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Consumer Protection
(© Biswapriya Purkayastha)

Page 1

Author's Note: Romero fans shouldn't expect the sterotyped formulaic genre tropes they so adore.


Zombie Kumaramangalam walked into the store and slapped the tin can down on the counter so hard that it bounced.

"I want a refund," he moaned.

The girl at the counter looked as flustered as it was possible for someone whose facial muscles have lost their mobility to look. "Why, sir?" she groaned at last.

Kumaramangalam pointed angrily at the can. "That’s inedible," he snapped, but not too hard in case it knocked a tooth loose. "That’s why."

The girl picked up the can and studied it dubiously with her one functioning eye. "I don’t see what’s troubling you, sir. It looks like any other half-kilo can of Hrawnk Ghrawk Meat Treat. It’s our most popular brand, as you know." Instinctively, all three of their eyes rose to the huge red poster on the wall, on which jagged white lettering proclaimed the virtues of Hrawnk Ghrawk and all the assorted flavours in which it was sold. A smiling zombie mom was shown spooning meat from a can onto plates while ecstatic zombie children waved their spoons around. "We’ve never had a complaint before."

"Well," Kumaramangalam ground out, "you have one now. I want my money back."

"Maybe you could tell me the problem?" The girl reached unobtrusively for the button below the counter which would ring a buzzer in the manager’s office. It was the first time she’d ever had to use it, and she had to fumble around till she found it. And then it wouldn’t depress, no matter how hard she pushed on it. She smiled desperately, pressing away, and wishing the manager would bother to look at the closed circuit TV screens in his office. "We could work something out."

"The only thing I’m willing to work out is a full refund," Kumaramangalam said, banging his fist on the table. His wrists and hands were intact and still strong, so he could do this without fearing permanent damage. "Don’t imagine you’re getting off with anything less."

The girl gave a final frustrated push on the alarm button. "I, I think I’d better get the manager, sir," she slobbered. "I’m not authorised to handle this kind of thing."

Kumaramangalam snorted. "You’re authorised to take my money, though," he told her. "All right, go and get the manager. I’ll wait."

Relieved, the girl escaped. Kumaramangalam leaned on the counter, glaring around the store. It was mostly empty, except for a couple of other salesgirls peering curiously at him from behind their counters, and a customer in a black raincoat over by the far side, bending to rummage in a shelf. Outside, lightning flickered, and the sky through the shop’s windows looked as dark as night. There would be rain soon, and Kumaramangalam wished he had a raincoat. Even a zombie, he thought morosely, deserved protection from the rain. Maybe he should buy one, or an umbrella. But not from this store.

"Not from this store," he mumbled aloud. "No, that wouldn’t do at all."

"What was that, sir?" The manager had come hurrying from his office. He was a short plump zombie with a scraggly beard and a bad suit. Dandruff from his long, greasy hair sprinkled the suit’s shoulders, demonstrating clearly that he hadn’t changed it since he’d zombiefied. Only living scalp after all, produced dandruff. If he’d been alive he’d have been stinking of old sweat by now. The girl was behind him, her hands still gesturing urgently. "My colleague here says you have a problem."

"Yeah," Kumaramangalam confirmed. He fished out the receipt from his pocket. "I bought that can yesterday from you," he said. "And now I demand a refund."

The manager took the receipt and peered at it dubiously. "What’s wrong with the product?"

"Everything." Kumaramangalam glared at the can. "It should never have been sold."

"Why? Were the contents spoiled?" The manager picked up the can and examined the date stamp. "If so, I can assure you it isn’t our fault. The best before date on this is still seven weeks away."

"No, it wasn’t spoiled. I wish it were that simple." Kumaramangalam prodded the can. "Look what it says on it. Gun Nut flavour, right?"

[ Continue to page 2 ]

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Genre:Living Dead
Type:Short story
Rating:5.64 / 10
Rated By:35 users
Comments: 2 users
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