Chapter 24:

Daya parked the car beforehand and got down to walk to the place he was very much tense to go to. It had been months since when this all had started and how much they had all suffered in it. Speaking with those students has been one thing but what they will do or say is still a mystery. And frankly he doesn't even want to know what will happen. As now he was going to talk with the people themselves. The very people who should know the truth.

It was after a few minutes that daya reached the chawl. It was buzzing with people and none of them looked in the mood to actually entertain a law enforcement officer. Well, he couldn't help that. As daya walked inside the chawl all the hullabaloo started to sooth down. And an unknown gaze surrounded him as everyone left their works and stood still. Examining daya as he got inside. Daya ignored their gazes as he walked in the middle where he saw a few elder people sitting. And we're intently gazing at him.

After a deep breath Daya spoke gazing at the elder men of the chawl but was answering the chawl in general "Mai Sr. Inspector daya hun(he felt the people gaze getting filled with anger) dekhiye Mai aapse (gazing all around the chawl) sabse bass baat karna chahta hun"

"Are Bhai (a middle aged man came in front) bahut Kar liye baat vaat. Aapko Kya ye sab.." he was going to start an argument when he saw the two elder grandfather's raise their hands.

"Kya baat karni hai aapko?" The man asked daya trying to get the point of his presence here.

Daya nodded and started to answer in the most soft tone possible he really didn't want to make it any worse "dekhiye Mai janta hun ke aap sab Meri koi bhi baat manna ya Janna nahi chahte. Aur isme koi gaalt nahi hai. Par Mai yahan aapni nahi aapki baat Karne aaya hun..maai aapke bacchon me bare Mai baat Karne aaya hun"

The two standing people started clapping as they spoke in seething anger "Wah. Aap hamare bacche ke baare Mai baat Karne aaye hai( gazing at the senior members) hamare bacchon ki Zindagi baarbad ki. Unka pora bhavishya khatam kiya. Aur aaj..aaj inhe baat karni hai"

Daya seeing this spoke in a clarifying tone "nahi sach mai Mai aap ke bachon ki begunahi.."

"Begunaahi?(the woman spoke in anger) Kahan the aap jab hum cheekh rahe the unki begunaahi ke saboot leke? Kahan aapke Sach aur acchai me sapoot? Aaj jab sab khatam ho Chuka hai aapko yaad aarahi hai?" The woman spoke with tears in her eyes.

"Mai...maai aap sabse Mafi mangta hun(daya said while folding hands) aapko hamare khilaf use krke ye sab Kiya Gaya hai" daya said while he tried to calm the people who were now raging.

"Bhai sahab aap aapni ye wardi aur uske waade na hame na de ab" a middle aged man supposed to be the father of one of the accused boys came forward. "Yahan aapke jaise hazaaro aye. Aur gaye hai. Har koi roz Naya naya wada karte hai. Khushi ka, sukh ka. Par badle me?(in anger glaring at daya) hamse hamara hi kuch cheen lejate hai"

Daya, understanding his situation spoke in a generous tone "Main samajh sakta hun..aap."

When the man spoke in pain "kya samajh sakte ho tum Han?" Coming in front of daya who was now standing in the middle of the crowd. Which has started to increase.

"Khoye ho aapne bacche ko kabhi?(daya gazed down) ya aaye ho kabhi raaste pe. Ya jante ho ke kaisa lagta hai jab ameer aur aaiyash log tumhi keede ki tarah pairon tale rong dete hai tab kaisa lagta hai?(the man went and pulled his crying wife ahead) ya jante ho uss maa ka dard jisse aapne zindagi ki ek lauti umeed, uska beeta khoya hai?" The man's voice broke as he felt tears swelling his eyes as he stopped. Feeling the warm hand of his cover his hand in fear and tension.

Daya gazed back at him as he felt he was unable to speak. He felt his eyes moist as he spoke

"Mai, mai aapki mamta tou nahi samaz sakta maa ji" he said as he gazed at the poor mother. "Maa aur maa ka ehsaas bass suna hai maine(the mother felt pain her eyes as she saw daya saying it) aur duniya ka asli roop toh bachpan se hi dekhta aaraha hun(then gazing at them all) maine baccha nahi khoya hai. Par .. aaj. Aaj meri zindagi mesa ek lauta rishta(he felt his voice break) mera bhai mai aaj kho baithunga"

The mother and the father were able to feel his pain as they went silent and tears rolled down their eyes. They were poor but they weren't inhuman to not be able to understand what the person in front was going through. The whole raging crowd had been in pain and they could very well grasp as to what it was like to lose their loved ones for the greed of someone else.

But seeing this. The people in between these chawl called someone.

"Sir, yahan mamla bigad raha hai"

"Okay sir"

Saying the man cut the call as he signalled the other men to start. And before daya could even say anything. These men went in front and spoke

"Are dada kaki...aap kya in jhoothe logon ke baaton me aarahe hai?(in a loud tone) dusron ko phasana aur ye natak karna toh pesha hai inka" he said in anger as daya gazed at him.

