SCENT OF A WOMAN (SHORT STORY)
That small lake and the Sea were separated by a thin band of sand. And I used to stand here, on the long bridge above the lake, to watch Sun set in my younger days. And that day, I stood there again… But, with a difference: I was in Uniform, Circle Inspector of Police. The dead-body of a very young woman was floating over lake water… Was it a suicide or a murder? God knows… It’s the head ache of every Policeman…
‘Sir, he had gone somewhere… mobile is also switched off’, the Policemen went in search of Thampi, former cadaver keeper in the Medical College, said.
‘It’s already getting late… How can we lift her body from water before nightfall?’, I asked the crowd whose eyes were busy moving along with her floating body… ‘Can anyone help us?’
They didn’t reply either yes or no… numbskulls… I was in a huge dilemma… Then somebody stopped a modified Mahindra Scorpio SUV near me.
‘Hi… Premji’
‘Hi… Nazar… When did you come from London?’
‘Three days back… I thought of meeting you… with Royal Salute’, he laughed… ‘Tell me, what’s going on here?’
‘Dead body of a young woman is floating down… and nobody is ready to lift her up’, I spelled out my desperation.
‘Is that a real problem?’, Nazar asked.
‘Yes’
He parked the vehicle on a side and started removing his shoes.
‘What are you up to?’
‘Just to lift her up’, he smiled while removing his jeans and shirt. ‘Just two minutes’, he jumped into the Scorpio SUV. He consumed nearly 200 ml of raw Vat 69. ‘Just for some guts’, he laughed.
‘Thudd…’. He plunged into the water and within no time she was lying on the ground. She was about to swell and her eyes were eaten by fishes… The public were busy raping her with their eyes.
‘To lift a dead body in your place, someone has to come from UK…. Now… Get lost you… Bastards…’, I shouted burning with anger… ‘Dirty sons of bitches…’
Nazar laughed while consuming the remaining Vat 69.
After two weeks, he called from UK and I envisioned what happened in his house there in UK… through his words…
My son was away at school… and only my wife was there at home. When I was to hug her, she pushed me away. Did she smell something foul on my body?
‘Is this the way to treat your husband when he is back after a long journey?’
‘Of course… it is like this… Mr.Nazar… Answer me… why did you lift her dead body?’
‘Dead body? Whose dead body?’
‘Don’t try to act… Mummy rang up and told me’
‘Did your Mom get training from Scotland Yard?’
‘Naaaazar… don’t try to change the subject… God knows… whether she was a prostitute or an AIDS patient… tell me... Why did you lift her body?’
‘You want to know that?’
‘Yes… I must’
‘Whether dead or alive… women deserve respect’, I said calmly and she hugged me tight in a quick move….
‘Scent of a woman! I feel the scent of a woman on your body’, she said calmly…
Premji
wonderful, curiasity was kept through out. shan
What a touching story, thanks for sharing.
Good story with a twist at the end .nice one Premji Also, thank you for reading my poems. Have a blessed day.
this is a great story, well written. People can be a pain. They should consider themselves before passing judgement on others.
An enthralling read,Premji.The coldness of onlookers in this narrative is awful and revealing.The `Scent of a Woman' is really so refreshing.Thanks for sharing.
Well what a finish the scent of a woman and can they smell another woman, for sure can, thanks for the read...regards
Premji this engaged my attention straight from line one - a wonderful message to gain through your posting is that women deserve respect whether dead or alive. Another great read.
I enjoyed this story very much Premji , i agree with Bono about the line, whether dead or alive women deserve respect.
That's a classic cut to the story. Entertaining and pure realistic weaving here. Up from the ordinary ways. clear and simplistic.
Hi Premji... I enjoyed your story a lot and despite the brevity of it I found it very visual. Your dialogue is also natural. Love the ending.
Imagery and metaphor...well balanced. ‘To lift a dead body in your place, someone has to come from UK…. Now… Get lost you… Bastards…’...perfect expression for the spineless crowds who simply know how to enjoy the others distress. Ending is also smart but implemented somehow to make a nice catastrophe for the story. Anyway, good story indeed.
SPLENDID...I READ IN ONE STRETCH SPELLBOUND....terrific narration....
Congrats...good one premji
Remarkably cool to the finish. Very good you are in stirring up curiosity and that too to the very end. Prose in form but poetic in expression. Very good.
Wow power of Vat 69.......very excellent story ...your last verse really touched my heart...... Superb .
WOW WOW-Premji this is strictly an awesome write..I liked & bookmarked...i bookmarked cause i liked this line..."Whether dead or alive… women deserve respect’ ..just wonderful my friend..
The scent of a strange woman knows only a woman better than Men? Gather all your precious concepts for a movie Prem!
Wow! Superb and Strong emotional play of words! Each day you shine brighter....
That's the passion to write short stories we were talking about Prem. This one will echo for a long time in my mind.
Wow! I'm very impressed by this masterful tale... so raw and powerful, fresh and unique... superb take on this renowned theme
Scent never goes and women are expert in smelling it...a nice story to read, Premji
What a unique ending to the scent in this tale Prem. - - you crystalize well both theme and content.
haha great twist and turn to this story…hey pal you have become a genius story writer .Why don’t you take short films and send it to Vijay TV. You would be a genius director also.
Curiosity ends with unexpected twist. Well done.