Sunset

"Has anything you have ever done made your life better?"

Monday
6:00 P.M.
The roads are busy as always..Old Man Vimmi's, Ice Cream Parlour is starting to get it's late evening customers. Even though I am standing far away from the road, I can see the flying dust particles everywhere. The cars, rickshaws, autos, and cycles' noises fall into the ears like bullets..This is India baby! The pollution covered sunset is a sight to kill and die for. Alright, finished with my cigarette. I drop the finished, unlit piece on the floor, squish it with my foot and say, 'Hasta La Vista Baby!' There are many things on the roads, the pavement, and even under my feet..It won't create a difference. Never has..Never will. My eyes, close for a minute...God Help Me..There has been an accident in front of my eyes..The driver covered in blood is crawling out of the car..No sign of movement from the second car. What do I do? Should I go out there and help the passengers. But, other people are also staring. Nobody is moving one inch..It would not create a difference even if I get involved..Besides, God forgives one sin..Let this be it.

Tuesday
9:30 A.M.

My head is still roaming around yesterday's incident. Depositing some money into my bank account might give me some relief. It is crowdy as usual. Long lines are forming around different windows. So, hot in here. Did someone steal your, A.C. or something? It feels good, when you are actually not saying something, just thinking it in your head. Try that, it actually feels good! Feels like you are in, front of a Police Officer, kick him, poke him, he wouldn't mind. Take all your anger off on the Police. Mumbai for me, and I don't know about you. Who am I talking to anyway? All this heat is travelling into my head.

"Put your hands up! This is a robbery. Everybody on the floor."

What the heck? Everybody is starting to put their hands in the air, and lying on the floor. I should do the same thing....Something is touching my head. I am starting to hear a loud voice over my head.

"I don't want any cleverness, or this man's brain will be blown out of his head."

I am a hostage. This man seems serious. He can blow my brain out of my head. I can hear my heart beat. It is very fast. I should try to do something..No, I should stay perfectly still. Why does not anyone do something? He is making me move. All I can see is the people lying on the floor. He is taking me away. What if he takes me outside the bank and shoots me? One bullet, and my body will be lying on the road. The gun is still on my head! I can feel the sweatiness all over my head. My head is feeling light suddenly. I gather my courage and turn around....The robbers are gone. Thank you, God.

12:00 P.M.
Midnight

Should I call myself lucky? Or, was it just a coincidence? He could have had shot me right away. The man had probably seen a lot of blood. Mine was not different. If he had shot me..Who would have had took me to my grave? I don't know a single person in my area. If my story gets a full stop, no editor is going to publish it..I know no one. I need a glass of Bacardi. On the rocks. I am done making my drink. Take a sip. Feels nice, strong. Most people say, 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you don't know what is going to come next.' Bullshit! Crime, Corruption, Rape, Robbery, Kidnapping. I find this in every corner of this country. Find it at every turn. Nobody takes responsibilty to clean it. Nobody gives a damn about others. I didn't. I was wrong. This is going to be changed. I will change it.

The plug is in the wire. I am turning the computer on. My target....Hacking the Police website. Hacking is pretty easy, if you work for a Computer Software Company, or if you are a Computer Engineer. Or, maybe I am just too drunk!

Wednesday
3:00 P.M.

I am on the location, I printed from the computer yesterday. It is the area of, Drug Lord A.J. Short for, Aditya Jhand. Supplies drugs to everybody in the whole state. From college students to peons to roadside vendors. I walk in the back alley. There is a little window. I kick the window. Still intact! One more kick. Not breaking. Windows also open. I open the window and jump on the floor. There is a faint smell of drugs in the air. I don't know whether it is cocaine, or heroine, or a mixture of several drugs. I have a knife..That's it. I am hiding behind a big drum. All I can see is some men, packaging some packets into big boxes. Looks like they hit a jackpot today........Something has hit me..My brain is falling into darkness.

A.J. - Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here?

Why are you doing this? Don't you believe in respect!

A. J. - I believe in death, destruction, chaos, filth and greed.

"Kill Him!"

He is walking away! The cries of alligator coming from his shoes....The goons are gathering around me. I am tied up. Can't move. Wait, they are bringing some sort of bottle. It has something in it. They are pouring it on my hand. AAAHHHH.....This shit burns..It is acid..My hand feels so dead. It feels like it has been cut off. Augh! Shit, this guy just punched me in my face. He is getting ready to throw the second punch. I need to close my eyes...

5 Minutes Later

My face feels messed up. I can feel the blood dripping on my pants from my face. Not done yet! Something is stinging me in my back. One of the goon is taking something out of my back...Knife..Bastard, stabbed me. He is going for it the second time..So, much for being a superhero!

