Best Short Story: Towards A New Beginning

By Ranjana Mazumdar

Shera was getting ready to meet Malti near the station. He had promised to take her to the cinema. As he was driving, he thought of his first meeting with Malti, which coincidentally took place at a cinema hall.

Malti was desperate to get tickets for a blockbuster movie, but the ticket window was now closed as all the tickets were sold. Shera approached Malti and offered her some tickets, which he was selling in Blackmarket.

Of course, he did not tell Malti this as he felt attracted to her and did not want to spoil his image. Malti was delighted and eagerly bought the tickets.

They had adjacent seats, so both kept on conversing. Malti was with her sister, and both liked Shera very much.

Gradually the bonding grew. Cupid had struck, and both were now in love and wanted to marry. Shera had not disclosed his shady profession to her, just told her that he had an export-import business.

Lately, Malti had indicated that her father wanted to meet him. Malti always praised her father. For her, he was the epitome of all kinds of good values.

This made Shera very uncomfortable and shaky. He knew Malti’s father, Mr. Manoj Kalekar, would never accept him in his family if his secret was revealed.

Best Short Story: Towards A New Beginning

Malti was still in the dark about his profession, although she was curious about his office. She liked his looks, personality, and his beautiful car, but she was unaware that underneath lay a smuggler and a person who bought and sold stolen goods.

Shera kept his thoughts and turmoil hidden from Malti, but lava of emotions was bubbling inside him. He was in a dilemma that tore him day and night.

He had now met Mr. Manoj, who seemed to be testing him. Manoj had asked him so many penetrating questions that Shera wanted to run away from the house, but Malti’s happy eyes helped him keep his composer, and he responded well.

He could not meet Malti for the next few days as he was busy with a few transactions. However, he was always troubled with some thoughts nibbling at the back of his mind these days.

Although Manoj appeared satisfied with his status, Shera was unsure of the future. He didn’t want to lose Malti, but it was clear now that he would have to choose either Malti or his illegal work field.

He remembered the day when he was initiated into this occupation. He was studying in class 12th and wanted to buy some reference books which his father could not purchase for him.

One of his friends showed interest and told him a plan. Shekhar, as he was called then, didn’t like the unethical way of his friend, but he wanted to score well in his exams.

The conflict in his mind went on for some days, but ultimately he succumbed to his desire to buy the books. He struggled with his studies with a wounded conscience.

After clearing his 12th with a very colorful result, he was admitted to B.com, planning to become a chartered accountant.

His father was helpful, but Shekhar wanted to join some coaching classes to brighten his future. After a lot of mental debate, he approached his friend, who was too happy to help him.

As Shekhar had to take some material from one person and deliver that to another person, he could earn good money.

The seriousness of these shady dealings frightened him for some time, but every time he told his conscience that this would be his last job. As the years passed by, he had eased on his moral grounds.

He didn’t finish his chartered accountant course, finding this occupation more lucrative. His pursuit of a bright future had taken shape here. Along the passing years, he had established himself well.

One day he finished meeting with a client who had given him an old statue to deliver to another client.

With the statue wrapped in a fancy gift paper, he was coming towards his car when he heard his name being called. He turned around and shook from head to toe. Malti’s father was smiling at him.

He asked Shera, ” Ah… Shekhar! What is going on ?” Shera was in a fix. He fumbled for an answer.

” Oh! I had to buy something for my friend.”

” Oh good! What did you buy ?” Then he laughed saying, “I am just curious because these days buying a gift for a young man is very confusing for me.”

” It’s nothing. Just a statue.”

“What statue?”

Now Shera lost his tongue. Perplexed he looked here and there. “No. It is just a statue. I am getting late sir. Excuse me today.”

He hurriedly started walking towards his car. Manoj could not understand his attitude but let it go.

However, coincidentally, he met Shera 3 and 4 times in these situations. Manoj did not utter a word to Malti or Shera, but he started to shadow him. Soon he came to know about Shera’s actual line of work.

It shocked him. He couldn’t control his rage. He wanted to tell Malti, who was not aware of these developments.

One day Manoj reached his home and rang the door well. Suddenly he heard a peel of laughter. His wrath knew no bounds.

“That……,” he was having a gala time with his daughter. Manoj sprang upon Shera as the door opened, and went straight for his collar with both hands.

