Let Love Take Over

By Tomson Robert

“Josh, so you see, battles are not won with weapons, but with faith and courage.
Someday you would grow up and become a hero, like David.”
Joshua decided never to be a hero again after the tragedy from his teenage days. The demons of his past profoundly affect his present and he stops taking charge of his life.
Be it his toxic boss Mayur who exploits him and his friends, or the challenges his wife encounters, he is unable to take a stand for his loved ones. His fears even wreak havoc on his beautiful marriage with Susan.
Will he find his redemption? How will he save his marriage and win back her love?
Let Love Take Over is a riveting story of true love which overcomes all adversities, and challenges the notion of a ‘hero’.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: Jul 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9789390441594

Book preview

Tomson RobeRT

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

A unit of AJR Publishing LLP

212A, Peacock Lane

Shahpur Jat, New Delhi – 110 049

[e-mail]

First published by

Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2021

Copyright © Tomson Robert, 2021

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or used for the purpose of narrative building. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or true events is purely coincidental.

Pp 85: Song by Eagles, ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’ lyrics © Plangent Visions Music Ltd., Bmg Vm Music Limited, Freedom Songs Ltd,

This book is dedicated to my grandparents.

Thank you for all the stories.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my friends and family, who encouraged me to write this book and supported me in the publication process. A big shout out to my publisher.

An Unlikely Beginning

2005, Mangalore Station

For a teen, the enjoyment of experiencing a second-class train journey with friends is amazing, especially when it’s a namesake school-sponsored trip to Mumbai.

The fun began with a variety of dishes which we relished together.We started with the morning tea and vegetable cutlets, followed by the railway special chicken biryani in the afternoon, a continuous supply of chips during the day and finally, the chapatti and egg curry at night.

Along with all the munching, we also entertained ourselves with fun games like Antakshari, dumb charades and Teen patti (Indian Poker).

We were a group of four boys, on our way to attend an inter-school mime competition. In order to join the trip, I had to make uproar at home to convince my overprotective dad. Finally, grandpa had to step in and persuade him. Dad had strictly instructed me to do nothing extraordinary during the trip.

Given my nature to stand up for what is right and the past fights I have had, he had specifically asked me not to be a ‘hero’ during the trip. I hoped to follow it too. For now, everything was going as per plan. However, there was a minor distraction, especially for Raghu.

The fun of the train journey went up a notch because a beautiful girl sat next to us.

In the last twelve hours, we had managed to strike a conversation with her and cajoled her to play dumb charades with us. Through our conversations over chips with her, we got to know that her name was Amrita. She hailed from Mumbai and was going to Kerala to meet her maternal grandparents. Amrita’s dad was a police officer, her mom was a school teacher, and she had a naughty younger sister. By now, we even knew that her favourite colour was turquoise.

After dinner, we invited Amrita to join us for a round of Teen patti.This was our chance to solidify our friendship with her. The game that had started three hours ago, was still continuing. We were exhausted and even tempted to sleep, but who would want to miss such a golden opportunity.

Raghu and I felt that Amrita was not enjoying the game. So we consistently engaged in interesting side exchanges with her, much to the dislike of our other friends, Roy and Arun.

Josh, now that you are losing, don’t be a spoilt sport! Like you become when you get out during our cricket matches, Raghu said. He and I had studied together for the past eleven years.

What does he do when he gets out? Amrita asked inquisitively.

Let’s just say that the guy who owns the bat never gets out, even if the whole team and the umpire agree, Raghu said, laughing.

Shut up, Raghu! Amrita, that was a long time ago, I said, embarrassed.

But you still admit to doing that? she asked.

Well, not always, but mostly when it was an LBW decision, I said.

Really! And why is that, Joshua? Raghu asked. Don’t you think the umpire would know best if it was an LBW out or not? Cut it out, Raghu! Amrita, this joker used to be the umpire during our gully cricket matches, I said.

Then I turned to Raghu. Also, it’s the batsman who gets to know if the ball hit his legs or not. So, the batsman is the best judge of an LBW decision, I asserted myself, hoping to save my reputation in front of Amrita.

I think you should propose this logic to International Cricket Council also. I am sure there is absolutely no conflict of interest in letting the batsman decide whether he is LBW out or not. After all, cricket is a gentleman’s game, Amrita said, with a mischievous smile.

Sarcasm noted, Amrita, I said, responding with a smile. Guys, focus on the game please. We are now entering the variation round of Teen patti, Roy said.

I guess he didn’t like how Raghu and I were attempting to steal the spotlight and make a memorable first impression on Amrita.

What’s a variation round? Amrita asked, with a slight yawn. Well, like the name suggests, we slightly tweak the rules of the game to make it more interesting, Raghu jumped in. Clearly, he was trying to get Amrita’s attention desperately. Blame it on adolescence, I guess.

I find this game so complicated anyway, variations would now make it worse for me, Amrita said.

But you are playing so well for a beginner,Amrita, Roy said. Stop patronizing her, you jerk, I murmured.

