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Taxi Driver
#TheWritingProject
"Don't worry papa, the report's gonna be out soon" said Rina.
"I don't understand why we are here at the first place, i told you I'm fine, it's just a normal fight" said Raja. He is 70, drive cab for Fastcab service, saving all the money he could for his only daughter Rina who just completed her Masters in Hindi and was about to get married to Ranjan Rai, her boyfriend from the same University she was in. Raja however haven't met him once.
After a couple of minutes Dr. Talukdar a psychiatrist called Rina to come into his office. " Rina your father's report is here" handing her the report he resumed" He's mentally not stable from work stress and all, he's suffering from intermittent explosive disorder (IED) which means he would get angry easily and sometimes might be aggressive and violent too".
"Ohhh" sighed Rina, Dr. Talukdar continue "He is also old to ride cab and he had Alzheimer too".
"what's that Doctor? " inquired Rina.
"means he would forget things easily, it's just because he is old that's why, there is nothing to worry about he just need a good rest for now" Dr. Talukdar said trying to give Rina a relief.
Yesterday at work Raja had a fight with one of his customer Ranjan Kumar because Ranjan kept changing his destinations. They both exchanged few abusive words and at the last Raja slapped Ranjan in the face and after that the crowd around them help resolve the fight. Raja couldn't control his anger since from the past but loved his daughter alot. There is only two of them in the family, Rina's mother passed away when she was young so Raja took care of all the things for Rina.
"Is there anyway to cure this Doctor?" inquired Rina curiously.
" There's certain medications to cure this but at the meantime all he need is a good rest. so for a time let him take good rest at home and don't let him go to work for now" concluded Dr. Talukdar.
Rina thanked Dr. Talukdar and come out a little disappointed as she went to the counter to pay the bills and buy medicines.
She tried to smile as her father looked at her and than come to him and hold both of her father's hand " papa, you're fine as you had told me before, the Doctor said you just need a good rest that's all" Rina lied.
Both of them left Dr. Talukdar's hospital but Rina didn't let her father ride the car. All Rina wanted now was to keep her father away from driving cab. He would always pick up a fight with one of his customer daily. He was one of the most lowest rated driver on Fastcab's service.
Tring Tring!! There's a notification sound from Raja's phone. He reached out for his phone inside his pocket and read something. After a while he suddenly slammed the car's closed window from his left hand which startled Rina.
" What the hell!" Raja huffed in disbelief reading the edited review from Ranjan Kumar, the one he had a fight with the previous day.
" What happened papa?"
Raja continued reading " with lack of indistinguished service and many more I urged everyone that driver like Raja should be completely banned from Fastcab service", red with anger in Raja's eyes as Rina took off her left hand from steering wheel to calm him down.
" it's just one guy papa, nobody will gives a damn about it" Rina trying to calm him down. Raja rolled his eyes and turned to the other side, his natural inclination and once again punch at the drawer box of the car. This time he had a little cut on his hand from the key hole. Rina startled and told him to calm down.
Blood squirted out a little from his hand. As they reached home Rina rushed to get the first aid box. Rina reached for Dettol and poured it over the cut of Raja's hand. Rina began to cover the wound with a piece of cloth as Raja looked at the cut, his thought drifted back to the review " That would be his blood not mine. Back breaking hardwork and for him to criticize me like that. How dare him. I could just stab him, watch all the blood drip from his arteries"....
" All done papa" Rina said bringing Raja back to reality.
" You know maybe I should start driving right from the evening I guess" Raja told Rina.
"sounds good, but doctor had asked you to rest papa" Rina said.
" Doctor wouldn't come to our house to feed us, it's just a casual fight I had" Raja said " Everyone knows in work like that, all this fight is common" he concluded.
" I know papa, why don't you resume your work after a week of rest than?"
" A week!?" Raja said raising his eyebrows, " I'll have to just sit idle at home for a week? You know I can't do that, as the doctor told you too that I'm fine so I'll be accepting ride from today's evening itself" Raja concluded.
" You know papa Ranjan is also visiting us today, why don't you just stay home and welcome him?" request Rina.
" Ranjan!!? I wonder why on earth do his parents give him this name. The one I had a fight before had the same name too, Ranjan Kumar " Raja told Rina.
" It's ok papa, my boyfriend is Rai so their last name is different hope you don't have a problem with that" said Rina in a sarcastic way.
" Ah, whatever. At what time is he coming tonight?" asked Raja.
" At around 7 he'll reach here so will have to go to station to pick him up papa".
" Tell him to book cab i won't go, I'll accept ride from today's evening itself that's all" demanded Raja.
" It's okay papa, just be home early" and went towards the kitchen " and remember don't take that troublesome guy Ranjan order papa" she continued without looking back and went inside the kitchen.
