11 Hours

by Daniel Paul Singh

  “Get to the point Loser. Where is my wife? Let her go. I have suffered enough”

  “You haven’t even started. Do you know what suffering is? Do you know what a break up is? Do you know how it feels? Do you know how it is when someone you love with all your life just throws you away and chooses someone else over you. Do you know? Do you know how much I have suffered? I lost my parents when I was young. I don’t have anyone to show love on me and there was one girl, one last girl and you, you took her away from me.”

  “I didn’t take anyone away from you. I haven’t interacted with Brindha for six months now”

  “But you interacted with her for 10 years before that. I know your story. I know it all, she kept comparing me with you. I gave her everything she wanted, but she suddenly left me and the reason she quoted was you, bloody friggin you, am not a loser. I LOST her, but I taught her a lesson on what would happen if she forsook me. I killed her and it felt good. I will kill your wife now, in front of your eyes that should settle it all.” He said.

  “You are talking too much mate” I uttered.

  “Lets get into action then.” saying that he pressed a button and a door opened, revealing Diana behind a glass door, being tied to a coffin like lab equipment, the same regeneration chamber, I saw in the professor’s lab. Was he going to cut her into pieces?

  “Don’t kill her, take me, but just don’t kill her” I pleaded.

  “I wont cut her into pieces, don’t worry. She is not my meal.”

  I looked at his computer screen. My thoughts were being live fed there and the signal wave was being transferred to texts, he was reading it.

  “Who is this guy, whats his name, why is he doing this to me?” I kept wondering.

  “I am surprised you didn’t find my name. I thought you would have. Anyways, I am Darshan- richer than you, smarter than you, classy than you and more deserving of Brindha than you”

  “Brindha is married to some Ganpath, you have mistaken”

  “Don’t create new stories, writer. I have already read your blog and I know it all. You don’t want to come between us, is it? How does it feel if I come between you and your wife”

  “Darshan, you are crossing limits”

  “I haven’t even started yet. Do you know what happens when I press this green button? Your wife Diana dies and I press this red one, she is saved” he told and showed me a green and red button respectively as his hands wavered around the green one.

  Diana was still unconscious.

  “You know your wife was cribbing all day. She was chanting your name all evening until she lost her senses and fainted. Looks like, she loves you very much. Me and Brindha would have been a similar pair, if not better, but only if you hadn’t played spoil sport.”

  “Darshan, I didn’t do ANYTHING”

  “Don’t talk Rob. The girl I loved is after you, the girl you married loves you so much and all you think of is those Brazzers girls. How mean of you. I am so much better than you and still she left me. This world is no longer a place for good people” he screamed and was about to press the green button.

  Without a second thought, I jumped on him instantly. I grabbed him by the collar and we both rolled over on the floor breaking down several tables along with a few bottles and instruments. I wanted to press the Red button and release Diana. He was no match for my physique. He had the brains, but lacked the brawn and was seemingly weak. For some weird reason I was reminded of the JOKER on looking at him.

  He tried to bite my hand. I kicked him and pushed him around. I lifted him and threw him on a glass window near the door. I then thumped his face on the wall and thrashed it till he bled. I gave him a couple of blows and left him there and rushed towards the buttons. I pushed the red one in haste and waited with bated breath for the glass door and the coffin chamber to open. But to my horror, the machine got switched on and started to spin. I was shocked and turned towards to the Loser.

  “Oops, looks like I lied. That red button starts the machine” he uttered as he threw himself on me and took me away from the buttons. I understood the Joker resemblance. Instincts.

  “Shiiiittt” I said and tried to press the green button, but he bit my hand again and threw his entire weight on my hands and took me away from the buttons. The rotating speed of the chamber started to increase. Darshan was in no mood to let go off me. With one swing using all my reserve energy, I pushed him away from my hands and pressed the green button using my left foot. The machine started to slow down and came to a halt. I got up and looked at Darshan.

  “Before you beat and kill me, I forgot to say. That machine won’t kill her, but erase all memory of hers. Nothing like your loved one losing the complete memory of you, right? She wouldn’t remember you when she comes out of it and thanks to you for that” he laughed hysterically.

