12 Th Cross Street

"Cities have lots of theft problem", Anu told her co- worker Suchithra. Anu ' s husband was working in Muscat as an accountant from past one year. She is living along with her mother in-law Shakunthala ma, a widow and her 2 daughters megha(7 years) and Jothika ( 2 years) in Bangalore. She is a receptionist in a hospital . she has to travel by a town bus to reach hospital. 24 hours is not enough for her . 2 kids, cooking, making the home is a lot of work Shakunthala ma (MA,)helps her. But she is also a bit unhealthy now. So , she was finding for a maid , to wash vessels and clean the home. Nurse Deepa told her a maid named Neela ma, a mother of two children. Neela was too soft spoken. Ma liked her a lot. So she was appointed. Timing was 3 o clock in the afternoon. Anu was relieved and thanked Deepa for introducing Neela. Neela was kind , she came to duty on time. She was given tea by Ma.Slowly Ma started talking and chatting different things with Neela from temples to next house Leela. They became great friends.Anu warned Ma not to talk teir personal issues with Neela as she will spread the news to others as she spreads other's news to us. Ma never liked this advice from Any. Anu and Ma were usually like daughter and mother. But Ma disliked this opinion of Anu

 

Neela got her first month salary on 1st of the month from Ma and she was in tears as she was told that she will be paid only RS 1500. But Ma gave her not only the wage but also a new beautiful cotton saree worth RS 1000. Ma told that she was aldo like her daughter who isin Allahabad along with her hudband, children and inaws. Her husband is a government employee . Neela was touched by the grace of the old woman. Now Neela in her locality was a woman who Minded her business. But her husband gets money from moneylenders for high interest as he has drinking and cards habit. He was in addict. Now her present Loan was rs 15000. A high amount. All the loaners came searching for Neela. Her 2 sons were studying for their school exams. Loaners started shouting.She promised to pay it soon.Before she could pay that it seems her husband has brought a sum of rs30000 from a money lender again to give a party to his friends. He was a night watchman also.

 

So, Neela's husband vasu spent all the money he earns in his addiction only. Neela told Ma the other day and was in tears .So Ma consoled her and gave her some amount as an advance of rs 5000 from her salary to provide the money lender . Neela was overwhelmed that Ma gave her , even if she didn't ask for help. Neela payed the sum. Vasu once came to Anu's home in search of Neela. He saw Anu, ma and children. They were all wearing ornaments of gold. He purposely asked when Anu's husband will come and he learnt that he was abroad. His corrupted mind wanted the ornaments they were wearing at any cost.while thinking Neela came. He asked her the house key and went. He was planning the day for robbing them . He took help of his friends.

 

Thanks for ur appreciations Arunarc.I write stories of themes based on current news or serials or some inspirations. This story is from the theme of a sad tragic event hat took place . I read it in Mangayar malar , I guess. But my ending of the story , I don't want it to be tragic. Iam trying to end up as a drama only.

 

Vasu got an information from Neela that Anu wants the side portion if her home to be rented. They are looking for tenants. She is going to ask her acquaintance Vanitha if she can see the home this week.Vasu 's friends told him an idea that they can go in the morning , Neela usually goes in the afternoon only. A Sunday will be Appropriate. The gunda guys can go , Vasu need not come as he will be identified .They will be dressed well and go as a family who is looking for a rental home. They have a lady in the gang to act as a mother . A mom, dad and 2 sons is appropriate. Their commission is 50 percent of what they rob. Vasu agreed. Next Sunday is 5 days from now. They have planned to tie them and rob and Vasu asked not to harm them.Gold ornaments is the target .

 

As planned the gundas gang went in disguise as a family of four members. They introduced themselves as parents of two sons of about age 20 , (father named Ravi and mom named Shantha).First Ravi asked if they can come in. Ma was watching her favorite serial. Anu was making her younger daughter sleep. Elder one was playing with clay toys. Ma asked the family to come in. As they came to see the rental portion, Anu showed the the rental portion. They told they liked the home a lot.So to talk about the rent, the gundas team went to Anu's home.Ma liked Shantha at the first sight. As ma was asking the whereabouts of Shantha and Ravi, the boys closed the main door. Anu panicked. Before ma could realise what they were doing, Ma was threatened by Shantha.with a knife , to remove her stead, her ring and a Pearl necklace with gold cover. Anu was also threatened by Ravi to remove her mangalsuthra, her ring, stead and her daughter's chains of gold were also removed by the boys. When they were about to leave ,there was a knock in the door.

Who was it. Let's see

 

The gundas got scared. The door was knocked very harshly this time.It was police and constable. Neela brought them.They tried to break open the door .gundas went to a hiding place throwing away all the ornaments. One of the boys were carrying the child to blackmail both the family and police people. Any was panicked . she asked him to leave the child and take the jewels. Ma was crying and begging the boy toeave the child and take away all the jewels. The door broke open.police people were blackmailed that if they take the ornaments and leave , the child will be saved other wise , they will kill the child with knife. The police were asked to put away the guns. Ravi picked the guns. They took all the ornaments and the gun and were about to leave , they left the child. They started the car. They found their car was punctured. They got Down the car and found out that other police men rounded them . they were cornered. Neela brought some more police men for safety. Neela came to know this as when vasu was blabbering in a drunken state. The ornaments were recovered. Anu and family were happy for the loyalty of Neela. They helped her by taking free tuition for her son's. They even got Vasu rid of drinking habits by taking him to de-addiction centre. So all are happy