Shootout At Malaka Street

The crazy crowd was scurrying for cover. There was pandemonium all over. It was something similar to what Jay had observed in English movies where a Godzilla arrives or Martians attack. But that’s a problem of North America. We, the poorer cousins in this part of the world were still being decimated by the age-old-less-interesting vices like hatred, hunger and greed. So, amidst the gunshots Jay suspected something more. The mystery didn't last long.

Smell of gunpowder had filled the restaurant. From the corner of the teakwood table; Jay could see a man in black suit with his face resting unapologetically on the Thai dish he had ordered. Blood was oozing out from his forehead to the dish making the red curry redder than blood. The lady sitting in front of him had her throat splintered by a bullet. The preliminary assessment suggested it was a terrorist attack.

Ashesh, Indra and Jay surveyed the smoky surrounding of the restaurant. There was a sea of motionless bodies with frozen eyes staring at the vacuum. None of them even had the time to wonder what went wrong in their gastronomic adventure. Remains of their yesteryear reflexes probably had saved our superheroes – but for how long, no one knew. Erstwhile superheroes Ashesh, Jay, Indra, Vaishali and Kajili along with their kids (Vritti and Adi) had gathered to celebrate Ashesh's B'day.

“Surrender yourself – This is NV. You can't defeat me this time”, Announced  a massive figure in his Devilish voice.

All of a sudden the familiarity of the voice struck our superheroes. They had known the enemy for long and defeated him in many a battle. The eight feet, four legged evil with ten hands seemed to have been brought back from oblivion. Without pondering over the how of it, they did what the situation asked for - A Counter Attack with whatever weapons the dinner table offered. Jay used the chilli sauce to blind the monster's eyes. Indra swung the sharp knife to cut NV's spreading girth. Ashesh threw a full glass of wine to counter his acid filled heart. However, these were of no use as the once familiar foe had now mutated to an entity which was unexpectedly resilient and morbidly dangerous. NV was growing in proportions minute by minute – engulfing everything around. The life size threat was around or was within, soon became difficult to judge.

Jay was shot in the arm. Indra’s ammunition of cutlery was also over. Vaishali and Kajili – with all their might were hugging the carrycot, the small comfortable abode for their little ones. Their eyes though would reveal – comfort was a distant notion. Fear rested in there. There are moments in life when even the mightiest of them all, face self doubt and despair. Moments, when hope tries to break away and self pity seems to surround you like dark clouds. However, the unsuspecting mind never thought such a moment would arrive in a pleasant evening at Malaka Street.

With no time in hand, Ashesh suggested to save the kids at least. They plotted the plan to divert the attention of the monster so that Vaishali and Kajili could make an attempt to escape. They all agreed - this time without any customary arguments.
They had to spread wide. Ashesh and Indra dived to the table on the right with a plate for a shield. By the time they lodged themselves to relative safety in the new barrack, the twosome had in their wounded hand only remains of the ceramic disc. They screamed and without wasting any time, they started to hurl whatever resources they could lay their hands on. Observing NV's momentary distraction, Jay nodded to Vaishali and Kajili. The desperate moms clutched the carrycots in their hands and sprinted towards the entrance. Once, they were a few meters away from the place, "hope" brought them to senses. With a feeble smile Kajli looked inside the carrycots and utter shock almost burst her veins. The kids weren't there. Vaishali was equally dumbfounded. Their moist eyes led them back to the battleground.

What they saw back there was an illogical turn of events. A scene which a blog like this with its limited understanding cannot justifiably describe. But we conjure up our own alternate forms of reality and thus, we exist - so I move ahead.

The smoke had settled. Vritti and Adi were smiling and playing with each other. There was no sign of NV. Our battle spent superheroes, were only staring at each other. Vaishali and Kajli hugged their kids. After spending some time to ensure themselves that Vritti and Adi were unhurt, they turned their attention towards the men. Their curiosity to know what happened overshadowed any concern for injuries that such a conflict may have left.

None of them had any answers except Jay. When the four pairs of eyes stared inquisitively towards Jay, he opened up - 

"I was hiding behind a chair. I could hear the devil's heavy steps approaching me. Everything seemed to be over. I picked up a fork and prepared myself to perish with a last hurrah.Then, I heard a little laughter and after a while, some more. The giggles were interrupted with a few "hmmms" and "uhhs". I peeped through a hole in the chair to find an astonishing scene. Vritti and Adi were in front of the monster laughing in a way as if there was a clown, jumping and dancing for their entertainment. Each laughter seemed to break into a hundred pieces and with each piece a fairy was born. The fairies seemed to absorb all the malice that NV could throw on them. Soon, the monster started to shrink and the fairies just smiled and smiled. A sudden flash of light with a loud shrill of joy filled the scene and then, they all disappeared."

The watchman flashed the torchlight inside the car and with his squint eyes tried to recognise the guests who had arrived at such an odd hour.

"Boy wonder! This is your home. Wake up and get off! unless you are planning to spend the night in the car", shouted Ashesh and shook Jay really hard.

Indra added from the back seat,"This bugger had a little too much of wine in the party!!"

Then, they all smiled and laughed a little. Jay looked at his friends and saw only goodwill and no envy.

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"When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies." 

― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan