ExpertDabbler

7:57

Saleem came with Anwar in a car in a small road which was leading to the tracks.
He had earlier his Vaapa called before Anwar joined him. If his dad had listened to his advice, the train should’ve reached the 84 km lamp post spot by now and then if applied brakes, would stop by 85,86 km smoothly. But that was not to be. The train had not come yet. He knew instinctly what might’ve happened.

His Father, Mr Sincerity would’ve gone and told his SM. He in turn would send some men in a trolley along with a couple of police men upto the point. There would be nothing in the tracks. By the time those people convey the message a good 45 min would be lost, thinking that was a hoax call, Kovai express would be in a hurry to make that 45 minutes and would be in full speed when it reaches the point. A few minutes before it comes there, his gang would park up a tanker lorry full of explosives right on the track in the next unmanned level crossing 1 km away. If it goes off, there would be nothing for a km in either side.

As he guessed, he could see a group of men running a trolley on the tracks.

The very thought made him sweat, ‘Why can’t people think?. Why should good people always have to be really dumb? Had his vaapa listened to his advice, it would’ve appeared like the driver was alert and stopped the train on seeing a tanker lorry on the tracks. That would be less trouble for him too.

8:20 AM

Hussain, the tanker lorry driver , instead of parking at the next unmanned level crossing parked his vehicle in the same road as Saleem. This crossing was right next to an almost blind curve. That means even less time for the train to react, slow down and stop.

Hussain stopped the tanker right on the tracks, and started to walk off in the opposite direction. On the way he shouted, “Saleeem kelambi poidu, vandi Arakkonam vittu kelambiruchu, vanduttu iruku, inum 10 mins dhan. 2 km ku onnume theradhu.”

Saleem saw Anwar, seated next to him, his eyes was beaming on the prospect of getting the target. No remorse, no regret.
“Here is one person would never understand the value of life” he thought. He knew Anwar would never let him do what he wanted to do – stop this accident. Nor would Saleem escape if he killed anwar. It was just a matter of time. It was just one-way traffic. Saleem was fast reaching the point of no return.

“Anwar kannai moodi 100 ennu”

“Edukku?”

“Ennu solren”

He started to count and in a flash, Saleem took out his revolver and shot him in his chest in near point blank range inside the car. It was instant death as blood spurted of the car upholstery.

Saleem took out a pen and paper and started to write all his leader’s names and address, contact info to the best of his knowledge in a few minutes. He gently placed the paper in Anwar’s trouser pocket. He got out of the car, took out a mask for himself to cover his face and started run on the tracks facing the oncoming train.

8:30

At last Saleem could hear the siren of WAP 4 22550. He simply kept running.

Akbar bhai who was coming at about 90 km per hour applied brakes on seeing a person with a mask on the tracks and kept blowing his horn. The man was just running as if he was blind and deaf.

Akbar managed to reduce the speed from 90 to 30 even as the train approached the young man, inspite of shouting at the top of the voices by both the drivers, the man did not budge from the tracks.

Shekar said, “Bhai ivan tharkolai pannika poraan, innaiki gilli dhaan”

A cry, and a mild thud was all they could hear in the roar of the engine even at 30 kmph. Both the drivers knew it was over. Akbar bhai and Shekar had learnt not to peep out. It was always gory sight. Such things happen in a driver’s career many times.

“Chey, aaru petha pullayo, en vaandi dhaana kedhachudu “ Akbar murmered.

And on traveling another 700 metres, Akbar saw a tanker lorry parked bang right on the tracks. Something was fishy about the lorry. He was able to stop the train a few hundred metres in front of the tanker lorry because it was already ruing slow thanks to that suicide.

He saw the lamp posts, it was more or less what Saleem said in his brief call.

12:45 PM

Two police officers were talking to one another.

“En service la ethanayo parthirukken, ana idhu …..”

“Ivanugalai ellam suttu kollanum sir, konna ivanuga supporta pesaradhukku, “Manidha Urimai Meeral” nu kathradhukku oru goshti irukkum. Idhai plan panravanga ellam Manushangala Sir? Enna oru arakathanam!….” he was fuming.

“Vedichirundha epdiyum 1500 per poirupaanga sir”

Akbar bhai was appreciated for his control and alertness because of which a major accident was alerted.

“Naan onnum pannalinga sir, oruthan suicde panninaan, avanai kaapatharukaaga slow panninen, kaapatha mudile. nera vandilaye vilundaan. Ana avan illena mothama poiruppom, sethum nalladhu panitu poitaan magarasan” he said for the fourth time even as his eyes were yearning to see Saleem.

——————————END—————————

(I know this one was heavy, thats why i kept it short. Next fiction would be something light, the narrative would be in first person:))

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