" Oh my ,you seem to be very excited for knowing the meaning of my words " , said Oswald.
But before I tell you everything , I want to ask something .
'Oh , go ahead old man ' replied Conwell.
" You seem to be somewhere in your mid thirties .
You are the leader of such a huge party and also well respected in society. What is so important to you that forced you to take such a decision ".
" Even when chained, we are some of the most bloodstained hands outthere. Still you decided to come along with us , you are not so foolish. So, what's that big reason that you are here with us,on the way to out death? Knowing that you can even be killed as you are the one to blamed for this whole damn thing ". Oswald's voice contained a totally different deep and high tone.
While saying these words, one can see dead seriousness on the old man's face. Conwell too was wearing an expression , somewhat similar to that of the old man. His eyes were filled with anger and there too were lines of nervousness on his forehead, though these lines were merely visible but Oswald's eyes were as experienced as his hands were. He caught Conwell's nervousness and said :
" Don't be nervous young man ! Don't get nervous! Feel free to give your answer, none of us is going to kill you here. If anyone of us wanted to make you sleep forever, trust me young man , your fellow men would have buried your body by now. " Oswald's words of sheer sarcasm but these words were as true as the universe.
A smirk sparked on Conwell's face when he listened to Oswald's words. He was facing ground while listening. He raised his head and looked straight in the eyes of Oswald and took a second to say,
' Oh my ! Old man Oswald, you sure have a great talent to kill people. Not only with hands but also with sarcasm and trust me , when I say the latter is more lethal '.
' You're right old man in saying that I am not foolish enough to risk my life coming up with you all '.
' When it comes to my curiosity , I am very selfish even cruel on my own self and this curiosity is related to my most loved Son. So, I had enough reasons to sit right here and talk to you like this '. There was a sudden change in Conwell's voice and body language. Like someone gave him a full high dose of courage and confidence.
Oswald's eyes were stuck on the man's face ,who was just minutes ago nervous but now he is looking like an avenger. A man who got nothing to lose, nothing to win. He is just breathing out grudges.
' Now you're looking amazed, Mr. Oswald ! ' Conwell returning Oswald's sarcastic favor. ' I understand it very well. Till now your eyes are most probably habitual of seeing an afraid, nervous and begging for life expressions .Is this the first time someone is not afraid, looking eye to eye in your filthy and bloodshot eyes. We have a lot of time till we reach our destination, so you can see my face as much as you want. But as I told you, I am very selfish when it comes to my curiosity. I want answers to my questions '.
" I like it, the way you are looking straight in my eyes. You're right, this is a thing I am not very much experienced of. Although you are not the first one, there was someone who did it before you " , said Oswald.
' May I know who that person is and whether he or she is still alive. Though it's very unlikely that the person is alive ',said Conwell in a voice loaded with mockery.
" Yes ! Yes ! Why not I will definitely do away your curiosity " . Oswald laughed while saying this, as if he is enjoying this conversation.
" That person is dead , that person is dead for almost six years now. Before you ask your next question, the person about whom we are talking, is my lovely wife.
My wife , the person I love the most ".
" For six years, I have been waiting,waiting and waiting to meet her. Whenever I get frustrated, my breathing gets faster , I feel like choking. I just close eyes and think of her. Her beautiful face, her beautiful eyes. Her heavenly smile. Her comforting and relieving touch that gave warmth during cold winter nights ". Oswald's emotions overwhelmed him. His body moved in an unusual way.
He closed his eyes, he leaned on the walls of the van.
He was shivering with emotions ,when he suddenly opened his eyes there were tears in them.
It all seemed so good. Oswald's pius love for his dead wife. The way he was feeling her.
But Conwell was not at all being entertained by such an act. On contrary of what his expression should be after seeing Oswald's lovely way to feel his love of life.
He was disgusted by face and his anger like a wild beast was trying to come out. He got the hold of that file, kept next to him. He almost flung towads the old man. He held his collar and keeping the page about Oswald's information at his face , shouted in a high pitch and furious tone at Oswald .
