Wrong Target
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

*

“Did you do it” – Julie was asking her husband.
Silence.
“Robert, please answer me, did you do it?”
“If you trust me, you would have not asked me that.”

She had victimized many people, some of whom she knew them very well and some were total strangers. Luck was in her favour.

She was not very popular among her friends. She had a habit of spending more than she earned. Those who knew her habit, tried to keep a distance from her. The only positive thing she possessed was her calm nature.

She had two children, a boy and a girl. She was very talkative, always chatting with someone or the other. But in all those talks, she never mentioned about men in her life, whether present or past. It was not that she hated men. Actually she was friendlier with men than women fellow workers. Men of higher positions in the factory where she worked never wanted to be associated with her. In one way or another, at one time or the other they were her victims.

It was already late evening. Only few people were walking on the road, which directly lead to the factory. After office hours, people who were seen walking on that road were usually the factory workers. When Robert saw a woman waving frantically and stopping him, he applied pressure on his break and brought the car to a full halt near where she was standing. She recognized him, greeted cordially with respect and very briefly introduced herself as one among the hundreds of workers who worked directly under him.

Robert responded casually and asked if she was in trouble. She needed a lift. Robert opened the door and she ushered herself in. When about half a kilometer was left to reach the main connecting bus stand, she asked Robert to give her 20.000 shillings.

“What? You asked for a lift and now you want money also?”
“Well Boss, what is 20.000 shillings to you? If you do not want to part with it and ashame yourself before we reach the bus stand, please help me and I will get down quietly or else I will scream.”
“You are crazy.”
“Boss, we are approaching the bus stand soon. I am not joking.’
“You get down here.” And he opened the door of the car.

Suddenly, she was all over him, screaming and pulling off her cloths. She tore his shirt in the front. She bit him deep in the left arm. He screamed. Within seconds, the crowd gathered around the car, broke his window shield; he was beaten mercilessly and pulled him out of the car. Many strange hands were working in different parts of his car-the radio, the side mirrors---- others were working inside his pockets and bags.

“I am innocent. This lady just asked for a lift and that is what I did.”

Nobody listened to him.
In the dark, someone saw the lady, the appeared victim trying to run away. He chased her and caught up with her. He pulled out a revolver; shot in the air to disperse the crowd. The crowd melted. He pulled the lady towards the real victim Robert, and told them both to come with him to the police station.

The next day, the newspaper seller boys were shouting, “News, news-Factory Boss raped factory worker. Buy your copy.”

Robert was preparing to go to the office as usual but the General Manager of the factory phoned him informing that he was suspended.

Julie trusted her husband but she still wanted to hear it from him directly
“Robert, please tell me, did you do it?”
“You know me well. If you even don’t trust me, who will trust me? I was victimized.”

Robert told Julie the whole story;-
“I trust you and we will make everybody, including your General Manager trust you.”

Julie asked her friend who worked in the same law firm to defend Robert.

Talks started in the factory:
“Men are men. Don’t be fooled by their innocent looking face and behaviour. All are cheats”- the ladies gossiped.
“Just for 20 thousand, look where he has landed himself.’
“Principle is principle, some of us are cowards. May be its time we should follow Robert’s example. We should come out in the open. This same lady has conned me also.”
“Me too, she did exactly the same as she did to Robert.”

Rumours reached every ear. The number of victimized coward people were increasing.

Robert was determined to proof his innocence. Julie was fully supportive of him.

Bad habits are easy and quick to learn but difficult to quit or forget. Sheila had not learnt enough lessons. One night she asked for a lift again. The man’s mobile phone was on, recording every word she spoke to him. In the police station Julie, Robert and the police inspector heard every word she was saying clearly.

After few months, the same news paper boys were shouting again “Factory Boss declared innocent, factory girl imprisoned. Buy your copy now.”

Robert was given a hero’s welcome when he was reinstated back in his post. The workers demanded the manager to apologize to Robert in public or resign.

Julie went to pay a visit one day to Sheila in the prison just to say “You targeted a wrong man.”