Twisted Table

Twisted Table

• Rating 0.0

Genre - Dark, Thriller

• by Author

Dushyant and Gauri entered the casino lobby as a wave of exhilaration coursed through their veins, their fingers entwined and a big smile plastered on their faces. They had flown down from Bombay to Goa to celebrate their third marriage anniversary.   

Hand in hand they wandered around the casino. As they passed the cards table, Dushyant halted in his tracks as the familiar scent of a new deck of cards hit his nostrils. No second invitation was warranted. He pulled out a chair and settled himself in. Gauri sighed and walked away to get herself a drink.

Two hours had elapsed and it was nearing the midnight stroke. Gauri returned to the table. Dushyant looked in her direction and gave a triumphant smile. He had a pile of chips worth one million rupees.

“Let’s go now, baby” – cooed, Gauri.  

Dushyant stood up from his chair and walked reluctantly to the counter to liquidate the chips, but he felt incomplete. "Darling, I sense today is going to be very special, I feel awesome and invincible." 

"This is enough. Save some of this awesomeness for me." Gauri said with a naughty smile, squeezing his arm.

 "There is no thrill, no fun in here. Any gambler worth his salt will play the twisted table. High stakes, high thrill, and high returns!" Dushyant overheard the conversation between two gentlemen in the adjacent queue. The hair on Dushyant’s nape stood on its edge and he looked into the direction of the two gentlemen. One of the gentlemen caught his inquiring eye and said smilingly, "Room no - six hundred and sixty-six, penthouse."

Dushyant looked at his wife and pleaded incessantly to let him go play. "I have always wanted to play at a no limits table, babe. And, I know it's my day today." Seeing no response from Gauri, he continued, "I will get you the diamond necklace that you always wanted. Please, please, just let me."

Gauri looked into his eyes and relented, "Fine! But, I too will accompany you and you will leave when I ask you to."

Dushyant readily agreed. Hand in hand both took the elevator to the top floor and entered the penthouse. The main hall of the penthouse had a side door opening into the terrace and the game table was right in the center of the hall. A pleasant breeze from across the terrace swept the room. Dushyant took the table and studied the other players. There were six of them. Gauri helped herself to a dirty martini and joined the ladies at the adjacent table.

The gentleman at the head of the playing table stood and cleared his throat. Everyone looked in his direction. He spoke in an emotionless tone. "Gentlemen! My name is Shyam and I am your host for the night. This is a no-limit table. No player leaves until his wallet is empty. The winner takes it all. Drinks are free and there is plenty of food. Anything you need, just ask my friend here – Ram."

A bulky monstrous figure rose and waved in everyone’s direction. Clearly, Ram was more than a friendly accomplice.

Ram stood obediently behind Shyam. Dushyant studied both of them. Shyam was barely five feet seven. He had a round body with round features and very thin lips. Nothing about him was Shyam (Sanskrit for black). He was very fair with red cheeks. He wore a fine black suit. On the other hand, Ram was as black as a coal and was dressed in a white suit. "Interesting pair," Dushyant thought to himself. 

Ram slid a deck of new cards and the game of f lash commenced. The players settled in, each measuring one another. In a short while, the intensity heightened up a notch and the stakes started rising. After an hour or so, only three players were left, the other three had left with empty wallets. The ladies joined their respective men at the table, clearly awed by the size of the pot at the table. The table was now worth seven million Rupees.

Shyam looked at his cards for the second time and increased the stakes to a substantial three million. There was a collective sigh. Dushyant looked at his cards and folded in. The third player had only one million and he was short of two million to call for a show. He looked helplessly at the rest and decided to pack in and let go of the million. 

Shyam smiled and pocketed the pot. He threw his cards in the center of the table. It was a lousy hand with Jack being the top card.

Ram uttered his first words – “Very nice, Boss.”

Everyone except Shyam let out a collective gasp. Another round of drinks came in and everyone helped themselves. The third player and his female accomplice left the room, leaving Dushyant and Shyam at the table.

Shyam didn’t drink. He looked at Ram, who disappeared for a moment and returned with a glass of milk.

Now, that only two of them were at the table, Dushyant directed his complete attention to Shyam. His eyes were drawn to his hand holding the glass of milk. Two fingers of his right hand were missing. Despite herself, Gauri let out a suppressed chuckle at the sight of Shyam drinking milk.

