Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Touche

The food-court at the mall was abuzz with people. Vikram stood quietly, waiting for his turn when a hand squeezed his shoulder hard. He winced and turned to see a woman, her face white as a ghost.

"Sorry, sorry.." the woman muttered and pulled back her hand.

He shrugged - "It's ok"

She looked tense.

He turned back again. "are you ok, ma'am?" Maybe she wasn't keeping too well. But she didn't reply. Instead, she kept looking at the entrance, as if expecting (or not) to see some one. He looked that way as well. Nothing unusual, just a bunch of shoppers loitering around, people getting in and out of the food court. He looked at her once again and turned back - the queue was moving. He bought his supper and headed to the seating area. A while later, he saw the worried woman grab a seat on the far side. She continued looking toward the entrance. He looked that way again. Nobody suspicious. He shrugged and went back to eating.

*******

It was almost 10 pm when he walked to the parking lot. He got into his car. Checking the rear view mirror, he adjusted his seat and turned the key in the ignition lock.

Just then he felt the cold muzzle of a gun on his temple, the click of the safety lock being opened.

"Be still. And no tricks." The 'tense' woman at the food court.

He put up his hands silently.

A second person opened the back door and got in. He heard another click.

"Keep the hands on the wheel, mister. And just drive." A man, this time. The woman opened the door on her side and slid in.

"Hey, easy guys," Vikram said with just a hint of nervousness, and eased the car back.

"Don't try to do anything stupid at the toll," They reminded him.

"Ok, ok..please keep the guns away."


********


The car hurtled down the lonely state highway.

About fifty miles down, the car pulled off the road. Save for the crickets, the air was calm and dark. There wasn't any traffic. A moment later, a loud snap of bone and a cry of pain came from inside the car, followed by two quick shots.

Vikram stepped out from the driver's seat and yanked the rear door open. He pulled out the two life-less forms one after the other and dumped them by the side. Then he took a moment to answer nature's call, and got back into the car.

"Amateurs," he chuckled, bringing the car back to life. He swerved it quickly, doing a U turn, back to the city.

Damn, he was late. Oh well, his contract just got a couple more hours of life, thanks to these morons.


**********

22 comments:

Vinati said...

A very nicely woven story...and the climax was interesting, like always.. :)

phatichar said...

Vinati: Thanks :)

Red Handed said...

Interesting!!
Loved the way you continued the story.

phatichar said...

RH: Thank you, senorita.

Tongue-fu Lady said...

u have to seriously tell me how to recognize a killer? or else i might end up at the side of the road..dead :P

phatichar said...

TFL: Simple. Just ask one. "Err..are you a killer, am dying to know".

OR

Read my stories. ;-)

Tongue-fu Lady said...

later seems better..keep them coming!

phatichar said...

TFL: Sure thing!

xyz said...

this is like reeeaaallllly good!!!... crisp!!

phatichar said...

Abhilasha: Thank you :)

Neha said...

Awesome.... the climax was superb! Though I thought it to be an extension of Tequila Shot :)

phatichar said...

Neha: Touche, to that! Thanks. :)

Ire said...

Very crisp and I like the twist! really good.

♪♪Happy Go Lucky♪♪ said...

Really nice story!!
Loved the name "Malignant humor". Brilliant!

phatichar said...

nikita: thx ma'am

harini: Welcome..and thanks. :)

What's in a name said...

A truly short story with an awesome ending :)

viddhi said...

twisted and short. and beautifully written! :-)

keep writing
take care.

phatichar said...

Ashwin: Thanks, mate. Do come back. :)

Viddhi: Welcome ma'am. And thank you..you write very well too. :)

CookieCrumbsInc. said...

I wanted to say eff, this is effing good and why the eff i haven't followed you yet:P But I won't since I'm not supposed to swearing and all that... You get the point:D

This made me sigh and wish I could write fiction as well as you do.

Keep it coming, one more fan waiting!

CRD said...

Nice story with an really good twist in the end. I guess no one would have liked it end any other way.

Cheers
CRD

Do visit mine
www.scriptedinsanity.blogspot.com

Shreya said...

Ahem!!
http://imsri.blogspot.in/2006/11/draw.html

Yes, this is what happens when I read ALL of your blog!!! ;)

phatichar said...

shreya: Oh that's quite ok, nothing new. I've done reruns of my stories before...and usually mention it as well..donno how this one slipped away. And if you notice, there's a slight difference in the plot :)