The blue car was standing a bit away from the railway crossing, but even then, it created congestion for incoming traffic, so it was a pandemonium situation during busy office hours.
The culprit driver was well aware of the situation but was not willing to start the car, park it on the side, then carry the goods from the shop all the way to the car.
“Saab, can you please move the car to the side, it is obstructing the traffic and soon people are going to shout at me.”
The driver casually spit residue of chewing tobacco at a side and told the shop owner,
“Let them, you better hurry up with your goods. People are going to get their goods from the shop, and if the shop is on the main road, there is nothing I can do.”
*Bam bam bam* somebody slapped his car hardly. The startled driver looked for the responsible person who just hit his car that hard. It is an imported car, even though now it is blocking the road for a bit, but even then, who had this kind of audacity? Everyone knows a costly car means money and money means power.
Again consecutive slaps on the back of the car, the driver tried to shout abusive language but stopped suddenly seeing the person who just emerged from the back.
Thin, tall, dark, face almost fully covered by an overgrown beard and strands of hair dangling from above.
Naked body covered with a half pant, nobody can tell what colour it was originally, but now it is of pure dirt. A large piece of rag was tied in the back, and with his right hand the man was flapping his cape rapidly.
“Who the fuck are you??? Get lost you crazy motherfucker before I break your head.' The driver asked the person but was not in the mood to listen to the reply as the identity and mental status of the person were evident from the appearance.
The driver could finally arrange his initial surprise and took an aggravated stance.
He requires to address his surprise, so he turned towards the shop owner with questions in his eyes.
“ He is our Superman” the answer from the amused shop owner raised a few more questions rather than answering one.
Superman opens his eyes wide and shoots a jolt of laser, not to kill but just to intimidate so the villain could regain his senses and move away with his car.
But the bad guy did not flinch, as he could not see the lasers Superman had shot from his eyes. Instead, seeing a pair of crazy eyes whatever plan the driver had decided to pause that for a little and instead looked at the shop owner,
Who is this mad? Did you see how that bastard was hitting my car?
“As I told you, He is Superman, everyone knows him, haven't you noticed his cape?
“ What kind of joke is this? How can you allow this kind of people free in the locality? He should be in an asylum, not on the open road, he can be dangerous.”
“ Joke?? You can be anybody in your mind, my daughter can be a princess, you can be the owner of the road and our Santu can be superman. Our mind is a funny thing, is it not?”
The shop owner was clearly enjoying the ordeal.
“Why you people are not doing anything about him? Look at his eyes!! My god, eyes of a killer it seems. He is dangerous, I'm telling you. You should contact with authorities to get rid of him.'
The driver quickly started his car and left the place.
Within minutes the road started to get clear, Superman stayed till the road was completely free of congestion. Sometimes by pushing a stuck cycle van in the railway track or in a ditch in the road, sometimes guiding a motorcycle to get back into its row and proceed in an orderly manner.
“People are like sheep, they need to have a shepherd to keep them in line, the shepherd can be anyone with a stick, may it be a political leader, authority, or even our crazy Santu” The shop owner Rustamji was very happy to see the road was once again clear like before within a few minutes.
' here Superman, have a biscuit for your effort' Rustamji gave Santu a small pack of biscuits, and Santu gladly accepted.
He took two from the pack and left the rest for the strays who were constantly following Superman from the beginning till now with waiving tails.
Superman flew away soaring above thousands of people cheering his name on the ground.
Santu ran towards his usual resting place towards the broken bench in the park with his hands spread wide open in the air.
How and when Santu came to this locality, hardly anybody can remember that in fact like that very old banyan tree, that discoloured statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the local park, like the small railway station, Santu is a part of this locale, from the beginning. Some say he was abandoned roadside when he was just a child, some say that he lost his way in the train and stayed here. The area kudumbnagar itself is not a very big one, it is almost like a rural place, but the latest urbanization is forcing it rapidly to become a suburban area, an extension of nearby cosmopolitan. The population is tenfold during the day and decreases rapidly as the last train leaves the station.
Santu was an insignificant addition to Kudumbnagar. He spent his younghood in the area as an ordinary member, till the day he felt that he is superman.
