Hello and how do you do?
I believe the theory of evolution. Any species evolves into a greater one. Why is it so, that man has stagnated? There is a being higher than the current Homo sapiens - a being much more intelligent, more resourceful and much more powerful.
It is high time man moved on. But man is obstinate and lazy. He will want to stagnate. He has attained a comfort zone, sitting on a fat, round ass, waiting for destiny to throw Treasure Island up in his face. People want fast money, fast ladies and a slow life. Evolution doesn’t quite work that way. Old life gives way to new blood. For me, you have to be a higher being to move on. It’s like, everyone wants to play cricket. Chess matters to no one.
But it does to me…
Churchgate station - 5:25 p.m.
A bespectacled man, with sharp features and a gaunt frame, walked towards the train. He was wearing a sherwani suit, was quite fair, and looked pretty disinterested in the sea of people who were collecting around him to board the train.
It was an unusually hot day. The train seemed pretty empty. He opened his magnetic chess box, and started playing.
“Mind if I join?”
He looked towards the man. Interesting species, he thought. A fat man in a tight-fitting tee. This was going to be fun.
“I’ve never lost before. Never. Only I can defeat myself.”
The fat man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Not only a tight-fitting tee, he had an interesting pair of jeans. Add to that a double chin, eyes out of sockets, no hair and an ‘Americanised’ accent. It seemed that the old guy was trying to be ‘cool’. And from the looks on the other commuter’s faces, it seemed he had eaten their brains out already. And the train had just started.
“You probably haven’t met your match yet, my boy.”
The bespectacled man smiled. “Better start off – I’ve already made my first move.” He pointed at the board, where the white pawn was already 2 places ahead.
Black pawn ahead. “That’s conventional” remarked the bespectacled man. “Here, have this.” He put his horse ahead of the pawn. The fat man put another pawn ahead to challenge the horse. The game moved ahead in this fashion, with the fat man using all his pawns, but eventually the bespectacled man managed to bring him down using only his horses and castles. The pawns were almost stationary.
Eventually, the black king, and a couple of black pawns were all that was left. Almost all the major white pieces were intact, although only one pawn was left. The fat man was sweating.
“Let’s make this interesting. We’ve played pretty fast. It’s only 5:33. Another five minutes and we’ll be at Mumbai Central. You’ve taken almost all my pawns, and I’ve taken almost all your pieces. You have five minutes – if you manage to survive till then, then I let you go. Or else, if you lose, you have to do what I tell you to do. Agreed?”
“W-w-what…” the fat man was really scared.
“S-s-s-s-h-h-h… the clock is ticking. Make your move old man!” the other people in the compartment were watching the game with interest.
He moved his king sideways, shielding them with the pawns. He kept looking at his watch. 3 minutes to go. The bespectacled man removed one of his pawns with his horse. “Check…” he said. Mumbai Central station arrived. There was a huge sigh of relief from the fat man. Both men exchanged a handshake.
The fat man had enough. He got off the train, and wiped the sweat of his forehead. He looked at his handkerchief, and there was a small drop of blood on it. He quizzically looked at his hand, and sure enough, there was a small, red dot. He looked back at the train, which was already on its way. Everything around him started to blur and fade away. He fell, face-down on the platform, and a crowd gathered around.
Meanwhile, in the train, our friend continued his dialogue, “…and mate!” The king was knocked out.
Dadar marketplace - 5:50 p.m.
The marketplace at Dadar was busy. Vendors were having a field day with their fruits and vegetables. One particular vendor though, seemed to be outselling the others. All he had was apples and oranges. A likely combination!
“Come and have the choicest of fruits! Apples and oranges! Reasonable rates! Come one, come all!”
It was reasonable to the point of being fishy. Just yesterday, buying these fruits was almost impossible, with rates touching the sky. Today, it was Rs. 20 for a DOZEN apples (NEGOTIABLE) and Re. 1 for every orange!
The vendor was a dark fellow, thin, with a thick jowl and eyes almost hidden behind those pieces of flesh we call eyelids. He had a strange body structure: plump face with an almost emaciated body. But he certainly new how to draw customers to his shop, even though his knowledge of economics was certainly not quite the level of Amartya Sen. He probably believed in the law of ATTRACTION more than anything else. A passer by who noticed this asked the fruit seller:
“Why are the prices so low? I think I smell a rat somewhere…”
“What are you saying sir? Then why would people come and buy from me? These are unique apples and oranges you won’t find anywhere else sir!”
