Redemption 90
achcham thavir, naiya pudai
maanam potru, routhiram pazhagu
aanmai thavarel, thaazhndhu nadavel
soorarai potru, theeyork anjel
oythal ozhi, nerpada pesu
thaazhndhu nadavel, saavadark anjel
kaalam azhiyel, keelork anjel,
por thozhil palagu, tholviyil kalangel
pudhiyana virumbu, veeriyam perukku
keduppadhu sorvu, thonmaikkanjel
velippada pesu, nandru karudhu
vavvudhal neekku, thavaththinai nidham puri
achcham thavir, naiya pudai
maanam potru, routhiram pazhagu
FLASHBACK-1985 PART ONE
Assistant superintendent of police Rakesh menon got out of the car and Inspector shanmugavel,Inspector raja pandian,Inspector nallaswamy rushed to his side and saluted him.ASP rakesh returned the salute and then was greeted with salutes by the entire police force under his jurisdiction and he saluted them and thanked them for the reception.
ASP rakesh stood in the center and looked at everybody 'Good morning.My name is Rakesh menon and i will be the senior officer for this jurisdiction.Gentlemen, i want this part of madurai to have the best record when it comes to interacting with the public.I want this jurisdiction under me to have the lowest crime record and zero complaints from the public on how the police are treating them.When i leave this charge and hand it over to the next officer who will come after my time here,i want him to marvel at how well this force was run and be amazed at its discipline.
I don't know how things were done before me but now under me,everyone will follow the law and the rules laid down by it.I am available 24 hours and if anybody,however small problem they might have or face when they are carrying out their duties,can come and talk to me about it.
I want all of you to remember this technical term and that is public servant.yes,we are here on duty not for the heck of it or for own benefit but to serve,protect and defend the public.I wish you all the best.'
Later rakesh sat in his cabin chatting with all three of the inspectors under his jurisdiction when his secretary padma came in and stood silently waiting for him to finish his talks with the inspectors.
Rakesh saw her and acknowledged her presence then shook hands with the inspectors and after they had left looked at padma ' miss padma.sollunga.'
' Sir,it is 9.00 am now and at 10.00 am you have a meeting with the District collector.Then at 12.00 you are meeting with the women's welfare association committee.Then later in the evening at 4.00 pm there is a meeting with the commissioner and that is all for today.'
Rakesh thanked her and as the secretary was about to leave she turned to him ' sir,i have been here in this dept for nearly 15 years.My father,served as a head constable in this jurisdiction and thanks to him i got this job.'
Rakesh pleasantly surprised ' that is good to hear,miss padma.what is his name and please convey my regards to him.'
Padma looked at him ' sorry sir,but he is no more and when i said i got this job because of him,i meant that after he was murdered by some unknown persons,the dept pulled together and got it for me.'
Rakesh ' I am very sorry for your loss miss.padma.If there is anything i can do for you,please don't hesitate to ask.All right.so i am free until 10.00 am.'
Padma looked at him ' Well sir,there are a couple of people who want to meet you.But i thought i would take your permission before allowing them in for today being your first day and all.'
Rakesh sat straight in his chair ' How does it matter if today is my first day or last.I am here to serve and help whoever it is that comes asking for it.Show them in immediately.'
Padma hesitated for a second which was not missed by rakesh and then he wondered what was wrong with her and stared at her as she left.
A minute later padma opened his cabin doors and a slightly old man and a younger woman followed her in and then she left.
Rakesh stood up in respect and politely asked them to be seated and enquired if they wanted water to drink.
The man introduced himself as vaidyanthan ' Sir,i am a journalist working for Madurai weekly and i also contribute news and articles to the newspapers and magazines in madras and coimbatore.'
Vaidyanathan turned to the woman next to him ' This lady is mrs.meena dayalan.'
Rakesh looked at both of them ' tell me,how can i be of service.'
Both looked at him and then rakesh realised that both were nervous as if they were unsure whether to talk to him or not.
Rakesh smiled ' I am not sure what the problem is but i can assure you that i will do my best to help you.So please tell me the reason why you came to meet me.'
Vaidyanathan ' sir,this lady's son had been missing for nearly two weeks.And now her husband has gone missing and has not come home for nearly four days.'
Rakesh looked at her ' but surely,you must have filed a complaint in the local police station about your son and husband.what did the station inspector have to tell you about the case?'
Meena dayalan nodded ' sir,the police have filed an FIR for my son's case but have asked me to wait for a few days before they officially file a case about my husband.They think that the loss of our son must have upset him and made him unstable and that he might come back once he regains his senses.'
Rakesh pressed the buzzer on his table and all three waited for padma to come in.
Rakesh looked at padma ' I want all the details of this case on my table by evening.And please tell the inspector who is handling this case to also be present for i need to hear from him firsthand about the details.Thank you miss.padma.'
Rakesh looked at vaidyanathan and mrs.meena ' I am going to be busy until evening.You can either come back later and meet me and after 5.00 pm or meet me tomorrow morning.The inspector who is handling this case will be here and we can sort this out and find out what is happening.'
Both of them felt their spirits lift and a ray of hope lit up meena dhayalan's heart and they said that they would come back later in the evening.
After they had left,Rakesh leaned back in his chair with a worried look in his face for he knew that when a child went missing and was not found in the first 24 hours,then the chances of finding him alive went down by 90 percent and in this case the child was missing for nearly two weeks and now the father had gone missing to.It was too much of a coincidence and rakesh instinctively knew that something was very wrong in the case.
Outside padma sat before her desk worried sick that the new officer had taken on such a huge case on his first day.She slowly looked out of the window and saw the gopuram of Madurai meenakshi amman kovil and whispered a prayer for the safety and well being of ASP rakesh menon.
Edited by s.satishkumar - 9 years ago