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He smiled thinking of his conversation with Ms. Kashyap. He had forbidden her from following her lead on the Real Estate mafia alone. She had revolted, insisting that she would have to operate alone to hold the trust of her. Outwardly he had reprimanded her. But in his heart of hearts he had admired her spunk. Her desire to fight for her beliefs. She reminded him of his younger days.
In a single moment he had lost everything.
And then a shiver ran down his spine. He remembered everything that his righteous, bold attitude had cost him.
Kabir (thinks): I hope Ananya never has to pay the price that I paid.
Just then his phone rang. It was Ronnie.
Ronnie: Sir woh! Ananya woh...
Kabir could sense the fear in Ronnie's voice.
Kabir: Ronnie what happened??!!
Ronnie: Sir, Ananya's source had called her and she had gone to meet him alone..
Kabir: WHAT??!! And you let her go?
Ronnie: Sir please. I know I have committed a grave mistake. But please hear me out. I just got a call from the police and they said that Ananya has been shot. They have taken her to the City Hospital..
The phone dropped from his hand. Kabir head began spinning. It was happening all over again.
He rushed to the hospital.
Doctor: Mr. Kabir, we have taken the bullet out. It just missed the heart. But there's significant internal bleeding. Her condition is very critical. If her stats improve in the next 24 hours we may be able to operate on her again to plug the bleeding. Otherwise..
His voice trailed off. And Kabir's mind went back in time.
He remembered Richa. Richa had been his neighbour's daughter and his parents had wanted him to marry her. He did not love Richa when he got married to her. But they had married very young and in a short time had grown to cherish and respect one another. Most of all, Richa had supported him in his dreams. She had supported his desire to fight for the truth making many small sacrifices on a daily basis.
They both loved kids and had a Sunday ritual of spending time with the kids living in the slum near their house. A year after their wedding they had been pleasantly surprised to discover that Richa was expecting. It was an unplanned pregnancy. They were both young and financially unstable. But that didn't stop them from being excited about their baby.
During the same phase Kabir had been hot on the trail of a corrupt corporator who was running a trafficking racket. He received a threat asking him to step back or he'd lose everything he valued in life.
He had paid no heed to such threats in the past. But for the first time in his career Kabir had considered stepping back. He had too much to lose. Richa and his unborn child. But Richa had insisted that he go ahead.
Richa; Kabir this is your life's mission and I can never let you step back.
Kabir had pursued the trail and published his first article on the corporator. That night he had taken Richa out for ice cream. He had parked his bike and crossed over to get them ice cream. He had turned back with the ice cream in his hand and smiled at Richa. The next moment he had seen a truck speeding towards Richa. Before he could move an inch the truck had run over her.
He had rushed towards her. Richa had breathed her last in his arms.
In a single moment he had lost everything.
The next few days were a blur in his head.
He had run from pillar to post trying to get justice. His newspaper refused to run the story. The courts released the corporator on bail. The system turned its back on him.
On the last day of the court hearing after being acquitted the corporator came up to him and said.
C: Kabir Saab. Is duniya mein sach ka koi mol nahi hai. Power ka hi sara khel hai. Power decide karta hai ki sach kya hai.
And that was the day Kabir Sharma changed. He realzied that to win the battle for truth he'd need power on his side. His drive to gain power became the only thing in his life. The Sundays he spent with the slum kids were his only connection to the past he had abandoned.
And then along came Ms. Ananya Kashyap. Challenging him. Inspiring him. Making him smile. Making him come alive.
And here she lay lifeless. Ek baar phir the system was trying to steal his life from him.
But this time he was ready. He had power on his side.
Anupamaa
Bengali Shows
