After a long period of illness, Mr. Simms was dallying beside the river, which was renowned for its majestic speed and sound. His eyes continuously spread over the sight of water flowing, as it had been a long time since he had got out of his house from his ever-controlling wife. After a long period of some absurd sickness, he was finally able to walk on the old streets that he remembered walking on, since he started walking. He stole another glance of the conspicuous river and made his way towards the nearest street, while his ears still rambled with the sound of the river.
Leaving his wife asleep, and simply wearing a shirt, a soggy pant from the basement and the most ragged hat, he came upon a boy of little age. The boy was whittling away at a small stick to a much minute stick with a small pocket knife. Mr. Simms was delighted to meet his first acquaintance after a long time in bed as he took off his hat and said, “Good morning, young chap. How’re you doing on this fine day?” The boy of little age addressed him with respect, “Good morning sir! Just whittling away, sir…” Mr. Simms talked to the boy with ardor as he gave him a brief narration of his days as a young boy. Both of them lit up in conversation and it was pleasant.
A short man in an unknown uniform and rod came up to Mr. Simms and pushed him on his back. “Who are you and what in Heredian’s name are you doing?” “Just talking to the young boy and applauding him for his efforts, what did you push me for?” enquired Mr. Simms with a confused face. The officer shut him up and asked, “Who gave you the permission to talk to this boy, and can you show me ‘The Great Pass’? Mr. Simms was utterly confused and questioned everything the officer said. Meanwhile, the boy had escaped and there was not a trace of him. “What’s the matter with talking to a person…I have lived here since the day I was born. Never have I experienced such a hassle!” The officer, enraged hit him with the rod and threw him off his legs.
“I will not tolerate such ignorance to The Great Heredian’s beliefs and holy values. A person cannot speak to a person, unless he is allowed to speak to him. If the person is not known to The Great Heredian, you cannot speak to him. It is utter disobedience to the holy values. Speaking to the unknown is a sin and you can only speak to the ones who deserve to be spoken to….If you would have shown some respect to the value, I would have put you in prison. But as you have questioned the holy values, you have acquired yourself a death wish!!” Before Mr. Simms could speak anything, the officer whistled and his associates, barging in, emptied their pockets, threw rocks on Mr. Simms, until he was bloodied immensely. They threw him into the river. Mr. Simms tumbled round and round with force and with a last struggle took his last breath, flowing away with the river.
Mrs. Simms was running with difficulty as she neared the place where Mr. Simms was talking with the boy. She saw her husband’s hat and some blood on the street. She cursed herself as the only thing which she was left with was a deserted street, a gory hat and a deafening sound of the river.
By: Suraj Divakaran Puthillam
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