“Why… what is so unique about them? And you don’t seem to be making any money! The ultimate objective of life is to earn money to survive, isn’t it?”
“Money is not important to me sir! My goal is to enable the people to enjoy the choicest, unique fruits. I can challenge you: no where will you find such fruits! Call me a philanthropist if you wish…Eat one yourself and decide sir!”
“You know you speak pretty good English for a fruit vendor…” he was getting suspicious.
“Why do you think it’s only YOU guys who can speak English? Why? Anyway, do you want the fruits, or not?”
“I don’t mind really. Give me half a dozen apples and oranges.”
The vendor gave it to him for free, “This is because we had such a nice discussion.”
“What?” Just as he was about to put forth another set of questions, he noticed that there was some commotion at Dadar station. Everyone ran towards the station. It was known that a man had fallen dead at Mumbai Central for no apparent reason. High alert was called for at all railway stations.
He then realised that somebody behind him was choking. Turning around, he saw a man with an apple in one hand, and the other hand clutching the throat.
Suddenly, the same thing happened to another lady. She was having a juicy orange.
Both of them fell flat on the platform.
The man rushed towards the fruit vendor.
There was no one there. Only an open stall of apples and oranges.
Andheri station - 6:25 p.m.
There was a long queue in front of the ATM at the entrance of the Andheri station. Third in line was a thin, old man, wearing thick spectacles, but yet standing tall. He seemed to be healthy for his age.
Suddenly a young ruffian came in his way and took his place in the queue.
“Young man, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Aye uncle! Please keep your lectures and your preaching to yourself. Bloody old laggard… I’ve got to go to an important place, and I’m sure my work is more important than yours!”
“Son, that’s no way to speak to a man your father’s age!”
“Oh yeah, you can take a walk old man.” His cell phone rang. “Hi sweetheart! Yeah I’m getting the money and reaching in 15 minutes, don’t worry. Love you babe!”
“That’s not…”
Before he could speak up, the ruffian turned around and caught the old man by the collar. “Hey old fag, I don’t have time for your shit. You’re getting on my nerves.”
The old man didn’t say anything. He allowed the ruffian to get ahead of him. No other person came to his rescue. Not even the watchman.
The young guy entered the ATM. As he took his cash and wanted to come out, he found that the door was stuck. “GET ME OUT OF HERE!”
No matter how many people tried, the door would not budge.
Since it was a tough glass door, an axe was brought to take it down. The moment the policemen swished the axe at the door, the axe flew off its hilt and smashed the glass door with great force. That force took a glass piece straight into the young man’s heart, and the axe smack on that glass piece. It ruptured a hole in his heart and he died on the spot.
There was panic at the station. Everyone was running around.
Only one man was smiling. The old man. As there was chaos around him, he went up to the axe and examined his handiwork. As his work was done, he slowly walked out of the station, and caught a rickshaw.
CASE SO FAR – The police and intelligentsia are absolutely baffled. They came to the conclusion that this was the work of a well-networked gang, until 2 months later after the deaths; they received a note from an anonymous source. It went like this:
Hello and how do you do?
I believe the theory of evolution. Any species evolves into a greater one. Why is it so, that man has stagnated? There is a being higher than the current Homo sapiens - a being much more intelligent, more resourceful and much more powerful.
It is high time man moved on. But man is obstinate and lazy. He will want to stagnate. He has attained a comfort zone, sitting on a fat, round ass, waiting for destiny to throw Treasure Island up in his face. People want fast money, fast ladies and a slow life. Evolution doesn’t quite work that way. Old life gives way to new blood. For me, you have to be a higher being to move on. It’s like, everyone wants to play cricket. Chess matters to no one.
But it does to me…
I want to create a Utopian world. A world where people understand values, where people understand the value of life. Not a world where people are at each others throats, suspecting and envying each other on every count.
I would rather like it if you helped me in my endeavour.
Otherwise, I shall do it alone… ALL ALONE. Just for your records: I caused ALL the railway station deaths 2 months ago. I will continue. Maybe not at a railway station, but yes, I will continue until I’ve cleaned the world of this riff-raff.