He shouted, “Cheat!! Imposter!! How dare you enter my house? ” Malti and Shera were taken aback at Manoj’s behavior.

Manoj slapped Shera hard and screamed,” Malti! You don’t know this man. He has been pulling wool over our eyes. He is a thief, a smuggler.”

“What are you saying, Baba?” Malti’s voice was choking.

“Yes, my dear. This rascal kept us in the dark.”

Shera tried to relieve himself from Manoj’s grip and say something. Instead, Manoj roared, “Shut up you cheat! Don’t say anything now.”

Malti was in tears. “Shekhar! This is not true. You are not a smuggler.”

“Malti! Let me explain.” Manoj cut him short, ” Explain! What are you going to explain? Your modus operandi? Your income? Your underworld connections? How many things are you going to explain?”

Again Shera tried to address Malti, who looked dejected. Manoj rushed towards his bedroom, “I am going to kill this man who tried to destroy my daughter’s life.”

Malti’s eyes became more round, and she raised her voice,” No Baba!” Shera understood the gravity of the situation.

He ran towards the main door, and in a wink, he was out and sprinting towards his car. As he revved the engine, he heard a gunshot which shook him. Manoj was still shouting.

Shera arrived at his house all shaking. He realized that since Manoj had spilled the beans so suddenly that Malti won’t listen to him, his fears came true when multi refused to talk to him on the phone or in person.

Shera was depressed. He did not want to go to his field of work but winding up was not so easy; it would take time.

Shera wanted to describe his plan to Malti so that she would give him time to come out of this muddy track, but before he could tell anything to Malti, his secret was out.

Shera incessantly tried to contact Malti for a fortnight but in vain. Shera found himself in a bottomless dark pit where nobody could help him. For a few days, he didn’t go out anywhere.

Finally, he told all his contacts that he would no longer take on this work. Some of his accomplices were indifferent, but some threatened him thinking of their safety.

A month dragged by, and Malti was still inconsolable. Then, one day she glanced at the newspaper and was surprised.

She showed the news to her sister. Both the sisters kept discussing how Shekhar had surrendered himself to the police, and after a quick court case, he was sent to Jail for 14 years.

That night Malti was unable to control herself and wept through the night. Seeing her eyes the next day, her father was sour and angry with her.

He expressed his views in definite terms that Malti had to forget Shekhar and think of her career and future.

After 14 years, Shera came out of the big gates of the prison and looked upwards. The blue expansion of the sky had a new brightness. Then, with a deep sigh, he started walking. Hardly had he walked a few meters when somebody called him.

Malti! Shera’s heart skipped some beats. He looked at the side road. There she was, Malti. Looking very lean and white. He moved in her direction eagerly…” Malt!” He could not believe what his eyes saw. Malti came into his arms. She was crying.

“Malti! I am extremely sorry I wanted to explain all this in my own way, and I was thinking of living this vocation since the day I met you.”

“Yes, I believe you.” “But how come you are here? Your father, your family, husband?”

“Baba is no more, and you are my family. I waited for you.”

“Oh, Malti! I am a criminal, just now out of Jail.”

“Yes! I know! but you were a criminal. Now we will go somewhere and start afresh towards a new begining.”

Short Story Prompt

𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲. 𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗷 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲.

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हम आरएनटाल्क्स में लघु कहानी के प्रॉम्प्ट पेश कर रहे हैं। आपको दिए गए प्रॉम्प्ट का उपयोग करके न्यूनतम 800 शब्दों और अधिकतम 1500 शब्दों की एक लघु कहानी लिखने के लिए आमंत्रित किया जाता है।अपनी कहानी कमेंट सेक्शन में सबमिट करें।

दिलचस्प कहानियां हमारी वेबसाइट पर प्रकाशित की जाएंगी। कृपया अपनी कहानियों को शुक्रवार शाम (रात 8 बजे) तक सभी हैशटैग का उपयोग करके केवल टिप्पणी अनुभाग में साझा करें।

अलग से साझा की गई कहानियों पर निर्णय के लिए विचार नहीं किया जाएगा, क्योंकि प्रविष्टियों का ट्रैक रखना हमारे लिए आसान नहीं है।

Best Short Story: Towards A New Beginning