The irresistible flow of time make us swim along its course. Sometimes it drowns us with a sudden splash . At the same time it leaves a log behind for our hands to hold for a support. It is not that everyone who holds that log will be able to survive. But it symbolizes a hope ,a never ending hope. But there are some who are so immersed in its course that they can't even see those logs. May be he is one among them.
The first rays of the sunlight find him on the bed of an intensive care unit of a govt hospital in Mumbai. He was sleeping, something he need badly for days. No one can figure out whether it is a normal human sleep or an eternal sleep looking at that calm face. But the time had no plan to give him that desired eternal sleep so easily. Today it is the sedatives that helped him gain freedom from all thoughts and pains. The doctor came out after attending the patient. The hospital corridor was empty today. Had it been any other day the corridor will have been filled with low sobbings and silent prayers. Today it is different. Maybe Media's investigative journalism team is also not aware of the present situation.
Rishinath: (tensed) Abhijeet kaisa hai.
Doctor: Rishi look it's a clear case of custodial torture. His body is full of bruises and marks. His ligaments got damaged. His food and water intake was very low. And he hasn't slept for days. He would not have survived if he was not a trained cop. Uska condition abhi bhi stable nahi hai. It's a reportable offence.
Rishi: We didn't intend it. Hum sach nikalvane ka koshish kiya hai. He is a culprit.
Doctor: It is brutal Rishi. You are my friend but I can't help it. I should report it. For a doctor everyone is his patient only.
Rishi : yaar Mai tume kabhi apne duty karne se nahi rokunga. You may report it . I am ready to face the consequences.
Clock strikes 8 in the morning. The cid bureau is already on wheels by its efficient officers. Acp entered ,roaming in his own thoughts . The morning wishes of his officers didn't reach his ears. The two empty desk on the way made a sudden wrinkle over his face . He ignored it and went directly to the cabin . Soon Salunkhe Sir too entered and without disturbing any of the workaholic officers who pretended to work with their minds wandering over the last few horrific days, walked straightly. For him that empty desk possess the most sweetest memories of his life. He just diverted his attention and joined his buddy in his cabin.
Acp: tum subah yeham. Kya hua.
Salunkhe : kuch nahi . Vo ek file deni dhi. Tumare officers aajkal bahut Busi hai. Isliye Socha ki file Mai hi lata hum.
Acp: ha ek case report hua hai. Bahut complicated hai. Abhi...(he halted with a sudden realisation)vaise chodo. Ye bathao Tarika abhi tak nahi aya hai kya.
Salunkhe: nahi. Lagta hai Vo bahut pareshan hai. Baat bhi zyada nahi Karta hai. Lagta hai ghar valom bahut sakt se pesh Karta hai uske sath. Vaise tum Abhijeet ko lekar kya faisla Liya.
Acp: kya faisla Leni hai. Investigation zari hai na.
Salunkhe : tho tumhe lagta hai Vo investigation kafi hai.
Acp: Mai aur kya kar sakta hoon.
Before Salunkhe Sir's reply Freddy rushed in the cabin.
Freddy : sir aise achanak ane keliye sorry. Baat kuch aisa hai. App please news channel on kijiye.
News channel
Breaking News : Ex Senior Inspector who was arrested on the grounds of espionage and murder has been admitted in hospital with serious injuries. It is suspected that it is an instance custodial torture.
News Reader:Aaj humare churcha ke topic ye hai-' Kya senior Inspector Abhijeet ko custody Mai aise marna Sahi hai ya nahi. Darshakom ko bhi is charche mai apne Rai dene ka avasar hai. Us keliye call karo 6774.
Humara pahle call aagaya hai : Bataiye apko kya kahne hai is mamle mai.
Person 1 : Police Sahi kiya. Aise desh drohiyom ko on sight shoot karna chahiye.
Person 2: Vo ex Inspector koi badiya Kaam nahi kiya hai. Use aisa he treat karna hai.
Human rights activist: ye human rights ke virudh hai.
Person: Aise admi humare desh ke liye nuksaan hai. Use pattar bhengkar marna hai.
Acp sir switch off the tv in anger and hit his hand on the table.
Freddy : (pov) log aisa he hai. Ek arop lag gaya tho saloom ke imaandari ek second par bhoola Jata hai.