I believe the theory of evolution. Any species evolves into a greater one. Why is it so, that man has stagnated? There is a being higher than the current Homo sapiens - a being much more intelligent, more resourceful and much more powerful.
It is high time man moved on. But man is obstinate and lazy. He will want to stagnate. He has attained a comfort zone, sitting on a fat, round ass, waiting for destiny to throw Treasure Island up in his face. People want fast money, fast ladies and a slow life. Evolution doesn’t quite work that way. Old life gives way to new blood. For me, you have to be a higher being to move on. It’s like, everyone wants to play cricket. Chess matters to no one.
But it does to me…
Churchgate station - 5:25 p.m.
A bespectacled man, with sharp features and a gaunt frame, walked towards the train. He was wearing a sherwani suit, was quite fair, and looked pretty disinterested in the sea of people who were collecting around him to board the train.
It was an unusually hot day. The train seemed pretty empty. He opened his magnetic chess box, and started playing.
“Mind if I join?”
He looked towards the man. Interesting species, he thought. A fat man in a tight-fitting tee. This was going to be fun.
“I’ve never lost before. Never. Only I can defeat myself.”
The fat man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Not only a tight-fitting tee, he had an interesting pair of jeans. Add to that a double chin, eyes out of sockets, no hair and an ‘Americanised’ accent. It seemed that the old guy was trying to be ‘cool’. And from the looks on the other commuter’s faces, it seemed he had eaten their brains out already. And the train had just started.
“You probably haven’t met your match yet, my boy.”
The bespectacled man smiled. “Better start off – I’ve already made my first move.” He pointed at the board, where the white pawn was already 2 places ahead.
Black pawn ahead. “That’s conventional” remarked the bespectacled man. “Here, have this.” He put his horse ahead of the pawn. The fat man put another pawn ahead to challenge the horse. The game moved ahead in this fashion, with the fat man using all his pawns, but eventually the bespectacled man managed to bring him down using only his horses and castles. The pawns were almost stationary.
Eventually, the black king, and a couple of black pawns were all that was left. Almost all the major white pieces were intact, although only one pawn was left. The fat man was sweating.
“Let’s make this interesting. We’ve played pretty fast. It’s only 5:33. Another five minutes and we’ll be at Mumbai Central. You’ve taken almost all my pawns, and I’ve taken almost all your pieces. You have five minutes – if you manage to survive till then, then I let you go. Or else, if you lose, you have to do what I tell you to do. Agreed?”
“W-w-what…” the fat man was really scared.
“S-s-s-s-h-h-h… the clock is ticking. Make your move old man!” the other people in the compartment were watching the game with interest.
He moved his king sideways, shielding them with the pawns. He kept looking at his watch. 3 minutes to go. The bespectacled man removed one of his pawns with his horse. “Check…” he said. Mumbai Central station arrived. There was a huge sigh of relief from the fat man. Both men exchanged a handshake.
The fat man had enough. He got off the train, and wiped the sweat of his forehead. He looked at his handkerchief, and there was a small drop of blood on it. He quizzically looked at his hand, and sure enough, there was a small, red dot. He looked back at the train, which was already on its way. Everything around him started to blur and fade away. He fell, face-down on the platform, and a crowd gathered around.
Meanwhile, in the train, our friend continued his dialogue, “…and mate!” The king was knocked out.
Dadar marketplace - 5:50 p.m.
The marketplace at Dadar was busy. Vendors were having a field day with their fruits and vegetables. One particular vendor though, seemed to be outselling the others. All he had was apples and oranges. A likely combination!
“Come and have the choicest of fruits! Apples and oranges! Reasonable rates! Come one, come all!”
It was reasonable to the point of being fishy. Just yesterday, buying these fruits was almost impossible, with rates touching the sky. Today, it was Rs. 20 for a DOZEN apples (NEGOTIABLE) and Re. 1 for every orange!
The vendor was a dark fellow, thin, with a thick jowl and eyes almost hidden behind those pieces of flesh we call eyelids. He had a strange body structure: plump face with an almost emaciated body. But he certainly new how to draw customers to his shop, even though his knowledge of economics was certainly not quite the level of Amartya Sen. He probably believed in the law of ATTRACTION more than anything else. A passer by who noticed this asked the fruit seller:
“Why are the prices so low? I think I smell a rat somewhere…”
“What are you saying sir? Then why would people come and buy from me? These are unique apples and oranges you won’t find anywhere else sir!”
