Jigsaw Puzzle : Part 2
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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He had not shown any interest in girls, his age mates of opposite sex. Mercy considered that as a relief. They still shared the same bedroom. Martin loved his mother to dress smart and look presentable. He usually selected the type of cloths for his mother. He was very proud to talk about his mother to his friends. Everybody adored the way he loved his mother.

He completed A level successfully. He was selected to go for teachers training course. But he wanted either to be in the police force or army. With his late father's good service records, he got the job in the police force easily.

He did very well in the training. While he was in the field training, he requested his friends to take care of his mother. After the training, he was posted to a remote village. Mercy had to go with his son to stay in the village. Change of the environment made Mercy to be able to forget the pass.

As Martin grew older, he looked more and more like his father in appearance. She felt good to look at her son. It brought her back the memories of her only happy days of her life. She started feeling relaxed now that her son was grown up, healthy with a secured job.

After 2 years, Martin was transferred to a township with promotion. Mercy liked the life in the township. She had made new friends with the local womenfolk. She and her son discussed about the possibilities of settling down in the township. She was 46 years old and Martin 24 yrs. They managed to acquire a small area of land, big enough for a small family. They both worked hard physically to build a house.

They bought cement bags and with their own hands started making brick blocks. It was taking time but worthwhile. As Martin had to work in day time, they could start making the bricks only in the late evenings. It took them the whole month to prepare the bricks. The neighbours envied the efforts of the mother and son. They were exemplary in the township.

Within six months, they finished building their house, small but comfortable. Mercy had the joy of her life- to have a house of their own. She used her little handicraft skill she learnt while she was in the orphanage. She decorated her house with her taste. In the little space left outside, she made a kitchen garden, enough for her to be kept occupied.

Mercy was 48yrs old, but for her age she looked very attractive. She could pass easily for late thirties. Her small body remained slim even after menopause. With life running smoothly, she even looked younger than 3 years ago.

As they were settled, Mercy thought it was time for her son to get married and have a family. One day, casually she mentioned about it to Martin. He did not answer her. Mercy did not like to push him but whenever chance came, she mentioned about it. She even told her son if he had any particular girl in mind, he should arrange for going ahead. Martin bluntly told his mother that if she was really interested for him to get married, he would do so for her sake, but he was not interested in women.

Mercy had been talking with her friends about girls who would be prospective bride for her son. They found several girls. Every time Mercy mentioned about the girls, Martin told Mercy to select her choice. At the end Mercy settled for a primary school teacher. She was not very pretty but she had good manners and was polite. When they sent the proposal, it was accepted warmly by the parents of the girl. The girl needed more time but the parents pressurized her and she too agreed at the end.

Martin refused to go and get acquainted with the girl but agreed for the marriage.

The marriage ceremony was done at a small scale but in the traditional way. Everything went smoothly.

Slowly Mercy started noticing strange behaviour from her son. When he came back from the office, after duties, he did not go to his wife; he preferred hanging around with the mother. He started behaving like a child, very jealous and obsessed with the mother.

Helen, Martin's wife did not complain but Mercy noticed the gloomy look on her face.

Somewhere at the back of her mind, the forgotten memories of the lorry accident was beginning to trouble her. She tried not to think about. That was a different situation. It was a man coming to take her out from her son. This was a lady, that too not a stranger but his wife. She had come to stay with them, not to take out anybody.

Day by day her fear was coming stronger and stronger. Martin would not like to see his mother laughing and enjoying with Helen. He would go into tantrums.

Helen found Martin abnormal from the very first day of their marriage. Three months have passed since the marriage; he had not even sat down alone with Helen leave aside sleeping with her. He spent awake most of the nights working with papers from a metallic small box which he kept well protected. He ordered Helen not to touch it; she was informed that inside, there were very sensitive government files.

To be continued...