Tables Turned

Shweta Singh posted under Flash Fiction QuinTale-08 on 2019-05-22



“Well, the business is all yours.” said his father-in-law, the very rich and respectable Mr. Madan. “Mayank, I am so happy today. I have been working very hard for a very long time. Now I can retire and live my life in luxury and peace. It’s your turn to take this company forward.” he said. With a condescending smirk, Mayan replied, “You certainly have been working very hard for a very long time.” His tone had Mr. Madan looking up at him sharply. “What did you say?” “I am saying dear father-in-law; it is time for you to pack your bags and leave. You will certainly retire, but not in luxury. I have booked you a room in an old age home and you will go there voluntarily.” Mr. Madan had never in the past seven years, seen Mayank behave like this. From day one Mayank had been a model employee. He had climbed the ladder of success, in the family-owned company with diligence and hard work. Mr. Madan had come to rely on him a lot and had been immensely pleased when his daughter had told him that she wanted to marry Mayank. If Mayank became his son-in-law then that would be the best outcome, or so Mr. Madan had thought at that time. “What are you talking about? asked a bewildered Mr. Madan. “You have conned me. Why have you done this?”. “I have conned you? No Mr. Madan, it is you, who conned people. You were the fast talker who stole money from so many people with the promise of good returns. And then simply vanished. Five families, that I know of, God knows how many more are out there?” “How do you know, who are you?” said an aghast Mr. Madan. Mayank scoffed and said, “How do I know? Because my parents were one of the five. You took their money, their lifetime’s savings. Oh! You were very careful and smart and never too greedy. That is why you never got caught. Always under the radar. But did you even once think about the people you conned? My mother got sick and my dad had no money left for her treatment. She died in pain, and he in depression. I vowed then that I will get you, even if it took me all my life. And it did take me a long time to find you, to get in your good books.” Mayank looked Mr. Madan straight in the eye, with so much hatred that Mr. Madan wondered how he had never seen it before. Mayank continued talking in a low menacing voice, “Yes, I played the long con, five years as an employee and two as your son-in-law. Finally, it’s over. Now you will get what you deserve.” “And what is that?” “Your daughter, who loves you, adores you and thinks that you can do no wrong will know what kind of a man you truly are. That is your punishment.” ___________________ For more of such content follow us on Social Media:   Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay