A Mystery

 

A  MYSTERY

by Mohammed Naufer Fatheema Nifla

 

                        The nights had always been noisy: frogs, drums, bottles, dogs barking at the moon. Then one evening there was silence. John stepped out on to the balcony. There was no wind. The fireflies had disappeared. The trees and bushes in the neighboring garden were still. Only the stars above moved, pulsing in the sky. John pulled up a cane chair and sat down when he heard someone shout. He left his house and checked his neighbor’s door. He saw that the door was broken. At once, he felt suspicious and stood back, but then just out of curiosity he decided to go inside. When he came in, he saw the body of his neighbor lying on the floor covered with blood and when he turned back, he briefly saw someone rushing out of the house. He started to run after him but unfortunately could not catch him. However, he had managed to observe him and could describe him pretty well. That is why John decided to go to the police to report the murder. The next day, the police started investigating the case and they spent the whole day searching for evidences and video surveillances from around the area to help with the case. Fortunately, they were able to trace few evidences in the crime scene itself but one clue that they had found disturbed John. The clue was a wristwatch that had a unique art on it, and he knew pretty well that it belonged to his brother Jack. He was terribly shocked to such an extent that he could not even believe his own eyes. Since Jack’s wristwatch that had stopped working at 9.30 PM, which was the very same time when he heard his neighbor shouting, John decided to speak with his brother and headed to his apartment because John believed that his brother had been there when his neighbor was murdered.

When he arrived in front of the door of his brother’s flat, he noticed that the door was half-open. Then he saw Jack running with a knife in his hand and a big bag on his back. At that very moment, he realized that his brother was the killer. Once Jack had left, John decided to go inside Jack’s flat to find any evidence so that he could easily catch him and handover to the police. While searching, John got hold of Jack’s diary and decided to read it hoping to find some clue. It is then he came to know that Jack steals ill-gotten money from rich people to pay for operations of children suffering from cancer. When he came to know all about his brother’s motive, he had tears in his eyes. He felt so bad for his brother. However, he decided to tell the police, because his brother is now not only a thief, but also a murderer who killed an innocent life for money. Therefore, the very same day he went to find the place as to where his brother was hiding. Fortunately, John was able to locate the place and when he came to that place, he saw an old abandoned house surrounded by a falling down stone wall. He slowly went through the gate that was hanging off, then through the tangle of weeds and rushed headlong into the building. The roof was long gone and only the four walls remained. After having a very close look, he noticed that there was no back door. Then only he realized that it was a trap and Jack must be watching him. There was no way out. Suddenly, he saw Jack coming out. John cowered in the corner as his brother Jack came before him with a sharp knife in his bare hand. John started to shiver but was able to hide it and managed to speak to Jack boldly. John then started to talk with Jack very calmly but gradually, it turned out to be a very intense argument. He insisted Jack not to commit theft anymore and to surrender to the police, as he is now a murderer. However, Jack did not listen to him. He started to threaten John that he would kill him too if he interrupts him. The heated argument between the brothers gradually developed and at one point Jack came forward with his knife and stabbed John in the chest. He jumped up with a start, drenched in sweat, shaking violently with fear and shouting, “I am dead, I am dead”. At once, there was a silence. He then realized all that was a nightmare. He quickly looked around the room but saw nothing untoward.

He felt dizzy and nauseous and his nightshirt clung to him, not only because of sweat, but also of absolute fear that gripped him. He tried to get out of bed but his body ached, so he lay back down again. He tried to get his heart rate down for it was pounding like a big drum. He tried to recall his nightmare but it made no sense. He thought how could his brother stab him with a knife and kill him when he even does not have a brother of his own. It took long time, but he finally dozed off again, but not before peeking out from under the covers to ensure that nothing was lurking in the shadows.