Richie (ரிச்சி)

'This is a story that happened many decades ago'

'In a seafaring village, a fisherman whose life revolved only around fish and sea...'

'...stumbled upon a treasure'

'Friendship'

'2 words are oft-repeated in the annals of history'

'The 2nd word is Fear'

'It was fear that instigated treachery'

'Betrayal is the 1st word, often heard and repeated in History'

'Time ticked by, submerged in tears'

'The fisherman yearned for forgiveness'

'What followed thereafter'

'Realizing his friendship was now renewed as a ray of hope...'

'The disciple continued the journey of his teacher'

'He wanted to shower the world with peace'

'But this world did not give him peace of mind'

'The fisherman faced the same fate his friendship experienced'

'The mortal remains of the fisherman, not given a formal burial...'

'...according to common belief is said to be under a tree in the Vatican'

'The Roman empire declined after this incident'

'Is the improper burial and the decline of an empire a mere coincidence?'

'The arrival of a leader was the answer to fervent prayers'

'Performing what was expected...'

...to grant him the peace that had been elusive'

'...the leader built a shrine for the fisherman'

'But can peace be attained so easily?'

'Greed and fury of mankind hounded and hunted peace'

'Rumors spread that the fisherman's remains contained mystical powers'

'Therefore wars were waged Corpses heaped, on a rampage'

'But no one realized the remains yearned only for peace'

'The fisherman reached his final destination'

'Can any other dwelling be more apt than the sea-bed for a fisherman?'

'Having been submerged under the sea he emerges on every Christmas day...'

'...to makes amends for the friendship he betrayed, according to folklore'

'Thereafter he rests in peace again'

'Let treachery sleep'

'That by itself is a balm for friendship'

'It augurs well for this world too'

'Shots were fired on Christmas eve'

Here, bro

Good morning

Is it a good morning? What is this, Mani?

I said investigation is pending but they printed it

What's the tearing hurry? I don't understand

Swaminathan is to blame, madam

'- Proof reading is done - Shall I come later?'

'Only printing to be done'

'Mr Swaminathan'

Complete everything in 1 week

What is this, sir?

Try to understand

This is a small crime-beat article Shouldn't waste so much time

I worked on it for a week I went to Tuticorin

I did all this research

Came up with so much work

Christmas night Everybody was drunk

Jam packed crowd

It's quite common for such incidents to occur

That's what I too thought at first

But only after I spoke with the locals there I knew

There's more to it than meets the eye!

In fact...in fact

I saw him there

The town too seemed very normal

But so much commotion the very next day!

Sir, even the cops have closed the file

Police...!

As if they will be bothered 1 more in their 10 cases daily

Exactly, that is what I'm saying

This is very trivial

Sir, there are many hidden stories in this small incident

Even to listen isn't it confusing?

That's why, sir

I want to write about everyone involved in this incident as separate chapters

When I do so...

...we'll get answers to all the queries regarding this incident

Why are you so interested?

'Anything personal?'

Nothing of that sort, sir

In case I don't like this article...

...you should go and interview that actress

Megha...?

What is the title of your story?

He's like my own son even if I'm not his father

I'll tell you all that I know

Without missing anything I, Doss will share with you

But he gives a new meaning to the word 'style'!

That fellow, huh?

He's a scumbag

Son of a mongrel!

I'll tell you the truth

Akka, I'll tell you everything

'Akka, I'll tell you everything'

'Generally most stories begin with 'So and so is a globe-trotter' or else...'

'A stranger walked into this town'

'But my story is out of the box!'

'No need, madam Please leave'

'Sir, please stop'

I've told him whatever I know

This is a different question

Peter, she's pleading, right? Why don't you oblige?

Shut up, you jinxed jackass!

Tell if you're so concerned

- Bloody pain! - Right, forget it

Listen, madam

Why do you want to beg him? I'll tell you

Okay, tell me

'So the story goes-'

Hello...!

What is he telling you?

Don't believe a word he says

Jinxed junk of an ass!

You'll crap in your own 'dhoti'!

How do you know what happened?

Move aside

Can't you hear me? Move your bloody butt!

Foolish fellow!

Fine, I'll tell you myself

Sir, whatever you tell me I'll ensure confidentiality

'Crow; Peter'

Peter anna, come

'When we threw the net into the sea...'

'...she got caught in it'

'So damn heavy 10 of us had to lug it'

'So thrilled it was such a big catch...'

'...it was a mere log of wood'

'The other fishermen told me to throw it back into the sea'

'But I didn't have the heart to do so'

'It somehow found a place in my heart'

'Of course I know'

'Anything found in sea has to be shared 50-50 with Isaac annachi'

'Even if it's a pair of sandals'

'But this is just a log of wood'

'Just a log of wood'

'On our way back, the engine stopped'

'We had to jump into the sea and swim to the shore'

'Without Isaac annachi's knowledge...'

'...the fishermen left the log of wood in my house'

'That night...'

'...I couldn't sleep'

'Significantly a single crow bugged me by cawing nonstop till daybreak'

'I tried shooing it away and hurling stones too, all in vain!'

'Perching itself on the roof...'

'...it watched that log keenly'

'That's when it dawned on me'

'Good lord!'

'This crow has been following me from the sea'

'I hurled the very same log it had fixed its gaze on'

'Aiyo!'

'Goodness gracious!'

'I couldn't believe my own eyes!'

A treasure

Telling Her name in Tuticorin is enough People will queue up to grab Her

Is it that easy to get Her?

Princess of the deep sea, eh?

Stop...!

So-

Why are you referring to that statue as a female?

Why do you name hurricanes after women?

Tsunami, Katrina, Nila, Nisa

Women = hurricane

Both will be quiet to start with

But if anyone messes around...

...it will turn the town topsy turvy, in ruins

Then it will whimper in a corner as if nothing happened!

So where is this?

You mean the hurricane?

No...no

That statue

Thought I'll sell Her and plan my sister's wedding

But do I break or melt to sell Her?

'Ignorance is bliss' is me

I had a friend in the Customs department

I took him into confidence

He advised me, 'Hey, Peter, don't sell it here'

'If we sell it in Calcutta, we'll get loads of money'

'We can split 50-50' he said

Do you know how much?

Lakhs...crores...millions

When I was wondering if I could trust him...

...he gave me an advance of 10000!

Imagine 10000!

But my hopes crashed

He ran away with Her and that was it

Later he called me one day

'Peter, She is missing', he said

'He claimed someone had taken Her away'

Have you heard of Isaac?

He also had an eye on my treasure

When he knew my plan...

...Isaac sent Richie to crack the whip on me

As in

He threatened you and-

Yes

'He instigated me through Richie'

This...this statue...this myth

Your stories about Her is just local folklore, right?

How can someone from Calcutta know about Her value and steal it from you?

Today I won't spare you For sure I'll kill you

'Sir, do you know who stole it?'

'Run Raghu Run'