Vodka on the rocks

N'yāyaṁ

Pertinently, the Bhagavad Gita declares that every endeavour is covered by fault (18.48). If we have an inordinate passion for justice, we may become blinded to what just is.

"Jiss insaan ko tum bachana chahte ho woh kanoon ke nazaro mein ek criminal hain! Agar woh uss waqt surrender kar deta toh shayad sehi kehlata, lekin usne usne Mandar ko marne keliye chod diya. In fact agar woh usne mandar ko hospital le jakar admit karwa diya toh shayad aaj Mandar zinda hote."

Tears rolled down Pallavi's face as she literally screamed the next words out.

"Lekin nahi! Usne na sirf Mandar ki jaan lii hain. Usne meri, mere Aayi ki, mere Baba ki, Nikhil ki.. hum sabki zindagi barbad kar dii hain!!! Iss paap ka hisab usse chukana padega! Tabhi humein shanti milegi."

Raghav sighed and looked aside, blinking back the sudden tears which had appeared in his eyes at the pain in his wife's voice, the misery in her eyes. He turned to face her again and made a sweeping gesture with his arms. 

"Wohi main keh raha hain Pallavi. Iss paap ka hisaab sirf main de sakta hain kyunki gunah yaha maine kii hain. The criminal in this case is in front of you and he is ready to surrender."

Pallavi shook her head and her husbands words only worked to fuel the flames of her fury. 

"Do whatever you can Raghav! But I will punish the real person however much you try to save them. Never forget, however powerful you are, the truth always win. Satyameva jayate."

She whipped around ready to storm out of the room only to stop in her tracks when Raghav spoke again, this time, a faint veneer of resigned humour in his toneless voice. Raghav had leant against the table and crossed his arms across his chest. 

"I truly appreciate your naivete wife. I do. It is refreshing to see someone still believe in the law after the mockery which it actually is."

Pallavi turned around again, a short burst of sarcastic laughter ringing out of her painted lips. 

"Oh! So now are you going to tell me how the law is actually worthless? The usual nonsense which people love to fabricate to suit their unlawful practises. Forgive me husband, I am not interested in a manipulative sermon of the inadequacies of the law."

"You believe in the law so much Pallavi. Do you believe in justice?"

"Of course I do. And in this case, the law will help me attain justice."

"Of course it will. Only that the law will punish the wrong person if you try to use it to achieve justice for yourself and your family."

Pallavi smirked and crossed her own arms mirroring his posture mockingly. 

"Pray tell why? I am pretty interested to hear how you justify this bullshit."

Raghav raised an eyebrow at the sheer viciousness of her tone but could feel the old adrenaline spark up in his blood which he always associated with his Saree Ka Dukaan. Something which had gotten lost in this entire mess which they called marriage. He could identify with that fire in her marble eyes once again. 

Only if the situation wasn't so agonizing. He would have enjoyed their verbal spat very much. 

"You want to know the truth? Fine, I will tell you the truth myself. But before that, let me know how you identify who is a criminal and should be punished according to the law?"

"You are going off track. Classic divert and shift move. A criminal is someone who commits a crime which is a punishable offence by both human and constitutional standard."

"So according to your own words, only a murderer is not a criminal?"

"Of course not Raghav."

"And what basis should the law assume while punishing someone? Is it advisory to apply the punishment according to the person accused?"