Janta Stores Bandra West, Mumbai, India | © Support Direct India Google Maps
Rehana smiled for the first time in seventeen days. It was him. She’d know him anywhere: the thin lips, the heavy brow, the eyes cold as kadappa stone.
He was standing outside the ATM vestibule, his eyes darting up and down the street. Not only was he back, he was setting a trap for another victim.
Her throat tightened as she remembered the day. What a nice man, she’d thought. That day, she left with a friendly wave. It wasn’t until she got to work she realized his friendliness was a ruse to lift ₹10,000 from her account.
No one scams Rehana Shaikh. At least not again.
She’d gone back to the store across from the ATM every day for seventeen days waiting for him. Waiting for justice. The police had merely shrugged at her initial report. “Nothing we can do.”
They wouldn’t be able to say that now.
—
149 words
This has been an edition of What Pegman Saw. To read more stories inspired by the prompt or to submit your own, click here.
Inspired by real events: Mumbai woman visits same ATM everyday for 17 days, catches man who duped her
k. Rawson 
Gosh, what revenge is she going to wreak? My mind races in search of suggestions. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe, it’s wide open. In the news story she just called the cops and he was arrested. But I like the idea of her going all ninja on him!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Oh yes, could make a good tale. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow! That’s one tough, determined lady. I so admire her tenacity and the way you captured all of that in so few words. Great story Karen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lynn. She’s determined for sure. I hope she got justice…and her money back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! Can’t say I’d be that dogged – I wouldn’t want to meet the nasty piece of work who was prepared to do that to someone. She’s a tougher woman than I!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. But she’s inspiring me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely inspirational
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, I was hoping she was a professional assassin there to kill him for jilting her and robbing her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh that would have been much better!
LikeLike
Tough, determined, non-lethal but effective – that’s a great heroine you’ve given us, Karen! And the pacing of your story is perfect. Kudos!
LikeLike
Thanks Penny! I had a great real-life inspiration. I love a heroine we can root for 🙂
LikeLike
An excellent story. You really put us there. I like how it has a happy ending. Mumbai seems to be one of those magical places with as many stories as there are people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems so! Thanks for reading J. Hardy.
LikeLike
Oh, I do love a story about an intrepid everyday heroine who gets justice with patience and determination! I can just picture the satisfied look on her face as the cops haul him away in cuffs — take that! You captured so much story in so few words — I felt I saw the whole picture unfolding, nothing missing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joy!. I’ll bet you’re right about the satisfied smile as they hauled the bad guy away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rehana ought to look into law enforcement. Seems like a natural!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’re right. She knew human nature well enough to know the crook would come back and had the patience to wait him out. Thanks for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story! I hope the man gets what’s coming to him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so too! Thanks for reading, Debra.
LikeLike
It is good to hear about good triumphing over evil for a change. Excellent write k.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Violet, glad you liked it. I was in the mood to see some justice done 🙂
LikeLike
All the scams and frauds are common these days. I loved that you made her plan revenge. As money is involved almost all women hesitate personal confrontation/revenge, instead go to the police. As they are not helping, underworld thugs of Mumbai might involve, I guess. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate a scammer! Maybe it was a scammer phone call the other day that made me so eager to see justice done. Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, stay alert! 😱
LikeLiked by 1 person