Short story

The miraculous escape

by A.F. Dawood

Dr Zak was a multi-millionaire businessman in gem and jewellery. He started his business in the early 70's in Colombo and later opened two offices in Osaka and Tokyo in Japan and it was a roaring success until 1991. In Japan he did business with a Japanese partner, Sokino.

Dr. Zak employed foreigners for his two offices in Japan and, therefore, it necessitated his flying to Japan thrice a year. He lived in a palatial house in Colombo and adjoining his house was his 'Gem Centre' where many a person visited to transact business with him.

He was extravagant in manners, rubbed shoulders with the mightiest of society but also hobnobbed with the poor and spent lavishly for the welfare of the downtrodden. In short he was a philanthropist.

He spent money indiscriminately on all and sundry. "Dr. Zak, why don't you build an orphanage for the Muslim Community?" One of his friends asked him.

"Sally, I don't discriminate, even the non-Muslim communities, I've helped generously. Do you know that?"

"What's that doctor?" Whenever a flood lashes Sri Lanka, I've contributed generously to the Flood Aid Fund. You remember the cyclone in Batticaloa in 1979? I was instrumental in providing food and shelter for all the cyclone victims. I did all these without publicity.

Cordial ties

He had been flying to Japan on numerous occasions since 1975. He had built cordial ties with Sokino, his Japanese partner, for almost 16 years. Dr. Zak and Sokino whiled away their evenings in clubs and casinos where there were different types of entertainment.

One evening Sokino introduced Dr Zak to Nabu, an Egyptian. He was a Muslim gem merchant who claimed that he had many contacts in Japan for gem business.

He impressed Dr Zak to introduce him to other leading gem merchants in Japan. "I would like to buy the best of stones from you.

So you can meet me here tomorrow to do the transaction. I'll introduce a Japanese buyer," Nabu said with confidence. "I'll be here tomorrow with Sokino", replied Dr. Zak.

On the following day Dr. Zak called over at the five star hotel Takanawa with Sokino.

There was a new Japanese customer called Masuda. Both Masuda and Nabu were seated in the lounge of the hotel and on seeing Dr Zak, they were happy and greeted him warmly.

Then they exchanged pleasantries. Masuda purchased Dr Zak's gems to the value of Rs. 17 million.

Masuda impressed himself as a man of wealth. After the transaction was finalised, they parted company. A week later Dr Zak received a telephone call from Nabu.

"Dr Zak, this is Nabu. I've two more Japanese buyers. You come with your best stones to hotel Takanawa, where we met last time." All right, I'll be there this evening by 3 p.m." When Dr Zak called over at hotel Takanawa with Sokino, Nabu and Masuda, the Japanese buyer, were standing at the entrance of the five star hotel. "Let's go to my house to do the transaction." Masuda said. Dr Zak queried. "They're in my house". Replied Masuda. Masuda travelled in his car with Nabu and Dr Zak travelled in Sokino's car.

In half an hour's time, they reached a lonely house in a desolate street; the area was a wasteland dotted with a few shrubs here and there.

Masuda's car screeched to a halt by the side of the road. Masuda got down and said. "This is my house, let's go in." All the men walked a short gravel path, climbed seven storeys and entered the house. There were four other Japanese in the house; they were Koko, Sokia, Koha and Hashi. They were all seated round a large eight-seater dining table. "Let's get down to business", Masuda said and sat round the table.

He instructed one of his men to close the main door. Dr Zak and Sokino sat next to each other. "Dr Zak, the gems you sold to us last week were fake stones; they were not genuine." Masuda began the conversation. Dr Zak was surprised to hear that. "My stones were genuine. I don't sell fake stones. I've been in this business for 20 years." Nabu guffawed loudly. All his pleasant manners which he had shown on the first day he met Dr Zak at hotel Takanawa had gone. The scenario brought goose bumps to Dr Zak.

Contact man

Suspicious thoughts began to float in his mind because he had come to know that Nabu was not a gem merchant but a paid contact man of Masuda. "There's nothing to laugh, Nabu; I'm telling the truth". "You're saying we're telling lies," Nabu questioned.

Dr Zak was surprised at the changed attitude of Nabu and Masuda. When they first met at hotel Takanawa, they were very polite and hospitable to Dr Zak. "I've been doing business with Sokino for several years. He has no problem with me."

"Dr. Zak is a reliable businessman. He has not cheated any buyers." Sokino said. "Shut up Sokino", Masuda shouted, "nobody asked your opinion. You're not wanted here, you leave this place immediately." After he left the main door was closed and the windows too.

Dr Zak began to shudder. Then the five Japanese took him to task. "You bloody cheater, why did you sell us fake gems?" Masuda barked furiously. "I sold you genuine stones; they're not fake stones." That was Dr Zak's reply.

"Take out all your stones from the bag." Masuda ordered. "If you hesitate one moment, I'll blow your head with this revolver." At this moment Koko and Sokia came and stood behind Dr Zak and the latter was holding a revolver on Dr Zak's head. "You can't escape from us. You do what we tell you," shouted Nabu, the Egyptian.

Desperate

Dr Zak was desperate and he knew that he had got caught to a gang of confidence trickters. He had no alternative but to obey the mafia's command. He emptied his bag of precious stones. "If my stones are fake why do you want my stones?" Dr Zak questioned. One of the men behind Dr Zak struck his head with the butt of the revolver. "If you talk one more word, we'll break your neck." "I've given all my stones, now you can let me go." Dr Zak said. "Now wait, there's one more thing." Masuda said. "What's that?" Dr Zak questioned. "You're to sign this blank cheque, if you love your life," Masuda said sternly. Dr Zak was in desperate circumstance. He had to sign the blank cheque to save his skin. "Now I've signed the blank cheque, let me go now." "We'll not let you go; we'll kill you and dump your body in the river." "Before you kill me, give me a chance to pray to my God." This request was granted. After that one of the men brought him some food. The six men also began to eat. They sat round the table and ate voraciously, drank to their heart's content and indulged in merriment.

After drinking so many bottles, they were all soon inebriated to an intolerable extent; they were groggy, drowsy and blabbering. Soon all of them fell asleep. Dr Zak saw the key in the key-hole of the main door. This was a God-sent opportunity. If he did not make use of this opportunity, he would never escape from their clutches. His heart was beating pitter-patter; he saw the revolver on the table; he rushed to the main door; stealthily turned the key and slightly opened it with pounding heart.

Then from the 7th floor he ran down the steps at Rip Van Vinkle speed, panting like an animal pursued by a hunter to the desolate street. God answered his prayers. With all the odds against him, he saved his life. He arrived in Sri Lanka poorer by the loss of Rs. 20 million. Names are fictitious.