Nope, I don’t think I can handle variations. You guys, continue. I just need to use the washroom, Amrita said.

Please! Play one more round na, Roy insisted. We will do a really easy and quick one.

Amrita looked a bit reluctant. We were approaching Mangalore station and I figured Amrita wanted to use the washroom before the train stopped.

I looked at Raghu.This was his moment to become the hero. Hey Roy, why don’t we also take a break? Mummy has baked a chocolate cake for us. Let’s eat that, Raghu said.

I took the Tupperware container with the cake from Raghu’s bag. His mom bakes the most delicious cakes in the world. Roy and Arun had relished its irresistible taste many times, so they couldn’t wait to grab a bite.

Ok, let’s do that, Roy said, snatching the container from me.

Amrita looked at Raghu and smiled. She knew he was trying to help her out.

While everyone was indulging in the cake, I decided to continue scribbling my thoughts for a short story. I aspired to become a writer when I grew up. However, my dad didn’t consider storytelling to be a reliable and solid career path. He wanted me to opt for more conventional choices and become an engineer or a doctor. This was the clichéd dream job that every middle class parent encouraged their children to pursue.

However, it was only my grandpa who believed in my dream. Also, if my eleventh standard grades were considered, I was nowhere even close to pursuing these ‘ideal’ professions. I was a mediocre student with average marks in maths and science. I was not in the league of toppers. Frankly speaking, I didn’t even want to.

Close to thirty minutes had passed, and yet there was no sign of Amrita. I asked Raghu to go and check. He went and looked for her.

She is on her phone. Given the way she is hiding from us and talking, I don’t think it’s her parents. Someone has already called ‘dibs’ on her, Raghu said with a disappointed tone. All those hours that we spent to impress her were such a waste.

"We don’t know that for sure, buddy. Let’s wait and watch.

Maybe she is speaking to her parents," I said.

Raghu sighed. He knew that the probability of what I had said was not very likely.

Soon, we reached the Mangalore station.

Guys, I am going to get some coffee. Do you want something? I asked.

Don’t pretend to help us, Joshua. You just want to go and flirt with Amrita.You heard Raghu, right? She is already taken, Roy said through a mouthful of chocolate cake.

I didn’t want to waste my energy responding to that. One packet of Lays for me please, Arun said.

Sure, Arun! Raghu, why don’t you come with me for company, I asked.

Sure! You go ahead, let me finish this piece of cake and I will join you, he said.

Okay, I will be next to that tea shop, I said, pointing in the direction. I took my wallet and headed towards the train door.

All of a sudden, there was a scream. I, along with a few other passengers, rushed towards the train door.

I was shocked at what I saw. Amrita was sitting on the floor.

She had silent tears flowing from her eyes and looked pale. Amrita, what happened? I asked.

I was standing at the door… a guy wearing a black shirt came in… mis… misbehaved with me… and ran away, she stammered. She was shivering as she said those words out loud. One of the lady passengers offered her some water.

I looked outside. I could see the guy in black shirt walking briskly with his friend. They were tall, muscular, well-built and perhaps in their mid-thirties. Both were sniggering.

I clenched my fist. Even though dad’s instruction of not trying to become a hero was echoing in my mind, I could not resist. Amrita’s tears made me lose all control.

I jumped out of the train and ran towards the guys. As I ran, I could sense that Raghu was behind me. He must have seen what happened to Amrita and decided to follow my lead.

I increased my pace. My heart was pounding and the adrenaline was surging. As I reached closer to those guys, I elevated myself for a Mortal Kombat style flying kick. My kick landed on the back of the head of the guy wearing the black shirt. It took him by surprise, and he fell on the ground.

Raghu instantly took on the guy’s friend. I could see that Raghu had pinned the guy down. He started punching him on his face.

Asshole, how dare you do that to a girl, I said. I was all set for a street fight.

You are going to regret this, bastard, the guy wearing the black shirt said.

He got up quickly and delivered a jab at my face. I ducked and as I did that, I executed an upper cut at his jaw. Everything was going by the book, exactly how my Karate teacher had taught me. Now I wished I had not quit Karate after the green belt.

Both Raghu and I fought well. I was sure that Raghu and I could take down these two rogues. Some people at the station also came forward to help us, including the station master. We managed to defeat those two rouges.

Hold those thugs! They have committed various crimes, including an assault on a police officer.They are members of the Shetty gang. I have called the police and they are on their way, the station master said.

Everything was going well. I was celebrating my heroic triumph when my glorious moment was interrupted by the sound of thunderous footsteps. I looked around and saw five more thugs who were running towards us. They were carrying knives and metal rods.

Come fast, guys! Let’s beat the pulp out of these bastards. How dare they attack the Shetty gang, the guy wearing the black shirt shouted.

As the thugs came forward, the people who had come to help us ran away, including the station master.

Raghu quickly took on two of the thug’s head on.

I ran back a little so that I could take on one guy at a time. I dodged the first attack with the knife and managed to plant a jab