The Twist in The Fate

A Short Story By G.S.Vasukumar

Chapter One

8:45 PM, 25th March 1945, In a big bungalow in some country side of England, two old men were seated on chairs in opposite direction, before a small table which had a chess board on it.

“Henry, when I think about your life, it really puzzles and surprises me” said Peter, before he could make his next move.

“What puzzles and surprises you, Peter?” asked Henry, still trying to concentrate on the game which they both were playing. His eyes were firmly fixed on the chessboard, and he was planning his next move.

“ I mean to say…hmmm…you’ve been a bachelor your whole life…almost…..well, you had money, wealth and almost everything in life. Everyone in the town had tried to hook this big fish for their beautiful and young daughters, in their nets and had failed. I still can’t figure it out, my dear friend that how could you resist being away from women for so long in your life and now, I doubt that you didn’t have any such feelings like any other normal man does have…”

“Ha, there you have mistaken me, my dear friend,” He said “Well, I had waited for so long for my woman of dreams to come and then time flew away without my knowledge. In fact, I am still waiting for her to come and now, I’ve a good news for you…I think that I have finally come across that woman of my dreams.”

“Oh, Really? And who is she?” he asked, curiously, “Is she that old lady, whom you meet in the church every Sunday morning?”

“Check!” Said Henry, making his next move.

“Congratulations!” Said Peter, “So you have beaten me this time as well. Ok, fine, tell me who is she?”

“Ruth.” He said.

“Ruth Slayer?” he asked, with a frown on his face.

“No, Ruth Bennet.” He said, with a chuckle.

“Ruth Bennet ? Have you gone crazy, Henry?” He cried surprised, “She is barely seventeen or eighteen years of age and you are her grandpa’s age of seventy eight. I think you should see a psychiatrist.”

“No, I’ve fallen in love with her the very moment I first saw her in the church one fine Sunday morning” He said, “If at all I marry some one in my life, then it’ll be her and no one else.”

“Henry, shall I give you my piece of advice, buddy ?” asked Peter.

“Sure, tell me.” He said.

“Why don’t you forget her and remain a bachelor for the rest of your life?” he said, teasingly.

Henry broke into laughter and peter joined him in the laughter.

“Let me fix a drink.” Said Henry, standing up with a cigar in his mouth.

“Does she know about this?” asked Peter.

“I don’t know?” he said, pouring the soda and wine into two glasses and mixing them well and handing him a glass.

“Thanks.” He said, taking it, “So, what do you think you will do?” he asked, curiously, having a gulp of wine.

“I don’t really know?” he said, raising his glass, “Maybe, I think that I should propose to her and if she agrees then.”

“Then I will talk to her parents and fix her marriage with you.” Said he.

“Thanks, buddy.” He said, “I always knew that I could rely on you.”

“What are friends for?” he asked, with a grin, taking another gulp of wine.

Ruth was a beautiful young woman and she had a kind heart as well. She visited the church on her bicycle every Sunday morning. She was the only daughter of a farmer in that village. Many young men had asked her father seeking her hand in marriage. But he had declined those proposals as they were all poor like him.

Next Sunday morning, in the church, Henry sat behind Ruth and as the prayers went on, he bent forward and whispered into her ear : -

“ I want to talk to you----”

“Regarding what ?” she turned back and whispered.

“I think that I am in love with you and wish to marry you in this very church next Sunday morning.” He said.

“W-what?” She cried, surprised and shocked, “are you kidding?”

“No, I am serious.” He said, “So what do you say?”

“Yes.” She blushed and bowed her head down in shy.

Later, that day, Peter went, met her parents and told them about this. Ruth’s mother couldn’t believe what she heard. But her father readily agreed, for he knew that they being below the poverty line couldn’t afford a better bridegroom for his only daughter, Ruth. However, his wife didn’t like this. But on his insistence that their daughter would live happily for the rest of her life, she finally agreed.

“So shall I meet the priest and fix the wedding on the next Sunday morning ? Will that be alright?” he asked.

