One finger ring
Tara was carefully observing candles. She supposed to place them properly. It was her day to decorate windows. She was working in houses as cleaner. She needed to clean everything properly & she was working in many houses. But her money was just not enough. She had her in-laws & husband. Then her husband was not earning much. He was sick for long time. She had two kids. She regretted taking second chance. It was her mistake. She didn’t had enough money for first child but she took second chance. Now she had two children two sons. She had lots of responsibilities. Her brother was no longer interested in her. Actually she was not interested in marrying so soon. She wanted to study but her brother insisted on her marriage. Her husband was his friend. She liked when she saw her brother’s friend. Slowly she began to go to movies with him. Then soon their marriage was fixed & her education was forgotten. She left behind her education to marry man she loved. She didn’t even wasted time in seeing house of her future husband. When she went inside house after marriage she received shock. That house was so small. It was not something she imagined. It was clearly in poor locality. She could smell as if some drainage was just near by. She knew that she was in house of poor man. Her brother cheated her. She was married in wrong house. But she told herself that her husband Pratap was nice man. He was always respected by all. She never complained. She kept thinking positively about all. She was managing all nicely. But soon she sensed that she needed some jobs. She was shocked when she began to think that she needed to work as maid. It was not something she imagined as her career. She was planning for some superior jobs. If she could have managed to get education she should have got those jobs. It was so upsetting. She didn’t got much chance in life. She was working as maid for hours. Sometimes she wanted to go back in life & change her past. Her life was no longer nice. At beginning Pratap was loving husband but since he began to get sick, he started to scream on her. She was so scared of him now. Both sons were small so they didn’t behave in discipline. Pratap kept screaming on them & hitting them. She was so scared that one day Pratap might manage to hit on of them in wrong way. She was so scared. But she needed to go on work. She was working in so many houses. She stopped thinking about how hard she worked. But finally she got this job in shop. It was worth efforts. Now she needed to work in just two houses. It was enough. She needed this job. It was store so they wanted to keep it clean. She was always careful with delicate products so she was admired for it. Tara kept watching them carefully. Then one day shop owner decided one new trend. He brought multiple candles & he wanted to sell them so he told everyone that they needed to sell them together. He was so happy with that idea. He told all to keep one day to arrange them. She thought that she was just lower level uneducated maid so she didn’t get chance to decorate it. At beginning same thing happened no one selected her but then it became daily work. All started to get bored so one day one sales girl told Owner that maid also needed to do it on one day. All agreed so she got this job. Today she was arranging those candles. She was setting them properly. She was trying to feel happy with them. On that point she saw one old lady was coming out of her car. That old lady was wearing so much jewellery. She was looking so pretty. She was old but still her beauty was extraordinary. No one could deny it. Tara kept looking at her with full concentration. Shop door was opened by that old lady. That old lady said loudly “ Any body is there?” Suddenly Tara sensed all left shop already. Tara supposed to turn close sign board but she just forgot. She came out. Tara “ Madam all are gone. Store is closed.” Old lady smiled in odd way & said “ But you are there.” “ I am no one. I am just a maid…” “ No you are special.” That lady took out one finger ring out of purse & gave it to Tara. Tara shivered when she touched that stone. It was special & unique. She could feel cold touch in it, Tara tried to pull away her hand but that old lady forcibly put it in her finger. Tara felt so different. It seemed as if some energy entered in her. She kept looking towards that lady when suddenly wind came & door opened. That old lady went away in car without saying anything. That lady was gone. Tara was so shocked. Tara knew that old lady had gifted something precious to her. She kept watching that finger ring. She didn’t like it. She started to took it out of hand but it was not happening. She began to try hard. She was so scared. She called Owner without second thought that he might hate to disturbed. She wanted to return that finger ring. Owner screamed on her “ Why are you calling me? I hope you have good reason! Like someone is murdering you!..” “ Sir..one..one old lady came..she force one finger ring on my finger & went away..” she began to cry uncontrollably & her owner began to scream uncontrollably “ Are you out of mind? How could she force a finger ring in your finger?! How don’t you took back your hand? Do you have money for that ornament?” “ No..Sir!” “ So are you planning to stay in jail?” She began to stammer “ Sir.. I don’t want this..” “ But you took it. So it’s your responsibility. Do you understand it?” She began to cry but then suddenly Tara began to feel that her entire body was shivering. That finger ring was giving current to her. Her entire body was getting heavy like stone. She began to scream loudly. Soon her entire body became as heavy as stone. She was stuck inside it. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She felt as if anyone could do anything to her but she couldn’t do anything. She knew that this finger ring did this to her. She didn’t say anything. Her Boss was screaming entire time on mobile. But she didn’t understand words they were becoming far away noises. They were meaningless. Entire world didn’t matter. She was locked in her body. She became a stone statue.