Raja was taking a nab in a chair but this thought about Ranjan Kumar cannot escape from his mind. He just wanted to rip the guy flesh apart and enjoy every moment of pain and suffering that Ranjan feel. Than suddenly a notification popped out in his phone. He ignored and than after a while another notification sound took his attention. He reached out for his phone on the table. There is two reserved for a ride, one at around 7:30 p.m. with a name Ranjan and the other at around 8 p.m with a name buddhu Buddha ( old fool). He accepted both of the ride and suddenly someone called " Hello?" Raja said.
" Hello, remember me old man?" asked from the other side " the one you had a fight with the previous day Ranjan Kumar ".
" Ohhh yes I remember you, you review my ride for your column " said Raja " so you booked my cab today too?"
" Yes old man, I'm not satisfied with your ride so try to impress me this time but i won't necessarily change my review " Ranjan teasing him.
" okay don't you worry sir I won't disappoint you today" Raja said where one could see his anger.
Ranjan than hung up the phone.
Raja drift back to his thought " why should I suffer? He should be the one suffering, nefariously ruining folks reputation like that".
And than after a while he got a call again " Hello? who's this? " Raja asked.
" Old man, I'm Ranjan, there's a slight change of plan so I'm changing my ride time to 7:30 so be there" Ranjan said clearly indicates that he was teasing Raja.
" okay sir, it's already 7 now so I'll be there after a while " Raja concluded.
He picked up his key and than pick up a knife from kitchen and than hurried away. At about 7:25 p.m his phone rang " Hello this is Ranjan, i booked for a ride to meerut at 7:30 p.m remember?"
"oh yes I remember you Ranjan" Said Raja " so where are you now?"
" I'm at the station now".
" Okay I'm coming sir just wait" he hurriedly started his car.
" You better be, I'm waiting for you" Ranjan concluded and hung up the phone.
Raja hurriedly goes to the station and after a while he reached his destination. At the opposite side of the road he saw a men waving at him. A tall slander men waving at him and Raja waved back too as he approached Raja opened his car back door for him. Ranjan smile and than gets into his car with Raja exchanging a smile too.
As Raja was driving his car he adjusted the rearview mirror in his car and saw Ranjan was on his phone talking to someone.
" I'm on my way okay, I'll be there in about 30 minutes I guess " Ranjan told the other person on the phone and hang up the phone.
Raja broke the silence between them," Sir, let's take a shortcut ok, it looks like you're on a hurry to somewhere "
" okay whatever". said Ranjan.
This replied from Ranjan trigger back Raja anger, Raja gulped as he locked all the door and drove through the deserted side of the town where there is nothing but empty road and some streetlight flickering. Raja looked at the bandage on his hand. The dried splotch of blood peaked at him, the injury he gave himself reminding him of Ranjan words that cut so deep into his heart. As Raja drove his car and suddenly stopped where there is a dimly lit streetlight.
" What happened?" asked Ranjan curiously.
" it must be the gas sir, i didn't filled it today but don't worry there is stocks sir" Raja assured him as he got out of his car with his knife stuffed inside his waist belt.
"sir can you give me a hand? I had been holding my pee for a long time now. you just need to hold this gas tank" requested Raja.
"okay" Ranjan get out of the car and hold the gas tank for Raja.
Raja hurriedly goes to pee but turned back pulling out his knife, ready for the final takedown of his pride. Everything he had worked for. Everything he had.
Raja charge forward with his knife and yell as he slammed the blade sideways in the right side of his neck. Ranjan screamed and let go off the gas tank as he dropped on his knees. Raja pulled out the knife and drove the blade back into his neck again twisting it as he pushed it deeper into Ranjan's throat. Ranjan's body fell limp to the road without a sound. Raja pulled out the knife from his neck, blood squirting out of the side of both Ranjan's collar and poured out all over the road. Raja immediately began butchering Ranjan's neck severing the bones and cartilage, a huge pool of Ranjan's blood splattered across the road, blood squirting all over with every swing of Raja's arm.
Tring, Tring!!!!
His phone rang. Startled Raja reached out for his phone inside his pocket with his bloody hand.
"Hello?" Raja responded forming a wrinkle on his forehead.
"Hello old man, you just start pulling vegetables cart from tomorrow ok, stop riding cab. Go look at the new reviews again from buddhu Buddha ( old fool)" teasing Raja from the other side of the phone followed with a short laugh indicating he's enjoying.
Raja looked at his phone and again he saw new review criticizing him.
"who's this speaking anyway?" asked Raja.
" I'm Ranjan Kumar, remember old man?"
Raja stayed there bewildered looking at the dead Ranjan Rai with his eyes opened wide staring at him lifeless.
