'Say Jai Sri Ram,' Ish shouted. It worked perfectly, the crowd had to
participate. Most of the crowd did not know whether we supported them or not.
At least not yet.
Meanwhile, Omi and I poured the kerosene out of the canisters into the
buckets. The canisters had a narrow neck and the kerosene wouldn't flow out
fast. We needed a big strike.
Ish struck Siva's poses on the ledge. A few drunk members of the mob even
bowed to him. Perhaps Siva had come down tonight to bless the rioters.
'One, two, three and go,' I whispered as Omi and I upturned the buckets. We
threw the oil forward to keep it away from the bank building.
The blowtorches in the rioters' hands acted as the ignition. A river of fire fell on
the bank's porch. Panic spread in the mob. They took a few moments to realise
we had attacked them. Ish stepped off the ledge. We hid ourselves under the
parapet. I raised my head high enough to watch the happenings below. A few
mobsters ran out of the bank gate as their clothes caught fire. I suppose it is
much more fun to burn people, than get burnt yourself.
'How many ran away?' Ish said.
'Quite a few. There's panic downstairs.' The remaining people started jabbing
trishuls on the main door. I popped my body up to count the people. I estimated
more than ten, but less than twenty.
'We have to go down,' Ish said.
'Are you mad?' I said.
'No. Let's reduce the people further,' Ish said.
'Ish, we are hurting people. Some of them may die. We threw a lot of kerosene,'
I said.
'I don't care,' Ish said, 'we have to hurt some more.'
We came down to the first floor. Ish unlocked the branch manager's office door
with the bunch of keys in his pocket. Ali awaited him inside and ran to hug him.
'I am scared,' Ali said and broke into tears.
'Don't worry, it's going to be fine,' Ish said.
'I want to go home to abba.'
I ran my fingers through Ali's hair. Home was no longer an option.
'Ali, you will be fine if you listen to me. Will you listen to me?' Ish said. Ali
nodded.
'Some horrible people want to get you. I need to lock you up in the vault. They
will never get you there,' Ish said. He pointed to the claustrophobic six by six
room.
'There? It's so dark?' Ali said.
'Here, take my phone. Keep the light on. I will be back soon,' Ish said and gave
him his cell-phone.
Ish put Ali in the safe. He gave him a few pillows. Ali switched on the phone
light. Ish shut the door and locked it. He kept the keys inside his sock.
'You ok?' Ish screamed.
'It's dark,' Ali said.
'Hold on ok?' Ish said.
'Ok, we have to cook one more dish in the kitchen. Come fast,' Ish said.
We left Ali in the vault and ran to the kitchen. The jabs at the main door
continued. I estimated we had five more minutes before the door gave away.
Ish unplugged the LPG cylinder. 'Carry this to the main door,' Ish said.
avery
(avery)
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