the empty streets

Stories, some tales had happened or may happen. Few are real, mean we witnessed them and some are imaginary, and depend upon the storyteller. We remember them when we tell them to some others. I feel language, scripture, and responsibilities should be shared, if not we forget them and that ends right there. I remember many stories as I tell them to my grandchildren. Today, I want to tell them a story, which made me. The story of a revolver. Who came to take his revenge?
     ‘As day’s changes, the way we see changes. As time changes, thoughts changes, decision changes, and many more. It is time that changes heaven to hell and hell to heaven, one can do nothing.’ However, the ashes coming from such flames influence a lot in the nearby future. It is not hot, but damn hot…

                        Ksvk’s

                  The empty streets

        It was the time when the city of Hasthina was emerging larger. The city is surrounded by the boundaries of three nations and a river. The politics and the phenomena war was on high. War could happen at any time. To protect the country the general decided to develop a buffer zone south of Hasthina, which is a common boundary of the three nations and the prediction of war was high. Therefore, the officials decided to vacate the settlements of the regions, which are having roots from neighboring nations. The operation of evacuation was under the governance of mayor Hamlet, a senior army officer. He prepared a battalion to get the areas under control.

       Tunarr a peaceful village, surrounded by mountains and a sensitive region consisting of people of various regions started their living from long ago. The people of the village work on farms, and arrange their needs with domestic they have. A muddy road from the village to a nearby town where some buildings are located and a market runs throughout the year. The villagers find necessary goods and transport here, but once in a week. The conditions of Tunarr changed dramatically once when the few unknown people found down the mountains. The village was declared as a non-safe zone and ordered to vacate the village with immediate action. A minor revolt took placed between the army and residents. On the other hand, improper transport couldn’t carry all the people and few are left. The announcement of war began,…

[FIFTEEN YEARS LATER….

        A man in a black coat tucked tees and black denim walking on the streets of New Tunarr. He was about thirty, with a good physique, was looking at the old and destroyed buildings while he was on his way. Meanwhile a young boy of about seventeen running towards him was chased by two police. He hit the stranger and hid back a wall. The stranger noticed him and pretends as nothing had  happened. The police called, “Hey, man. Have you found someone unusual?”. ‘No’, he replied. The police looked at the surroundings and went away.

     He signed at the boy. He came out of the wall. “Thank you, sir. This is” the boy was interrupted when the huge stranger caught his collar and raised him and asked, “Who are you?”. The boy replied, “tony, Anthony”  stammering his name. “And you?” the boy questioned. “What the hell you do, with my name?” he answered. In a funny tone Anthony said, “casually, to call you. If you don’t wish, it’s ok.”

    “Anthony, don’t you mind if I ask you what you do?” he asked. “Business” Anthony replied. “Oh! Business, what a business the police chase you?” he told laughingly. “A business, a risky one,” Anthony replied. “Be careful, young boy” he said. “Wait a minute” Anthony stopped him and hugged him putting the hand in his pocket. He pushed aside and told, “Kid, the one who taught you this, was once my student. So, this is the business, a risky one.” He told. “Sorry”, Anthony replied bending his head. “So you are a pick-pocketer, feel that you know every corner of the city,” he asked. “Yes and…” Anthony wants to ask something but interrupted when he told, “I have some work for you, will you do?” “Of course, if you pay the price,” Anthony replied. “How much?” he asked. “Ten” Anthony said. “But I have only six”, he replied. “I can adjust” Anthony told. “I feel one is enough for you” he told by showing his gun. Silence prevailed for a minute between them.

   “Ok, I work for you but on a condition,” Anthony told breaking the silence. “What is that?” he asked. “I won’t kill anyone,” Anthony told. “You don’t have a chance too, kid,” he told winking at Anthony. “So what is your name, I can’t work with a stranger,” Anthony said. “Ethan”, he told. “I need you to guide me to mayor’s house, mayor Hamlet”, Ethane asked. “But he is no more a mayor, a chief in government. A high post and a key personality. I don’t know what you call it but a higher one” Anthony replied. The two of them  started walking.

 “Anthony, where were your parents?” Ethane asked. “They were dead” he replied. “I thought you were chasing as you stole something, a usual child habit of few” Ethane told. “I lost them two years ago when a civil war broke out in the country, the army came they fired, and then the dictatorial government collapsed a new one started. The one who you are looking for was the one who played a key role in building the nation, a safe one. A good person” Anthony told. “Goodman, he was the one responsible for my parent’s death, to make these streets empty and the reason for many deaths and you call him a good man,” he shouted at Anthony. “What” he exclaimed. “Do you know the reason I am here, to kill him. Fifteen years back when I was in your age, I was happy with my father working on farm and mother preparing for lunch. Suddenly a group of soldiers came and asked to leave. A clash took place between the army and civilians. They started firing at us. We ran catching our breath. It is raining, the rain of bullets hitting us, we are running when the bullets are facing our back. I saw my mother and father falling and shouting at me to run. The day I run and returned today to seek my revenge. You call him, a nice person” in a heavy voice filled with love on parents, anger on them he told.

  “Do you know what has happened the next, twenty-five terrorists were hiding at your place without your notice? They were killed and the border is seized. It prevented the enemies to enter. The country was safe. The country that should turn into ashes has initiated a new growth, on his decision. Hamlet does not show any discrimination towards you. His only motto was to save you. To stand we need to step on the ground, for a nation to stand few have to be suppressed. One thing  ‘TO BUILD SOMETHING, DESTROY SOMETHING’”.

     I saw him throwing his gun and walked away. The empty street taught us a lesson to leave our current profession and choose a new one. i wasn't sure what was he currently, but not as the one earlier. He went away. Two in two different paths and never met again.

      Never, one willingly harms you, but it is time. Time is the cause of all miseries. Believe,

                           TO BUILD SOMETHING, DESTROY SOMETHING

By

ksvk