© Sarsinot
"Don't worry papa, the report's gonna be out soon" said Rina.
"I don't understand why we are here at the first place, i told you I'm fine, it's just a normal fight" said Raja. He is 70, drive cab for Fastcab service, saving all the money he could for his only daughter Rina who just completed her Masters in Hindi and was about to get married to Ranjan Rai, her boyfriend from the same University she was in. Raja however haven't met him once.
After a couple of minutes Dr. Talukdar a psychiatrist called Rina to come into his office. " Rina your father's report is here" handing her the report he resumed" He's mentally not stable from work stress and all, he's suffering from intermittent explosive disorder (IED) which means he would get angry easily and sometimes might be aggressive and violent too".
"Ohhh" sighed Rina, Dr. Talukdar continue "He is also old to ride cab and he had Alzheimer too".
"what's that Doctor? " inquired Rina.
"means he would forget things easily, it's just because he is old that's why, there is nothing to worry about he just need a good rest for now" Dr. Talukdar said trying to give Rina a relief.
Yesterday at work Raja had a fight with one of his customer Ranjan Kumar because Ranjan kept changing his destinations. They both exchanged few abusive words and at the last Raja slapped Ranjan in the face and after that the crowd around them help resolve the fight. Raja couldn't control his anger since from the past but loved his daughter alot. There is only two of them in the family, Rina's mother passed away when she was young so Raja took care of all the things for Rina.
"Is there anyway to cure this Doctor?" inquired Rina curiously.
" There's certain medications to cure this but at the meantime all he need is a good rest. so for a time let him take good rest at home and don't let him go to work for now" concluded Dr. Talukdar.
Rina thanked Dr. Talukdar and come out a little disappointed as she went to the counter to pay the bills and buy medicines.
She tried to smile as her father looked at her and than come to him and hold both of her father's hand " papa, you're fine as you had told me before, the Doctor said you just need a good rest that's all" Rina lied.
Both of them left Dr. Talukdar's hospital but Rina didn't let her father ride the car. All Rina wanted now was to keep her father away from driving cab. He would always pick up a fight with one of his customer daily. He was one of the most lowest rated driver on Fastcab's service.
Tring Tring!! There's a notification sound from Raja's phone. He reached out for his phone inside his pocket and read something. After a while he suddenly slammed the car's closed window from his left hand which startled Rina.
" What the hell!" Raja huffed in disbelief reading the edited review from Ranjan Kumar, the one he had a fight with the previous day.
" What happened papa?"
Raja continued reading " with lack of indistinguished service and many more I urged everyone that driver like Raja should be completely banned from Fastcab service", red with anger in Raja's eyes as Rina took off her left hand from steering wheel to calm him down.
" it's just one guy papa, nobody will gives a damn about it" Rina trying to calm him down. Raja rolled his eyes and turned to the other side, his natural inclination and once again punch at the drawer box of the car. This time he had a little cut on his hand from the key hole. Rina startled and told him to calm down.
Blood squirted out a little from his hand. As they reached home Rina rushed to get the first aid box. Rina reached for Dettol and poured it over the cut of Raja's hand. Rina began to cover the wound with a piece of cloth as Raja looked at the cut, his thought drifted back to the review " That would be his blood not mine. Back breaking hardwork and for him to criticize me like that. How dare him. I could just stab him, watch all the blood drip from his arteries"....
" All done papa" Rina said bringing Raja back to reality.
" You know maybe I should start driving right from the evening I guess" Raja told Rina.
"sounds good, but doctor had asked you to rest papa" Rina said.
" Doctor wouldn't come to our house to feed us, it's just a casual fight I had" Raja said " Everyone knows in work like that, all this fight is common" he concluded.
" I know papa, why don't you resume your work after a week of rest than?"
" A week!?" Raja said raising his eyebrows, " I'll have to just sit idle at home for a week? You know I can't do that, as the doctor told you too that I'm fine so I'll be accepting ride from today's evening itself" Raja concluded.
" You know papa Ranjan is also visiting us today, why don't you just stay home and welcome him?" request Rina.
" Ranjan!!? I wonder why on earth do his parents give him this name. The one I had a fight before had the same name too, Ranjan Kumar " Raja told Rina.
" It's ok papa, my boyfriend is Rai so their last name is different hope you don't have a problem with that" said Rina in a sarcastic way.
" Ah, whatever. At what time is he coming tonight?" asked Raja.
" At around 7 he'll reach here so will have to go to station to pick him up papa".
" Tell him to book cab i won't go, I'll accept ride from today's evening itself that's all" demanded Raja.
" It's okay papa, just be home early" and went towards the kitchen " and remember don't take that troublesome guy Ranjan order papa" she continued without looking back and went inside the kitchen.
