An Angel's Story

By Nithese Krishna

Raj returned to India after 6 years. He had never seen his daughter in real life. Her name was Rani. She was Six years old. Her birthday was on November 11. Raj arranged a birthday party. 

But on that day…

Rani was kidnapped by some strangers.

 'Where is Rani? Is she alive? What would have happened to her?'

 

Do you KNOW!?

Rani can't speak. Because she is Dumb.

A Novel from Noel Lorenz House of Fiction

• Language: English
• Publisher: Noel Lorenz House of Fiction
• Release date: Jan 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393396499

Book preview

1

It wasn’t the first time Raj Mohan was travelling in flight; it was his second time. Maybe it would be the last time for him to travel in flight. The destination was a beautiful paradise. An angel was waiting for his arrival. He never saw an angel in his life. He had an interest in listening to angel stories during his childhood. He loves reading fictional books and fictional characters. When he was a child, he longed to see an angel. He longed for the angel’s blessings. When he grew up, he dreamt of marrying an angel. He was married to a beautiful girl. Her name was Latha. She was very kind and polite. She was beautiful. But she was not an angel.

To him, an angel should always be happy. It should make others happy as well. It should never lose its qualities of god at any point in time. He saw his mother Kumari as an angel when he was young. But he had seen her crying at times when she found difficulty in settling his father’s debts. She also had cried during nights thinking of her husband’s death. Raj was like his father. Never let any negativity inside his mind.

He wanted to stay happy always. He never liked to see others crying and worrying about life. He cried only twice in his life. For the first time when he was born, he cried. When his father died, he was thirteen years old at that time. He cried for the second time. He had lots of self – motivation and self – confidence. He greatly supported his mother, but she was always sad and worrying about Raj. Raj thought his mother lost the quality of an angel.

But he didn’t stop searching. He expected that his life partner would be an angel. He remembered the first time when he met Latha. She was shy. Her heart was filled with lots of happiness. She loved him. He too loved her. She knew to sing well. She sang a song for him. Her voice was beautiful. He felt for her voice.

As a newly married couple, they started knowing each other. They became very close. They started caring for each other. Her presence made him feel like living in heaven. He enjoyed every moment. But that happiness and joy didn’t last long. The textile company where he worked incurred losses. It was forced to shut down. Raj and his co-employees lost their jobs. He went in search of another job rather than searching for his angel. He couldn’t find any job for the salary he expected.

It made it difficult for him in settling debts. His father’s debts were almost settled. But the housing loan was pending. Every month he was required to pay the loan amount. He started borrowing from his relatives and friends. He struggled a lot. At that time, Latha was carrying his child. Slowly, his happiness started fading.

He understood his responsibility towards running the family, being a good son and husband. He had no clue about what to do. Raj was a B.Com degree holder. He graduated from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. He started working as an accounting clerk in the Global Textile Company in Tirupur. He earned Rs.25000 per month as salary. It was enough for him to manage the family expenses. He and his mother, Kumari, lived in a rental house in Tirupur.

Raj saved a lot. His savings were very helpful when it came to settling debts. Having five years of proper savings, Raj planned to buy a home. He took a housing loan from the bank. He found a simple and comfortable home near his working place through a broker. He liked the place. It was outside the city. The place was free of noise pollution. Even Kumari liked the home too. He bought the home.

A 26-year-old man earning Rs.25000 per month, living in his own home, what would be the next step? The society expects him to marry a girl and settle in life. It was not difficult for him to get a girl. He was neither addicted to alcohol nor smoking. But the difficulty was Raj needed an angel to marry. Not an ordinary girl doing household stuff. That was the time he met Latha. Raj initially felt that she was an angel. A good-looking girl having a sweet voice, very humble and polite in nature. What does an angel possess other than having these qualities? That’s what he thought at first when he married her.

Later on time, even Latha lost the quality of an angel, like Kumari. He realised one thing. A human being cannot become an angel. Humans have many emotions. Emotions like sadness, anger, etc., make humans human. When these emotions arise, humans lose their qualities of a god. Those are the times the angels die, and the beast arises. Unless the beasts inside the human heart die, the angel cannot be seen in humans.