Vasant was owner of shop for such wrong time but nothing like that had ever happened. He felt that this maid Tara was just beautiful looking girl without brain. He knew from other servants that she left her education in middle just because she fall in love with her brother’s friend. It was most stupid move. He didn’t understand how could someone left education for getting married? His family always valued education. No one was so stupid to quit education. In his views normally maids gave those excuses. He didn’t believed them. He felt that she never truly interested in education. She was just pretending. But now this phone call. He looked towards time it was around 8 o’clock in night. He told her to leave early why did she stopped. She was decorating that window of candles nearly from 3 o’clock. She was rubbing every spot. He liked to keep his shop clean but it was too much. She kept cleaning it for hours. He didn’t understand why she did that. Now she even began to wear those finger rings of unknown people. It would harm his shop. He was so upset. He was hundred percent sure that it must be something costly but he didn’t understand why this lady gave in to his maid. This was odd. He didn’t understand what was happening. He decided to use his car. He began to drive when he came near shop, he was so shocked. Shop was still open. All kept their shops open but he made it clear to everyone that their shop must be closed on 8 P.M. He was so frustrated. He didn’t understand why it was open. He immediately turned it to closed sign. But he sensed that was too late few customer was already inside. They did shopping & waiting in line. Then he noticed Tara standing like statue while customers screaming to take their payment. He ran inside smiled & then he apologised. But customers were not interested in apologies. They just wanted to get their goods. So they took whatever they wanted made payments & ran towards their home. Vasant took deep breath to relax himself. Then he turned towards his maid Tara. Tara was still standing on same place. He screamed on her “ What are you waiting for? Remove that finger ring!” Tara was hearing him. She wanted to move herself but suddenly all seemed to be stuck. She began to try so hard to move herself then she suddenly began to laugh uncontrollably. Her Boss Vasant was shocked. “ What’s wrong with you?” She controlled her laughing. Vasant was looking at her with shock. He started to regret keeping her. She was clearly unsound person. Vasant “ Are you alright?” Tara controlled herself. “ Yes..yes I am fine. I just sense this finger ring is fake.” Vasant relaxed. Vasant laughed too. Vasant “ You keep getting upset unnecessarily I feel it must be some advertising gimmick.” Tara nodded. Then Tara said “ I am going home” & literally ran away to her home. Vasant was watching it but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t want her to stay anyway. But he started counting his extra income. He began to think that he might needed to keep shop open for some more time. At this time people came out of their offices to go home & they purchased things. He was no longer thinking about Tara or that finger ring it went out of his mind. Tara began to walk as far she could. She was looking towards finger ring. It was so beautiful. She didn’t feel it was cheap. But she wanted it now. She began to feel that this finger ring could change her future. She was not planning to remove it at any cost. She needed to feel that someone might call her thief she didn’t care. She came home. Pratap was already screaming loudly on kids. When she entered she felt that he might hit them with something in kitchen. Clearly he was hungry & she was late. She ran in kitchen & began her cooking. She smiled & said “ I am little late but don’t worry I will cook soon.” She gave angry look to her both sons. She knew now they both would sit in corner. Her sons were nice boys always obedient. She knew that they would listen her. They went in corner. Pratap didn’t like it. He was so angry by this. He wanted his sons to listen to him not their mother. He began to scream on her “ You are such useless woman. Where were you?” Then he suddenly noticed that finger ring. He was so excited without second thought he began to pull it out of her finger. She tried to stop but it was useless. He took it. He smiled. “ This look costly!” “ No..no this cheap imitation. I brought it from road.” He looked frustrated. “ So you once again wasted money when you learn? Whenever you learn you immediately started wasting.” She didn’t say anything. She knew that his earning were more than her. She was working hard but her earning were not enough. He just went out for few hours & earned more but still his earning stopped now. He was sitting just in house. She supposed to earn but he kept talking about his earnings. He kept telling that he purchased house. She kept cooking without answering him. She wanted to feel happy in her life but she was feeling so sad & upset. She didn’t understand how could she went in such wrong way. Her house was nothing but a hut & her husband Pratap was an abuser. She wanted to cry but she couldn’t. She needed to act brave. She cooked all peacefully. She was so happy to finally able to control herself. She did all with smile. She totally forgot about finger ring. She didn’t care about it any more. She was totally convince that this finger ring was cheap version. She couldn’t look towards it. She didn’t like it’s appearance. She wasn’t interested in it anymore. She knew that once Pratap took something. He never returned it to her. She didn’t ever complaint. He could take anything from her. She knew that she was still dependent on him. She saw that he took that finger ring & went away. She began to cook. She concentrated on cooking. She needed to make it properly but her heart she was wishing his death. She began to feel certain that this finger ring would bring death to him. She began to feel strange connection with that finger ring. She began to tell that finger ring to kill him. She didn’t sense that she was saying it loudly before her sons. She kept saying it. Finally her dinner was over. She began to wait for Pratap. On that point door knocked. She opened it. Two Cops were standing before her. She was so scared. She thought that they would ask about finger ring. She wanted to speak but she couldn’t. They kept talking to her but she couldn’t answer. Finally her elder son came towards her & asked Cops“ What happened?” Cop “ Why your Mom is not answering?” Her son “ I don’t know.” Younger son “ She was chanting to some God to kill our Dad.” “ Shh..” elder son gave angry look. Then elder son asked again “ What happened?” Cop said slowly “ Your Dad is dead. Maybe we need to question your Mom?!” She still couldn’t say anything.