It might be just a coincidence that he got hold of a few discarded comics of superman in the vat a few days back, but seeing the pictures of the comics he could realize that he is also having super powers, he could also fly above the cloud, he could also shoot lasers from his eyes. He is not so sure about the people around here, but he is damn certain about the stray dogs worshiping him.
Every night when he told them about the adventures he had throughout the day, how many supervillains he fought with, how many times he saved the world from menacing forces of evil, they surrounded him wiggling their tails violently as a sign of approval, Santu Superman is sure it got nothing to do with the food he shares with them, but a genuine token of appreciation for his hard-fought battle.
He could fight the gigantic robot, he could save a plane from crash landing, he could stop a volcano from eruption, but his favourite work for the day was maintaining traffic at the level crossing, where he gets his most appreciation from the crowd, here they worship him by offering foods, clothes, bread and even sometimes shiny coins too.
Dulal chaiwala gives him hot tea in a cup along with a piece of bread in exchange for these coins, and sometimes he doesn’t have any, even then Dulal offers him food and drink.
Like every story, Superman’s story got its own heroine, the Lois Lane of Kudumbnagar, Priya. Every morning Priya looks for Superman when she goes out for college, even when Santu is flying above the cloud, Priya’s eyes could find him. Superman escorts her a bit, till the station, till the arrival of the 8.15 local.
Superman could outrun a speeding bullet, so a train is no match for him, but somehow Santu never got the need of chasing the menacing machine as he knew that another locomotive is going to bring Priya back to her safe domain under the protection of Santu Superman.
Superman could very well understand when his Lois Lane is coming back in the afternoon, the air becomes fragrant, the nonsense chirping of birds suddenly became like the melodious harmony of a flute, Santu could well understand that Priya is back in the vicinity.
Santu takes off from the building roof and flies with the wind just to land beside the ticket counter of the station, when his Priya is coming out from the station.
For any common person, it is very difficult to identify anyone in that crowd, but they don't have the far-seeing vision of Superman, Santu could identify Priya from afar, and follow her till she reached her home safely.
It was not one-sided, how can it be? When Priya enters her residence, Santu waits patiently in front of her house, shaking off the dirt and mud from his cape that had accumulated during the long fights of the day with numerous enemies and of course from the difficult traffic control in the level crossing.
Superman shakes his cape vigorously to get rid of all the dirt and spots from his cape just to make himself presentable in the eyes of Priya.
It is not long before Priya comes out of her room to the balcony and calls his name,
" Santu, come here, today mom prepared special alu bhaji, I know you love it."
Now, that’s the reward Superman could wait for, could fight for his entire life. Alubhajis wrapped in roti!! Tiredness accumulated throughout the day from fighting numerous monsters, saving the world, and managing the traffic can be easily dissolved by the loving gesture of roti and alubhaji.
Santu was busy enjoying his hard-earned reward as Priya suddenly remembered something.
“Superman, you wait here, I got something for you.”
As Priya vanished inside her house Santu nod his head. He was too busy to relish his treat from Lois.
Soon Priya came out of the house with a piece of cloth wrapped in newspaper, and handed it over to Santu.
“My brother’s, I think it should fit you.”
Priya gave Santu an old, worn but intact t-shirt. Santu took it with a bit of surprise.
Superman took his armor. It was a nice navy-blue steel plated Kevlar with titanium plated signature ‘S” sign of superman. It was freshly washed and smelled nice too.
Santu got very excited that he wanted to try it on as soon as possible. He quickly put his rag aside and put the T-shirt on his naked skin.
Priya averted her eyes, Santu may be crazy, but young adulthood has not spared even him with all its glory and mystic touch. The moment was short-lived as Superman was in a hurry to put his armor on.
The T-shirt was atleast two sized large, but nevertheless, it was for Superman.
Santu put his cape on over his newly acquired dress, and a gust of wind blew over to put the end of his cape flying wildly in the air, Superman held his hand high in the air. Then he took off towards the kingdom of the cloud.
Priya smiled to see the child like joy in Santu’s face. She kept on looking towards him as Santu ran towards the park holding his closed hand above his head. Even when he is out of sight, his signature *Whoose whoose* sound that he makes during running, kept on echoing in the empty streets and corners of the locality. Today Superman is flying a bit faster it seems.