Acp sir and Salunkhe Sir felt a pinch on their heart with that soliloquy
Freddy: Sir hum use dekhne jaa sakta hai kya.
Acp : Nahi Freddy ,Tum log Kaam karo . Mei dekh lunga.
Freddy : But sir
Acp : It's an order Freddy.
Freddy left the cabin disappointed.
Acp :Damn it .Why don't they inform us
Salunkhe : keval parivar ko inform karnae ka farz hai un logom ka. Employer ko nahi
Acp: Tumhe kya lagta hai me uska Sirf employer hoon.
Salunkhe : parivar banne ke liye kuch dayitv nibhana hai. Jo hum nahi kiya aaj tak.
Acp :Tho tumhe bhi yahi lagta hai ki Mai galat hum.
Salunkhe : No you are not wrong. But he is also not wrong to expect us beside him in the time of his difficulties.
Acp couldn't find a reply so he said : mai nikalta hum.
Salunkhe: tum usse santvana nahi de sakta he tho Sahi . Parantu usse further hurt math karna.
Acp stared him meaningfully and went . Salunkhe sir give out a sigh. He cannot figure out the exact status of his mind. Few days back he was the one who convinced Daya to leave Abhijeet alone here. And today he speaks for Abhijeet to Acp. He himself experiences a duality in him. One proclaiming Abhijeet is a cheater while the other trying to convince him that Abhijeet can never do so. This duality has become part of the thought of not only him but also the entire Cid team. The Cid bureau and it's officers who where once firm on their every statement is confused today about their approach towards a culprit. This is what time can do.
In the hospital
IB head Agnivesh : Rishinath and Ratan What is this.?
Rishi: Sir we are sorry.
Agnivesh: You know it is a very sensitive case. Manta hai tumhe public support hai. But we cannot promote this type of inhumane activities. So both of you are removed from the charge of this case. Tum donom the khilaf inquiry rakhne ya nahi ye Abhijeet ka statement ke baad tay karunga.
Rishi: But I have not ordered him to beat with iron rod. Mujhe case ka lead bhi mila hai.
Agnivesh: It doesn't matter whether you ordered or not. You were the Chief investigation Officer. He was ur responsibility.
Their talk was interrupted by the doctor's entry.
Doctor : patient ko hosh aa raha hai
Three of them went in. Abhijeet was struggling to open his eyes like a baby does when he first open his eyes leaving the comfort of his mother's womb. Maybe he too was reluctant to see and experience this brutal world again leaving the comfort of that soothing sleep. He felt a pat on his forehead. Again flares of expectation arouse in him .May be his dear ones are here to rescue him from the clutches of this loneliness and torture. This hope give him power to open his eyes. But his hopes are shattered in a minute. It was the IB head Agnivesh
. He knew this man. They shared a good relationship , since they had met in an award function some 2 years ago. He had always shown a particular interest in him. He never missed an opportunity to appreciate him. Abhijeet too loved his commitment , sincerity and law abiding nature. He enjoyed that pat . An act of concern he was receiving after two weeks . How can he ignore it. For Agnivesh it may be an unintentional act but for Abhijeet it meant something priceless. An invaluable gift for which he was longing but never got from any of his family members.
Agnivesh: Abhijeet(a call so soft which bought tears in his eyes)Tum ud gaya. Ab kaise ho.
Abhijeet: kaise hona chahiye sir , vaise hi.
Agnivesh: Look Abhijeet himmat mat khona . Ab se is case mai handle Kar raha hum. Ye donom officers suspend ho Chuka hai. Believe in a last minute miracle.
Abhijeet smiled sadly on this. May be he was tired with this expectations and hopes or sometimes with this life too.
Agnivesh: Abhijeet ye bathao kya hua tha . Tumare statement Leni hai. Rishi aur Ratan ke khilaf case charge karne keliye.
Abhijeet: Sir (he looked at Rishinath and Ratan) I have no complaints . Mai bathroom mai gir gaya tha.
Both Rishinath and Ratan give him a surprise stare
Agnivesh: What do you mean Abhijeet. Mai janta hoon it's a case of custodial torture. Tum khabra mat. Koyi tumhe kuch nahi karunga. Tum sach bathao.
Abhijeet: Sir Mai ab Senior Inspector Abhijeet nahi hai. Lekin iska arth ye nahi hai ki Mai sach bathane se darta hoon. Mai aaj bhi Kisi ko bhi apne man ki bath kah sakta hoon. Aur mujhe darane ke liye ye injuries kafi nahi hai.