Unemployment:

Unemployment made Raj worry all the time. The responsibility was on his shoulders. He even decided to work for less salary. Whenever he saw job offer advertisements in newspapers, he immediately applied for those jobs. The work he got was not at all related to his studies. One month he also worked as a coolie in the textile industry. The work was very hard. It needs lots of energy. When he worked as a clerk, he used to sit and work in an air-conditioned room. He had no idea of the work of a coolie who works outside the air-conditioned room.

Raj found it very difficult to work for that less paid job. He quit that work and searched for other jobs. He got another job in the textile industry. He was appointed as a driver by the textile company. This work had a lighter workload. He knew driving and loved it. Raj carried some comic books with him when he went to work. Whenever he found free time, he sat inside the car and started reading those comic books. He developed this habit of reading comic books and fiction books when he was young.

He relaxed by reading those books. Sometimes he used to think of his baby in Latha’s womb. He longed for a boy. 

The ancestors in a family will be born again in the same family. Don’t worry about the death of your parents and grandparents. They will be born again.

He read this statement in a book. He loved these lines. He read again and again. He believed those lines. So he developed the thought that his father will be reborn again. When he saw Latha’s womb, he would tell himself that his father is going to be born again. His father’s name was Ranganathan. He even decided to name his child as Ranganathan.

The salary was somehow manageable. Raj was afraid of Latha’s medical expenses and Kumari’s health condition. Kumari’s health was worsening. She wasn’t able to walk properly. She was in rest. Raj had to take Latha to the doctor once in a month for medical checkups. Kumari faced a lot of health issues. Raj took Kumari to the hospital twice a month. The major part of his earnings went for their medical expenses. The minor part went for family expenses. There was nothing left for settling debts and paying housing loans.

Raj was frustrated. Life laughed at him. He was scared of living. His heart broke down. His home turned into a sorrowful place. Kumari was bedridden. Latha needed a helping person. A person who supports and cares for her. But she took care of Kumari. She couldn’t manage to care for Kumari and do household chores at the same time. Raj was helpless. Latha told him that she would call her mom to come and take care of both of them, Raj agreed.

Latha’s Mother came to Tirupur and stayed with them. She took care of Latha and Kumari. Now family members have increased from three to four. The family expenses were increased too. Raj couldn’t manage the expenses. He wasn’t able to save a single rupee from his earnings. Latha understood the situation. No proper jobs were available at that time. Raj cursed himself. He couldn’t sleep properly. He was always worrying. Latha spoke to her father. She explained her family situation to him. Latha’s father wanted to talk with Raj.

The Crucial Decision: 

After returning from work, Latha called her father. Raj spoke with his father-in-law. The conversation went for an hour. Latha asked Raj about it. Raj said, Your dad advised me to go to Dubai.

For? she asked.

Work!

What did you say?

I agreed.

But why Raj? she wondered as she asked him.

What will I say then? he looked at her.

Raj! You are not supposed to leave us in this situation. I need you to be with me during my delivery time. Kumari amma needs you to be with her. She needs her son to take care of her. And above all, our baby needs you!

Latha Listen to me. I know the situation. That’s why I’ve decided to leave. I know my three angels need me at this time. But what will I do for you all now? Not having money for medical expenses. How will I repay the loan?

Take my jewels!

No way!

We’ll settle the debts now. After you get a good job, we can...

If not...? he asked.

You will get....

If not? What will we do?

You will get it. I trust in God! she tried to convince him.

That’s stupid. I don’t trust him anymore!

Then, I trust you! she said as she looked him in his eyes.

You trust me, right?

Yes, I trust you! she nodded.

Then allow me to go.

Raj! Please... I... I....

I love you, Latha!

I love you too, Raj!

That’s the problem. I don’t want my loved ones to suffer because of me.

I’m not suffering, she explained.