Priya smiled, the vanishing silhouette of Santu Superman towards the setting sun indeed looked like Superman flying over their meager neighborhood of Kudumbnagar. Everyone says Priya is kind, she really cared for stays and downtrodden, but she thinks that these kinds of little moments of joy and happiness are worth cherished over.
Locale like Kudumbnagar is unique in their own way, we all know this place, though we have never been to any. Otherwise sleepy town outskirts, wakeup during arrival or departure of a train, scanty population, all the residents know each one, but pretend that they don’t know, just hanging on, clinging as days go by, just waking up to sleep again in the night and waiting for the next day and day after that.
Even a place like this sometimes gets its own excitement, something out of the ordinary, non-monotonous.
That day when those rough-looking men came into town, residents of Kudumbnagar knew that today is one of those days, today Kudumbnagar was going to witness something exciting, and they are going to spectate that excitement behind the safety of closed doors as always, and when all is over, they are going to discuss about it for a week.
Kudumnagar was not new to the presence of rough looking hooligans roaming around the area and fighting occasionally for land grab and dominance over the area. The coal mines, factories, its labor and assorted black marketing gave birth to the mafia era.
But those are stories of long past, atleast 10-15 years ago mafias were replaced by politicians, and now they controlled both sides of crime and law, so there is relative peace in the area.
The old and expert storytellers of Kudumnagar still talked about those days, the days when smells of gunpowder polluted the air, people could listen to the marching sound of heavy boots of peacekeepers outside the closed house in the night and shop owners were always ready to shut down the shops at a short notice.
As those boys entered the area, experienced people could understand that this is going to be one of those days, their faces are new, but the walking, the looks, and the stillness of jaw gripping tightly all remained the same. Those who are new, even they could understand that these boys mean business.
As three of those boys stood in front of Priya’s house, the other three remained in the SUV.
As the bell rang, Priya’s father Sharma Ji opened the door and faced those three boys.
“Yes, what can I do for you?”
“ Uncle, greetings. We are looking for Priya, she has not been to college for a week now, we are her friends, is she alight?”
Sharma ji glanced once inside the house, then closed the door behind his back.
“ She is suffering from viral fever, not feeling well, but as she is recovering now, she will soon be back to college. So nice of you as you were worried for her and came here to visit. I will inform her about your visit, she will be very happy, I’m sure.”
“ Thank you uncle, but we would really like to see her. Now if you be kind enough to call her or allow us inside”
Those words are of request but didn’t sound like one.
“She is resting now, and very weak, so can’t talk now. Thanks beta, but don’t worry, I will tell her to call you.”
Sharma ji was visibly uncomfortable by the aggressive body language of the visitors and spoke these words as quickly as he can and turned back inside the house.
Before he could close the door, one of the boys placed his foot in between the doors to stop Sharma ji.
“ We are not going to leave the place without talking with her, so either you call her or we will enter the house never the less.”
The hooligans came closer to the door and all but the driver stepped out of the car.
Sharama Ji literally felt helpless and looked here and there with the hope of any help from his neighbors, but all of them choose to remain behind the closed curtains and watch.
Priya came out of the house, tight-fisted, face red in apprehension and tension.
“ I know none of you, and my father already told you I’m resting, so there is no question of talking with you. Why you people are so adamant to meet with me, please leave and let us be.”
Priya glanced towards her aged father giving reassurance that the situation is under her control, but she was wrong.
“ Yea, you don’t know us but you know Rahul, don’t you? We are friends of Rahul, and he wants to have a few words with you.” One of the cronies tried to keep things a bit civil but the person obstructing the door till now became impatient and came to the point straight away.
“ Look girl, Rahul proposed to you and you turned him down, its okay, but then you went all the way to complain against him to the principal!! How can you do that??”
“I think this bitch told the newspaper about that, otherwise how can they know about the incidence? Can you imagine what kind of damage this could do to Rahul and his father? Especially when the election is near? You know Rahul’s father, don’t you?”
Priya got recess from the constant bombardment of abusive language and accords, so she used this opportunity to defend herself.
“Look bhaIya, Rahul didn’t only propose to me, he misbehaved with me, he even tried to molest me in front of the whole college, so it was not a secret for the principal or the newspaper you are talking about. And if Rahul was so worried about his and MLA saab’s image, then he should have handled the rejection more gracefully.”
