Anonymous Love: Short Stories by Rupert M. Andrews

By Rupert M. Andrews

The book consists of 10 short stories where each and every story reflects the reality in a day to day life of a comman man. This book also speaks about the emotions which is the highlight of the book. For example in the story titled 'Inquest' the author describes each and every little aspects of a funeral that takes place in a village which brings to the urban readers the picture of how gullible are the villages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Feb 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482818369

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Rupert Michael Andrews.

ISBN:                  Softcover                           978-1-4828-1835-2

                            Ebook                                 978-1-4828-1836-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To order additional copies of this book, contact

Partridge India

000 800 10062 62

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

[e-mail]

CONTENTS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

During the truce

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. The Commander-in-Chief ended his valedictory speech with that note. Perplexed for a moment, Jim Carlson one of the Squadron Leaders stared at his batch mate Daniel Xavier who was stiff necked with his eyes and ears all for the colloquial speech. Failing to notice the cryptic Jim, Daniel cheered the Chief and jumped out of his row to shake hands and bid him good-bye. While Jim still looked agape, an announcement was made for a banquet to be followed in the legendary Hall of Fame. Thunderous uproar vented the air and the soldiers of war retired into the lawns. Some rushed to the Cafeteria and bought their favorite brand of cigarettes and cokes and some choosing their partners went berserk in looking for cozy corners so that they are away for the radar vision of their Marshall and Commanders. Loud music deafened the eardrums. While the teetotalers watched the drunken lot waddle the dancing floor, the enthusiast encouraged the inebriated by serving their drinks. Though the atmosphere was not conducive to Jim, as the fun and frolic continued and gained momentum, he laughed to his heart’s content. Daniel who was Man of the Party stole the show with his exotic dance. After sumptuous dinner and excessive drinks he started puking and was almost in the verge of collapsing. Jim had the toughest time of his life to man the hefty Daniel. Some who rushed to his rescue started clicking photos of Daniel’s inebriated status and also recorded his blabbering in their mobile recorder. Jim managed to bring in a janitor to do the cleaning of the mess which Daniel had created in his room and went to sleep around 1:45 a.m.

Jim and Daniel were more or less like fraternal brothers. While Jim’s ancestors were of an Indian origin settled in Kentucky, Daniel was his neighbor and school mate. Both joined the Air Force. Jim was awarded for his chivalry. His exuberant personality enamored not only his friends but also Julia, Daniel’s sister. Since her schooling she was fond of Jim and was very possessive. She would quarrel with him whenever she found him in the company of girls and would also warn those girls with dire consequences if they dare to speak with him again or tried to make any futile efforts of befriending or enticing him. Her suspicion frightened

Jim and he kept all girls at bay. Jim would always taunt and laugh at her.

In turn Julia would pinch his cheeks and make them rosy. She was crazy of his cute smile and his curly hair. Whenever he was in her bosom she would knot his curly hair with her finger nails and would comb it until he fell asleep.

One winter evening while Jim and Julia was window shopping one of the shop owners approached Jim and said that he had a panache facial appearance which they were looking for and requested him to model for one of their products. He also persuaded him to do the Ad which would not only fetch him good royalty but name and fame in the Ad-World.

Jim was reluctant and with his usual cute smile politely refused to oblige.

Julia intervened and assured the shop owner to get the papers and shooting ready for Jim will have no reservations and apprehension to do an Ad for them. Her confirmation was though astounding for both shop owner and Jim; her only intention was rather to boost his career in the media for he was handsome.

Every evening especially when Jim was alone she would sneak into his room in the pretext of down loading the study materials from his computer and when Jim tried to chase her out she would hug him tightly and scream out to his mother that he is seducing her. Julia has a habit of proving herself right in what ever she did and said. One rainy night Jim returned home late and due to an unforeseen outage his mother served him candle lit dinner and advised him that Julia was waiting for him to escort her to Brian Adam’s Opera and as he did not turn up she was upset and left for the same alone. Jim did not show any reaction or regret and quietly went into his room and began to sleep. Suddenly he woke up and was shocked to find Julia slipping into his blanket and caressing him. In the end Jim had no choice than to tolerate with her until next morning.

Even now whenever he remembers her he recalls her pranks rather than her obsession for him.

After joining the Air Force Jim might have spent all his night speaking to her on his mobile phone. Quite often Daniel would advice him not to ruin his life with his nymphomaniac sister and her enthrallment for him. When the names for Iraq War were announced,

Julia wept and dissuaded Jim from going for war. In the Airport she began to wrap him tight in her bosom and kissed him non-stopping. It was the most embarrassing moment in Jim’s life. At last it was Daniel who separated her and pulled Jim into the aircraft.

Next day morning Jim was amazed for Daniel was waiting for him to join the Jogging. As they jogged Jim received a call from Julia. After he spoke at length he gave his cell to Daniel. As Jim waited he noticed Daniel becoming furious on the call. Unethical to eavesdrop one’s conversation Jim went jogging alone and returned. Daniel handed over the cell and went into the Gym and engrossed in the pull-ups without uttering a single word. Jim left him alone and returned to his room.

While the unending bellicose talks were acrimoniously debated in the White House, in the interim an elusive truce was declared from the Pentagon office. Jim took leave and rode his bullet around the targeted areas of war. Iraq once the country of oil resources and other natural wealth was tarnished under the turmoil. The death toll was alarming.

As a profound impact, the indelible massacre of the US military force went into the annals of Iraq. Torn apart from the intolerable war and the US approach towards the Saddam Hussein’s autocracy the Iraqis set the torches of their vengeance spirit ablaze in order to pay back US repression one day.

The parlous state of roads made Jim take a short cut through the arid lands. Now due to the unbearable heat in that summer he stopped near a placid hamlet took out his water bottle and gulped it to quench his thirst. He tied a handkerchief around his nose to avoid the smoke that emitted from the engulfed oil tanks. As he rode down the lanes, he was stopped by a stirring mob. It was a funeral procession of those innocents who died in the war. Jim could only hear and see all around the slogans of resentment and animosity against US Government and the effigies of the US President and the USA map burnt. The bereaved beat their breast and bid good bye as they buried their beloved. The aftermath of the war moved the unprovoked Jim. He began to realize if such a war was pertinent in order to end the tyranny of a tyrant like Saddam Hussein. Was it humane on the part of US administration and other European countries joining together to oust the hostile regime? Or is it worth taking such a drastic decision to deal with an autocrat? Should they not accentuate an amicable solution through sanctions? Why should the innocent civilians shed their blood for the foolhardiness of the two feudal lords of Iraq and USA? Should they be emancipated only through the ends of war? Is war not like carnal and salacious pleasures were one tearing apart the other