• Second Chances •

43. Telltale

"Honestly," Karan's expression was grim. "It's getting a little tricky and dangerous, Ram. They had a few acid bulb bombs. You do know how they could have been used."

Ram's palms went cold. He and Aditya were sitting across from Karan at the police station. Karan had arrested two goons who were caught vandalizing their property at their controversial building site. After a lot of beating and trashing, they confessed that they were paid to cause trouble by a local MLA. That meant that the blackmailing they were being subjected to had a political angle. Everything was a lot more complicated than Ram had assumed it to be.   

"What should we do now?" asked Aditya. 

"I think you guys should launch an official complaint now. Without a formal complaint, I cannot keep these two goons in my custody for a long time. Plus, I cannot take action against them. So please file an FIR..." suggested Karan. 

"I think you are right, Karan!" Aditya nodded. 

Ram stared at him. "But won't that attract unwarranted media and public attention? We don't know where this case can head, Karan. If human rights activists get involved then these slum dwellers will get the benefit of sympathy. They will portray it as if we are displacing their families without proper compensation. Plus, our families will know. It will be added stress!" 

"I think you are right, Ram!" Aditya nodded again. 

Karan threw the pen's cap at Aditya. He clicked his tongue. "Tu kya double dholki ban raha hai?"

"I am sorry!" Aditya stuck his tongue out. "But I agree with you both." 

Ram sighed. "So what do we do now?" 

Karan sat back in his chair. "Look, Ram. I will still suggest you register a formal complaint. By doing so, you are essentially keeping a formal and official record. You are saying that hey, I was being harassed for a long time and I had tried to tell the officials about it. So tomorrow something bad happens at the site or there is an episode of harassment, you have this complaint as proof."

Ram heard what Karan had to say intently. He continued. "As for the media, you know how to handle them. We anyway will keep this super lowkey. I have a few activist friends and rest assured, it's my guarantee that they will not get involved. You anyway are providing a much better life to the people for a piece of land that is not even theirs, to begin with. I don't think that there should be a problem at all."     

Ram processed everything slowly. He remained quiet and weighed all the pros and cons. He had to think of all his employees, his friends and his family. And this time, the stakes were higher with Priya's family being there too. 

He rubbed his forehead. "Are you sure about this Karan? Cause if I sign this complaint then I will need your assistance more than ever. I will need security around my friends and family and for the people in my company. I really don't want to take any risk."

Karan just smiled. "Hundred percent." 

 Then Ram turned to look at Aditya. He raised a brow. Aditya shrugged in response. "What else can we do, Ram? Do you have a different idea? This or let's scrap the project. Can we just abandon it for everyone's sake?"  

Ram's eyes darkened. "It's our dream, Adi. It's what you wanted. It's what Dad wanted." 

The decision was made then. Aditya patted Ram's hand and picked up the pen to sign the papers. "Then let's do this." 

**********************

When Ram stood outside his room that night, his mood was glum. But he couldn't let that show. Priya would invariably ask him questions and he didn't know if he had it in him to answer her questions.