Once A Cop, Always A Cop
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The alarm in the room went off with a boom near the night table. A sleepy and disorientedly moving hand moved blindly towards the night table trying to navigate the raucous creating alarm clock, missing it several times until he finally caught hold of it. Shutting the alarm off, he looked at the time. 5 AM. Yawning and trying the stifle the next one that immediately followed the first, he set the clock back on the table. Rubbing his eyes groggily, ACP Pradyuman made his way out of bed, his mind now alert, but quite tired all the same. He had finished his work and reached home at 2 in the morning, so the tiredness definitely came along.
Going about with the usual morning activities, ACP Pradyuman now sported his track suit when his phone rang. 5:30 AM. Surprised at the hour of the call, he suspiciously answered his phone, but relaxed almost immediately as he could hear an exhausted Daya speak on the line.
"Haan Daya, bolo... kya, forensic analysis ka report aa gaya? Pata chal gaya ki uss raat uss table par kaun baitha tha? Excellent! Mai bas abhi aadhe-paune ghante mein bureau pohonch jaata hoon."
Smiling to himself at finally having a breakthrough in this case, he directed his next call towards Abhijeet. Their current case had proved to be quite a high-profile one, as the victim was involved with a very big underground drug mafia gang. The CID team had finally got the chance to bust the entire drug racket and were desperate for any and every lead. The lead that they were currently investigating was a huge link in the mafia gang, and getting hold of him would mean getting closer to catch the master mind himself.
3 days earlier, there was a drug deal that had taken place in a dingy restaurant that had confirmed a huge deal, with consignment worth crores of rupees entering the country. The CID Team had been informed of this by an informant, who was a witness by eavesdropping to the whole event. Even though he could not see the person who had made the deal, he could roughly figure out some facts and had then informed the team about the table and it was then that the CID Team had brought over the table itself on which the deal had taken place to the forensic lab to scavenge for finger prints. The Bureau had been quite abuzz with activity, especially with DCP Chitrole making more frequent visits, which would usually end up with frustrating all the officers and added pressure to solve the case as soon as they could. Also, the case needed quite a bit of research and proper planning, that left absolutely no scope of rest for anyone, most of the time with officers having to stay back in the bureau the entire night.
The phone rang for some time before Abhijeet answered the call.
"Hello? Abhijeet! Itna time kyun laga phone uthaane mein? He plunged in to speech at once.
"Sorry sir woh main..."
"Woh sab chhodo, Daya ka abhi abhi call aaya tha, forensic report aa gayi hai, toh jitna jaldi ho sake Bureau pohonch jao..."
"Okay sir..."
"Ek kaam karo, Bureau pohonchne se pehle mere ghar par aa jaao, phir wahi se hum dono saath mein chalte hai... raaste mein mujhe tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai..."
"Haan theek hai sir, jitna jaldi ho sake, main aapke ghar pohonchta hoon..."
"Good..."
Disconnecting the line, ACP Pradyuman looked at the time. 5:45 AM. There wouldn't be sufficient time to go for his routine walk. Disregarding the idea, he now headed to his bedroom, and changed into his formal attire. By the time he got ready, he simultaneous drank a glass of juice, which was to be his substitute for breakfast today. Checking the entire house to see whether he had switched off the lights and electric appliances, he hurriedly headed down the stairs, disposing of the glass in the kitchen sink, and carrying another bottle of juice with along with him. Locking the door, he saw Abhijeet's car halt to a stop right at that moment. He entered the car, where Abhijeet exchanged the usual greetings and trivial questions with his boss. Even though Abhijeet looked completely deprived of sleep, he also had an alert and tensed look at the same time. Driving the car once more, with ACP Pradyuman at the passenger seat, he queried about the new breakthrough.
"Sir, Daya ka phone aaya tha, par usne kuch theek se bataya nahi... bas itna hi ke jitna jaldi ho sake main Bureau pohonch jaun..."
"Daya ne mujhe bhi itna hi bataya hai... Waise, tumne naaste mein kuch khaya hai bhi ke yu hi khali pet kaam karne nikal pade ho?"
"Nahi sir... woh..." Finding for an excuse that he knew wouldn't work, Abhijeet gave his mentor a sheepish smile.