Shyam looked in her direction and smiled. His face contorted and twisted in the effort, his thin lips disappeared and the face turned grotesque. Both Dushyant and Gauri felt a cold shiver run down their spine – for a moment, they thought they saw the devil himself. Dushyant could not help but ask Shyam about the missing fingers.

“Mr. Dushyant - Once, I came upon a beautiful diamond ring in a jewelry store and wanted to buy it; but it didn't fit on my fat forefinger or the middle finger. I was greatly disappointed by my non-compliant fingers; thus, I chopped them off.” Shyam smiled wickedly as he finished the narration.

Both Dushyant and Gauri forgot to breathe. Dushyant thought of running away from there but he felt powerless. He gulped down the whiskey to calm his nerves.

"What do you do, Mr. Dushyant?" Shyam asked attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere.

 "I...I head the risk management division in a multinational bank," Dushyant stammered.

"Ah, A gambler who manages risk! Now, that is interesting. Today, we will see how well you manage risks, Mr. Dushyant," Shyam said smilingly and tilted his head to look at Gauri.

Before Shyam could even ask, she blurted out, "I am the head of the customer loyalty program in the same bank."

Shyam's eyes lit up and he almost let out a whistle before asking, "Have you always been loyal to Mr. Dushyant?"

Dushyant flared up, "that is enough, Mr. Shyam. Please distribute the cards."

"Of course, of course," Shyam smiled and distributed the cards and made a move of one million without seeing his cards. Dushyant too followed suit.

After a couple of moves, Dushyant checked his cards. He had a trail – 3 fives. A joyous thrill swept over him from top to toe. He increased the stake to 2 million. Shyam responded by increasing the bet to five million. Dushyant let out an audible gasp. The table was now worth twenty million and he would have to cough up ten million to call in for a show.

Gauri scooted closer to Dushyant to see his cards. She sucked in her breath, realizing Dushyant had a strong hand and Shyam had increased the stakes exorbitantly to rule him out of the game.

Dushyant coughed up all the cash and Gauri’s jewelry but could come up with only seven million. He was still short by another three million. Dushyant looked expectantly at Shyam.

Shyam considered them for a moment and spoke in his placid voice, “I am a good host and a fair player. You’re three million short, Mr. Dushyant. I can work something out for you. You see, I don’t like women much, but you have a very pretty wife. I will loan you 2.5 million in exchange for spending five days with her, and another five hundred grand in cash to help you call in the show.”

Dushyant and Gauri went red in their faces at the offer. Simply hearing his words made Gauri feel dirty and her skin crawl; she closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to remove her presence from there. Disgusted, Dushyant decided to quit. "This is unacceptable."

"I agree, Mr. Dushyant, any sane man wouldn't accept this. You know where the exit is; take your pretty wife and leave." Unrelenting in his torment, Shyam pressed further taking delight in their conflicted faces. "Perhaps, you are not as good a risk manager."

Gauri pleaded to Dushyant, "let's leave, please darling. This is not worth it." Her woman instincts sensed grave danger. 

Shyam gave a victorious smile and indicated Ram to collect the chips.

Dushyant almost screamed and leaped out of his chair, "Wait! Wait!" He whispered in Gauri's ear, "What does logic say?"

"That you have a great chance," Gauri replied unwillingly. "But, please don't."

"He is just playing mind games with us," Dushyant said putting up a false bravado trying to reassure her.

"Mr. Dushyant," Shyam interjected. "You have taken enough time."

 "I accept the offer," Dushyant said steadying his voice. Gauri feared the worst.

The tension was too much for him to bear. He threw his cards on the table and called for the show.

Shyam smiled and without even taking a glance, f licked his cards on the pile of the money. It was a trial - three sixes!

Ram gleefully exulted – “Very nice, Boss!”

The life in Dushyant's body came to a standstill as he sat deflated and defeated. Gauri slouched in her chair.

The numbers - 666 flashed in Dushyant’s mind – the penthouse number and the winning cards. Shyam was not human. “You’re a devil” – screamed Dushyant. Shyam let out an uproarious evil laugh in response.

Suddenly, Shyam went quiet and his red countenance turned a couple of shades darker, he stated blandly, “It’s time to settle the dues."

He looked in Gauri’s direction and motioned her over. The color drained from her cheeks as she looked towards Dushyant. Dushyant got up to protest but felt the weight of the big hands of Ram on his shoulders. He couldn’t move a muscle. The man was a mountain.