  “Aarrggghh. I will kill you, you son of a bitch. What in the world did I do to you? What did my wife do to you? You will die in my hands. I will kill you. You will die, you little piece of shit” I screamed and kept hitting him. He was beaten to a pulp and lost his consciousness, when I heard a door open at a far end of the room.

  I went swiftly towards the wall and hid behind the door, holding a conical flask in my hand. The door opened to reveal a middle aged man with a bleeding face who had blood stains on his hands. He had to be Darshan’s assistant. I hit him on his head with the flask as he entered in and threw few other bottles on him.The anger of my wife losing her memory, the agony of the entire day’s suffering, the trauma I was going through, all came out as hard line punches that landed on the face of the guy. I was done after ten minutes and looked at the two of them. They laid unconscious. The clock read 11.15 Am.

  I looked into the other side of the door to find Prabhu lying in a pool of blood.

  “Oh God, Prabhu” I rushed in and attended to him. He was slowly regaining his senses.

  I then hurried towards the glass door and broke it open. Diana was still hinged to a couple of bolts in the ‘Memory Erasing’ chamber. I brought her down slowly. She was still unconscious. I hugged her and cried. I couldn’t realize what I had done to her. “She was calling your name all evening” the loser’s words kept reverberating. Knowingly or unknowingly I had erased her memory. I cried. I didn’t deserve that punishment. I wanted my wife as she was. I wanted Diana as the kid she was. I wanted my world back.

  Prabhu’s dad had informed the cops and they arrivedon time. I explained everything to them. Prabhu had regained his consciousness and helped me with the details I couldn’t fill in. Prabhu detailed on why Darshan behaved so and what had been done to him by MuthuRam. I suddenly got reminded that October 21st (the current date) was not Brindha’s birthday. It felt stupid. I felt bad for Darshan and wanted MuthuRam to be punished for his heinous acts. I could never forgive Raj, though. Enemies can be forgiven, but not traitors.

  My wife and Prabhu were still in hospital. The doctors were attending to both of them. Diana hadn’t opened her eyes for a long time while Prabhu was recovering fast. I heard that Darshan had been admitted to a lunatic asylum, while MuthuRam and Raj had been put behind the bars. Things that people do for money. To think of it that it was all a result of me writing a story about my ex, was silly, to say the least. Prabhu’s friend Deepak returned back my phone that afternoon.

  “What happened to Diana’s memory, doctor?” I asked the doctor attending her.

  “There is a small lapse in memory, no major damage. I think she was in the machine that you mentioned for a less amount of time. When she regains her senses, she should be perfectly alright...” “When will she be awake?” I asked her.

  “That, may take upto 24 hours”

  “Fine doctor”

  “But she is fine. All is well. Take my word for that.” She assured. “Thank you Doctor and Prabhu?”

  “He is already fine. You can go and see him” she permitted.

  I wanted to hug Prabhu, but decided against it after seeing him in that bed, with those large bandage
s.

  “Thanks will be too small a word to say Prabhu”

  “Then don’t say it” he gave me a slight punch with his left hand and smiled.

  I sat next to him for some time when I heard a beep sound in my phone. I looked at it. It was a mail from Brindha.

  It read, “Hey, Rob. Long time no see. I am fine da, perfectly fine. Happily married and settled with Ganpath. How are you and your wife? My cousin told me that you had sent her a mail. I didn’t check this mail ID for long, so couldn’t respond to you on time”

  I called to her mobile immediately and she picked.

  “Why didn’t you pick my call yesterday morning?” was the first thing I asked her.

  “What call, when?”

  “Morning, around 6.30, or 7?”

  “Oh, was that you? I had put my mobile in silent and was sleeping. Didn’t know it was your number. When I woke up, found it to be an unknown number so didn’t call back. I have only this number of yours”

  I gave a wry smile.

  “Now on, even if its an unknown number, if you are getting more than one call, give a call back” I said.

  “Fine. So hows life” she continued and we conversed for ten more minutes.

  It couldn’t have been better. Brindha was alive and happy somewhere and was sleeping through all the while.