"Yeh lo, main tumhaare liye juice lekar aaya hoon... Do minute gaadi rok do aur jaldi se pee lo..." ACP Pradyuman sounded strict, but his care and concern didn't go amiss. Smiling at the concern and affection that his father figure never failed to show, he stopped the car aside for a moment and had the juice, while ACP Pradyuman gave Daya another call informing his about his location.
As soon as the call ended, he checked his watch. 6:10 AM. It was a beneficial thing that his house was only at a distance of 15 minutes from the Bureau, so that during such emergencies, distance never proved to be a problem. Just then, Abhijeet had finished drinking the bottle of juice, and now seemed more energetic. Starting the car once more, while thanking his boss, Abhijeet continued their thread of conversation once more regarding the case. Just then, he remembered that ACP Pradyuman had wanted to discuss something important with him.
"Sir, aap mujhse kuch zaroori baat karna chahte the..."
"Haan Abhijeet, baat toh karni thi, par ab Bureau jaake hi main tumhe bata dunga..."
"Theek hai sir..."
Reaching the Bureau after 5 minutes, they ascended the steps quickly and entered the Bureau. All the officers including the new team, were present waiting for their boss to arrive. On arrival, everyone greeted ACP Pradyuman with a cordial Good Morning, while he gave a nod as a sign of acknowledgement. He headed straight towards Dr. Salunkhe, who had the final link, the link which could very well lead to victory in the next few days.
"Bata Salunkhe, forensic report mein kya aaya hai?"
"Boss, uss raat par jo aadmi uss table par baitha tha, uski puri kundli mili hai mujhe. Uss table par fingerprint collector sensor use karne par humein laghbagh 5000 se 10000 logon ke prints mile honge, jismien se 250 prints hamare criminal data base main shaamil the. List ko narrow down karne le liye, humne unn sabhi prints ko 3 hisso mein divide liya - ek, jo jaane maane wanted criminals hai, dusra, jiske naam ka case paanch baar se zyada lodge ho chuke hai aur teesra, jo chhote mote jurm se liye jail jaake chuke hai.
Kyunki tum logon ki kadi woh hai jiske naam par alag alag cases 5 se zyada baar aaye hai database mein jaise ki aap logon ko pata chala, mujhe dusre list mein mein 45 mujrim mile. Usmein se maine yeh dhundh nikaala ki kitne drug mafia aur underworld drug business ke relation mein giraftaar hue hai, mujhe yeh 6 naam mile - Raghu, Monty, Arjun, Bala, Varun aur Chiku. Aur agar tum log sahi ho, toh tum logon ke rough estimation ke hisaab se iss mujrim ki height 5'10 se 6 ft ke beech ki hai, jo sirf do hi naam hi chhodte hai - Bala aur Varun. Aur toh aur, uss informer ke mutabik, yeh mujrim leftie yaane ke left handed hai, aur inn dono ke criminal records mein se Varun ke record mein saaf saaf kilha hai ki woh left handed hai... Toh aapka mujrim Varun hi hai!
Everyone looked at Dr. Salunkhe in awe. The table had been brought to him a day earlier, and it was within the gap period of 22 hours that Dr. Salunkhe, along with Dr. Tarika, that analysed all the prints on the table, let alone find out who was the culprit they were in search of. But ACP Pradyuman had more important matters running in his mind. Praising Dr. Salunkhe for his contribution in helping the Team find out about the biggest link of the case, ACP Pradyuman started assigning everyone their roles.
"Kavin, Dushyant, ab se tum dono iss case ko lead karoge aur iss case ki har ek khabar tum log mujhe dete rahoge... tumhaare andar hamaare baaki ke officers kam karenge aur agar zaroorat pade toh Abhijeet, Daya ya Freddy ko bhi consult kar sakte ho tum..."
"Par sir, Abhijeet, Daya aur Freddy sir?" Kavin was curious as to why the three senior most officers wont be having any hand whatsoever in the case.
"Mujhe unn teeno ki zaroorat kisi aur case pe hai, isiliye filhaal main unn teeno ko iss case pe kaam karne nahi de sakta..." ACP sir seemed to get a bit impatient now. While everyone exchanged curious glances towards Abhijeet, Daya and Freddy, who seemed the most surprised, Daya looked enquiringly at Abhijeet, to which Abhijeet gave him a 'I'll talk to you later" look.
"Theek hai sir... hum apni poori taakat laga denge iss gang ko pakadne ke liye!" Dushyant chorused everyone's emotions on their behalf, to which all the officers gave a nod of agreement.
