Arvind Ramakrishnan was born in an orthodox South Indian Iyer home in Bengaluru. As in modern times, he was a lone child of working parents. Mother, Savitha Ramakrishnan and dad Ramakrishnan had lived in the Garden City for as long as they remembered. Though his mother was always busy, Arvind would always get delicious, jaggery infused sambhar with seasonal vegetables or rasam with fried appalams. As a teenager, he too, with other peers in his apartment, grew with an occasional feast of pizzas and fries and yes, he bloated like a balloon in no time. He was no different from the others of his age and he was the nocturnal type. He would
spend most of his time near the laptop and break into the kitchen for an occasional bite.
Life was sweet until that fateful night. His life took a sudden turn one night when his parents, who had left home, never returned. He filed a complaint with the help of some elders in the family and then found out that they had been poisoned by some enemies. Arvind, for the first time was shocked to find out that his parents had enemies. He loved them a lot and had always seen them as a smiling and cheerful couple. Savitha and Ramakrishnan never fought in front of Arvind. They ensured that even their tiny tiffs were held only in the absence of their only child. Savitha was
a loving mother and like all mothers, would protect the apple of her eyes. She cared and loved her son like no mother had ever loved a child. Savitha had so much affection for Arvind that she could even stand up against the whole world to save her son.
“How could such a wonderful mother be taken away from me!”, thought Arvind. He sobbed
uncontrollably and there was no one to put their hand on his shoulder and sympathize with him or console him in any way. He was lonely for the first time in his life. He was always a loner, but being lonely was a totally new experience for him. As he ate the last piece of cake from the fridge, Arvind was wondering how his parents could have enemies. Ramakrishnan had a very simple outlook to life. He was always content with what he had and he was a wonderful husband and a very sincere parent. He wanted Arvind to have everything he wished for. Ramakrishnan could never say No to Arvind’s demands, no matter how impossible it seemed sometimes.
Ramakrishnan was a devoted husband – not the kind that would hide behind his wife’s pallu, but the kind that would stay firm on his decisions but still provide his wife an equal opportunity to speak her mind. He would never complain about food, he would eat ragi mudde with as much interest as he would eat masala dosa. Bangalore is never shy of food stalls, restaurants and fast food eateries and Bangalore is always buzzing with an amazing crowd from various parts of the country, but for Ramakrishnan, home was where he could eat contentedly. Home was his heaven; home was where he found peace. He worked really hard to get himself into a 2BHK apartment in the heart of the city. At that time, he had his wife expecting their first child and no,it was not Arvind.
The stress of work and trying to make ends meet for her family, Savitha lost the child in a terrible accident trying to avoid being run over by a reckless car which had appeared from nowhere. She was distraught at that time, but very soon she would have Arvind who brought her all the happiness she had ever prayed for. A wonderful husband, a cute child and a cozy place to live in – that was all that was needed for Savitha to call that her home. Arvind burst out in tears once again. He could not think of his mother and not cry. “How ruthlessly they have taken my parents away from me”, he thought once again.
He vowed revenge, but against whom he did not know yet. Would he be able to avenge his parents’ murder? So far, this family seems like just a normal Banglorean Family with a cinematic twist of revenge. Well, this is where you underestimate the author.
Arvind was no hero. He did not even have what it took to be a hero, but he was so overwhelmed with grief and loneliness, he became reckless. He wandered out in the night ignorant of all the dangers of night life. He scared a couple of people with his shabby appearance and clumsy walk.He was not drunk, but he was so lost in the world. His world was his family and he now did not have them around. None of his relatives came forward to help him out of fear for their own lives- what if the enemies attacked them for helping Arvind, the lone survivor of that family? One
night, while he wandered around the streets of Jayanagara, a beat policeman chased him with a stick beating every part that was within his reach. He looked like a threat wandering around at night, trying to cause trouble to the residents and that is why he was being chased. He ran as fast as his legs could take him. He finally reached a safe corner and hid from the menacing policeman.