“That will be fine.” Said Ruth’s father, with a warm smile on his face.

Later :-

“So everything is sailing smoothly, henry.” Said Peter, “So, what’s next ? I mean aren’t you going to invite your relatives for your wedding?”

“No-no. You know well, what kind of people they are!” He said, “They are eagerly waiting for me to pass away so that they could lay their God damn hands on my property.”

“Yes, you’re right!” He said.

“Peter, I had met my lawyer this morning and had had made a will.” He said.

“Will? What for?” he asked, surprised.

“In case, if anything should happen to me after I marry Ruth. Then I want you to see that justice is done to her.”

“Hey! Don’t you dare to talk like that? For nothing is going to happen to you.” Said Peter.

“In case, if?”

“No.”

“Ok, let’s forget it.” He said, “Anyway the will is in your name.”

“My name? Jesus, Henry, Have you-----?”

“You are the only person in whom I have confidence in, my dear friend.” He said.

“It’s all right. But, still.” He said.

Next day early in the morning the phone rang. When Henry picked up the phone drowsily and said:

“Hello ?”

“Hello!” someone cried from the other end of the receiver, “It’s me John!”

“Yeah…John..yawn…tell me what is it ?” .

John was Henry’s younger brother. He was fifteen years younger to him.

“I heard you’re going to get married, is that right?” he asked.

“Yeah, you’d heard it right!” he replied.

“What? What on the hell in this age?” he cried.

“So, what?” he asked.

“No…I mean you could have done this long time back….anyways..aren’t you still going to give me the promised one third of your estate ?” he asked.

Just then the door bell rang: -

“Wait a minute, john!” he cried, “I’ll be right back.” He said, keeping the phone down on the table and going and opening the main door.

“Margaret?” he cried, surprised.

“Have you gone nuts or what?” she yelled at him, “Firstly, why do you have to get married at this age?” she asked.

“Because, I have wasted a lot of my earlier life in solitariness and I now need someone by side, to help me till my end comes.” He replied, explaining it to her.

“But you have Anna for that. Don’t you?” she asked.

“But there is a big difference between a wife and a maid servant, Margaret !” he replied.

“Margaret, if you’ve come hoping for a cup of coffee, as I suspect, then I am afraid that you’ll have to make it yourself.” Added Henry.

“I didn’t come around here for a cup of coffee or tea, as I suspect that you know too well, Henry.” She said, “Anyway, forget it! By the way, what’s her father?” she asked.

“He’s a peasant!”

“Henry, are you going to marry a farmer’s daughter for heaven’s sake? I am surprised!” she cried.

“Are you going to give me the one third of your estate and you car, which you promised me?” she asked.

“Oh! I forgot it!” He cried, scratching his head, going in and picking up the phone.

“You forgot what?” she asked following him in.

“Well, the line has been disconnected. By the way, John was on line.” He said, keeping the phone down.

“John? what for ?” she asked, surprised.

“Just like that.” He said, “ and he was also asking for the one third of my estate.”

“And what did you say ?” she asked, staring at his face.

“I haven’t thought about it yet!” he replied.

Next Sunday morning, their marriage took place in the church. Relatives and friends had turned up from both the sides. Of course, some had come without invitation for the ceremony. Later, that night: -

“I am so glad…so glad that I married you.” Said Henry.

“Me too.” She said.

He went forward and kissed her and then suddenly collapsed down on the bed.

“Henry? Henry? Are you alright ?” she cried, terrified and shocked.

“I think …..i am…ok…please call the…..the …doctor…Ruth…” His voice, choked as he spoke.

She did as she was told to do and the family doctor arrived in no time and tested him and he had a frown on his face.

“What did he have this evening?” he asked her.

“We had our dinner together and then a drink.” She said, “ wh-what’s wrong with him ?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

“The drink should have been poisoned.” He said, “I am …am sorry to tell you this…that it is too late now.”

“No, Henry, no!” she cried, falling upon his still body.