"Aur ek baat, iss case ko lekar, koi bhi galti... koi bhi galti nahi honi chahiye! Warna uss ek galti ke nateeje ko jaante ho tum!"
"Sir, hum apni jaan de denge, par uss gang ko nahi chhodenge!" It was now Sachin's turn to accept the responsibility and seriousness of each and every action.
"Good! Ab tum log kam par lag jao... aur Daya, Abhijeet, Freddy, tum teeno mere cabin mein aao.."
While the remaining officers got back to their work, ACP Pradyuman summoned Abhiijeet, Daya and Freddy to follow him into his cabin. Sitting back on his chair, ACP Pradyuman's eyes met a pair of three curious ones, who seemed to have a thousand thoughts running into their minds already as to their removal from such a vital case.
"Main jaanta hoon ki iss wakt tum log yahi soch rahe honge ki maine tum teeno ko yun iss taeh case se hata kyun diya." While the three nodded in unison, ACP Pradyuman continued, "Yeh case toh sirf ek chhota sa hissa hai, ya aisa kahe ki yeh bada racket ka chhota sa hissa hai. Iss racket ka boss sirf drugs ka hi nahi balki uske saath saath arms and ammunitions, aur nakli paise print karne ka dhanda bhi karta hai. Agar iss case ke ant mein humein iska boss mil jaata hai toh hum yeh poore racket ka khaatma kar sakte hai... magar..."
"Magar yeh itna aasaan nahi hai jitna ki yeh lagta hai, hain na sir?" Abhijeet intervened, assuming what ACP Pradyuman had in mind.
Smiling at his capable officer's astute assumption, he broke into speech once again, "Haan Abhijeet, yeh bilkul bhi aasaan nahi hai... humein har ek kadam chaalaaki se uthaani padega... uss gang ko bhanak bhi nahi lagni chahiyebki hum log unn ke peeche pad chuke hai..."
"Par sir agar yeh case itna hi important tha toh phir aapne humein is case par kaam karne se kyun rok diya? Agar hum Kavin aur Dushyant ke saath hote toh man power aur resources bhi zyaada ho jaata phir kyun sir?" Daya interjected with a confused look at ACP Pradyuman.
"Kyunki..."
"Kyunki ACP sir unn criminals ko shaayad yeh yakeen dilaana chahte the ki CID ko unke poori racket ke baare mein nahin pata hai... iss tarah woh log uss hadd tak itna satark nahi honge jitna ki tab hote agar unhe andaaza hota ki CID Team ko puri tarah se unke iss racket ke baare mein pata chal chuka hai..."
While Abhijeet and Daya shared confused looks for a moment, ACP Pradyuman looked at Freddy and gave him a happy smile. At first Freddy had a frightened look, thinking that he may have not made any sense at all, but seeing the way that he was being looked at by his superior, he had a look on his face which now emanated confidence that he had hit the mark.
"Exaxtly Freddy! Bilkul theek kaha tumne... iss case se tum logon ko hataane ki yahi wajah hai... agar tum teen aur khaas kar Abhijeet aur Daya tum dono hote, toh unhe pura yakeen aa jata ki CID ko sab kuch pata chal gaya hai, par ab jabki case Kavin aur Dushyant handle kar rahe hai aur CID Team ke do sabse senior most officers hi nahi hai, toh unhe yahi lagega ki CID Team ko unke dhande ke baare mein kuch nahi pata chala hai"
"Toh sir, aap yeh chahte hai ki hum iss case ko parallelly investigate karein, par humaara investigation underworld ke sabse bade racket ka parda faash karna hoga?" Daya summarized their basic goal.
"Bilkul sahi Daya... toh aaj se, balki abhi se tum teen iss case pe lag jao, aur mujhe har ek baat ki khabar honi chahiye... har ek baat ki... samajh gaye?"
"Yes sir!" Abhijeet, Daya and Freddy chorused together.
"Toh phir jao, aur abhi iss wakt apne apne khabriyon ko inform kar do..."
Nodding their head, Abhijeet and Daya both left the cabin while discussing the case animatedly in whispers. However freddy was rooted to the spot and seemed to have a confused look on.
"Kya baat hai Freddy, kuch puchna hai kya?" ACP Pradyuman asked Freddy casually.
"Sir aapne mujhe iss case pe kyin lagaya hai?" It was a simple question, yet ot seemed to have made an impact on him for at that moment, ACP Pradyuman stopped his work and look up at Freddy with a baffled look.
"Kya matlab tumhein iss case pe kyun lagaya hai?"
"Yahi sir, ki mujhe yeh baat samajh mein aa gaya ki yeh case secret case hai aur iss case pe Abhijeet sir aur Daya sir ko lagana bhi mujhe mein aata hai par main kyun sir? Mujh jaise officer ko itna important case pe... "
"Mujh jaise matlab?" ACP Pradyuman now looked angry. "Tum ek CID officer ho Freddy, ek CID officer! Aur ek CID officer hona koi bacchon ka khel nahi hai!"
"Nahi sir, mera woh matlab nahi tha..." For the first time in his life, he saw Freddy speak with confidence in front of him, something he had always hoped to see in his officer, and he had to admit, it gave him a different aura all together. He kept silent however, which was a cue for Freddy to continue.
"Sir aap toh jaante hai ki na toh mujhe strategy banani aati hai na toh main koi case theek se apne aap solve kar paata hoon... aur aap mujhe itna improtant case pe lagake... main apne aap ko iss layak nahi samajhta ki main yeh case Abhijeet sir aur Daya sir ke saath solve karu..."
"Keh diya jo kehna tha tumhe?" ACP Pradyuman looked at him with exasperation. While Freddy nodded his head, ACP Pradyuman motioned for him to sit. He smiled a little at the hesitancy Freddy showed in sitting down. So typical of Freddy, always underestimating his capabilities, always ready to give others credit and opportunities. But now that Freddy was so adamant to know why he was selected for the case, he knew that it was his duty to provide him with the truth.
"Ek baat batao, tumhein kya lagta hai, maine tumhe kyun iss case ke liye select kiya hoga?"
ACP Pradyuman waited patiently for Freddy's reply, while he could see that Freddy was indeed trying to rack his brains to think of a proper reason as to why his senior must have taken such a step. The thought that he was finally cracking crossed his mind several times, but he shook his head violently every time the thought hit him for fear of laughing out on his senior's face. Finally accepting defeat, Freddy nodded his head in a NO.
"Ab bina kuch bole, meri baat suno..." As ACP Pradyuman continued, Freddy noticed for the first time that he looked tired. That his age was now reflecting on his face... in his actions. Disregarding the thought quickly from his mind, he managed to catch up on what was being said to him. "Maine tumhe iss case par isiliye lagaya hai kyunki tum ki senior officer ho." Freddy was about to contradict when ACP Pradyuman turned narrowed eyes at him. "Maine kaha na, bilkul chup... Ek senior officer uske rank se nahi, balki uske experience ya tajurbe se jaana jaata hai... Tumhein lagta hai ki tum Abhijeet aur Daya jitne kaabil nahi ho... jabki main tumhe daave ke saath keh sakta ho ki stressful situations ko tumse accha aaj tak maine kisi ko bhi handle karte hue nahi dekha hai, kisi ko bhi nahi! Aur iss case mein experience chahiye... halaaton ko bardasht karne ka, apne dimaag ke saath saath apne dil se bhi sochne ka... uss yeh tumse behtar koi kar bhi nahi sakta..."
Freddy couldn't seem to meet eyes with this senior now. "Tumhein lagta hai ki haste hasaate, kisi ko tumhare andar ka hunar nahi pata. Tumhein lagta hai ki koi tumhein tumhaare kaam se nahi balki tumhaare yeh bachpana se jaante hai... aur yahan tak ki kai baar toh tumhaare mann mein yeh baat bhiaa chuki hai ki tum CID mein rehne ke laayak bhi nahi ho..." At that moment a shocked gasp left Freddy's mouth before he even realized it. Smiling tiredly as his junior, he continued,
"Freddy agar main tumse itna baat nahi karta, ya Bureau ki poori zimmedari ko tumhaare kandhe pe nahi sompta, ya baat baat pe tumhaari salah nahi leta, toh iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki main nahi jaanta ki tumhaare mann mein kya chal raha hai... Aise hi bal nahi gire hai mere... Pyaar jataana nahi aata hoga, par iska matlab yeh nahi ki pyaar hi nahi karta..."
A smile creeped up over Freddy's face at the mention of his way of showing love and tears threatened to make its way out of his eyes which he was trying desperately to fight back. He did not reply anything, for no words struck him at the moment, and hence resorted to a simple nod.
"Mil gaya jawab...? Ab jao aur Abhijeet aur Daya ki madad karo..." ACP Pradyuman tried to return back to his normal self but somehow he felt that he failed miserably. Freddy gave another nod of acknowledgement and was about to leave, when he was called back again.
"Aur haan, maine tumhaara naam Senior Inspector ki position ke liye recommend kiya hai, aur agar yeh case successfully solve ho jaata hai, toh apni promotion pakki samjho!" ACP Pradyuman now spoke with a playful tone. He enjoyed watching Freddy's emotion look change to that of shock and then of elation. Freddy was about to shout in glee before ACP Pradyuman added in hurriedly, "Par yeh baat sirf hum dono ke beech mein hi rehni chahiye, and that's an order!" Freddy stopped midway, which left him with a gaping mouth, and ACP Pradyuman couldn't help but chuckle a bit at his reaction.
Quickly getting a grip on himself, while he now had an embarrassed look on, he thanked his senior whole-heartedly once again, before he left his cabin.
Entering his home again, he walked towards the sofa set that stood so elegantly in the middle of the living room and crash-sat on it. What a day! It had been almost after a month that he had managed to arrive home this early. Now that everyone were assigned their tasks, ACP Pradyuman felt a bit more calm than before. The new officers had put all of their informers on work to find out about Varun, while on the other side, Abhijeet, Daya and Freddy had begun their work for the bigger picture. Things were going at the perfect pace and he could not have been more happier.
Looking at the clock, which now read 6 PM, he headed towards the kitchen to make himself something to eat. He was in the process of making tea, when he heard the doorbell go off. Wondering as to who it could be at the moment, he opened the door to find his little neighbour Kali, and her mother at the door. Giving the two of them a gracious smile, he invited them warmly and directed them to the sitting room. Offering Kali some bars of chocolate, while handing over a cup of tea to her mother Malti, he sat down on the sofa sipping his own tea.
"ACP uncle, ACP uncle, yeh dekho... hamare school mein na aaj humare favourite hero par essay likhna tha, aur maine na aap par likha, aur teacher ne star diya aur sabke saamne mera essay padha aur sabne taaliya bhi bajayi..." Kali couldn't seem to remain quite anymore and plunged into narrative about her day at once.
"Kali, aaram se!" Malti managed to bring a daughter's speech to a stop.
"Arre waah, zara main bhi toh dekhu ki tumne kya likha hai... " Taking the book from the table, ACP Pradyuman searched through the pages, until he found exactly what he was looking for. Reading through the essay, he felt humbled, and after returning the book to the girl, he had nothing, but praises for her.
"Thank you beta... "
"Aapke liye toh anytime..."
Smiling at the girl's reply, he enquired next about the basic household with Malti, and about Kali's school.
"Sir, agle hafte Kali ke school ka Annual Day hai, aur uske school ne aapko as a Chief Guest invite kiya hai... Actually main aur Kali dono aapko yahan invite karne hi aaye the... Aap aayenge na sir?"
"Haan uncle aap aao na please... Aap aaoge na mere Annual Day mein?" Kali had a pleading look in her eyes with hopes alight like fire.
"Dad aap aaoge na mera Annual Day par... please Dad, pleeeaasse..."
ACP Pradyuman looked at a loss as to what to say. He felt as though he was struck by lightning at that moment. Those same pleading eyes, that same desperation... and that same look of disappointed should he refuse. At that moment, he felt that he was no longer living in the present, but somewhere in an episode of the past, something he wished he could change if he ever had that chance.
Looking at the girl once again, but his mind far from registering what he was doing, he whispered "Haan, main aaunga tumhaare Annual Day par..."
Before his mind could register what he had even said, Kali had already left her spot and given him a huge hug. "Thank you ACP uncle, mujhe pata tha ki aap zaroor aaoge, maine toh pehle hi mere saare friends ko bata diya tha... thank you thank you thank you!"
The girl's happiness was infectious. Giving a loving smile at the girl, he gently kissed the girl's forehead, while each moment he only felt the guilt increase in his heart, until he felt nauseous. While Malti and Kali took his leave moments later, he tried to put on a smile, something which resembled more of a grimace, and walked them to the door.
