Sweet Revenge

In a small village near Salem, lived a twenty-year-old college student named Antony.

One evening, Antony called his friend Rakesh to play. He waited, starting at 5:30, but Rakesh never showed up. Furious, Antony rode his bike to Rakesh’s house, only to find him lounging on the sofa, deeply engrossed in television. Realizing Rakesh had simply blown him off, Antony left in frustration. Instead, he called his friend Ramesh, and together they went to a feast at a local auditorium, eating until they were full.

When they returned, they found Rakesh waiting. But rather than apologizing, Rakesh was angry that he had been made to wait. He beat Antony aggressively, pointing a finger in his face. “If you ever disrespect me again,” Rakesh threatened, “you will see a side of me you won't like.”

Antony watched Rakesh speed away on his Yamaha RX 100, trembling with humiliation. He whispered to himself, “If I don’t take revenge for this, I will change my name.”

A few days later, a group of fifteen students, including Antony, Ramesh, and Rakesh, planned a weekend trip. On Saturday, they boarded a bus from Salem to Vagamon, spending the day visiting scenic viewpoints. By the second day, the conversation turned to the history of the Guna Caves and the "Manjummal Boys." Fascinated by the story, the group spontaneously decided to divert their trip to Kodaikanal.

They arrived in Kodaikanal at 6:30 AM on Sunday, booked a modest hotel, and freshened up. Their first stop was the infamous Guna Cave. The area was crowded with tourists talking about the dangerous caverns. Antony and Rakesh stood face-to-face near the roots of the massive trees. Rakesh was laughing, taking photos, and acting as if nothing had happened. Antony did nothing, but inside, his rage was boiling.

The group spent the day visiting Echo Point and other sights. Rakesh danced happily on the bus ride home, unaware of the danger lurking. Only Ramesh noticed Antony’s cold silence.

They arrived back in Salem on Monday morning at 7:30. For the final stretch to their homes, Antony and Ramesh took the Yamaha R15, while Rakesh rode his RX 100. Antony sped ahead, leaving Rakesh behind. He stopped near an abandoned, collapsed building. Moving quickly, he tied a strong rope from a tree to a post on the opposite side of the road, pulling it taut at chest height.

Moments later, Rakesh came speeding down the road on his RX 100. He didn't see the trap until it was too late. He hit the rope violently, resulting in a horrific crash.

Ramesh, watching from the side, was paralyzed with shock; he had never expected Antony to go this far. Antony simply smiled a cold, small smile, got back on his R15, and dropped Ramesh home without a word.

Two days later, the obituary page carried a tragic headline. It announced the untimely death of Rakesh in a mysterious accident, and the subsequent suicide of his heartbroken mother. Antony read the paper, his revenge complete, but at a terrible cost.