  After 24 hours, the doctor called me up and I hurried in to her room.

  “Mr. Robin, take good care of your wife. She has woken up.” She said.

  “Sure doctor.” saying, I got up.

  “Wait, listen to me fully. Whats the hurry? You must give her extra care now”

  “Doctor?”

  “She is in the family way. 3 months now.” the doctor said.

  My happiness knew no bound. I rushed to Diana’s bed and hugged her. She screamed and asked who I was.

  “I am your hubby.” I said, still wondering why she reacted that way.

  “I am not married yet!” she said in a serious tone.

  “But you are pregnant now!” I smiled.

  “Did you rape me?” she asked in a shocked tone.

  “Come on Diana. Don’t play, the doctor told that your memory is intact”

  “No, I don’t remember you. Besides my husband wouldn’t call me as Diana”

  I smiled.

  “My sweet Gubbly...” I said and hugged her.

  “My sweet Bubbly” she said as she kissed me.

  It was one humdinger of 11 hours of my life. I would have never expected such an adventure in the wildest of my dreams. I had filed a case against the hospital who had instilled the chip near my brain. The thought detector was still intact in my head and I had volunteered myself for the professor’s experiments on it. Prabhu had recovered fully and was discharged from the hospital. I couldn’t thank him and his dad enough. My mom was totally pissed off with me as I didn’t inform her or my dad of any of the turmoil when it occurred. I had to pacify her with a hug, but she ignored me and hugged Diana. Women!

  I still didn’t get the answer for what made Diana faint at the bread omlette shop and I didnt bother to ponder over it. I was glad that she was back. I got my kid back.

  “Gubbly, I love you so much” I said hugging her.

  “Love you too bubbly. I was scared and afraid through it all, but knew that you will come for me. Knew that you will protect me, knew that you will save me”

  “Saved Diana” I winked.

  She kissed me.

  “Hey wait, I need to ask you something”

  “Yes Rob”

  I came close to her and asked in a serious tone, “What was that porn loop that you had watched?”

  She came near my right ear, bit it and whispered “I forgot”

  The End

  ₪ ₪ ₪

  Bonus Short Story

  The Man Who Lost His Time

  June 6th, Friday: I looked at my watch, it was 10:22 PM. The train would leave at 10.30 Pm. I was still in the bus en route Tambaram.“I wouldn’t miss the train… I wouldn’t miss the train” I kept telling myself. The bus stopped in East Tambaram at 10.26 Pm. I got down as soon as I could and rushed towards the station.

  Tambaram bus stop was buzzing in action even at that odd hour. Friday nights!!

  I crossed the signal, narrowly escaping from being hit by a speeding bike, and ran towards Platform 8. I had two bags, one on either hand and ran as fast as I could, trying to stay ahead in the crowded pathway, when one of my bags smacked an unsuspecting man.

  “Oops… sorry, sorry, please excuse me” I apologized and continued my sprint.

  My watch showed 10.30 Pm. I looked at the platform at a distance in desperation. I could see the waiting train starting to move slowly. I took a few giant leaps to reach the base of the over-bridge. Just few more quick steps and I could catch it.

  Praying to Bolt God, I hurdled my way up the stairs, having my eyes on the moving train when I bumped into that old lady.

  “Aarrrgh, I am so sorry ma” I turned and apologized to her and then turned back to continue my dash…. when I found the train missing. I turned back to see the lady, she was missing too. Clueless and confused, I gasped for breath and ran down the stairs hastily towards platform 8.

  THE TRAIN WAS GONE FOR REAL leaving no trace behind.

  I stood there stranded in the middle of the platform, not knowing what happened. The train was there in front of me all the while.. I had my eyes set on it and when I bumped on that lady, the train was gone. How could such a large train vanish in a second?

  Perplexed and puzzled, I reasoned hard hopelessly, when I heard that voice,

  “Katharagiya andavar ungalai ratchiparaga”… some biblical verse being recited from the local church nearby… which was usually broadcast every hour… Every one hour. Wait!

  I looked at my watch, it showed 11 PM. I looked at the large clock in the platform, it glared 11 pm.