Rushing to the washroom the instant he shut the door, he turned on the tap and threw water on his face, first to calm himself, which then turned more into a desperation to erase the memory that was going on in his mind so persistently.
It was 10 in the night. He had just returned home from one of his missions, though luckily unhurt. While his wife served him dinner and the couple shared various incidents that had taken place since his absence, 12 year old Nakul had silently crept down the stairs without either of his parents knowing. Creeping behind his father stealthily before being right behind him, he shouted a "Boo" and instantly ducked below.
As could be expected, the "Boo" triggered a reflexive action from Pradyuman, who was then a Senior Inspector, and he took out his gun and aimed it at the exact spot from where the noise had originated, until his eyes fell on the 12 year old boy who was now having much trouble in trying to control his laughter.
Tall and carelessly handsome, with his black bangs making him look more of a dare devil, he got in to his feet with a sleek grace of a snake and gave his father an apologetic smile, that he always reserved when he wanted to get a task of his done.
Pradyuman felt quite resentful towards his son's behaviour, but he was too tired to tell him anything. His mind was wandering about to all the reports that he had to submit and the pend8ng work which he had to submit on time.
Resuming his spot at the table, while Nakul took the seat opposite his, he continued having dinner while he wife kept shooting reprimanding glances at her son.
"Tum abhi tak soye nahi?"
"Aapka hi wait kar raha tha..."
"Kyun? Mujhse kuch kaam tha kya?"
"Nahi toh... main apne se sirf kaam ki hi baatein thodi na karne ke kiye aata hoon... aise bhi toh baat kar sakta hoon na..."
ACP Pradyuman knew that his son needed something for him but he let the matter be anyway. Changing the topic, the father-son exchanged and covered several trivial topics before Nakul suddenly added "Agle hafte mere school mein mera Annual Day hai..."
"Arre waah! Yeh toh bohot acchi baat hai... tumhaari maa aa rahi hai tumhaare saath na?"
"Haan Mom toh aa hi rahi hai mere saath, par..."
"Par?"
"Dad aap aaoge na mera Annual Day par... please Dad, pleeeaasse..." He no longer seemed to have to be able to control himself. Dropping his carefully constructed demeanor, he now had a pleading look on his face with his eyes alight with burning hope.
"Nakul main..." At that moment Pradyuman received a call from the then ACP Sonawane. Briefly enquiring about the mission, he gave him various instructions for the following days, and also that he had to leave next week for another mission to Delhi.
Keeping the phone down, he turned towards Nakul, who now had a blank and uninterested look on his face, that was so alight with the human emotion of excitement not long ago. Pradyuman gave a sigh. He knew that the boy had understood that he wouldn't be able to make it for his Annual Day next week, judging from his expressions.
"Main nahi aa paunga... agle hafte hi mission par nikalna hai..." He stated it simply, in a tone that deemed no 'if's and buts' further.
The rest of his meal went in silence. While Pradyuman's wife headed to the kitchen to clean up and keep the basic things prepared for the next day, Nakul sat by the table in a poised silence. He did not bother to make eye contact with his father nor did he choose to question anything more.
As Pradyuman got up from the table and was about to head for his room, Nakul posed a simple question that made him stop in his tracks. "Agar aapko kisi din, apne desh ya apne family mein se kisi ek ko chun na pade, toh aap bina soche apne desh ko hi chunenge na...?"
Turning back, he saw Nakul sitting exactly at the spot that he had occupied earlier except now he was looking straight at his father, with a sly smile crawling up his face.
"Apne room mein jaake so jao... der ho rahi hai air kal subah school ke liye bhi uthna hai..." Pradyuman's tone was not stern nor did it have any sort of harshness... he spoke in the same mechanical, monotonous voice.
"Kal Sunday hai Dad..."
Taken momentarily abck by surprise, Pradyuman regained his stern tone now, and repeated this time in a dangerously low voice "Apne kamre mein jaake so jao, der ho rahi hai..."
Chuckling a bit at his father's tone, Nakul continued "Aapne mere sawaal ka jawaab nahi diya..."
"Mera jawaab tum jaante ho, kya saabit karna chahte ho usse...?" By now, Pradyuman had returned to the table where Nakul was now standing, looking at his father with those same, cold, unflinching eyes.
