Short Story  

A bitter lesson

by A.F. Dawood

The squalid tenement is in the suburb of the city where cropped up a cluster of shanties, the entire area is dotted with the crudest form of dwellings-thatched roofs or tin sheets, mud plastered on to bamboo grace work or planks for walls with gutters overflowing with muck and grime. The locality reeking with odour is a veritable breeding ground for disease and visibly evidences the gruesome poverty prevailing here. In one of these shanties lives Kartelis, the drug baron of the shanty kingdom.

Short and stout, burly built and bearded, Kartelis is better known as ‘Kudu Raja’ in the area. Though he lives in this humble abode, he can lead a luxurious life as he has amassed sufficient wealth by trafficking in drugs, but he does not want to expose his position to the guardians of the law.

Two drug addicts are squatting by the side of a gutter and inhaling drugs rolled in pieces of paper. One of them sees Kartelis walking towards his hut in a gawky gait; he has sustained this limp due to police shooting a few years ago for fleeing with drugs, defying police order to stop.

Smile

“Ah! Sira, there ‘Kudu Raja’ coming.” Martelis whispers. Sira looks up and sees Kartelis approaching towards them. Both men get up, put down their tucked up sarongs and their faces beaming with smile. “Kartelis lokka, going home?” “Yes, Marthelis. “Then he sees how youths idly roaming about in the vicinity. He puts two fingers into his mouth and whistles; then he claps and beckons them to come. The two youths in their teens come to him. “What are you fellows doing? You fellows want to eat without working, why not liking to work?” “There's no job for us, Kartelis maamay.” One of the youths replies. His name is Shelton.

“You fellows join my gang. I'll give you jobs.” “I don't like to see drugs because of the police; they arrest us, Kavindu said. “You fellows don't worry about the police; I'll look after you two; I'll look after you two; I'll pay you good money.” He advises them in a gruff voice to think over and let him know their decision. He reaches his hut and sees his wife leaning against the front door entrance.

“Maggy, you packed the stuff? The van coming now.”
“Yes, they're ready. Ah! The police lokka came here.”

“Why Maggy? The police checking the house?” “No checking the house. Lokka telling you to meet him there.” Kartelis knows why the police chief has come to meet him. He summons two of his henchmen from the vicinity through an errand boy. Carolis and aalis appear before him in no time.

“Carolis, Amaris mudalali sending his van today with onion sacks, all sacks onions. You load the packeted stuff to the van.” “Where is the van going, Kartelis?”

“The van going the Marakandiya for delivery Jaalis, you put about three to four packets in each onion sack; Maggy will tell you how to put.”

“Kartelis like last time don't get caught to cops on the way?” Kartelis guffaws and replies in a husky voice. “You fellows, don't worry about them. Having given instructions, Kartelis makes his way to the police station. He meets the police chief there.” Sir, (Did you ask me to come?) He said in a pleading tone.

Inspector

“Ah! Kartelis, you've forgotten me. No Sir, I've brought it, it's in the bag). Then go and give it to the inspector. Kartelis goes inside and meets the inspector who takes him to his quarters; there he unloads from the bag three bundles of currency notes. At the sight of the currency notes the inspector's eyes glint in joy and he immediately gets in touch with the OIC through his mobile. Kartelis leaves the police station. By eleven in the morning, Kartelis is in his house, discussing his visit to the police with his wife, when his mobile rang.

The call is from Carolis who left in the morning, with Jaalis to Marakandiya. “Kartelis police arrested us.” “Where?” “In Nagarapha.” “Where is Jaalisos?” We're here police are checking he van. Kartelis do something quickly.” Kartelis gets in touch with the chief of the area police. (Two of our men have been arrested). (Where?) In Nagarapaha We'll have to give something to the big man there, Sir. Talk to the chief there, I'll see to the payment.

Kartelis has a mint of money to throw to the police to protect his henchmen from them. He is so powerful that he is able to make the police dance according to his tune. One day a police jeep comes to his house and the police chief speaks to him. “Kartelis a lot of petitions have gone against us that we're not working properly. So, sir, what're you going to do?”

We'll come here tomorrow and arrest three of your men with drugs, just to show the people we're working.

When the police surround the tenement on the following day, the entire shanty dwellers-men, women, young boys and girls-are out of their huts to witness this spectacle. Some of the Roneos in the police team including the police ‘chief are besotted by the beauties of the shanty kingdom.

The police take into custody Marcus, Ruben and Chellam along with some drugs; they are young men in their thirties.

On the next day Kartelis goes to meet the police chief to pay ‘santhosam’ to effect the release of his men without the trouble of going to court. Kartelis who is that beautiful woman who came crying to the jeep.

Oh! she's Marcus's wife Kartelis, we have no enjoyment? Possible sir, possible; let's see It's difficult to release without putting it to courts, anyway I'll speak to my boss. Anyhow tell Marcus, wife to meet me.

Back home, Kartelis speaks to Marcus’ young wife. “Laisa, you meet the police chief tomorrow.” “Why Kartelis aiyyah?” “You make him happy; Me will releases Marcus.” “Why only me? What anout Ruben's wife?” Laisa queried in anger. “Laisa, no use arguing; the chief wants you, if you go and meet him it's good for you.” “Those days Kartelis was in trouble and Maggy met the chief, I can't go like that. I'll talk to Marcus.”

Police chief

On the following day Marcus comes to know through his wife that the police chief wants to take his wife to a lodging close by; this lodging is about a kilometre and a half from the police station. Marcus reluctantly consents to the amorous request of the police chief and soon after an inspector comes to open the cell door.

Ah! Now you can go home Marcus loses no time in rushing to the nearest telephone booth. He gets in touch with the Women and Children Protection Unit of the city police “Madam, I'm speaking from Kelumpura police area. I was arrested yesterday for a drug offence. Today I was released. “What did you give him?” “He is asking for my wife”.

At 11.30 in the morning, a van pulls up at Gayban Lodging. About half an hour later a three-wheeler comes there and toots its horn. Then a tall young man in slacks and coloured short sleeved shirt opens the front door of the lodging and walks to the three-wheeler, with a young woman.

At once Marcus shouts. “There Sir, she is my wife and that man is the OIC. Immediately, two men in the van rush out of the van and intercent the two walking to the three-wheeler. “Are you the OIC of the Kolumpura police?” One of the men questions him. “You're mistaken, I'm not.”

“You're the OIC, don't lie.” “Who the hell are you to question me?” “We're detective inspectors from the CID. You're under arrest.” The two officers produce their identity.

All the names and places are fictitious.