A brave lady

Ranjith is a software employee. He married a village girl Sunanda and set up family in city in an apartment as he works in city. There are other 11 apartments in the same block.

Sunanda feels irksome in the apartment for she is restricted by her husband from moving around with neighbors in the block, and she is made to confine to apartment since she does not know how to talk with neighbors. But basically, she is a bubbly and innocent village girl. Neighbors also never bothered to interact with Sunanda. They think she is less educated, and she is not fit to be in their social conversations.

Sunanda is very kind lady. She gives food, fruits and cloths to the housekeeping and security staff of the apartments in the block. Hence, they like her and respect her. She allows the service women into her apartment and chats with them daily for some time. She shares with them her memories and activities at her village where she was involved in various agricultural activities before her marriage while supporting her father in various works.

Ranjith’s neighbor Rajan who stays in the same floor of the block is a rich man. Rajan sometimes complains on Sunanda to her husband claiming she does not maintain her status and talks more with service people. Because of Rajan’s complaints, Sunanda was rebuked by her husband for several times.

One day an incident happened near the block in which Sunanda’s apartment exists. A boy was playing in the park area near the block. A stranger held tight, the hand of the boy and started dragging the boy towards gate. The boy happens to be the son of Rajan.

Accidentally Sunanda, on the way to her going out for purchasing provisions, saw the boy, who was held by a stranger. She felt something suspicious about the act.

That boy was frightened and he looked to be bewildered. With his teared eyes he looked at Sunanda, seeking for help.

She stopped the stranger and questioned him 'where he was taking away the boy'.

The stranger got alerted with Sunanda’s sudden appearance. In fact, he was trying to kidnap the boy. The kidnapper is a distant relative of Rajan, and he had a quarrel with him a long back on purchase of a piece of land. With an intention of taking revenge, he planned to kidnap his son to demand money or kill the boy. The kidnapper before attempting the kidnap, conducted enquiry and took advantage of poor security at the gate. He also managed a vehicle parked at outside the gate with two persons waiting outside the gate to help him for kidnap.

When Sunanda questioned him, he got confused. He tried to drag the boy fast, towards the gate. But Sunanda understanding the situation, shouted wildly saying “Stop” and went close to him to release the boy.

Hearing the shout, Security person at the gate, got alerted. But the kidnapper suddenly took out a knife to threaten Sunanda. Sunanda quickly held his hand in which he had knife and severely pinched on his thigh. With this sudden reaction from Sunanda, He left the boy moaning in pain. She pushed the kidnaper away with force to make him fall and moved away wrapping the boy in her saree hem. She also shouted simultaneously for help.

Meanwhile security person who was tall and stout, came running, snatched the knife from the kidnapper and held him firmly. Two gardeners working near by, also came running to the spot, and they twisted kidnaper’s hands back and held him firmly. He was tied with a rope to nearby wooden chair and was handed over to Police. Later kidnapper’s supporters were also taken into custody by police.

The residents of the block praised Sunanda for her presence of mind and daring response to the incident. Rajan and his wife thanked Sunanda several times for saving their son risking her life and Rajan begged apology for mistaking her.

Sunanda with a smile said, "After all the boy is like my son and anyone on the spot would react in the same way". But she advised Rajan to appreciate the Service people without whom the incident would have ended up differently. Her words made them realize that such people prove to be the real-time helpers in such occasions.

The residential block is now rebuilt with love and affection, breaking the rich and rigid walls.

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