Trivedi

It was truly refreshing having coffee by looking at the sunrise. I was doing the same thing, standing outside of my 27th-floor apartment and enjoying the sunrise. The outside view was magnificent. My name is Trivedi, working as a Software Architect in one of the top US companies. We develop security solutions. US defense department is one of our clients. I was an expert in designing and architecting intelligent software in weapons. There is a total of 7 patents in my name. Most people don’t know that modern weapons have microchips, and the firmware inside the chip does most of the work.  They believe that Weapon manufacturing is just mechanical work, and no software is required. But certainly, they are wrong.

Six-figure salary and 5% company stock, everything achieved at age of 25. I love to enjoy a luxurious life, so bought the costliest apartment and a sports car. Even My boss didn’t have that kind of car. I was a bachelor but was dating Michele. Michele was a co-worker.

That day was going to be the biggest day in my life as I had to give a presentation of new weapon technology to US defense authorities, which I had been working for 2 years. US defense department was eagerly waiting for that technology. If they accept it then it would be a big breakthrough in my life.

I finished my coffee, went inside, and sat on a sofa. I got a call, it was Michele. I answered the call,

“Hey… Mich”, I call her Mich, short name of Michele.

“Honey… did I wake you up.”

“No … Mich... I woke up already.”

“Oh… ok… do you miss me yesterday night?” Her tone was teasing. Almost every day I used to spend nighttime in her apartment, but yesterday I didn’t go.

“Ya… kind of… you know right. I was immersed in preparing the presentation.”

“Oh … great. I know you forget the entire world when you are working... I’m angry that you keep all your designs with you. You don’t even share with me”, she sounded really angry.  That was, maybe the 100th time, she was complaining that I didn’t share my designs with her. I really don't like to share my designs with anybody, because those are military designs. If those designs land in the wrong hands, then I couldn’t imagine what kind of damage that might bring.

I just laughed and remained silent.

“Alright… anyway, come soon to the office. See you there… love you… bye”, she disconnected the call.

I took 45 mins to get ready and came out of my apartment. I was carrying a personal laptop. Today’s presentation and some other confidential documents were on that laptop.
I was in the basement, walking towards the car. Then it happened. Somebody hit me with something at the backside of my head. I fell to the floor. Then two hands were holding me down, and I could feel, something was getting injecting into my neck.

I was losing conciseness but still, I could see somebody grabbed a laptop from me. I wasn’t able to resist, lost complete conciseness ...

When I opened my eyes, I was inside a small room. I realized that was a lodge. It was undoubtedly a very low-cost one. I got up from bed. I remembered everything that someone hit me from back and stole my laptop.

“God damn it. They wanted my new designs that’s why they hit me and stole the laptop. Who was it? I’ve to inform my boss”. I came out of the room; it was on the first floor. I came over then I saw a short guy at the front desk. He didn’t look like an American. I asked him where was that place and who bought me here. He said some guy bought me here yesterday night. He had told him that I was his brother. I asked him again, which town it was?  He said I was in Poovar, a small town in Kerela, India.

“Oh my god, it is unbelievable. Am I in India???  Who stole my laptop, brought me to India from the US? This is ridiculous. I’ve to call my boss.”

I asked that guy, whether it was possible to make an international call. It was fortunate that the guy was able to talk in English. I heard somewhere that most of the population in Kerala speaks English and I was witnessing that fact in that small Kerala town. He showed me the phone and told me what numbers I should dial first to make an international call.

I dialed my boss's office number directly, no one answered the call. Then I understood it was night in the US, so I dialed my boss's cell phone number. After a moment he answered.

“Sir, this is Trivedi. Please listen carefully. I was attacked by somebody, and my laptop was stolen. And right now I’m in a small town, India. I don't know how, but they brought me here. You have to call the FBI and report it”, I told him everything.

There was a silence for a few seconds from the other side, then he said, “See Mr, this is not a time for practical jokes, I just met Trivedi this evening at my office. So don’t tell me that you are Trivedi. You better call someone to make a fool”.

I was shocked after listening to what he had said. “What are you saying? You met Trivedi today evening, that’s impossible, I’m Trivedi, and somebody stole my laptop and designs. Sir, you didn’t recognize my voice. I have been working in your company for more than 10 years!!!”

“I told you Mr, stop talking nonsense. You are not Trivedi”, he disconnected the call.

I was stalled. “What is going on?  When I’m here, how come he was telling me that he met Trivedi. Whom did he meet actually?” my head was spinning with those questions.

“Who stole my designs? Why they bought me to live here, instead of killing. I have to call Michele. Yes, she will remember me.”

I called Michele’s cell number. After a while, she answered.

“Michele, this is Trivedi, see… something terrible is gonna happen. I don’t understand what is that exactly. Can you believe that I'm in India, someone brought me here, you have to help me”.

She was laughing on phone. “Are you Trivedi? Then who is in my bed? A ghost … haha.”

“What? Trivedi is with you??” it was a double shock to me.

“Yes, he is with me in my bedroom. You want to talk to him” and I heard that she gave the phone to some other person.

“Hello, this is Trivedi speaking, who is it?” the voice is not my voice. I was thinking, “if he is Trivedi then who am I??”

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Enemy

Rabesh woke up from the sleep. His head is paining like someone hitting with hammer on head. He slowly sat on the place where he was sleeping, and held his head with two hands.