“Listen closely you bitch, if Rahul wants, he could get a hundred worthless whore like you, he was too generous to ask you properly like nowadays young men, and look how you repaid his gesture.
However, what’s done is done, Now Rahul will not ask you again, you should come with us, meet with Rahul in his place, and sort this out. “
“ I am not going anywhere with you, please leave.” Voice of Priya almost choked with fear and anxiety and she tried to run back inside the house.
“That was not a request, you will come with us. Spend an hour or two, and we might even drop you off if you could make Rahul happy. There is no point in resisting.” A goon caught hold of her hand.
“Please help, somebody please help me…call the police” Priya tried to hold the door frame in a desperate attempt of resisting, but the force was too strong for her skinny hand.
Sharma ji tried his best to put up a fight, crying like a fanatic looking towards the closed doors of the neighborhood, with the hope that help will come. It is broad daylight, and everybody loves Priya for her sweet and loving nature, she is the daughter of Kudumbnagar.
Kudumbnagar was motionless at that time, everyone inside the safety of their home witnessed the terror but nobody moved a muscle to help Priya or her father. The town full of people suddenly falls empty in the time of need.
When all hope is lost, superman appears, like in the movies or in the comics. He stands tall between the minions of evil and all that is pure and good in this world. It is once again the time to save the world!
‘Look at this motherfucker, a madman to the rescue, get lost you son of a beach,”
Empty threats are nothing new to superman, this is rather part of his job. Santu came near to the goon dragging Priya.
‘What the fuck, don’t touch me you filthy animal” The man kicked Santu leaving Priya. The kick was so hard that it pushed Santu back and he collapsed roadside.
Superman could hardly feel the bullets they fired from the machine gun, and fearlessly he stepped between Lois Lane and the forces of evil.
“This bustard again! It is growing tiresome now.” The man was furious. His fellow goons were not helping, rather amused as the other goon was literally struggling to get rid of the crazy.
He came towards Santu with force and tried to push him down, and just then Santu shakes his cape, the dirt from the rag almost blinded the attacker.
Now the situation was going out of hand, Priya was running towards her house as they were busy with Santu.
After finishing off one villain with a mighty blow, Superman turns towards the rest of them.
Things were not going as smoothly as they have hoped. It will be more difficult if Priya could reach her house.
“What are you doing Joy? Let the crazy motherfucker have it!”
When the underboss of goons named Joy stabbed Superman with his knife, Superman's expression did not change, Joy put his all strength towards the second time, but still nothing.
Though liquid started to ooze from the stab wound and a sharp pain circulates from the opening to the brain, this was nothing compared to his super strength of him.
In his mind he was fighting with the indomitable forces of dark, in reality, he never laid a hand to anybody, never ever, but he fought this war every day, every time.
As Santu was getting struck repeatedly again and again, and getting up again and again, he kept on coming. Every step of him started living a blood trail behind but it was not stopping him.
Kudumnagar was paused. The craziness, the terror, and the courage have touched the soul of the area.
It was the first Priya came out of her house again, holding an iron rod, swinging it fanatically over her head..
“Leave him you bustards…leave him.” She was crying as loudly as she can.
The goons were surprised, first by the defiance of a madman, then the resistance from the very girl they came here to torment.
But before they could act on that, a piece of brick broke the windshield of the SUV they brought with them. The driver covered his head and came out of the car to protect himself from the broken glass.
The doors were open, people came out of the house with whatever they could find..a broomstick, a bottle, a bolt cutter, or a kitchen knife….Kudumbnagar is now armed for the fight.
The hooligans started retreating facing the angry crowd, stones were flying here and there, and few people even tried to light their car…they were looking for shelters.
As the scared spectators became scary, everybody was trying to take part in the mob lynching, Santu lying still in the road.
Superman felt nothing, no weapon on this earth could wound him, and he was not even tired after defeating the demons from hell.
He was just cold and thirsty. He smiled and tried to ask for water from Priya. Priya sitting beside Santu came closer in a desperate attempt to hear the words of Santu.
Santu was looking towards the setting sun, his super hearing could hear the sounds miles away, but the world somehow became uncanny silent. Superman was at peace at last.
Superman flew towards the soaring saffron sky of the dusk leaving cheering Kudumnagar and the lifeless body of a paltry crazy person behind in search of a new adventure.
The End
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