Last In, First Out

Irwin Allan Sealy managed to produce a fascinatingly original short story despite it being a commissioned accomplishment. This is not to say that all commissioned stories will inevitably end up sounding forced, but some of the other pieces compiled in Delhi Noir have this sense of contractual production. "Last In, First Out" presents an odd narrative in a voice that seems truly Sealy. The diction is fresh and so are most of the images. I felt that the two preceding stories in this compilation did not accomplish the same level of creativity that emanates from the words of Sealy's autorickshaw driver - let's call him Bee-Cruiser. I have deemed the story odd, and I believe it to be that exactly. Bee-Cruiser begins his narrative by explaining to the readers that he didn't finish school because his father found out about the accumulating ideas that were a result of his enrollment at Delhi University. This part of the story is only there to lay the foundation for why Bee-Cruiser likes to drive around Delhi Ridge at night. Sealy's description of sights and sounds that one will incur at Delhi Ridge is quite unique. The "half-heckle, half-jeer" of the peacocks and "laughter therapy" of joggers both stand out as particularly original moments in Sealy's illustration. Bee-Cruiser moves on in his description of Delhi Ridge by illustrating the dangers of being in the area at night. In spite of these dangers, DU lovers come to the urban wilderness because of its proximity...and the fact that there isn't any other place that suits their "needs" so perfectly. As expected, rapes occur. Bee-Cruiser doesn't understand why these things happen, or why people continue to go into Delhi Ridge at night. But Bee Cruiser continues to drive through the Ridge. One dark evening, he found himself involved with the aftermath of a rape where little was said but much was conveyed. We all know the rest. Noir ensues and Bee-Cruiser wants to teach two goon rapists a lesson. After my first reading of the story's conclusion, I wasn't exactly sure what happened in his house at the very end. I didn't know if he now suspected his family of being involved, but for some reason he sensed that he had been used. Upon re-reading, I now see that he wondered why the Sidey had winked at him. Had Sidey/Mongoose used Bee-Cruiser to get rid of Cobra? Possibly, but either way the man is gone and Bee-Cruiser has a wonderful new paint job on his autorickshaw. I feel that poverty wasn't just used as a backdrop for this story. As Bee-Cruiser might say: That's progress - an individual taking it upon himself to make everything just a tinge better.