Arohan - The Ascent

To Hell and Back

"What do you mean by "save him?" asked Urvashi, now looking at Jai with an undercurrent of fear.

Jai raised his head, wiping the tears off his eyes and sobs off his face. "It's been nearly 24 days since he has been taken into custody. They are not allowing us to see him, nor do they produce him in court. Thakur Ji tried to go there with a lawyer and they didn't even allow the lawyer to meet him. I don't know if it is already too late..."

Urvashi sat up as Jai spoke and Pandit ji too sat in rapt attention. No matter what had happened, was it worth causing a man's death for a crime he attempted to commit but did not commit it actually? She looked from Jai towards Pandit Ji, who in turn was looking at her.

Her eyes seemed to beg Pandit Ji to give her some direction.

He simply looked at her and shook his head, his eyes unreadable. She looked back at Jai, who stared at her with hope filled eyes. He spoke then, "they say you are very powerful. Even Thakur Ji is scared of you. Please help Vicky. I promise after this day, you will never see us again, even in the surrounding villages. We will go far, far away from here. We will never bother anyone else in the village again..." In his anxiety, Jai did not even realise what he was promising to Urvashi.

"STOP," she said, raising her hand. "I will help save him from torture, but I will not withdraw the complaint against him, you understand?" she warned.

"Yes, I understand. That is all I want, to know Vicky is alive," he said, fresh tears streaming down his eyes.

Khushi Nagar Police Headquarters

She should have ideally been wheeled in, but she preferred walking with the help of walker. When Urvashi reached the police station the next day, she did not come alone. She came with a convoy of people that included, Pandit Ji, Narottam ji, a lawyer, Jai, Sonu, Minku too.

Before she came to the police station, a call had been made to the inspector who had arrested Vicky. The call was made by Urvashi and no one, including Pandit Ji knew what was spoken.

What was obvious though, to Narottam and Jai, was that something had changed from their previous visit. The police were very courteous this time around, offering them seats, tea or coffee, but Urvashi just did not bother.

"What write up I will give to my friend, in The Wire, will depend on what I see today," said Urvashi, as soon as the inspector asked for them to be seated. "These international newspapers are waiting for news on Human Rights abuse from India so they can defame the country. They will be delighted if I tell them, how prisoners are tortured without even a trail here. Also you know who my father is. It will take one phone call from me, saying you arrested the wrong guy and you will be dead the very next day," said Urvashi, now openly threatening the inspector, in front of Pandit Ji, Narottam and the rest.

Jai, Minku and Sonu were of course shocked, but more shocked was Pandit Ji, to see Urvashi speaking in a manner he would have never expected her to speak

The inspector on the case, was all but begging her. "Please madam, I have small children and I am the only earning member of my family. Please don't..." he said, joining his palm.

"Then why don't you let the lawyers meet him?" she questioned back, in an unforgiving tone.

"No, we can't do that. We have orders to let the fellow..." the inspector left the sentence hanging just as Jai, Minku and Sonu, swallowed hard.

She drew in a deep breath. "Then let me see him," she asked, to the astonishment of everyone.

The Inspector in charge now spoke in a soft, hushed tone. "Why do you want to see and save a rogue like that," he said, pointing behind. "The orders for his execution are coming from high up. It's not something I can stop," he confessed the truth.