Agnivesh: phir Abhijeet tum aisa kyom bol raha hai.
Abhijeet: Sir mera jeene se tho sab ko problem hi problem hai. Yathi mere Marne se Kisi ko sukoon mila tho mai bahut Khush hum . Mere is bekar life se Kisi na Kisi ko kuch upkar hona chahiye. Aur in logom ke liye apna parivar hai,career hai sab hai. Me tho sab kuch kho diya hai. Ab mere Marne ya jeene se Kisi ko fark bhi nahi padta. Tho mai apne liye Kisi aur ke jeevan kyom kurban karunga. Jane dijiye sir.
(To Rishi and Ratan in a broken tone)Aur tum log khabrao mat . mere liye ladne ke liye koi nahi hai. mai anath hoon. Janam se nahi dha. Parantu sab rishte mai apne hath se kho diya hai. Aur ab anath hoka Marne jaa raha hum. Aur Ratan tumare revenge bhi Pura hoga mere Marne se. Ab kuch pal ki intezaar Baki hoga..
Ratan couldn't afford this broken words. His feelings of revenge turned into pure concern for that man whose words make him feel that he carry the agony of entire world in him. He went out when he was not able to manage his feelings any more. Rishi too having same feelings accompanied him. Sometimes forgiveness hurts and annoys a man than any act of revenge . It is what happened with this men. On the threshold they found a man who was trying very hardly to suppress his tears. It was Acp Pradumnan. They received an angry glance from him .They went out after giving a helpless glance to him. Acp heard more .
Agnivesh: Abhijeet you are really great. How can you forgive them.
Abhijeet: sir mai koi mahan Kaam nahi kiya. Vo Ratan Mujhe apne is zindhagi se azaad karne Vali dhe. Mai bhi yahi chahta dha. Is log se, is dukh shak aur ghruna Bhari dhuniya se azaadi. Aur jab Vo mere Icha ke purti kar raha tha tho Vo apradhi kaise banega.
It was the limit for Acp Sir. How can his son be so broken. Why is he saying about death only. These questions haunted him. Maybe he do not know that a person cannot hold himself strong beyond a limit. There is a saturation point for everything. And most often we ignore this fact and continue the reckless act towards our dear ones resulting in the permanent lose of that relation.
Acp sir entered in with an urge to hug his broken son. But those eyes, those broken eyes, remind him of many other broken and tear filled gazes who suffered due to him. So he resisted himself. Abhijeet looked him with a hopeful eyes. He didn't know why he was still hoping something from this people when he was sure that he will not receive any favours from them. The conversation that followed prove this fact.
Agnivesh : Acp Pradumnan aao . Andher aao.
Acp: Vo Mujhe ek case ke liye ana pada. Tab Abhijeet ke bare mai pata Chala. Maine Socha ek bar dekh lenga.( Abhijeet looked at him keenly with utter disappointment)
Agnivesh: Oh sorry Acp I forgot to inform you. Tume pata hai na case, media uske beech dimag se nikal gaya.
Acp: koi problem Nahi hai. Ab kaisa hai iska condition.
Agnivesh: behatar hai. Khatre se Bahar bhi hai.
Acp unintentionally left a sigh of relief giving another piece of hope to Abhijeet , which was broken at the very next moment.
Agnivesh: tum chahe tho kuch der yaham ruko.
Acp: Nahi Agnivesh Kaam hai Jana hoga.
Abhijeet felt that his heart is broken into a hundred pieces. Why he came here ,if he cannot console him or embrace him or hide him in his shell or atleast assure him that nothing wrong will happen with him ,only to give him false hopes. Why are they playing with his emotions. This thoughts pierced him. His eyes overflowed. He stared at the back of that retreating figure.
But Acp sir was in another state of mind . One more minute in that room will suffocate him with the feelings of guilt . He will burst out. He went directly into the washroom to cry out his pain.
Days passed normally although the Cid team felt that it takes a snail's pace only to haunter them. The expected last minute miracle had not happened. All the miracles we expect did not happen. The court give it's verdict.
Ex Senior Inspector Abhijeet was subjected to a rigorous imprisonment for three months. And on the first day after this third month he is to be hanged till death.
The unpredictable game of life went on leaving those people helpless.