10 Minutes Later

Flies have started walking on my back. I can feel my sliced skin getting sucked on by the flies. I turn my eyes towards the front. A gun pointing at my face. It is over. This is where he shoots. This is where I die. After one minute, a bullet is going to hit my face point blank, and the pieces of my face are going to be scattered on the floor. And, my body will be lying in a gutter. My heartbeat is going faster again. Experiencing a gun on your head, and facing death right in the barrel are two different cases. I should just close my eyes and say my last prayers. I hear the trigger being clicked. I heard it, the sound of my death approaching towards me....AAAHHHH...My shoulder...The bullet just hit my shoulder.

"I heard something. Go check the door. Maybe it is Police...Lets go."

I am alone, with the pain increasing minute by minute. The ropes they tied me with have become loose. I am trying to break free. I think I got it. Freedom. I am making my way out of the back door. I am running, as fast as I can. I can only hear one thing...My footsteps. My breath is becoming heavy. Can't run anymore. I am on the highway. The bullet is still in my shoulder! It feels like the fire from Hell. The poision is going to start making way through my body. Need to do something fast! I have my knife. It is surely going to hurt at first. AH! The knife is in, and now I take it out. The bullet falls on the road. Blood is dripping on the road, from my shoulder to the road. I am taking my shirt off. Covering my shoulder. Shirt is getting painted red. Need to go home.

12:00 P.M.
Midnight

It is Thurday. I am on the roof. Staring at the lonely night. I have done my dressing. Now, I understand the true meaning of life. There was a moment... when I used to blame everything and everyone... for all the pain and suffering and vile things that happened to me, that I saw happen to my people. Used to blame everybody. Blamed white people, blamed society, blamed God. I didn't get no answers 'cause I was asking the wrong questions. You have to ask the right questions. And the question is, 'When will the system be cured?' When will the crime rate decrease? When will people quit their selfishness? Corrupt Hain Saale Sab Ke Sab.

Now, I am seeing the true sunset. I have emailed, Police the whereabouts of, A.J. I do not want my picture on the front page, neither do I want any rewards. Because I know, I have done nothing. I am not a superhero. I have found out who am I.

I am jumping off my roof. My body is going to hit the ground and it is going to be all over. The, corruption is not that easy to change. Everybody is involved in it. It attacks your brain, but your heart is still there. Think through your heart..Breath through your heart. Like this wind, which is carrying me softly towards the ground. Feels like I am lying on my bed. But, this bed is a doorway towards the clouds. I found out who I am. I just have one last word.

"Superman."

Yakuza

In the midst of, Sanja Matsuri festival it was hard to hear anything else. Thousands of Japanese groups carrying the shrine through the streets, shouting, showing off their culture. Nothing else could be heard. It, seemed like the whole Japan was walking on the streets.

But, still the landing of planes signalled the comeback of several Japanese citizens. In, all these faces their were several new faces walking, trying to blend in. Some, were just tourists. While, others did not know what they were going into.

The leather shoes had just crossed the, Airport gate. The suit symbolised that the person was of a upper status. His eyes constantly kept on looking at the, Rolex watch stuck on his hand.

'Taxi!', he screamed.

Between all the noise, it didn't look like that any taxi was going to be coming.

The man had realised that, and started to walk his way through the crowd. But, this wasn't like the normal crowd. It was different. There were people with full body tattos.

The leather shoes had to stop. There was something poking the coat.

'Move to the side!'

'Look if you want money......'

'Michael. Do, as we tell you.'

How do they know his name? Michael's eyes started to look around in fear. It didn't take a minute until, Michael's face was covered with a chloroform invested cloth. His, eyes started to close. Mind, started to succumb into darkness.

'Wake him up!'

'Yes, Wakagashira.'

Cold droplets of water started to hit, Michael's face. He started to gain conscience.

Michael - Where.....Where am I?

Wakagashira - Where?...That is not the question you should be asking...Why?...That is.

Michael - You don't know what I can...

Wakagashira - You can't do anything, Mr. Michael Shank. I am the one holding the gun right now. Whatever, I say goes. There are 45 men in this room right now. All, capable of filling your body with countless bullets, that your blood will have to find it's way out.

Michael - Listen, you son of a....

Wakagashira's hand moved and a cold blade came on Michael's neck.

Wakagashira - Talk with respect to the first lieutenant. Or, I will cut your body, and hang it on the streets.

Fear started to take over, Michael's mind. This was a serious situation.

'Wakagashira, Oyabun wants to see you.'

Wakagashira - Guard him!