“Why… what is so unique about them? And you don’t seem to be making any money! The ultimate objective of life is to earn money to survive, isn’t it?”
“Money is not important to me sir! My goal is to enable the people to enjoy the choicest, unique fruits. I can challenge you: no where will you find such fruits! Call me a philanthropist if you wish…Eat one yourself and decide sir!”
“You know you speak pretty good English for a fruit vendor…” he was getting suspicious.
“Why do you think it’s only YOU guys who can speak English? Why? Anyway, do you want the fruits, or not?”
“I don’t mind really. Give me half a dozen apples and oranges.”
The vendor gave it to him for free, “This is because we had such a nice discussion.”
“What?” Just as he was about to put forth another set of questions, he noticed that there was some commotion at Dadar station. Everyone ran towards the station. It was known that a man had fallen dead at Mumbai Central for no apparent reason. High alert was called for at all railway stations.
He then realised that somebody behind him was choking. Turning around, he saw a man with an apple in one hand, and the other hand clutching the throat.
Suddenly, the same thing happened to another lady. She was having a juicy orange.
Both of them fell flat on the platform.
The man rushed towards the fruit vendor.
There was no one there. Only an open stall of apples and oranges.
Andheri station - 6:25 p.m.
There was a long queue in front of the ATM at the entrance of the Andheri station. Third in line was a thin, old man, wearing thick spectacles, but yet standing tall. He seemed to be healthy for his age.
Suddenly a young ruffian came in his way and took his place in the queue.
“Young man, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Aye uncle! Please keep your lectures and your preaching to yourself. Bloody old laggard… I’ve got to go to an important place, and I’m sure my work is more important than yours!”
“Son, that’s no way to speak to a man your father’s age!”
“Oh yeah, you can take a walk old man.” His cell phone rang. “Hi sweetheart! Yeah I’m getting the money and reaching in 15 minutes, don’t worry. Love you babe!”
“That’s not…”
Before he could speak up, the ruffian turned around and caught the old man by the collar. “Hey old fag, I don’t have time for your shit. You’re getting on my nerves.”
The old man didn’t say anything. He allowed the ruffian to get ahead of him. No other person came to his rescue. Not even the watchman.
The young guy entered the ATM. As he took his cash and wanted to come out, he found that the door was stuck. “GET ME OUT OF HERE!”
No matter how many people tried, the door would not budge.
Since it was a tough glass door, an axe was brought to take it down. The moment the policemen swished the axe at the door, the axe flew off its hilt and smashed the glass door with great force. That force took a glass piece straight into the young man’s heart, and the axe smack on that glass piece. It ruptured a hole in his heart and he died on the spot.
There was panic at the station. Everyone was running around.
Only one man was smiling. The old man. As there was chaos around him, he went up to the axe and examined his handiwork. As his work was done, he slowly walked out of the station, and caught a rickshaw.
CASE SO FAR – The police and intelligentsia are absolutely baffled. They came to the conclusion that this was the work of a well-networked gang, until 2 months later after the deaths; they received a note from an anonymous source. It went like this:
Hello and how do you do?
I believe the theory of evolution. Any species evolves into a greater one. Why is it so, that man has stagnated? There is a being higher than the current Homo sapiens - a being much more intelligent, more resourceful and much more powerful.
It is high time man moved on. But man is obstinate and lazy. He will want to stagnate. He has attained a comfort zone, sitting on a fat, round ass, waiting for destiny to throw Treasure Island up in his face. People want fast money, fast ladies and a slow life. Evolution doesn’t quite work that way. Old life gives way to new blood. For me, you have to be a higher being to move on. It’s like, everyone wants to play cricket. Chess matters to no one.
But it does to me…
I want to create a Utopian world. A world where people understand values, where people understand the value of life. Not a world where people are at each others throats, suspecting and envying each other on every count.
I would rather like it if you helped me in my endeavour.
Otherwise, I shall do it alone… ALL ALONE. Just for your records: I caused ALL the railway station deaths 2 months ago. I will continue. Maybe not at a railway station, but yes, I will continue until I’ve cleaned the world of this riff-raff.
Welcome to my world,
CODE NAME ENIGMA