'Oh ,shut up you old gee...zer!!!! Listen to me !!! What do you.... huh ! You will just pull off such an act and I will sympathize with you !! Oh such a poor thing .How much does he love his wife ? Why is God so cruel to took away his wife from him. Pathetic!!! Look ! Look ! carefully what is written here. Oh ! Your eyes are old and you had some crocodile tears as well. It maybe appearing all blurry. Let me read this for you.'
'Mr Oswald a renowned name in the world of assassins. In the course of five years, he killed twelve people. He is also charged of killing his own wife.
Oh ! You're an old man, so must have not heard for the first time , your poor old ears, I understand , don't worry. So , let me read it out loud again !'
'Mr Oswald is also charged of killing his own wife '
His voice was at it's peak , now was the one with blood shot eyes. He behaved like a psychopath , he on his knees slided to each of the five people.
Saying them to see that it's true. He then jumps back to Oswald's face.
' So Mr. Oswald, would you like to enlighten us that how your wait to see your dearest wife , whom you killed with your very own bloodstained hands.
You say you love her, so you claim to have a heart that beats for your wife. You know what don't even dare try making a pig of me , I have a heart but I am not an emotional fool and let me tell you this make sure you all listen carefully '
""Unlike you all I have a real humane heart, that you beats for someone ,people stay in it and you all just possess a heart of stone "" Conwell had unapologetically utter confidence while saying these words. Listening to his high voltage words the driver slowed down to stop the van with intention to check whether everything is alright or not. Conwell felt this and said to the drive : " Mr Driver , no need to stop keep going everything is alright in here ".
" Okayy ! Sir ". replied the driver.
Suddenly, outta nowhere , Oswald opened his eyes. His eyes were telling the tales of his fury. He caught Conwell's neck and said roaring ,
" Heart of Stone !!! You keep on repeating that thing again and again in your speeches. What are the parameters you use to declare that we have a heart of stone and you have a real heart of humanity ".
" Yess I killed my wife cause my love is my biggest weakness. Yess I am going to meet her not just cause I think that I am going to heaven and all. I know there is a seat for me reserved for me in hell from the very day I was born ".
' Then what is it '. Asked Conwell looking in Oswald's eyes.
" It's cause of this love of mine. It's a very popular saying you know. Hell and Heaven are two realities but when a person dies, that soul doesn't go immediately in one of these places and not even to the infamous soul's court , mentioned in various holy texts. Where it's decided whether hell or heaven for that soul. Everyone who is alive has a heart which beats for someone dear to them. It is believed that when that someone dear dies before you , that person comes at the time when you die and your soul comes out . That person comes and gives you a hand that
" GUIDES YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE ".
"I have always loved my wife more than anyone , she will definitely come to take me with her. We will have a good walk till the gate of death. That will be the absolute last time when I will see her ,feel her for eternity. I don't deny my sins but everyone gets one final chance to meet their loved ones. "
One final chance, one final feel which they take to eternity. My wife told me about this , from the day of her death. I am counting days to meet her and since we both are connected , I know even in heaven she too must be counting days ". Oswald's eyes were wet , he was hurt deep down , he was overwhelmed by his emotions. Emotions of love and grief , emotions so enormous that even the sky was full of tears and it started raining heavily.
Conwell never expected this, He was seeing himself in the old man. He was freezed for a moment then he shook his head , in order to come back to his senses.
' What you are saying, is it true ? Or this belief of yours is just a myth. '
" My belief is true , me and m wife both of us believe this. It is not just another mere myth".
' I will decide whether to believe it or not during this journey ' ,said Conwell.
" You think that we are having hearts stone because we are assassins , I will tell you my story and my wife's story ".
' I am ready to hear your story, how you loved your wife and made you take her life '.
" My name is not Oswald , originally it was Robert Brown and I am pretty sure ,you must have heard it before ".
' The son of a very famous industrialist, who disappeared and was never found. He was very arrogant and spoiled. He had been charged of abuses, half murders, assualts. He was a drunkard, smoker, gambler and was involved in all other illegal businessess. Even charged for human trafficking '.
" Yess, you are right. I am that Robert Brown " .
" Let me tell you all the story of my life. How my heartless self died and how my heart started to beat for someone ".
Let us also join them and explore Oswald's past.
How Robert became Oswald. How a man who loved his wife so much is now being called a Heart of stone.
To be Continued....
F.Frank