Cops were so confused. They wanted to interrogate one lady who was not saying anything just standing like statue. They immediately called one lady cop. Tara’s sons started crying. They were so scared. Elder son was so upset. Younger one managed to put Mom in jail. Elder son said “ My brother is stupid. Mom didn’t do anything. She was just too much angry.” Cop “ Don’t worry. Your Dad died by hitting on one rock due to drunk driving. He was on scooter & took much drunk.” Her elder son was relaxed. But her son was watching towards his Mom Tara. She was stuck in odd way. Then Cop said “ Your Dad had one costly finger ring on hand do you know how did it come in his hand?” “ Mom purchased it on road.” Cop looked confused. Cop “ Actually it belonged to one mad lady who kept gifting it to all. It is possible that she might have gave it to some road side shopkeeper. Any way we are taking it back!” Tara was listening to all but she couldn’t react. She knew that this finger ring was not supernatural now then why she was stuck this way! She didn’t understand. She was feeling so nervous. She wanted to feel positive but she was not sensing that way. She was feeling locked. Pratap was dead. But it was not big loss for her. Pratap’s earning was very limited & his restrictions were too much. Now she would have full freedom to go anywhere she desired. She knew that it was happy moment for her. She was still feeling locked but she was trying to look hopeful in thoughts. She wanted to move again but she was not moving. Her sons were trying to move her but she couldn’t. Finally lady officer came. She suggested to take her to Doctor. By this time neighbour gathered. They all experimented many sort of smells to make her normal. But nothing was working. Then finally they called ambulance. It was so complicated to move her. But Hospital staff managed it. Then she went in hospital. Suddenly there she started to relax. She didn’t understand cause. She began to move. She told Nurse that she was fine. She told her to call Cops & her children. Cop came running. Then Cop began to take her statement. She told all truthfully. She said “ I thought it was just some ad gimmick. Never thought it was valuable.” She lied. But Cops smiled & said “ Don’t lie to us. You thought you can keep it since she gave willingly. We saw it on CCTV footage that she forced it on your finger.” She nodded & started crying. “ I got greedy but after using that finger ring all started to get wrong. This finger ring was worst thing for me. I started to feel like statue due to it. I can’t make myself normal. I still feel nervous due to it. You saw me. How did I become statue?” Cop said with smile “ It’s not finger ring. It was due to psychiatrical trouble.” She shivered with fear. Tara “ I am mad!” She started crying. “ Now who will take care of my kids.” Cops said “ Just relaxed. Psychiatrist will start treatment.” “ But money!” That lady officer thought then said “ Don’t worry. You are returning this finger ring to that family willingly. It’s so costly. They will give you job & do your psychiatric treatment too.” She nodded. Then that lady officer called that family. Soon one man came. That Police officer told him that Tara returned finger ring but then Tara decided to tell whole truth. She told all. That man heard all & said “ It was complicated. My elder sister kept doing this forever. Plenty of time I use jewellery.” Then that man smiled. He offered her large salary & said “ You just need to stay with my sister. You can come with your sons. My psychiatrist will give you treatment & teach you how to handle her.” Tara nodded. Actually she liked that lady who gifted her finger ring. She wanted to help her. Tara “ Okay.” Then Tara went home. She packed all. She took her sons with her. Then she took most brave decision of her life. She decided to take that job & change her house. When she came near that big house, she gave it nervous look. It was so big. But her sons got excited. They jumped with joy. They went inside house with their small bags. That lady came out. Once again she smiled & she began to admire them. Then that old lady offered them chocolates. They took few. That old lady was smiling. They were happy. Then suddenly that lady began to scream on them. “ Who are you?” Then suddenly person who kept Tara on job came down with other man. Other man started to talk nicely with that lady. She began to smile then she went in room. Other man came to her “ I am psychiatrist. This lady is suffering with personality disorder. She once acted nice then suddenly she get angry. I teach you how to handle her.” Tara gave her nervous look while watching her scared kids. Psychiatrist smiled & said “ Don’t worry. She just scream she never get violent. For your kids it’s just one loving grandma then one angry Grandma.” Her kids smiled. Psychiatrist “ Regarding your problem. I feel this happened due to stress. I feel basic cause was your husband. I feel it might not return after his death. But let’s just observe. In Psychology observing is important since you are staying with my patient. I can observe you whole.” She nodded. It was clear that Psychiatrist was more interested in her employer than her but she didn’t care. She was happy that in this house her kids would get shelter to stay & with her salary she could give them best education which Pratap wouldn’t have permitted to give. So Tara went inside that house with her kids & hope that she would get good life as companion of old lady than wife of abusive man.
The End
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