Arvind, for the first time in the last few days, was distracted from the thought of his parents.After all the running around, he was starting to feel hungry. He felt too unsafe to return home,and decided to sleep over in the huge park in Basavanagudi. He had always found solace in that park where his parents took him often when he was a kid. Even when he was all grown up, any tension would be wiped away within minutes of breathing the fresh air at the park. He liked the Lalbagh as well, but it was too huge and he could easily get lost there. That’s how he decided
where to spend the night. Here, no one would disturb him if he just managed to lie low. He knew he could do that well, after all he had played hide and seek with his father so many times.
Arvind fell asleep and slept through the next day as well. He felt a chill when he woke up the next day. Heavy drops of rain were drenching his body and he tried to get to a dry and rain-proof spot. That is where he met Ramya. Ramya, who had been jogging for a while, was also taking cover from the sudden rain in the hot summer morning. Ramya, being an extrovert and brave girl, started the conversation because she knew that Arvind was not quite alright. “Are you ok?”, she softly whispered to him, trying not to catch the attention of the other joggers at the park. Arvind
started crying again as though she had slapped him hard. Ramya knew she had to help him and waited for him to stop crying and tell her what was bothering him. Just like she had expected, he went on and told her everything from “I was born in an orthodox, South Indian Iyer home in Bengaluru…” to “And here I am running away from the policeman and now the rain”. Ramya was an aspiring forensic examiner and she could, after some questioning, guess what might have caused the death of his parents. She offered to help and Arvind readily agreed. And if you have
started feeling this is a love story blossoming out of a murder mystery, you have once again definitely misjudged the author’s intentions.
Arvind and Ramya headed straight to his house. He had nothing to offer her as the house had been locked ever since his parents’ demise. The house was dirty and very eerily silent.
Ramya asked Arvind if he knew what his parents ate that fateful night. Arvind thought for a while and recollected them telling him that they wanted to try out a new dish at some place nearby where they were serving white scone like things. They said that these scones were new to the city and so it was very tempting to try it out and they promised Arvind to bring home some if it was indeed nice.
Ramya asked him if he knew that place where they wanted to have their final meal. Arvind did not know the place exactly but he took her to the corner place near his home. They saw the scones there. Arvind was hungry and wanted to eat some before they could start their investigation. Ramya stopped him from even touching the scones. She inspected them closely.They smelled sweet and sure looked like a new treat introduced to Bangaloreans. She took a sample of the scone secretly and put it in her bag. They now went to her lab where she performed some tests on the samples. She cracked the code, but she knew revenge was not as easy on the murderers. She walked slowly towards Arvind and told him this. She told him something that
you would never have expected to hear.
Taking no more of your time, the author decides to let you know the mystery. Ramya
said, “Arvind, first of all we need to realize that we all belong to the same family. We are in a way related, so I can understand your loss and share your grief. I too have my share of losses to such evil acts from human beings. We are tiny and are considered a menace by these homo sapiens. We have enemies everywhere. Your parents may have been nice and sweet, but these people never understand us. Now listen carefully, Cockroaches like us have evolved resistance towards the insecticides, pesticides and many toxic products that these humans use against us.
They never stop their inventions and they never stop trying to get rid of us, knowing well that we, as a species, have survived millions of years. This is just a new toxic mix that they have used successfully against us. We cannot kill these people, but we can always make their life as tough as possible. I’ll help you drill holes in the silk saris, they are yummy, I must say. You can eat everything from the kitchen and spread havoc in that house. But this will not be the end of the war. This is just another new episode. Are you ready to teach these humans who’s the boss?”.
Arvind had never before realized the purpose of his life and this conversation with Ramya was closest he had got to the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
Arvind now resolved to do his Dharma as a cockroach, leaving all readers in a state of shock at the revelation. You might now want to read the story all over again and also call the pest control!