“Mr. Dushyant, it would be wise if you play the game fair."

Dushyant fell back on the chair and looked helplessly in the direction of Gauri. Her face was f lushed. She could feel the heat in her cheeks and her ears burned red with shame.

'Why didn't she try harder to stop Dushyant? Her instincts told her something was awfully wrong’ She pondered to herself. Thousands of questions and probabilities plagued her, but it was too late now. She let out a deep breath, rose slowly and walked with heavy feet towards Shyam and stood next to him.

“Now, Mr. Dushyant, how are you going to pay me the remaining five hundred grand? I take it you have nothing left to pay the dues,” Shyam said smilingly.

Dushyant got up from his seat and pleaded to let go of him and Gauri. “I will pay your dues tomorrow first thing, Mr. Shyam.” The words fell out of his mouth.

“I am a man of my word, Mr. Dushyant” – retorted Shyam in a menacing tone. “I have a reputation to protect. I can’t allow what you ask for.   Be it a penny or a billion, you don’t leave this penthouse without paying my dues.”

Dushyant fell at his feet and started sobbing like a child. 

Shyam motioned to Ram and the bartender. They guided Dushyant and Gauri to the terrace. The f ive of them walked to the far end of the terrace. A three-feet-high cemented boundary wall lined the terrace.

Shyam turned to face Dushyant and continued in his bland tone, “I am not going to kill you, Mr. Dushyant. I will make an exception this one time.”

Dushyant looked at Shyam hopefully.

“Climb up the boundary wall, Mr. Dushyant” – instructed, Shyam.

  Reluctantly, Dushyant climbed on the boundary wall. "You see down there, Mr. Dushyant." 

Dushyant peered down and nodded unsteadily. His legs were trembling.

Shyam continued in his emotionless tone, “It is difficult to tell whether one would survive the jump, but it is absolutely certain that there will be plenty of broken bones. Here is the deal. You jump down and get rid of your lousy and pathetic life or you could let me have your two fingers. You see, I have always wanted two compliant f ingers.”

“Very nice, Boss”- Ram added enthusiastically.

Dushyant was sick to death in his stomach. Gauri had already resigned to fate.

"So, what will it be, Mr. Dushyant?” inquired Shyam.

This wasn’t happening. This was a bad dream. Dushyant thought to himself. He could feel his heart thumping furiously against his chest. He wished for some sort of divine intervention.

“Push him over, Ram”, stated Shyam brusquely.

“Wait, wait - please wait, you can have my f ingers,” Dushyant mumbled hastily and immediately got down from the boundary wall.

Shyam looked in the direction of Ram who disappeared inside the hall and quickly emerged with pliers. Fear gripped Dushyant’s mind and body at the sight of the pliers and he shook uncontrollably. There was a twinkle in Shyam’s eyes. The bartender held Dushyant’s hand. Gauri turned her face away as Ram got hold of Dushyant’s forefinger between the pliers. The insides of Dushyant’s body beat fiercely and tears rolled down his cheek.

Ram applied pressure on the pliers and Dushyant screamed in pain and terror as the metal dug into his flesh. The bone of the forefinger cracked and blood oozed out like a fountain. Ram tugged at the pliers with brute force. The forefinger snapped and it was no longer attached to a hand. Dushyant could not bear the violent pain and lost his consciousness. The middle finger quivered ever so slightly before it too got pulled out.

Shyam casually picked up the fingers and raised both his hands in the air, “Thank you, God” – He said out loud and slid the fingers in his pocket.

He then turned his attention to Dushyant who was still lying unconscious on the ground, “Wake him up, Ram."

Ram dumped water from a bucket on Dushyant. Shyam leaned close to Dushyant and hissed – “I will send your pretty wife home after five days.”

Dushyant was far too disoriented to make any sense of it.

Shyam held Gauri’s hand and remarked nonchalantly as they walked out of the terrace – “Why would you ever want to spend your life with a fool? I offered him an option to jump; he didn't have to jump down into the street. He could have jumped on this side of the terrace and saved himself.”  

Gauri’s face was devoid of any color. She was a dead man walking. 

The final words of Shyam echoed relentlessly in Dushyant’s head. He concluded, Shyam was right and he was a stupid fool. He stood up on his feet unsteadily, walked a few paces and dived from the terrace into the darkness.

 Mid-air he muttered – "Very nice Boss!!!"

 

*********** The End **********

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