The Fragrance

Garlands and flowers were laden on the photo frame of a young beautiful lady. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense sticks. There was silence among the crowd. Few whispered in a hush manner.

One amongst the crowd said, “Radhika was very upset with his drinking habits and he often used to come late”.

The other woman nodded her head, lowered her voice and said, “In fact, I heard Aarav once raise his hands on his wife, over a fight”.

Another woman curiously asked, “is it true that Aarav was caught red-handed with another woman?”.

“Oh my God! What a shame! Was this the reason why Radhika….” The woman replied, but before she could complete her sentence, Aarav raised his eyebrows at her with rage. The look in his eyes made her quiet.

Gossip was spread that Radhika and Aarav had a terrible fight. It’s still a mystery as to how Radhika died. The neighbours were often disturbed by their loud quarrels but they never complained because Aarav himself was a very renowned cop. Who would complain to the cops then?

Gradually the crowd turned less. Finally, Aarav was left all alone. He got up and stood in front of Radhika’s photo. He poured a drink for himself and dozed off. The demise of Radhika had no effect on his alcohol consumption, instead every night after work, he would drink and go senseless.

One night, there was a lot of chaos in the neighbourhood.

Aarav got up due to a loud commotion. Neighbours had suspected that a thief had entered their building premises because the alarm of a nearby small plastic factory was switched on.

The factory used to be run by an elderly gentleman. The factory was quite old, it needed maintenance, unfortunately, its ignorance cost his life last month. He died in a fatal accident while working. Since he had no successors, the factory was shut down then as there was no one to look after the factory.

——

Radhika was very sympathetic towards this old man. She often used to make lunch for the elderly man and took care of his medical needs. He used to treat her like his very own daughter. During the afternoon both father-daughter duos would share their experiences of life.

Radhika had learnt to make those small plastic boxes which were manufactured in the factory. She often used to help him while making those boxes. She was the only alliance he had.  

The elderly man once told her, “Radhika, my child – don’t you think you should raise your voice?”

Radhika “about what? am sorry I didn’t understand Uncle?”

He smiled and said, “the bruises on your forehead are still prominent. Though you’ve tried your best to cover it with your hair”.

Radhika turned conscious, quickly adjusted her flock of hair and said, “Oh, I got this while I was in the kitchen”.

The old man sighed, “I lost my entire family in a car accident long back. If my daughter would have been alive, I am sure she would have looked exactly like you.”

Radhika chuckled. While leaving she said, “I’ll remember what you suggested.” 

That was the last time she saw him because the same evening a fatal accident happened where the old man lost his life. Radhika was badly affected by the incident. Since then, she took a stand for herself, and that is when the quarrels began between her and Aarav.

——-

Aarav reached the factory along with a few from the neighbourhood and switched off the alarm. Soon the neighbours left as it was in the mid of the night. Aarav felt something weird about the factory. He sensed a sweet fragrance that he was quite familiar with but couldn’t recognize and left.  Since that night, every late evening Aarav started drinking on his balcony gazing at that factory. For weird reasons, he was not sure why he was doing so. Until one evening he saw a lady entering that factory. Without wasting any time, he came out of his house and entered the factory.

The factory looked creepy at night. He sensed that fragrance once again. The screaking noise of a sharp metallic cliff swinging up there caught his attention. He quickly moved from there and walked towards the other side of the factory.

“Hello! Is anyone out there?” there was no reply.

The temperature of the factory was becoming cold. He didn’t switch on the lights because he didn’t want his neighbours to be awakened. He felt the same fragrance again.

Within a fraction of a second, he saw a lady weeping and facing the opposite direction. He went closer to the lady. “Hello… Miss? Excuse me! Who are you? Why are you crying? “

She continued crying until Aarav gently kept his palm on her shoulder “Excuse me, Miss, why are you crying?”

She slowly turned to him and Aarav went numb. He gasped for breath and whispered ‘Radhika’!

Radhika stretched her arms to hug him but Aarav dodged her.

“Don’t be afraid my dear. I’ve come here to protect you”.  She spoke.

Aarav was now petrified to see her.

She continued, “come with me before he kills you”

Aarav shockingly “what are you talking about? Who will kill me?”

Radhika looked sad, “come with me before it’s too late. Uncle wants to give me justice…. Oh! He has come.”

Radhika started weeping again, she pleaded and screamed, “No, uncle! Leave him. Aarav hold my hand”

Aarav was puzzled, he looked everywhere but there was no one. “whom are you talking to?”

Radhika said, “Aarav, run! Quickly hold my hand”.

In sheer confusion, he held her hand impulsively and both started running, the sharp metallic cliff which was hanging up there fell but both managed to escape.

The next morning, neighbours had gathered at the factory. Ambulances and cops surrounded that place. One of the neighbours said, “today early morning again the alarm was switched on, we thought it might have been that thieve again but….”

Two cops wearing gloves were taking pictures of the place.

Aarav took a close look and was stunned to watch his own dead body pooled in blood. His body was pierced by the sharp metallic cliff.

Radhika came close to Aarav and held his hands. Aarav stood helplessly, watching his deceased body.

Sweta Gupta