"Kya bol rahe ho tum..tum(when he realised that this guy was spotted near ritvik) tum toh..ritvik ke." daya was speaking when another one of the men spoke.

"Are ise itni der yahan rukne kaise diya hai aapne?(in loud tone to emphasise) nikalo ise bahar. Hamare bacchon ka khooni hai ye. Unke bhavishya ka khooni hai" saying he went further. As daya in defense pushed him away as seeing that all the men signalled each other and started to hit daya. While pushing him out of the chawl.

Daya was pushing and pulling them away as he tried to let himself free without hurting anyone there. He could feel that those 5 to 6 people were purposefully sent here to make him hurt and stop him from doing anything. He started to hit them away as he felt himself being pushed outside and away from the chawl into a dark gully.

He was throwing punches and kicks as he felt that all the 5 were targeting him together. He was strong. But right now he was unable to make way through the chaos. As he felt one of them harshly push him towards the side where he hit the sidewalk harshly as he felt blood over his forehead. And they started to rush towards him when he took out his gun and shot in the air. And they scraped off in a rush. As he felt breathless as he held the wall behind him. The blow was hard and it was deep. He touched his wound only tk feel sharp pain in his whole body. Even though he fought well. The old wounds had opened now.

He stood there in the dark as he heard the loud commotion near and outside the chawl starting to get lowered. He knew that there was no point chasing those guys. As they were ritviks men. He tried to catch his breath as he felt himself sliding down the wall. And fall down in a thud. Taking deep and pained breaths. He sat there. With a gun in his hand. And his own blood now smearing his shirt. He got on his knees as he pushed the gun away.

Moments of silence passed. As he gazed outside at the end of the gully. Where he could see the light.

Aaj yahan shor nahi,

Aaj toh sach bhi khamosh hai,

Burayi ki cheekh ke saamne,

Aaj acchai ki awaz bhi kamzor hai,

He felt his shoulders stoop as he leaned down unable to hold himself up for long. As all he could now hear was the silence that encompassed him and his life. As he felt his body fall weak and a warm tear roll down his cheek. As he stared down at the ground just unable to be strong. As his tears slowly turned into slow sobs. He held his hurting arm by his hand as he felt small and weak for the first time. His whole body shook in fever and pain as he felt himself lose his sense of strength.

Sahi raste pe ab hum chalte nahi,

Burai se harke ab bass rengte hai,

Iss zamane ke aayne me,

Hum roz khud ko marta dekhte hai,

In the other part of the city: inside the interrogation room:

He felt his eyes swollen and puffy. As it had been more than 36hrs since then he has not had even a little sleep. As he was purposefully kept awake since the time he came into this facility. He was hurt and the wounds were still fresh. There was an immense need for him to sleep and take rest. But maybe that was the least of his problems.

He walked around the room again as he felt his body sore and aching. Considering the time he had been here. Abhijeet realised well that tomorrow was the day when his fate was going to be sealed. Everything was going to be decided once and for all. And on a sad note. He knew that the chances of the result being from his side were absolutely none.

This web of lies and conspiracy that Ritvik and Saransh had woven was deep and he was very much in the middle of it. Officially he expected absolutely no support. As this time it wasn't just the cid which was involved but the other departments. Which were least interested to bargain or do something for his good.

And just like his hope. His wait was short-lived. As he felt the footsteps approaching. And the door opened in a rush. As Saransh stepped inside. Looking in a worse mood than he had seen him before. And before abhijeet could rejoice it as his success. Saransh came and stood in front of him. He was standing only a few feet away from him. As he felt his gaze on him.

"Akal bahut chalti hai na tumhari?" He asked abhijeet in anger. As Abhijeet strained himself to remember what he did, Saransh is remembering now.

"Kya?" Abhijeet asked, being totally clueless.

"Kahan hai Raghu?" Sarnash yelled in his face. As he felt his temper being inches away from losing.

Abhijeet for a moment couldn't actually recollect Raghu. Until he remembered him. The very khabri who had been giving him details and deals. And the very person who had been absconding since the time he was arrested. Abhijeet felt that he never thought about him. Like all this was happening. He had lost his memory.

"Raghu..Raghu ka kya" abhijeet asked again. Unable to get the point of Saransh anger.

Saransh moved forward in anger and spoke "ye natak karna band karo samze. Bohot ho gaya tumhara. Yahan baithe baithe wahan cheese kar rahe ho tum samazta nahi mai?" He said in anger as he spoke ahead "Jyadda hoshiyari chadhi hai na tumpe?Han?"

Abhijeet who felt clueless about his allegations spoke in irritation "kya bak rahe ho tum. Kya kiya hai maine? Raghu ka kya?(gazing at him in anger) yahin sad raha hun dino se dikh nahi raha tumhe?"