The pain is heavy… for few minutes he didn’t open his eyes completely...

After sometime, he darted his head, and trying to understand the circumstances. It is a small room, has a ventilation window on top side , from there the sun light is coming inside. That light caused him to wake up from the sleep.

First few seconds he didn’t remember who is he and where is he?

He slowly recalled… He is working in a MNC company as a senior software architect. Recently he bought an apartment in Bangalore. On that occasion, he gave a party to his friends and colleagues yesterday in his apartment.

“Hmm…” he is moaned… his head is paining a lot …. Hell of the pain…when he is trying to remember the things, the pain is increasing.

"But, I have to remember!!!" He is rubbing his fore-head to recall the things.

He had drunk heavily during the party, and then he slept on his bed.

“I slept on my bed inside my apartment!!!" He is muttering himself.

“But, why the hell I’m here in this room!!! Sleeping on the floor??” … Many unanswered questions arose in his mind.

He tried to stand on the floor, but something hit his leg and he fell down on the floor. He heard an iron chain noise. He looked at his legs. His right leg is chained.

His face turned red with agony after seeing the chain.

He couldn’t believe that he is chained like a dog. He turned upside down and tried to pull the chain out. But It is very strong, not easy to pull out. After several attempts, he understood that, it is impossible to pull out.

He didn’t understand!!, why?

“Why and who chained me in this room?”… Again unanswered question…

He started observing the room more closely now. The size of the room is smaller than his bath room. The walls are dirty and patched all over. There is a door, but it is closed. There are no windows except the ventilation on top of the room. There is a small stove on one side, sink and lavatory. It is just like a prison cell.

He stood up and moved towards the door.

He could able to go up to few inches from his place, then the chain stopped him and it pulled him back. He used his complete energy, and tried to pull the chain out again, but it didn’t come.

His body is shivering with rage…. He is pulling the chain several times with the hands madly…

After sometime he fell on the floor … He is tired… He decided to call for help.

“HELP” “SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP” he is shouting for help.

“I’M STUCK HERE, PLEASE HELP” he is yelling loudly.

No response.

He became helpless, restless… fatigue… He is taking heavy breath… He felt thirsty.

He looked around again. He saw a wooden box, kept beside the stove.

He opened it. Several small plastic boxes are kept inside. He opened one by one; all are having ingredients used for cooking. Then he found a water bottle.

He felt relived, opened and drunk half of the bottle.

He sat calmly on floor for some time and started analyzing…

“Is it dream? Will I wake up on my bed, and laugh recalling how I frighten in this situation. Oh! God, if it is really dream. I can’t bear more than this. I have to wake up”

He closed his eyes tightly and muttering…

“Wake up Rabesh , Wake up, Wake up….WAKE UP”

Nothing happened. He didn’t wake up from the sleep.

He opened his eyes. He is still in that room. He concluded, this is not a dream. This is real, he is not in his apartment, and indeed he is in this small room. Someone kidnapped him and kept it here.

But, why? And Who?

As per as he remember, he didn’t have enemies who would hate him so much to keep him in a room and chained like a dog.

He looked at his wrist watch. It is not there. He remembered wearing it when he slept yesterday in his room. He looked at his dress. He is wearing the same dress when he slept. He tried to remember the day.

“What day today? Is it really yesterday that I slept or is it few days back...? Whoever bought me here, will they kill me? ”

The moment the “Kill” thought came into his mind, his body quivering with fear.

He liked to watch Hollywood movies. He watched many thriller movies, and when the hero or group of people faces this kind of situation, he enjoyed those scenes sitting in his A/C room. He didn’t realize, how terrible the experience is when someone experience on his own.

“Is it some kind of practical joke? I told to my friends many times, I like the thriller movies, so maybe they thought; I have to experience on my own, so they kept me in this room.”

“After few hours, they will open the door and laugh at me. I’ll also join with them”

“Ya! That is correct; Defiantly Vikram would have planned this entire thing. He told one time, he will put me in this situation so that I’ll come to know the pain and tension people would face in here“

“I’ll kick him after coming out from here. But, I should appreciate him the way he set up the whole thing. He did pretty good job”… Rabesh smiled.

He became normal now. He convinced that the whole setup is a practical joke; he would get released from here after couple of hours.

He decided to wait.

Since morning, he wants to use the toilet. He saw the lavatory. It is like a public lavatory that he usually sees in parks. He felt awful after seeing it. He scolded Vikram.

“Damn it Vikram! I’ll really kill you for making me to use this kind of lavatory”

He completed using it, and sat on the floor again. He is thinking…

“If it is Monday today then I should submit my final design to manager. Defiantly, he will try to contact me by calling. What would be his reaction, when he realizes that my phone is switched off and no one is responding to the calls? This design is very crucial. I have been working on this design from past two months. “

“May be Vikram will tell him the truth. “

His thoughts are moving from one topic to other.

He spent few hours, or he thought he spent few hours.

“ Why Vikram is not yet come? Already I think the couple of hours got over?” Rabesh is very annoyed.

“Vikram, I know you’re at outside. Enough of jokes, I’m getting sick sitting here. Take me out man, I agree that you are brilliant in applying practical jokes” Rabesh is shouting.

No response from outside.