Michael's eyes started to look around. He saw, some men getting tattoed. Guns being taken away. And, a group of young girls chained. The tears of young girls started to rip, Michael's heart. But, he himself was helpless.

'Oyabun'

A voice alarmed him and, Michael's attention went towards the stairs where a black suited man followed by Wakagashira and two other men was stepping down.

Oyabun - Welcome, Mr. Shank. Any difficulty finding the headquarters of Yamaguchi - gumi.

Michael's mouth did not move but his eyes kept looking at the cigar being smoked by the Oyabun.

Oyabun - Your fragile mind must be full of many questions. And, you also must be shocked to see, so many Japanese speaking, 'English'. We have to learn it, Mr. Shank. It is all done for business....Oh, yes...Our, business. Who are we? What do we do? We are a clan of Yakuza. The name of our family is Yamaguchi - gumi. And, we do everything. Right, now I am going to make you an offer. Sign, this contract and you will be free. Free to smell the fresh air and see the daylight of your life again. And, if you don't, I will put your life in such a darkness that you will wish you were given an easy death.

Before, Michael could say something the silence was broken by the dogs, holded by two men.

Oyabun - My dogs are hungry, Mr. Shank. Each one of them.

The, heart inside the suit seemed it was going to jump out. If, Michael didn't speak now, he would never be able to speak again.

Michael - What...Contract?

Oyabun - You are here to settle the deal between your company and the Yamashiro company. You are the head of the board of stockholders. Now, your job is to right now sign this contract, making us the owner of your stocks. Hurry, Mr. Shank, your sweat is ruining your perfect suit...And, my dogs are becoming impatient.

Michael's eyes looked at the contract and then at the Oyabun. His, cigar was almost over. The ashes falling on the table could have had been, Michael's body falling apart piece by piece.

His, hand moved and the Contract paper got filled with red ink.

Oyabun - Well, done Mr. Shank. Let's settle this deal with a glass of sake. Ane-San.

A woman was bringing two glasses.

Oyabun - This is my wife. Now, drink the sake, Mr. Shank.

Michael's trembling hands picked up the glass.

Oyabun - It's not poison, Mr. Shank. Take a sip. Good for your heart.

Michael, somehow gulped a sip down.

Oyabun - Now, we switch glasses.

Ane-San took, Oyabun's glass and started to walk towards Michael. Michael's eyes rolled towards the knife still sitting on the table after his first encounter with Wakagashira. Michael's fear started to turn into hope. He grabbed the knife and got hold of Ane-San. Knife resting on her throat. His, hands were still shaking. Heartbeat getting faster. Nerves ready to pop out of the brain.

Michael - Don't....Don't...Move!

Each and every men in that room ready to make a move, but Oyabun's hand had stopped them.

Oyabun - I will give you a chance, Mr. Shank. Get out of here, until I finish my cigar and if you can't.......Ha Ha Ha Ha!

Michael - I have your wife as a hostage, and you are laughing at me.

Before, Michael could move back one more step a sword came onto his back.

'Drop the knife, or my sword bathes in blood today!'

This, man was serious. Michael would not be able to escape alive. Knife hit the floor. Ane-San moved away from, Michael.

Oyabun - Ah...My second lieutenant. You shall be rewarded.

Shateigashira - Your service is my reward, sir.

Oyabun - And for you, Mr. Shank..........Yubitsume!

Yubitsume, or the cutting of one's finger, was a form of penance or apology. Upon a first offence, the transgressor must cut off the tip of his left little finger and hand the severed portion to his boss. Sometimes an underboss may do this in penance to the oyabun if he wants to spare a member of his own gang from further retaliation.

Several, men holded Michael while Wakagashira got ready.

Oyabun - I know you will not cut your own finger.

Wakagashira walked towards, Michael.

Wakagashira - Ready?

The sword came down and the room filled with shouts of pain. Michael's little finger was lying on the ground with blood around it. Blood was still dripping from, Michael's hand.

Oyabun - Normally, I would stop after this, Mr. Shank. I have a heart too. But, you have touched my wife. This crime has no punishment. Only, freedom is your punishment.

Oyabun, gave a signal and the men got ready. Several, guns aimed at Michael.

Michael - No....Please....Don't.

Oyabun - There is no wrong place or a wrong time. There are just wrong people. And, you are one of them. You must be set free.

Cigar hit the ground and several bullets found a way into, Michael's body. His suit's colour changed into red.

Sanja Matsuri was over. But, there was still a crowd gathered around a wall. But, this time they were staring at a body. Body of Michael Shank. And, written in blood on the wall was a message, 'Yakuza'.