A stranger in my house ...Page 2

by Eva Bell

Read the first page here

“I’ll tell you the truth Ma,” said Navin, “And you must believe me. I told you I ran away from my village. I got into a bus which brought me to this city. For days, I wandered around the bus stop doing odd jobs to fill my stomach. Then this tailor approached me and said he would give me a thousand rupees to take his cycle and leave it near the market. I was innocent. I thought he was a good man who was prepared to give me such a generous tip for a silly job. Little did I know there was a bomb in the black bag strapped to the carrier. Only when the blast went off did I realize that I had been used.”

“Come here you rascal,” Kavitha shouted, “Now I’ll strangle you myself with my bare hands.”“Ma,” he begged, touching Kavitha’s feet, “That blast killed so many people including your family. I was miserable. I couldn’t rid myself of guilt and had been hiding for days. I thought it was best to die. That’s when you saved me. Forgive me Ma.”There were tears in his eyes.

“There is money enough for your treatment in this bag. I’ll go with the policeman.”“Wait,” Kavitha addressed the policeman, “Why have you not caught the tailor? Wasn’t it he who tipped you off? Go find him now. Navin will show you the shop. And don’t you forget that the boy is innocent. You send him back to me as soon as you can. He’s all I have.”

End