chapter 10

He parked the car some distance away from the bridge across the canal. He opened the boot and took out a sack and a length of rope and moved towards the bridge, dragging the sack behind him. Some passersby saw him but they did not stop. Once on the bridge, he pulled off his shirt and flung it into the water in a few moments the shirt was swept away by the flow. His tall, athletic frame, clad in dark blue jeans, was a handsome sight.

His eyes were inscrutable. He could have been anywhere between 19 to 29 years of age, but his height and appearance made him look much older. Holding on to one end of the rope, he threw it over the bridge till it hit the water. Then he started tightly winding and knotting the rope in his hand around the mouth of the sack till he had used it all up. Now, he pulled back the length of the rope, leaving aside about three feet; standing with his feet together, he firmly tied them with this length. Next, he made two loops with the remaining rope and hopped on to the railing of the bridge, and then passing his hands through the loops

behind his back, he pulled the knots and tied up his hands too. A smile of satisfaction hovered on his lips. Taking a deep breath, he threw himself backwards over the bridge. His head hit the water sharply and he was submerged to the waist, head down and hands tied behind his back, dangling from the rope tied to the weighted sack above. ope He held his breath and tried to keep his eyes open underwater, but the canal was murky and the silt stung his eyes. He felt as if his lungs would burst and when he breathed in, the water entered his body through his nose and mouth. He began to flap about helplessly he tried but could not use his arms to raise himself up from the water. Gradually, his movements slowed.

Some people who had seen him jump off the bridge, ran to the railing, shouting. The rope was still shaking. They did not know what to do-there was no visible movement under the water; his legs appeared to be still. A crowd gathered, looking with fear at the lifeless body: the water swung him like a pendulum, back and forth...back and forth...back and forth

"Imama, get ready quickly!" called Rabia, taking her clothes from the closet and flinging them on the bed.

"Get ready? What for?" Imama looked at her, surprised.

"We're going shopping. Come with us. Rabia moved fast as she ironed her clothes.

No, thanks. I don't want to go anywhere. Imama lay back on her pillow, her forearm shielding her eyes.

What do you mean by "I don't want to go anywhere"? Who's asking you, anyway? I'm telling you,' Rabia continued in the same tone. And I'm telling you that I am not going, replied Imama without

moving. "Zainab's coming too the whole group is going and we'll go to the

movies when we are done shopping.

Imama looked up. 'Zainab's coming along?"

"Yes, we'll pick her up on the way." Imama became thoughtful.

"You are getting duller by the day, Imama! Rabia's tone was piqued.

"You've stopped going out with us; what on earth is happening to you?" Nothing. I am just too tired today and want to sleep, Imama said, looking at Rabia.

After a while Javeria came in and she too tried to persuade Imama, but there was just one refrain from her: "I am too tired, I want to sleep.' Unable to coax Imama outdoors, the girls grumbled as they left her behind.

As they picked up Zainab on the way, Javeria realized that she had left her wallet behind in the hostel. 'We'll have to go back for my wallet," said Javeria. When they got to the hostel they were shocked to find the room locked.

"Where's Imama?" Rabia was surprised.

'Don't know...where could she have gone, locking up the room like this? She'd said she wanted to sleep, said Javeria.

Could she be in someone else's room?" wondered Rabia. For the next few minutes, they looked for Imama in their friends' rooms, but there was no sign of her.

Could she have gone out?" A sudden thought struck Rabia.

"Let's check with the warden," said Javeria, and they went to see him. "Yes, Imama went out a while ago, the warden confirmed. Rabia and Javeria exchanged looks, speechless. "She said she'd return by the evening, the warden informed them.

They came out of the warden's room. 'Where could she have gone? She refused to accompany us saying she was tired...she wanted to sleep... was unwell...and then she goes off like this. Rabia was really annoyed. It was quite late at night when they returned. Imama was in the room and welcomed them back, smiling.

"Looks like you've done loads of shopping," she said, looking at their bags and parcels. They did not reply putting down their shopping, they stared at her.

"Where were you?" asked Javeria. Imama got a jolt. 'I came back to get my wallet and you weren't here. The room was locked."

'I went after you both.' What do you mean?"

"I changed my mind when you left, so I went to Zainab's as you were going to pick her up. But her chowkidar said that she had left with you, so I came back. I just stopped on the way to get some books, explained Imama.

See we'd told you to come along but you refused. Then, like a fool, you traipse behind us. We were getting suspicious about you," said Rabia as she took her purchases out of their bags. She seemed relieved. Imama did not reply: she just smiled at them when they showed her their shopping.