A LETTER FROM YOUR DAUGHTER

The usual hubbubs of the day started early in the morning. Like the second's hand of a clock, people were scurrying through the streets, struggling to keep up the pace. 

                 A little away from this chaotic heart of the city was his apartment, a rather plain piece of establishment. The room was shabby as ever. That stained tea mug in front of the television, those unwashed plates, scattered food wastes, clothes strewn all over the floor have all made it a clutter of smelly untidiness. Amidst this heap of untidiness, he lay with eyes half opened, pondering over those troubling thoughts that disturbed his sleep. The muddled room seems to mirror the confused mess that he was. A sudden tick of the clock reminds him of the time and he jump off from his bed. He moved slowly to the kitchen deeply immersed in his thoughts. His mind was compelling him to do something. But he was lost, in the depths of some unending thoughts.

It wasn't like a normal day. His mind was so disturbed that he wasn't able to concentrate. It felt sick. He felt he was missing someone. He looked for the teacup, and finally found one near the sofa, one that is stained from the previous use. He washed it and put it near the machine. Still, he wasn't able to recover from his deep thoughts. He was untouched by the rushing city. Far removed from reality, he lingered around idly, or maybe someone was dragging him back. Suddenly his phone rang and he attended it. It was Steve, his colleague.

"Harry, where are you?" (in a rush voice)

"It's already late. What the hell are you doing?" Steve shouted.

His words took Harry back to his senses.

"5 min, I will be there". He replied.

He quickly wore his uniform and rushed out. Steve who had been impatiently waiting for him, muttered something under his breath. But Harry never cared. His mind was uneasily wandering somewhere else still. Was he done with that life of a cop??

Steve drove the car as fast as he could.

"Harry you should show some responsibility. If you had that earlier maybe she wouldn't have left you ."

"Steve please stop it. I don't even feel like living anymore." Harry told desperately.

"Listen, I never said that to hurt you, but I felt that there were mistakes from your part as well. In a relationship, there should be mutual understanding and care. That's how it was. "

Harry looked through the window saying nothing.

"Anyway, we have reached. You're having underground duty from today." Steve said with a smile.

"Why do I get the underground duty all the time? No one else here gets it. It's like that always. Whenever the duty changes, only I will be assigned to underground duty."

"You should ask the chief about this, not me" Steve replied.

"I am tired of this Steve, absolutely. I'm thinking of resigning ." 

"Are you crazy? Have you ever thought of how you'll live after that?" "Come on man, let's do it."

Harry entered the jail, disheartened. Steve had already left.

Harry really wanted his duty to be changed. Since the duty was changing anyway, he considered meeting the chief and asking him for a change.

Harry went straight to the Chief.

"Good morning sir."

"Good morning Harry. As always you are late. What's the matter?" The Chief asked his eyes on the monitor and cola in his left hand. The Chief usually had his breakfast from the office. A burger and cola was his usual menu.

"Sir, this time to I am assigned for the underground work. I can't do it all the time sir, I really can't."

"Cool Harry. Why do you lose your temper ?"

" No sir I don't. But I want to know why it's me always?"

With a smile, the Chief replied "Because you are my fav boy."

"If you are assigned for work, then you are supposed to do it, not interrogate me. Am I clear?"

"Sir" Harry replied with great resentment and walked back.

Before getting outside the cabin the Chief called him back.

" Harry, collect the files from Nany before you leave."

"Yes sir" he left the cabin annoyed and went to Nany.

Nany, the youngest one in the office,p handed the files over to him.

Harry took over the files and had a look at them

"Why are these letters here?"

"It's for the prisoners. All the details are within the file and also don't give the letters to James."

"Why?" he asked doubtfully.

According to the court order, only food and water is allocated for him. Taking the files he went underground and sat on his desk. The previous shift wasn't over yet.

Everyone over there had a sneery smile on seeing Harry but he just sat staring at the files. 2 guards and 1 watcher that was how the underground duty shift worked. Harry was so tired of his watcher duty until recently. Harry looked onto the cells in front of him. It was hellishly silent. Extremely brutish murderers and some others who have tried to escape the jail were the inhabitants of the jail. It was a completely distressing atmosphere in the whole. Suddenly Harry recalled the letters and asked the guards to distribute them.

In the annoying silence after that, he heard a deep lament and went in search of its source. It was Erald who was caught while escaping from jail. It was his mother's letter.

T.B.C

A story by Shinlay Shinas, Anadhu Raju & Vyshnavi Rajesh