  I was baffled beyond despair and was on the verge of losing my sanity.

  “Sir, whats the time?” I asked the guy who walked beside me.

  He gave a mean look at me, then my watch, then the large clock and then at his watch and told, “11 Pm.”

  “What the hell?” how could it…. how the hell in the world did I just lose 30 minutes at the blink of an eye.

  June 9th, Monday:

  I was restless in front of the neurologist, Dr. Madhan, in Dr.Meenakshi hospital at Pallikaranai. He was young, had a thick moustache, wore a rimless spec and had a small scar near his left ear.

  I couldn’t take my eyes of the clock on his wall, as I kept looking at the watch in my hand, besides monitoring the alarm clock on his table. I wanted to be sure that all of them showed the same exact time.

  “Relax Mr. Senthil... you don’t have to panic” the doctor tried to pacify me.

  “How could I not doctor? This is the third time it has happened in the last three days. I am losing half an hour every day.. half an hour…and I have no clue why its happening, how I am losing it… even the other doctor didn’t have a clue and has sent me to you. Whats happening to me? Can this be cured? Will I be able to live a normal life? Should I consult some scientists? Has it happened to someone or anyone before?” I was anxious.

  “Wait, wait… one by one... When all did you lose time in the last three days?” he questioned me.

  “First, when I was about to catch a train, then when I was speeding to office to attend a meeting. Then while rushing home to watch a cricket match… and I have no clue how it happens... I would just blink my eye and uff 30 minutes will be gone... like a puff of dust... I don’t get this doctor... I am losing my sanity... I haven’t even told my parents yet. In fact I haven’t told anyone yet... If I say, they will brand me a mad man. Please... Please doctor, help me come out of this” I pleaded him.

  “Have you had any medical conditions of late…? Anything that affected your cranium?”

  “I had a stroke two months ago and I was even operated in this very hospital. But I am completely cured
now... Perfectly fine... I am keeping my bp under control, taking my stress pills on time. I am not stressing myself at all... Wait... I am stressing myself… Am I doctor? “I was behaving like a wild child.

  “Calm down now Mr. Senthil, just don’t strain yourself. I think I know whats affecting you”

  “How can I be calm Doctor, after this? Tell me, what has happened to me?” I fumed.

  June 21st Saturday:

  I woke up and looked all around my room and felt like being in the middle of a clock shop. I looked at my watch in my hand, it showed 3 Pm. I looked at all the five clocks on the wall, they all showed 3 pm.

  I entered the bathroom to take a leak and kept an eye on the clock there…. It was 3.01 Pm. I washed my face and came out.

  I dialed the pizza delivery guy and ordered a regular Chicken Margarita with double cheese. He promised to deliver it in Half an hour, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Half an hour.

  It had been two weeks since the therapy and the tablets, I wasn’t losing time. I had a pack of ice tied to the wrist of my right hand to cool myself. I had to place it on my head every half an hour.. Half an hour again.

  The pressure gauge in my left hand kept a constant watch on the BP level. I felt like a walking zombie. I didn’t go to my home town in those fourteen days. My room-mates started to gaze at me like I was a weird creature. I stood in front of the mirror and saw my reflection. A weird creature indeed.

  I took the stress pill the doctor had prescribed, then skimmed through the newspaper to find an ad for the movie, “Avengers part 13”. I was home bound for the last two weeks and was bored to death. Somewhere deep within, the desire to watch the movie overcame all the apprehensions I had about stepping out of my room.

  June 9th, Monday:

  The doctor continued.

  “All this is because of stress... The adrenalin rush… the rush of blood that goes to your head. You are not losing time Mr.Senthil, you are just creating that impression for yourself. You are over stressed” Dr. Madhan explained.

  “You mean?”

  “This whole losing time thing is a myth your mind is creating. No one can ever lose time. Think of this now, has it ever happened when you are with your friends? Has it ever happened when you are happy? No, right? The impression of you losing time happens only when you are alone and stressed. It’s a mirage, a bogus, a preconception, a lie that your mind wants you to believe, a shadow your stress is casting on you” The doctor made sense. How could someone ever lose time? I should have been imagining it all the while.