BEAST IN THE SHADOWS

This is the story of two close friends: Pal -that is me, and Rex. We live in the city of Reed. We both work in different fields for a manufacturer of plastic products. Rex was 32 which is two years older than me. While I was married to Renu, Rex had remained a bachelor.

That evening when I came home from work I saw Renu changing the linen on the dining table. I knew we were hosting a farewell dinner for Rex the next day: Rex had quit the job and was going to Dubai on a new assignment.

I said “Renu, I knew this dinner meant extra work for you. That is why I had suggested that we host the event at a restaurant.”

“Rex has been so close to us the last 12 years. I thought we should have a cozy dinner at home instead of in a noisy restaurant.”

I didn’t know Rex until he had joined our plant almost at the same time as I. Rex lived in our neighborhood and since he was a very helpful person we became very close friends. We both had cars and would often share the vehicles. When I was busy Rex would take Renu shopping. She would say to me “Rex never allows me to sit with him. He always opens the rear door and seats me saying that the rear seat was more comfortable, the AC was better there and it was also safer with stronger seat belts. Just cock and bull stories to prevent me from sitting beside him!”

I said laughing “He is a bit shy. It doesn’t matter.”

Renu prepared a wonderful meal the next day when Rex said “Pal I’ve eaten at your place many times and I know Renu is a very good cook. But today’s meal tops it all.”

Renu knew he wasn’t just flattering her. He was a person who always called a spade a spade. She would often say to me “I wonder why Rex hasn’t married. He is young and handsome and earns well which would attract many a girl.”

I said “He always avoids the topic. He is shy in female company though with you he seems at home particularly when I’m with you. May be he missed a chance and has decided to stay single.”

 The following day Renu and I were at the airport to see Rex off. Before boarding he said to us “Remember we are close friends and will remain so life-long. Promise me you both will come to Dubai and be my guests. I’ll be in touch with you often.”

Three months passed. One day a man, bald, bearded and past middle age, came to our house and said “I’m Johnson who has occupied the house vacated by Rex.”

I called him in and he said “I retired as station master of Tongi in the railways and now have settled here with my son. I’m sure you’ve heard of the derailment over the Tongi river bridge where almost 60 people drowned.  In those days everything was done manually including signaling. Investigation found that the staff who were supposed to operate the track shift had slept. Consequently the train went on the wrong track and derailed.”

I found Johnson was a garrulous type. It was confirmed when he said “The house which we occupy is convenient but the neighbors are silent types. To get to your location I had to talk to 3 different people.” I laughed.

After more small talk he said “I’ve located you and come to you as mail for Rex keeps coming. I was told you were close to him. I thought I would hand over Rex’s mail to you and make your acquaintance. Here is a collection.”

I said “I’ll surely attend to these. Many thanks for the trouble you’ve taken.”

Renu offered him tea and as he sipped it he said “I’ve never met Rex though I’ve known his mother. A nice lady, but very cunning! Now that Rex isn’t here there is no harm my talking openly about him. His mother had a maid a young girl of nubile age. Rex was then about 16.” Johnson added in a whisper “Rex raped the girl. But as I said the mother being clever buried it with money. These things happen.”

I somehow didn’t like Johnson and after he had gone said “Renu, now we can see Rex was a monster. And we had such a great regard for him!”

“I was very unhappy to hear what Johnson had said but we can continue to be friendly with Rex.”

“No way! I’m going to cut contact with him.”

A few days later, Renu’s uncle Dr.Shah a well-known psychologist and an authority on the subject came visiting us. As we dined I spoke about Rex’s case.

Shah said “Let me give you an example. You’ve dropped a cup of tea on a white carpet. You won’t know where all it spreads and stains. Some could spill out of the carpet and some could spread further on the carpet. And if not cleaned and washed the stain would linger and after a time some will ponder over what had stained the carpet. In the same way if a man commits something he shouldn’t do, the stain remains and travels backwards in time like it happened when Johnson came and spoke to you about the incident. But we must not conclude that the perpetrator of the misdeed was a monster. The boy was 16 an adolescent as was the girl. They were at the age of experimentation. I wouldn’t call what he did was rape. It could have been consensual. The mother probably looked at it that way and settled the matter. Viewing the circumstances we must learn to forgive. Ask yourself if he is a habitual offender or if he has committed any other similar offence. You must recognize there is a beast hiding in the shadows.”

Renu asked “Uncle shall I serve more cauliflower curry?”

“Yes dear. It is very tasty.”

I prompted “You were talking about a beast in the shadows”

He laughed and said “It was only a figure of speech. You must examine the circumstances about a misdeed and then conclude. We don’t know if what Johnson said was all true. He seems to be interested in gossip and besmirching character. Remember people change. Even bandits have been known to become ascetics. Your friend Rex could have reformed turned a new leaf and overcome his age related misdeed. Judge correctly. True friendship should be fostered and must transcend allegations made through gossip.”

We thought a lot about what Dr.Shah had said and decided to banish the hidden beast in the shadows. Rex would continue to be our friend. We looked forward to the holiday in Dubai.

END