-------------------------------------The End-----------------------------------------
P.S : This was a story that I wrote to participate in a contest. I did not win the proze, but I enjoyed the experience. This story is inspired by the creatures that give me sleepless nights. Have tried every possible way to eliminate them, but they always say "Asta la vista baby!" .. Alas!
spend most of his time near the laptop and break into the kitchen for an occasional bite.
Life was sweet until that fateful night. His life took a sudden turn one night when his parents, who had left home, never returned. He filed a complaint with the help of some elders in the family and then found out that they had been poisoned by some enemies. Arvind, for the first time was shocked to find out that his parents had enemies. He loved them a lot and had always seen them as a smiling and cheerful couple. Savitha and Ramakrishnan never fought in front of Arvind. They ensured that even their tiny tiffs were held only in the absence of their only child. Savitha was
a loving mother and like all mothers, would protect the apple of her eyes. She cared and loved her son like no mother had ever loved a child. Savitha had so much affection for Arvind that she could even stand up against the whole world to save her son.
“How could such a wonderful mother be taken away from me!”, thought Arvind. He sobbed
uncontrollably and there was no one to put their hand on his shoulder and sympathize with him or console him in any way. He was lonely for the first time in his life. He was always a loner, but being lonely was a totally new experience for him. As he ate the last piece of cake from the fridge, Arvind was wondering how his parents could have enemies. Ramakrishnan had a very simple outlook to life. He was always content with what he had and he was a wonderful husband and a very sincere parent. He wanted Arvind to have everything he wished for. Ramakrishnan could never say No to Arvind’s demands, no matter how impossible it seemed sometimes.
Ramakrishnan was a devoted husband – not the kind that would hide behind his wife’s pallu, but the kind that would stay firm on his decisions but still provide his wife an equal opportunity to speak her mind. He would never complain about food, he would eat ragi mudde with as much interest as he would eat masala dosa. Bangalore is never shy of food stalls, restaurants and fast food eateries and Bangalore is always buzzing with an amazing crowd from various parts of the country, but for Ramakrishnan, home was where he could eat contentedly. Home was his heaven; home was where he found peace. He worked really hard to get himself into a 2BHK apartment in the heart of the city. At that time, he had his wife expecting their first child and no,it was not Arvind.
The stress of work and trying to make ends meet for her family, Savitha lost the child in a terrible accident trying to avoid being run over by a reckless car which had appeared from nowhere. She was distraught at that time, but very soon she would have Arvind who brought her all the happiness she had ever prayed for. A wonderful husband, a cute child and a cozy place to live in – that was all that was needed for Savitha to call that her home. Arvind burst out in tears once again. He could not think of his mother and not cry. “How ruthlessly they have taken my parents away from me”, he thought once again.
He vowed revenge, but against whom he did not know yet. Would he be able to avenge his parents’ murder? So far, this family seems like just a normal Banglorean Family with a cinematic twist of revenge. Well, this is where you underestimate the author.
Arvind was no hero. He did not even have what it took to be a hero, but he was so overwhelmed with grief and loneliness, he became reckless. He wandered out in the night ignorant of all the dangers of night life. He scared a couple of people with his shabby appearance and clumsy walk.He was not drunk, but he was so lost in the world. His world was his family and he now did not have them around. None of his relatives came forward to help him out of fear for their own lives- what if the enemies attacked them for helping Arvind, the lone survivor of that family? One
night, while he wandered around the streets of Jayanagara, a beat policeman chased him with a stick beating every part that was within his reach. He looked like a threat wandering around at night, trying to cause trouble to the residents and that is why he was being chased. He ran as fast as his legs could take him. He finally reached a safe corner and hid from the menacing policeman.
