Short Story: A Police Complaint by Sukhjit Singh

In this short story, Sukhjit Singh shows us the two faces of the society for the same person in different circumstances.

“What should we do?” A pause. 

“It is a very serious matter.” Another pause.

“This maid stole two thousand rupees from Mrs. Sharma’s home this morning. Note that her name is Pharul, not Parul.” The society Resident Welfare Association’s president takes another pause. He waits for his words to have the desired effect. He looked at the maid as he said ‘Pharul’. He looked at us as he said, ‘not Parul.’ After a long pause he speaks and continues for a while and then Mrs. Sharma takes over and narrates the events of the morning. But I am still in that long pause. I am stuck at Pharul, at ‘not Parul.’ Wandering and lost amidst the sounds, ‘Pharul,’ ‘not Parul,’ the sounds repeating in my head, ‘Pharul,’ ‘not Parul,’ my mind working over the implications.