head lines in the newspaper.

‘Excuse me, can you please tell me where this address is?’ Vel lifted his head from the newspaper and looked at the girl.

Vel’s eyes glanced at the address written on the newspaper. He was quite shocked to see his address on the piece of paper.

‘Whom do you want to see?’

‘Tell me where this address is. I don’t want to tell you the reason.’

‘Oh. Then, I will not tell you.’ Vel started to read the newspaper again.

The young girl showed the address to the tea vendor and asked him again. The man chuckled loudly. ‘Vel, she is asking where your house is? Shall I tell her?’

With an embarrassing smile, the girl looked at Vel.

‘Sorry, Sir, I want to meet your wife, Dora.’

‘It is ok. But she has left for her work. She is not at home now.’

The girl stood there without answering his question.

‘If you don’t mind you can tell me why you want to meet her?’

‘I got your address through my friend. When can I meet her?

‘Will you mind to tell me the reason?’

‘I want to meet her for a project.’

‘Oh, you can meet her if you can come in the evening.’ Answering her with an indifferent look, Vel once again started to read the newspaper.

The girl moved away from the place without stretching her conversation any further. She felt snubbed and was not happy with the way Vel answered to her. She started to doubt if she can interact with Dora without much interference from Vel. She shrugged her shoulders with a jerk.

How will Vel react when he comes to know that she only sent the watch to him?