Arvind, for the first time in the last few days, was distracted from the thought of his parents.After all the running around, he was starting to feel hungry. He felt too unsafe to return home,and decided to sleep over in the huge park in Basavanagudi. He had always found solace in that park where his parents took him often when he was a kid. Even when he was all grown up, any tension would be wiped away within minutes of breathing the fresh air at the park. He liked the Lalbagh as well, but it was too huge and he could easily get lost there. That’s how he decided
where to spend the night. Here, no one would disturb him if he just managed to lie low. He knew he could do that well, after all he had played hide and seek with his father so many times.
Arvind fell asleep and slept through the next day as well. He felt a chill when he woke up the next day. Heavy drops of rain were drenching his body and he tried to get to a dry and rain-proof spot. That is where he met Ramya. Ramya, who had been jogging for a while, was also taking cover from the sudden rain in the hot summer morning. Ramya, being an extrovert and brave girl, started the conversation because she knew that Arvind was not quite alright. “Are you ok?”, she softly whispered to him, trying not to catch the attention of the other joggers at the park. Arvind
started crying again as though she had slapped him hard. Ramya knew she had to help him and waited for him to stop crying and tell her what was bothering him. Just like she had expected, he went on and told her everything from “I was born in an orthodox, South Indian Iyer home in Bengaluru…” to “And here I am running away from the policeman and now the rain”. Ramya was an aspiring forensic examiner and she could, after some questioning, guess what might have caused the death of his parents. She offered to help and Arvind readily agreed. And if you have
started feeling this is a love story blossoming out of a murder mystery, you have once again definitely misjudged the author’s intentions.
Arvind and Ramya headed straight to his house. He had nothing to offer her as the house had been locked ever since his parents’ demise. The house was dirty and very eerily silent.
Ramya asked Arvind if he knew what his parents ate that fateful night. Arvind thought for a while and recollected them telling him that they wanted to try out a new dish at some place nearby where they were serving white scone like things. They said that these scones were new to the city and so it was very tempting to try it out and they promised Arvind to bring home some if it was indeed nice.
Ramya asked him if he knew that place where they wanted to have their final meal. Arvind did not know the place exactly but he took her to the corner place near his home. They saw the scones there. Arvind was hungry and wanted to eat some before they could start their investigation. Ramya stopped him from even touching the scones. She inspected them closely.They smelled sweet and sure looked like a new treat introduced to Bangaloreans. She took a sample of the scone secretly and put it in her bag. They now went to her lab where she performed some tests on the samples. She cracked the code, but she knew revenge was not as easy on the murderers. She walked slowly towards Arvind and told him this. She told him something that
you would never have expected to hear.
Taking no more of your time, the author decides to let you know the mystery. Ramya
said, “Arvind, first of all we need to realize that we all belong to the same family. We are in a way related, so I can understand your loss and share your grief. I too have my share of losses to such evil acts from human beings. We are tiny and are considered a menace by these homo sapiens. We have enemies everywhere. Your parents may have been nice and sweet, but these people never understand us. Now listen carefully, Cockroaches like us have evolved resistance towards the insecticides, pesticides and many toxic products that these humans use against us.
They never stop their inventions and they never stop trying to get rid of us, knowing well that we, as a species, have survived millions of years. This is just a new toxic mix that they have used successfully against us. We cannot kill these people, but we can always make their life as tough as possible. I’ll help you drill holes in the silk saris, they are yummy, I must say. You can eat everything from the kitchen and spread havoc in that house. But this will not be the end of the war. This is just another new episode. Are you ready to teach these humans who’s the boss?”.
Arvind had never before realized the purpose of his life and this conversation with Ramya was closest he had got to the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
Arvind now resolved to do his Dharma as a cockroach, leaving all readers in a state of shock at the revelation. You might now want to read the story all over again and also call the pest control!
-------------------------------------The End-----------------------------------------
P.S : This was a story that I wrote to participate in a contest. I did not win the proze, but I enjoyed the experience. This story is inspired by the creatures that give me sleepless nights. Have tried every possible way to eliminate them, but they always say "Asta la vista baby!" .. Alas!
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