ZUGSWANG

 

Here she was praying for a stranger. A stranger who put his life on the line for her. 

****

Stella walked down to the neighborhood cafe where she always met Alan for Friday night dates or a cup of coffee and warm snacks in the late evening when she got off work. She spotted him sitting in the far end towards the wall, scrolling down his phone, eyebrows knitted and lips pursed in a thin line. 

It was unusual of him to choose that spot from their usual place by the French windows where they had a view of the quay. 

Sensing some unpleasant news coming her way, she walked up to him anxiously. He gave her a wry smile and fumbled with his words. Finally he handed a letter with a sheepish look. 

Her worst fears had become her reality. This was certainly bad news. Alan had been distancing himself from her and try as might she couldn't get through to him. This day had finally come when they ended their 5 year old relationship over a letter. No spoken words, just a handwritten letter with lines scrawled across which read–"This is going nowhere, it's best if we part ways."

If he expected her to throw a tantrum and create a scene, he sure was surprised to see her calm and collected. Little did he know, she expected this day to arrive sooner or later.

With a knowing look, she laid the letter down on the table and prepared to go. At the door, there was a huge commotion. Two armed men had barged in and had started firing at the glass panes. Shrieks rent the air in the crowded cafe. A few injured patrons screamed in pain. 

Stella was the nearest at the door and they used her as a hostage even as the hysterical screaming didn't stop. Finally, everyone was gasping for breath when the intruders demanded silence. 

Stella was taken unawares. Why did it always have to be her? Somebody had managed to dial the emergency number and there were a horde of police cars outside, sirens blaring. But none dared to take any hasty steps. 

The air was tense with uncertainty inside. Stella was jostled around and brought to the center of the cafe while the criminals kicked chairs and tables out of their way. Everyone sat huddled together whimpering. Alan refused to even throw her a fleeting glance. The coward…

Stella's eyes met a pair of kind arctic blue ones as she passed everyone on the floor. He was trying to reassure her and managed to stealthily show her a badge of honor for serving in the military and she nodded. Out of nowhere, she felt a shove which made her slump on a chair nearby. 

Military man in a fluid martial arts move, disarmed the henchman of his gun. A shot was fired in the chaos grievously wounding him in the tussle. Momentarily taken aback, the leader lost his focus and that's when Stella picked a ceramic vase from the table and brought it down on his head with a sickening crash. Both the men were quickly handcuffed and the military man rushed to the hospital.

There was a heavy loss of blood and his life hung by a thread. But he was in good hands with the best doctors giving it their all. Stella prayed fervently for his recovery. She couldn't handle any more bad news for the day. 

His was a selfless act of courage. Hers was a selfless prayer pleading to God asking for nothing in return but mercy and benevolence for the kind stranger who saved her life.

©️ Sangeetha Kamath 

Pic Courtesy: Image by Alex Hu from Pixabay