Raja was taking a nab in a chair but this thought about Ranjan Kumar cannot escape from his mind. He just wanted to rip the guy flesh apart and enjoy every moment of pain and suffering that Ranjan feel. Than suddenly a notification popped out in his phone. He ignored and than after a while another notification sound took his attention. He reached out for his phone on the table. There is two reserved for a ride, one at around 7:30 p.m. with a name Ranjan and the other at around 8 p.m with a name buddhu Buddha ( old fool). He accepted both of the ride and suddenly someone called " Hello?" Raja said.
" Hello, remember me old man?" asked from the other side " the one you had a fight with the previous day Ranjan Kumar ".
" Ohhh yes I remember you, you review my ride for your column " said Raja " so you booked my cab today too?"
" Yes old man, I'm not satisfied with your ride so try to impress me this time but i won't necessarily change my review " Ranjan teasing him.
" okay don't you worry sir I won't disappoint you today" Raja said where one could see his anger.
Ranjan than hung up the phone.
Raja drift back to his thought " why should I suffer? He should be the one suffering, nefariously ruining folks reputation like that".
And than after a while he got a call again " Hello? who's this? " Raja asked.
" Old man, I'm Ranjan, there's a slight change of plan so I'm changing my ride time to 7:30 so be there" Ranjan said clearly indicates that he was teasing Raja.
" okay sir, it's already 7 now so I'll be there after a while " Raja concluded.
He picked up his key and than pick up a knife from kitchen and than hurried away. At about 7:25 p.m his phone rang " Hello this is Ranjan, i booked for a ride to meerut at 7:30 p.m remember?"
"oh yes I remember you Ranjan" Said Raja " so where are you now?"
" I'm at the station now".
" Okay I'm coming sir just wait" he hurriedly started his car.
" You better be, I'm waiting for you" Ranjan concluded and hung up the phone.
Raja hurriedly goes to the station and after a while he reached his destination. At the opposite side of the road he saw a men waving at him. A tall slander men waving at him and Raja waved back too as he approached Raja opened his car back door for him. Ranjan smile and than gets into his car with Raja exchanging a smile too.
As Raja was driving his car he adjusted the rearview mirror in his car and saw Ranjan was on his phone talking to someone.
" I'm on my way okay, I'll be there in about 30 minutes I guess " Ranjan told the other person on the phone and hang up the phone.
Raja broke the silence between them," Sir, let's take a shortcut ok, it looks like you're on a hurry to somewhere "
" okay whatever". said Ranjan.
This replied from Ranjan trigger back Raja anger, Raja gulped as he locked all the door and drove through the deserted side of the town where there is nothing but empty road and some streetlight flickering. Raja looked at the bandage on his hand. The dried splotch of blood peaked at him, the injury he gave himself reminding him of Ranjan words that cut so deep into his heart. As Raja drove his car and suddenly stopped where there is a dimly lit streetlight.
" What happened?" asked Ranjan curiously.
" it must be the gas sir, i didn't filled it today but don't worry there is stocks sir" Raja assured him as he got out of his car with his knife stuffed inside his waist belt.
"sir can you give me a hand? I had been holding my pee for a long time now. you just need to hold this gas tank" requested Raja.
"okay" Ranjan get out of the car and hold the gas tank for Raja.
Raja hurriedly goes to pee but turned back pulling out his knife, ready for the final takedown of his pride. Everything he had worked for. Everything he had.
Raja charge forward with his knife and yell as he slammed the blade sideways in the right side of his neck. Ranjan screamed and let go off the gas tank as he dropped on his knees. Raja pulled out the knife and drove the blade back into his neck again twisting it as he pushed it deeper into Ranjan's throat. Ranjan's body fell limp to the road without a sound. Raja pulled out the knife from his neck, blood squirting out of the side of both Ranjan's collar and poured out all over the road. Raja immediately began butchering Ranjan's neck severing the bones and cartilage, a huge pool of Ranjan's blood splattered across the road, blood squirting all over with every swing of Raja's arm.
Tring, Tring!!!!
His phone rang. Startled Raja reached out for his phone inside his pocket with his bloody hand.
"Hello?" Raja responded forming a wrinkle on his forehead.
"Hello old man, you just start pulling vegetables cart from tomorrow ok, stop riding cab. Go look at the new reviews again from buddhu Buddha ( old fool)" teasing Raja from the other side of the phone followed with a short laugh indicating he's enjoying.
Raja looked at his phone and again he saw new review criticizing him.
"who's this speaking anyway?" asked Raja.
" I'm Ranjan Kumar, remember old man?"
Raja stayed there bewildered looking at the dead Ranjan Rai with his eyes opened wide staring at him lifeless.
© Sarsinot
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