Saransh pointed his finger at him "bewakoof mat samjho mujhe. Mai acchi tarah se jaanta hun ke tumne Raghu ko bhagaya hai hamare custody se"

Abhijeet couldn't contain the shock he felt when he actually realised that Raghu was kidnapped by them. And before he could be happy for it Saransh shouted again.

"Wo gawahi dene taq zinda nahi bachega. Yaad rakhna. Tum(pointing at him again) tum kal jail jaoge aur kuch nahi bachayega tumhe samze" Saransh spoke in a voice of determination.

"Itna gire ho par sapne dekhne ki aadat gayi nahi hai tumhari" abhijeet spoke in a smirk. Something he couldn't avoid.

"Badi hasi aarahai hai Han tuze?(in anger)24 ghante bhi nahi bache hai ab Teri maut ke faisle ke liye. Aur tujhe mazak lag raha hai Han?(added in fuming tone) mazak toh tere dost ho raha hai wahan(pointing outside) wo toh kya uski zindagi ek bada bhadda mazak ban chuki hai(abhijeet gazed at him in anger as he felt daya being mentioned) Ek aisa mazak jispe aaj mai has raha hun. Kal puri duniya hasegi" after a pause he called the other man.

"Ruk tuze dikhata hun..(saying he made his man open the video of the chawl incident where daya was being pushed and hurt) mazaak mein nahi (in smirk) tu ban raha hai. Tera ye dost yahan logon ke jutte chapal kha raha hai(seeing abhijeeet fuming in anger he added) wahi kha raha hai jo uski aukat hai" Saransh said in seething anger.

As before he could add anything else. Abhijeet hf him by his collar and banged him on the wall behind him. All Abhijeet could see was the way Daya was manhandled and insulted in front of all. How it made me feel weak and helpless. Abhijeet didn't know what he was doing. As he landed punch after punch on Saransh face. Slowly loading the count as he felt the other coming and grabbing him from his arms. But he wasn't just done yet. He knew that he had hit him enough to swell his face and injure his nose.

Saransh tried to push him away in anger as he fell back. "Are pakdo iss sarfire ko" he yelled as the other officers rushed inside. Roughly pinning abhijeet to the wall while abhijeet tried to set himself free. But it was hard now. As not only was he weak. But he was restrained by three others. And within moments Saransh charged over him with fuming anger and rage.

"Sale tu mere pe hath uthayega. Ruk tuze dikhata hu" abhijeet heard Saransh say that as the first blow landed straight into his jaw making his head spin. And then came many more. He didn't know when he stopped feeling the pain. As he was now let free from the hold but thrown down in a push. As he felt multiple blows from other sides. With sarnash mouthing foul words for him. All he could now hear were his own screams.

"Ro lo aaj,

Yahan koi sunta nahi,

Yahan logonke zameer bik chuke hai,

Yaha sacche dard ke aansu ke liye koi jagah nahi"

As the kicks to the stomach made him almost numb to the pain. As he lied on the ground silently. Unable to even cover himself as he felt his consciousness slowly getting lost. He knew that this would happen. But after seeing dayas condition. He didn't regret hitting Saransh at all. Even if it ended up with him being beaten to death. Abhijeet slowly felt himself going unconscious as his eyes closed slowly remembering the face of his friend that he didn't know if he would even be able to see anymore.

Zindagi ke iss mod pe ab lagta hai ke ye kali raat ka koi aant nahi,

Ab iss andhere ke baad yahan koi subah nahi,

Aakhir iss andheere ko kese haraaye,

Jahan hamara saya bhi hamare sath nahi,

In the dark alley:

Daya who was sitting there silent and still. As now all he could hear was the silence of the space and the slow sobs that he was having. He felt stiff and lost. As he was just staring at his own hands. As he sat there. All alone and helpless.

When he gazed up at the night sky. And asked :

"Kya karu mai abb? Han? Aur kya karu mai? Sabkuch sabkuch kar chuka hun. Ab aur kya chahte ho tum?(in a pause) nahi ladh sakta ab...nahi hai ab taqat ke wapas uth ke khada ho jaun iss duniya se ladhne. Sachme nahi hai ab himmat..(in a low tone) nahi dila paya mai..nahi dila paya mai tumhe insaaf boss..(as tear rolled down his eye) nahi dila paya insaaf"

He said as he held his head in his hands. And sat there letting go his tears once and for all. Unable to stand strong anymore.

When he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. And before he could turn he heard the voice say :

"Insaaf hoga"

.

.

.

"Zindagi me aasan Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai,

Har cheez me Sangharsh,

Har pal ek chunauti hai,

Iss zamane me insaaf ki ye ladhai,

Kamzor dil walon ki nahi hai,

Aakhiri saans taq koshish karne wale ki hi jeet hui hai"


Author note:

Will be updating the remaining chapters soon one after another.

Hope that you remember this one. And are still on track. If not then please go through the story once and be back by the next chapter.

And yeah, STAY AT HOME.

Take care folks,

Regards ,

Renuka.