Nakul gave out a humourless laughter that gave Pradyuman a chill through his spine like never before. "Main bas yahi soch raha tha... har wakt aap iss desh ke baare mein itna sochte ho itna karte ho, apne family ke baare mein na toh aapko parvaah hai ma toh aapko kuch pata hai ki hum apni zindagi kaise guzaarte hai ki hum asliyat mein kaise hai... kahin ek din aisa na aa jaaye ki main khud ek criminal ban jau aur majbooran aapko mujhe hi goli maarna pade..."
It was Pradyuman's policy never to raise his hand on any child, let alone be his own. But there was always an exception and for his misfortune, today was such a day. Pradyuman felt his head being savaged by rage at that moment. The guts of the boy to openly speak of such a thing, let alone relish it! Nakul raised his head once again, but it did not show any sign of remorse. Instead, it Nakul's sneer became more pronounced by his father's action.
Walking towards the stairway, Nakul turned his father once more. "Mere doston ne pehle hi kaha tha ki aap nahi aaoge... main hi bewakoof tha jo itne ummeed laga ke baith gaya tha.. Anyways, good night Dad..." Saying so, Nakul headed towards his room leaving his shocked and disappointed father behind.
Returning back to reality, he could still feel the memory burn in his eyes. He remembered that it was the first time ever that he had felt afraid. Afraid of what his son might truly be capable of. But somewhere along the line, he had too much confidence in the values he had imbibed in his son, to ever believe him capable of wrong doing.
He remembered how the next day, Nakul had personally visited him in his room and had apologized with such sincerity that ACP Pradyuman was convinced that the boy must have just had a bad moment the previous night. The father-son DUO had spent the whole day together, doing the typical things a father-son pair would do, and the memory of that day was one of the best he ever had with his son and the events of the previous day had dimmed away.
He had also apologized to his son for the lack of time he gave him and his mother, but Nakul had most understandingly held and hand and consoled him that he knew that his duty would always come first and he respected his decision. Only if he knew the true mask that his son had been hiding all this time.
But somewhere along the line, he felt that Nakul knew always what fate he was to meet and had perhaps signed up for this on purpose. So that he could gain his father's attention for once above his duty. He always had that recklessness in him - which if turned the right way, would have given the country one of the best inspectors they had ever had.
Nakul always had the ability of remaining disconnected from his feeling, not alike himself, but somewhere down the line, he was much less human, his only concern would be his gain, his benefit, even though it meant this came at the cost of others. And today here he stood, thinking about his deceased son till date with the same concern that he know felt he should have shown many years back instead of regretting about it today.
Yes, he had shot his son, which was always taken as an example of how an officer's true duty should be served without bias, but no one... no one knew how that action tore him apart that day. In his heart of heart's, he had never ever wanted to be the one to execute his son, it all happened in that moment, that one, life altering moment... just like decades ago, when that one moment had made him raise his hand over his son for the first time ever.
He always treated Abhijeet and Daya as his sons because the two of them resembled his son in so many ways. He loved and cared for them more than his son, for the two of them were the ideals that he had hoped his son to be. But there was no denying - NOBODY could take the place of his deceased son. He was a traitor, yes, he felt disgusted every time he thought about his son's actions, yes, but he loved his son very much till this date and no body could ever take his place in his heart.
Entering the kitchen and preparing his dinner, he had several missed calls during the time from various officers briefing him to the latest developments that had taken place. Taking his dinner and heading towards his bedroom, several of those precious moments with his wife and son danced before his eyes like each day, but he had no regrets. Even though Nakul claimed that he had never cared about his family, ACP Pradyuman could always proudly say that he had given his best try to keep both his personal and professional life at a par.
If only anybody would be in his boots to understand the life he had to lead each day.
Completing his work, he looked at the time once more. 11 PM. Yawning once again, he closed his files shut and kept them on the night stand beside, before he set the same alarm for the next day again. Shutting the lamp off, he gave once last glance at the frame beside him, that contained a family photo of himself, along with his wife and son, before he fell asleep.
There! :D :D I hope this did not make you'll want to hurl something at me. In either case, I have my wand ready to defend myself..! :P
Which reminds me, that in case some people are wondering, yes Nakul's character has been totally inspired from 16 year old Tom Riddle's character from Harry Potter. :P
Also, most sincere apologies for any typos, because I'm updating this from my cell and not my laptop.
Lastly, constructive criticism will be more than welcome. :D :D