To Sweeten Boredom

By Jeff Tikari

Crisp, enthralling, and well written short stories to lighten your leisure hours or shorten a long journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Tikari
• Release date: Nov 18, 2008
• ISBN: 9781452385976

Jeff Tikari

Author and Homeopathic doctor. Jeff has written nine books and has been published in India, USA, UK and Canada.

Book preview

A Howl from the Past

To Sweeten Boredom

Jeff Tikari

Published by Jeff Tikari at Smashwords

An anthology of thirteen crisp and intriguing short stories that will enliven and charm your leisure hours.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please discard and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

About the Author: Jeff Tikari has worked on tea plantations in northern India for twenty years, from 1959 to 1977 and on coffee and tea plantations in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea for fifteen years. He now resides on the outskirts of Delhi with his wife & where he runs a Homeopathic clinic and from where he does all his writing.

His first book on spiritualism and philosophy: ‘The Future Intelligence" was published in the year 2000.He has had short articles and stories published in magazines around India: Elle, Delhi Press, Vanity, etc. In the USA: Diabolic Publications, Chiaroscuro, Sealy Publications, Secret Attic, etc. In Canada: Horizon. His stories have been included in a number of short story anthologies.

Jeff Tikari, M-12/24, DLF City -2, Gurgaon 122002, India.

E-mail: [e-mail]

First edition: 2008, Lulu Enterprises/ Lulu.com

To view other publications click on http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Jeff+Tikari also available at http://stores.lulu.com/jtikari or go to www.jeffspage.com

Index:

A Howl from the Past

A Woman’s Aura

Compelling Persuasions

A Mindset

Postprandial Peg

Angry Innocence

Fingers of Fear

A Secret Seduction

Bhalwa

Spirits of the Lake

The Morning After

The Final Analysis

A Howl from the Past

Intrigue, murder, and romance in a wealthy landlord family of India

Murli was awakened by the presence of a large number of bare bodied men armed with spears and knives, stealthily proceeding towards the opposite side of the room to a door made of iron rods through which he could see a man, with a full beard, asleep on a brass bedstead.

Murli’s body tensed, blood rushed to his head. His bed was flush against a wall and he retreated to the farthest corner pressing his back to the wall and gaping with horror. Though Murli could see the proceedings, he knew it was completely dark in the room. The body of men ignored him, like as if he were not there and perhaps he was not, for he was certain he was witnessing an event from the past. The room looked like what it must have looked years ago: old furniture, white washed walls, a threadbare carpet on the floor, and a high domed ceiling; very different from the modern bedroom he now occupied.

Vir Chander - a pleasant easygoing colleague: tall, black hair, sharp features, carrying a limp from a horse-fall, had invited him to spend the Puja Holidays at his ancestral estate in Kamalgunj. Vir descended from a family of landlords that owned all the lands around for miles. He should have been heir to the large estate, but with the mysterious death of his father, the inheritance had passed, very unfairly thought Vir, to his conniving uncle.

Vir had informed his uncle, Sukhi Chander that he would bring a friend along on leave. Sukhi was gracious in allotting the newly refurbished bedroom to Vir’s friend, Murli. The room: low ceilinged, carpeted, modern light colored furniture; opened to spacious lawns and gardens landscaped and stocked with varied plants and shrubs. Murli was pleased with the room; he was doubly pleased with Frisa (Vir’s sister) who showed him to the room.

Murli, strong, athletic, a good tennis player (he had won the Rana Pratap, club championship cup twice) was the Senior Legal Advisor in the highly revered Coswaji Attorneys where Vir was the Administration Officer. Both men got along well and spent a lot of time together at the Gymkhana Club. A mutual respect and a strong bond grew between them. Vir liked what he saw: a sober, decent, and upright person with a great sense of fun. He would be an ideal match for his sister, Frisa. Vir hoped they would hit it off – a legal brain in the family could resolve the inheritance rigmarole.

Breakfast, next morning, was laid on a crisp damask tablecloth under a large flowering Gulmohar tree. Sun filtered through the leaves in narrow shafts of light on the white tablecloth; bird song enhanced the feeling of freshness and vigour.

Frisa arrived, flushed from a morning ride and still in her riding boots and breaches, and joined Vir and Murli at the breakfast table.

Good morning everybody, she greeted, taking off her riding hat. Hope you slept well, Murli.

Frisa’s flowing long hair, the sheen of sweat on her upper lip, and the sway in her walk mesmerized Murli; he sat struck; forgotten was the toast he was buttering. Vir noticed Murli’s big grin and wide eyes – that’s it, he thought, his heart has been slain, and his mind boggled! He’ll come up for air but he is already floundering in the headiness of Frisa’s looks.

Yes, I slept… Murli stammered; he didn’t know how to continue. A strange thing happened last night; I don’t know how to explain it… I was asleep and yet I was awake. I mean it was dark but I could see clearly; I knew it was one thirty in the morning though I had not seen any watch. What woke me (or was it just awareness) was the presence of a large group of bare bodied men in the room.

Vir and Frisa leant forward, all attention now.

"The men were shirtless and armed with spears. They seemed interested in a man with a flowing beard asleep in an adjoining bedroom into which I could see through the iron bars.

Vir and Frisa prompted him, What happened then?

I don’t know I must have gone to sleep or whatever. I can’t remember any thing after that. He didn't mention the fact that he was scared shitless.

Can you describe the person lying on the cot? asked Vir

Only that he was a stout person wearing a white kurta, his most distinguishing feature was the flowing beard that covered most of his ample chest.

Could you recognize any of the men? inquired Frisa; her big brown eyes searched Murli's face.

No, I am afraid not! They were shirtless; some of them were quite well built – like wrestlers.Their expressions were grim and determined and they were stealthily proceeding towards the iron door (thank God not towards me) - off hand I would say they were up to no good.

Murli absorbed the expression of interest on Frisa’s face. He wished he could tell her more, if only to keep her interest focused on him.

That is very interesting. said Vir. "Let