Maybe not now. But in the future, you may suffer! Or we may suffer together! Our baby will suffer. Please, Latha! I’ll work there. Take care of our angel, take care of Kumari amma.

Latha cried as Raj hugged her. Two days later Raj met the agent whom his father-in-law wanted him to meet. He told Raj about the jobs available in Dubai. Raj gave him his degree certificate and personal Id. The agent verified all those things and told Raj to arrange money for a visa. Raj borrowed money from his close friends and applied for a passport and visa. Two months later, after having done with all the formalities, Raj was ready to leave for Dubai.

The First Experience: 

The agent told him about the details of the job. Raj got an accounting clerk job at a company. The agent explained the strict rules of the Arab countries. He also told him to keep his visa safely. Raj was ready to fly. He quits the driver’s job. He met all of his relatives and friends before leaving for Abu Dhabi. The doctor gave the delivery date. It was on the 11th of November. Raj left in September.

Before leaving his home, he got blessings from Kumari. Kumari was also against his decision. She didn’t want her son to leave her alone. She never lived away from her son.

Raj! Take care of yourself! God bless you! Come back soon! she told him.

Bye, Amma! Take care of your health.

I’m counting my last days.

Maa! Please don’t say that!

Even if I didn’t say, this is the truth! This may be the last time I saw you! You may not see me when you come back!

Raj cried loudly. He grabbed Kumari’s legs.

Maa... Amma... Don’t say this again! I will return soon. You won’t die. You will live for a thousand-year. Even Kumari cried at this. She hugged her son. She kissed her.

Raj went near Latha. She couldn’t speak. Raj tried hugging her. But her womb restricted him from hugging. He hugged Latha from her back. He kissed her. She kissed him back. Raj knelt and touched her womb.

Raj said, Hey! Little angel! Appa is leaving you. Don’t get angry with me. I will be back soon. Amma will take care of you. I will get you a lot of chocolates once I come back! Lots and lots of love for you! Bye!

He kissed her womb. Latha smiled. He smiled back. He said his goodbye to Latha and Kumari and left Tirupur. He went to Coimbatore to catch the flight.

That was the first time Raj was on a flight. It was a significant experience for him. He had heard many experiences of his friends who travelled in an aeroplane. Whenever Raj heard their words, he developed an interest in travelling on a plane. He was thrilled when the flight took off. The excitement was on one side; fear was on the other side. He remembered Kumari’s last words repeatedly. As he remembered her face, those words disturbed him.

His left eye dreamt of his future. He was playing with Latha and his little angel in a garden. His angel closed its eyes. Latha and Raj hid behind a tree. Angel was searching for them. They escaped from their angel’s eyes. Angel went on searching for them. But his angel did not find them. Latha and Raj were smiling at each other. After a point in time, his angel started crying. Raj ran towards his angel. He lifted his angel. They took a picture. They had an amazing time in the garden. They ate ice creams and chocolates. Raj made his angel sit in a swing. He and Latha swung the swing. Then, they played Frisbee. Raj and Latha enjoyed it a lot. Raj was happy.

His right eye also dreamed of his future. He and his relatives were in the graveyard. They had gathered for Kumari’s funeral. Little angel and Latha were not there. Only Raj was there. He cried alone. His friends and relatives tried convincing him. However, they could not stop Raj from crying. Raj became weak. He felt that he lost everything. He was disturbed. He reminded his father. He recalled every moment that he spent with Kumari. She made Raj a wonderful human being. She worked hard for paying school and college fees. She managed the family expenses. She settled the debts. She did not sleep for many days. She always worried about Raj. Raj could do nothing in her last days. Raj cried a lot. He saw his first angel’s face for the last time. Tears welled from his right eye.

Life at Abu Dhabi:

Raj reached Abu Dhabi. He had a safe journey. The agent had organised everything. Raj went and stayed in a hotel for two days. He roamed and looked around. He was amazed by the traffic rules that were followed there. He visited the Indian hotels near him and had Indian food. He also met some Indian people working there. He talked to those people. They told him about their living style.

Raj joined the