Beauty Spot

By Abhijeet Madhusudan Ghule

Ritesh is the leader of a smuggler gang, but he is unaware of it. Raghu, a loyal servant of his father is looking after the entire business. One fine day, Ritesh comes to know that his childhood friend has stolen money from Ritesh’s office for the treatment of his son who is admitted in a hospital, awaiting a severe surgery. Ritesh calms him down by sending more than the required money, as a gesture of friendship and to ease the burden on his friend. However, when his friend tells him that he got confused, Ritesh shoots at him, right in the centre of his forehead, referring to it as beauty spot.

Later, Vrushali, his friend’s wife, who also happens to be the daughter of Raghu, confronts Ritesh and Raghu both. But she comes to know that Ritesh has grown only by age and by physique, his mind is still that of a six year old child, who still believes that his father, whom he himself had killed, had giving him a beauty spot. It is later disclosed that Ritesh’s father had killed Ritesh’s mother, out of suspicion of her cheating on Ritesh’s father. But soon after, Ritesh’s father becomes alcoholic when he learns that the man his wife was talking to was her brother, who was also killed by Ritesh’s father. Vrushali learns an interesting fact about Ritesh’s life that his father killed his mother right in front of his eyes and told Ritesh that he had just made the beauty spot of his mother a bit bigger, the same place where she used to wear a bindi. He also taught Ritesh that confusion is only a disease and can be cured by giving patient a beauty spot. This makes him believe that whenever a person is confused, he is supposed to be given a beauty spot.

Having said that, when Ritesh’s father learns the truth about Ritesh’s mother, he becomes alcoholic and one day, under the influence, tells Raghu that he is confused. Unfortunately, little Ritesh hears this and acts as his father had taught him, by giving his father a beauty spot. When Vrushali learns about Ritesh’s background, out of concern she immediately enquires about her husband who was shot dead by Ritesh earlier.

How will Ritesh confront the truth of life and death? Will Vrushali avenge her husband, or will she forgive Ritesh for giving a helping hand for their son?

By Abhijeet Madhusudan Ghule