Sunil R P Sethi
She was coming from her higher secondary school in Panjtirthi in her uniform . Reaching Lane towards her house in Jain Bazaar she saw Kumar who had been following her for last about a month and passing obscene remarks . He was infamous gangster of the area who had come out on bail in murder case only few months back . She had wondered about the legal system which can let free such beasts who have no remorse . Anyway she tried to avoid him by entering a side Lane. When she moved only a few steps he moved fast and in no times he was by her side and had caught hold of her arm . She pleaded with him as her father had died only few months back and she was the only daughter of widowed mother. But he was dead drunk and did not listen.
To her utter horror, she realised that in order to avoid him she had entered a side Lane which was deserted and nobody was coming . She tried to pull herself away but that infuriated Kumar who slapped her. She fell down on ground with blood oozing from lips. Side of her shirt from shoulder also got torn. She tried to cover herself and cried loud for help. Two three windows opened from houses but on seeing Kumar they got shut with more speed than with what they opened . She was all alone with the Demon.
After about ten minutes she reached her home with clothes torn at number of places and narrated the whole happenings to her mother . For two nights, the only sound in their house was that of mother sobbing and crying . Some ladies from neighbourhood did come but both of them were speechless and waited for ladies to depart.
It was the third day when mother mustered courage to stand up in the morning and cooked food which she forced her daughter to take. She cried loud for first time after nightmare and wanted to jump from roof but was stopped by mother who threatened to follow her. That afternoon they resolved to fight back. But there was nobody to help two poor souls.
After two days of discussion, they decided to go to a respectable person of locality who was widely respected for his courage and social works . But even he was afraid to intervene directly. It was then she was told by Monit ji that Kumar was facing four murder cases and a number of other cases and was part of a larger gang controlling crime underworld of city . However he sent them to Inspector Madan who was SHO of police station though not of their area but was having reputation of not listening to any recommendations and being dare devil . She found father in Madan who was so emotionally charged listening to her mishappening but was not in a position to help as crime was outside his jurisdiction and SHO of her area was known for his corruption. He promised to do something and asked to wait.
She waited for a month and when no message came from Inspector Madan she understood that even he was afraid of Kumar and his gang . She started going to school after a month. It was very difficult time facing people but there was no choice . Now even members of gang of Kumar had started passing remarks . That was price of being an orphan she had to pay. There was none to ask for help . There was not even God .
After about three months on a chilly winter, early morning there was a knock on the door . She opened door with her mother looking from her back . A police constable had come with written message from Inspector Madan asking her to come to police station but asked her to come alone . She went with constable in police jeep which was parked in the Bazaar. Reaching police station she saw only Inspector Madan and one more constable . She was asked to sit on chair and then Inspector Madan asked constable who had brought her to bring out from lockup “Shikar “. And she saw to her horror Kumar being brought out from lockup . He was badly beaten which brought smile on her face which she had forgotten since more than three months. He was in handcuffs. Madan asked constable whose name she still remember as Satinder Singh to give her ‘Trapad” . She couldn’t understand but was handed over a leather broad belt . Madan asked her to beat Kumar to her heart’s fill . She was so scared. When Madan coaxed her again and again then finally the dam of emotion breached and she beat Kumar madly . She didn’t know from where she got courage and from where madness came .
After she fell down tired and saw Kumar bleeding because of belt injuries . The same way as she bled on that day in side Lane. Inspector Madan gave her water and after sometime he said they have to take Kumar for a walk . She couldn’t understand but Kumar did . He started crying and begged Madan for his life . Madan asked her whether she wanted to join . She was so tired and also so happy that she wanted to fly to her mother to tell her the whole episode . She was feeling so light. She asked permission from madan to go home who asked constable Satinder to drop her to Matador stand .
Reaching home she just fell in lap of her mother and was laughing madly . It must have taken ages for her that day to regain composure to tell her mother her outburst and how she enjoyed the time even if it means dying next day at the hands of Kumar or his gang . That whole day passed in house totally cut from world . Night again brought fear back about backlash but then both of them slept in each others arms like it was last night of their lives.
Next day she didn’t feel like going to school but her mother told her to go to her school as she had missed school last day too . When she reached Chowk Chabutra she saw a group of people gossiping with newspaper in hands . All shops were closed and shopkeepers were standing out on road . When she reached school, her teacher gave her a copy of newspaper . First headline read “Infamous gangster Kumar killed in police encounter”. She understood meaning of word ‘Walk ‘ of Inspector Madan. She went running back to home to inform her mother of end of their miseries.
After six years she got married . Her kanyadaan was done by Inspector Madan. Today she was again looking to obituary page of newspaper . Toady was twenty fifth death anniversary of Kumar . She just hated his picture and wanted to beat even his picture with Trapad. Tear swelled in her eyes remembering the Angel who left this world four years back . Inspector Madan.
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