Revenge : Part 1
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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Just one look at his sister was enough.
"Something is wrong; something terrible has happened; something which she does not like to discuss has happened."

John had been working for Juma as an account clerk for the past 10 years.
An honest and decent man, hard working. His colleagues liked him, specially his boss. All the clients who came to the Trust Insurance Broker's office found it comfortable when their matters were handled by John. He knew his work and performed with ease and confidence. He had a good sense of humor and knew how to entertain the clients.

The days when there was less work in the office, he boosted the mood of his colleagues by cracking jokes. He knew all the verses of popular taarab songs. Whenever appropriate, he recited the verses and sometimes other colleagues joined him humming the tunes.

Juma, the managing director, knew what goes on in his office. But as long as the work routine was not disturbed and his employees were working happily, he pretended not to know.

John had a special talent too. He could mimic voices, any voice; be it male or female. He could mimic the voices of all the political leaders, especially of those outspoken ones. If there was any public, political rally, the next day he would reproduce the speeches in the office during lunch break. He would add his own ideas to suit the atmosphere of the office on that day. Later, it had become a routine for his colleagues to wait for his mimicking speech rather than listening to the politician himself.

He had a younger sister, just opposite of John in nature. Very shy and quite. But she adored and respected her brother. She enjoyed her brother's entertainments and admired his talents.

After completing her primary school, she had come from their village to stay with her brother John, if possible to get a job and hope of starting a living like any other young independent girl, and many other dreams and plans..

Already some months had passed; John had not managed to get a job for her. He did not feel bothered either by her staying with him. To him, she was still a tiny, young girl. He was planning to enroll her in a secretarial course or something. Despite her shyness and tiny figure, she could cook very well. John loved eating his sister's food. The fact that it was cooked by the tiny hands made it much more palatable. Neither did Rozy had any complains against her brother. She was very happy and satisfied staying with her brother.

The office attendant at the Trust Insurance office had been very unpunctual of late. He looked very sickly as well.

One day the boss called John and asked him to calculate accordingly for a long sick leave of the attendant and asked him if he could find a replacement as early as possible.

John mentioned about his sister but informed correctly that though she was 17 yrs old, she looked tiny and fragile. Juma did not bother to hear the details. He ordered John to come with her the next day.

Rozy started working as the new attendant.
She was efficient at work. John had really prepared the sister.
All the staff members treated Rozy with love and affection. Everybody treated her like his or her own younger sister.

John still wanted Rozy to start with the secretarial course after working hours. He wanted her to be able to stand on her own. Nobody should take advantage of his sister.

He convinced her and got her enrolled for the course. In the beginning Rozy did not show any sign of happiness. Her timidity made her silently tolerate. John explained to her that beginning would be tough, especially for a girl from village like herself. But it was for her future. Daily he checked her progress and assisted her in understanding the lessons taught at the class.

Two months passed without realization. Rozy completed her course but John was not satisfied. He knew it was not the fault of the school. So he arranged for her to repeat the course. This time, as Rozy had already gone through the lessons before, she performed excellently and gained self confidence. John was very happy.

He further planned to send her for English course and advanced computer knowledge. If same luck continued, then she might even get promoted to a junior secretary post. -When the time comes, I will surprise my boss one day with Rozy's ability.

As usual, on that day also, John found his sister in the office cleaning the office tables. They greeted each other. Rozy used to come earlier to keep the working place ready to start the day's activity. Charming and lovely as usual.

It was quite a busy day; so many clients coming to pay their premiums. Already lunch hour but John was still busy. Others had gone out for lunch. He was so pre-occupied with the customers that he did not even notice that Rozy had not collected the used, dirty cups as she usually did.

Before the office was closed, one of the staff members commented that Rozy had gone without cleaning the cups. John felt little offended; it was the first ever incidence when anybody ever had the chance to complain against her. He quietly took the cups and put them on the tray for Rozy to wash the next day.

When he came back home, he found her. It was not yet time for her to be back from the secretarial classes. No greetings, no gestures, blankly staring in one direction, her hands clenched in fists.

John greeted her, no answer. He touched her, no movements; no sign of fever also. He simply asked what happened. Suddenly he saw her trembling with fear, uttering only one word no, no, no……

John looked around. No sign of violence anywhere around. He grabbed her and forced her to lie down. That has provoked the eruption. The lava of anger, so fierceful, so wild, so strong. She pushed away her brother with all the strength, then suddenly she shuddered and gave up only babbling the words "please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me".

John comforted her talking calmly. Slowly, she came into her senses and kept quite as before.
-Rozy, what happened ?

To be continued....