FULL CIRCLE
FULL CIRCLE
Jennifer put her hands on her ears to stop the sounds coming from bar. Edwin was again shouting after his non-stop drinking session and must have started a fight now. The crashing sound of glass pierced through her hands to her ears and two drops of tears rolled down her beautiful eyes.
‘Nah sweetheart these eyes are not meant for this’ she felt a masculine hand with softest touch wiping her cheeks and she opened her eyes. A smile escaped from her lips and spread through her eyes to her whole being. With a joyous cry she opened her arms and hugged him. He too held her closely.
‘I missed you Jenny.’
‘I missed you too Bob.’
She held him by shoulders and felt like a child in front of his six feet frame, well build body and childish face. She kissed his forehead and smiled.
‘You are grown up like a giant in these four years.’ She said proudly.
‘And you are more beautiful than ever Jenny.’ He kissed both her cheeks gently.
Suddenly there was a big sound, which Jenny could not identify but Bob was sure it was a bullet shot. They both jumped and ran to the bar. Edwin was standing with a gun in his hands and there in front of him was lying a body, blood soaked and lifeless. Jenny was screaming hysterically but Bob went to Edwin, took his gun and pushed them both to the restaurant exit. It all happened in a flash. Jenny frantically searched for her car, pushed Edwin inside and speed off from there. Her hands and body was shivering uncontrollably but Edwin was sitting quite and seemed sober in spite of heavy drinking. With trembling hands she opened the lock and Edwin went to their bedroom and slept like a log in few seconds. She in her best evening gown and shaky state of mind sat on the floor and started crying bitterly.
Edwin was like that, from the day she knew him. Highest order of drunkard and a beast whose only concern was earning to get his daily dose of liquor. His brawls were common in that small place where everyone knew each-other by there first name. Everyone was sympathetic towards Jenny and respected her but no one could do anything about his drinking.
Today was their wedding anniversary and it turned out the worst day of her life. He killed someone, whom? she had no idea. But she was sure that person was dead. Today Edwin did some thing, which can put their lives in jeopardy. But Bob? She panicked when she remembered the incident. Bob held the gun in his hands and now police would think that he killed that man! Oh Bob…. Why? Her sobs shook her fragile body.
When she could cry no more, she got up and went to change her clothes. The dampness of weather felt better than her inside turmoil. She made a fresh cup of coffee and sat on the window. Her hands were still shaking. The living room light was on and she could see from the dark balcony to the side table where family photographs were kept. Edwin with Anne, handsome and smiling, and Bob in between wearing his first suit and tie and his blonde and curly hair falling on the right eye. Anne in her wedding gown, Edwin fishing, looking completely tanned in his shorts and T. the sight made her throat dry and guilt swept through her fearful mind. How happy they were! If Anne were not gone everything would have been perfect.
Bob was eight when Anne died in labor. Edwin was mad and took refuge in bottle. Bob was angry and hurt when Edwin married her he started hating Jenny from day one. Edwin could do nothing to make him understand. He used to yell at Jenny for everything and Jenny the kind soul was obeying both their orders. Bob’s hatred grew more and more with passing years and Jenny helplessly saw and faced it. She never stopped loving him in spite of his hatred.
Bob was sixteen and went to celebrate his birthday with his friends. After consuming beer they all were little tipsy and age made them daredevils. He was driving the car when they met with an accident. Killing two friends instantly and putting three of them, including Bob for six months in the hospital. The injuries were bad and when he was discharged from the hospital he was a changed man. He saw Jenny every time near his bed. Praying, crying, sleeping whenever he opened his eyes. He saw her hands wiping the sweat from his forehead and putting cold pads when he was running high fever with shock and infection. Whenever ‘Mom’ came out of his mouth, he saw Jenny, smiling and encouraging. Anne was slowly disappearing and Jenny was taking her place.
When he was discharged from the hospital Jenny took the charge of his physiotherapy sessions. Within no time he was again hale n hearty. Living with a drunkard father and that kind soul he was madly in love with her. She became his guide and best buddy. Her only solace was Bob.
When Bob went for his NDA training she cried a lot, Bob was feeling lost too but with smiling face and heavy heart she sent him. And when he was back she could not even see him properly. He was sent to some foreign lands for four years. And today when he came, whole life was changed within moments.
When she woke up she found herself sleeping near the window. She was surprised. Why was she sleeping there? The reel of last night rolled in front of her and she dashed to the bedroom. Edwin wasn’t there. She looked everywhere but he wasn’t anywhere. She pulled a scarf from the bed and ran outside. Her feet froze. Outside their cottage was bottles everywhere, all broken. She ran towards Edwin’s bar, it was empty. She was standing there, confused, when a police van stopped in her front of her. She ran to Bob when she saw him getting down. Bob held her closely.
‘Why did you do this Bob? Why you took the blame on you?’ She was crying.
‘Listen Jenny, Pop has surrendered this morning. He said that he shot the gun. There were many eyewitnesses and he has been charged now. He wants to meet you.’ He said holding her.
Jenny was surprised. This was the first act of kindness that he showed in his lifetime. When she reached to the police lockup, he was smiling and looking handsome. He held her hands and said sorry earnestly.
‘I realized my mistake and learnt my lesson hard way. I know whatever happened has no justification but I am thankful to god that I had the sense to see Bob’s sacrifice. I am so proud of you both.’
Jenny was crying but these tears were of happiness. She hugged him.
‘We will wait for you Ed.’ Her face was glowing with happiness and she felt so proud in between both the men of her life, one was his hubby and other her son.
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