ArHi FF! We, the people [Completed] - Page 14

Originally posted by: A...

Fab Writing once again... yur story pulled the strings of my mind and forced me to ponder over things tht we people easily neglect . its not abt being wrong or Right or ethical... its abt how we percieve things around us n easily choose to ignore. Concluding lines of this update were brutally Honest... gud luck!!!

Chapter 11:

"We are being attacked from all directions! There is scam out there and now we are being charged for election fraud!" Leader of opposition, Lok Sabha, screamed. "Rathore, this is not what we all signed up for. You screwed us over!" The screaming continued. Rathore looked at the group sitting in front of him with thinning patience. MLAs and MPs of Samaj Kalyan Party were assembled at the farmhouse Rathore owned few kilometers away from the state capital. The state comprised of more than three quarter of a century constituencies. Samaj Kalyan Party had lost the election due to gross negligence of the constituencies which they believed they owned.

The loss had come as shock for everyone - including those who had won. The pride with which the party had operated had been curbed and now they were again hungry for blood.

"What is the plan Rathore?" A senior MP asked ignoring the ruckus in the hall.

"It's ironic isn't it? Everyone here is wearing white yet no one knows or understands the concept of peace. Wearing white has become a mockery of what it once represented ' struggle for free country," Rathore said.

"Don't digress. We are in deep trouble. Media has been hounding on my front door for last twenty four hours since the news broke out," the senior MP lamented. There was tremor in his voice which didn't escape Rathore. "The party spokesperson hasn't got the guts to admit that there are problems in administration," the MP said. Rathore simply nodded.

"Rathore!" Rathore looked to his left where he saw an MLA yelling his name.

"Sit down," Rathore said raising his voice trying to overcome the noises surrounding him.

The entire hall looked like a pub brawl gone wrong. The so called leaders of the country were fighting like fifteen year old boys let loose in a school ground during recess.

"Sit down and shut up!" Rathore yelled finally losing his patience. "Enough of this bickering," he added standing up. Whatever it may be, Rathore was the party founder and a senior politician involved in political arena for more than four decades. The assembly fell silent.

"If you think of quitting my party, I will ensure that you will never see light of the day because you will be covered in piles of court summons for every little illegal thing you or your family have done for your entire lives. If you try to blackmail me, like the way few of you are trying to do, you will be destroyed from politics forever. I will render you bankrupt in a heartbeat and every time you want to as much as breath wrong, you'll be arrested and thrown in jail for crimes you did not commit." Rathore made his small speech and waited. Like expected, few stood up.

"You are in no position to blackmail us Rathore, especially how you are involved in this as much as we are." He heard one of the MPs say.

"Are you sure about that?" He asked the MP. "Let me refresh all your memories." He said taking a sip of water from the bottle placed in front of him.

"Two years ago the special economic commission bill was passed after much deliberation, consideration and a hell lot of noise by us opposition. Once the bill was passed, many politicians grabbed it as an opportunity to earn extra few rupees. Should I start with you, Mr. MP?" Rathore ignored the MPs protests and held up a hand.

"The bill started a new food chain which involved corporates, media, politicians, small time business owners and of course government." Rathore said verbose about things that were slipped between the lines of print media and the news anchored smiled behind a major news story. "So you," Rathore said pointing at the MP continued, "got your cousin to supply cheap rated third grade cough syrup which he manufactured without a legal license from FDA or with a proper set up. It was sold at the same value as a leading brand to the government which in turn provided that to the poor people. The amount of profit is now at seventy four crore operating at a profit margin of hundred and eleven percent. You pocketed thirty four crore in last year and this year the estimated amount is fifty two." Rathore said staring at the now paled MP. It was a message being sent to the entire party and not just to MP; MP was merely a talking point of the big debate. "If you even think about babbling unnecessary things to media or blame it on the bill'" He left it unsaid.

"You need to find a way for court to stop dragging us out," a senior official said meekly.

"That's not possible. But it can be and will be delayed. I will do everything in my power to keep the party intact." The assembled members didn't know if Rathore meant it as a way to protect them or just the party. "And remember, don't go in front of a camera unless I say so. We will set up a task force which will deal with the mess and will consult with our lawyers." Rathore said. Without waiting for any further deliberation, he walked out of the assembly allowing the members to ponder over.

There was no news from Arnav and it was forty eight hours after the kidnap. There had been no trace of the kidnappers and no ransom demand had been made. Khushi's father was broken and Rathore had promised to help. But they weren't getting anywhere. And then there was the mess with Dhananjay. Khushi's replacement was as good as she was but he, the replacement, didn't have the cunningness Khushi had exhibited. There were many times when Rathore had told her to quit her profession and join his party. She had always shaken her head and closed the conversation.

For the first time in his political career, Rathore was scared.

*****

"This is where most of the women work," Akash said entering a wide hall where many women were making incense sticks. A section of women were taking care of packing while few sat on a pedestal and made the sticks.

"How are they paid?" Khushi asked looking around impressively. "As I see that there isn't anything that is sold here which could be an item of...vanity," she asked. Arnav looked at her then and Akash was momentarily taken aback.

"This place isn't for..." Akash started but Khushi cut him off.

"I know exactly what this place is Akash. Ignore my question. It's a hive for people who work like bees unlike a village where humans live." She said casually. Akash didn't react.

"Khushi, women can place in request for anything they want with the person who gets supplies from nearby towns. And they pay for it in the means of work and not by money. A person can get whatever he or she wants as long as they pay for it. It's capitalism at its best," he added. "And women, here are happy and protected when compared to outside world. We treasure equality here." He said.

Khushi turned and looked at him strangely. Akash smiled. "I know your stand on equal rights Khushi. I was in that college for women where you were guest speaking about how government should take actions to stop reservation for women." Akash said smiling wanly.

"Wait, what?" Arnav asked not knowing where this was coming from. Khushi shook her head.

"Why don't you explain Khushi?" Akash asked. The three walked out of the work area and entered a vast courtyard. Children were playing with few older women making the guests realize that the children belonged to the women working inside and they were being taken care of by other older women in the facility. They sat on grass under a banyan tree and the cool shade made Khushi sigh in content.

"I did make the statement during discussion but like everyone else, you aren't talking about the rest of the talk where I explained the statement further. I'll say it again - I don't want any equal rights for women. That's because I don't believe that we should be treated any differently from men. Our own government is failing to recognize the fact that we are equals in true sense thus offering reservations in higher education, jobs, financial aids etc."

"But government recognizes the fact that the society which has never been fair to women for centuries wouldn't be always helpful. That's why there are laws surrounding women's protection and various encouragement opportunities provided. If for example, a traditional family with a patriarch who refuses to sponsor his daughter's education because of cost, he can now do so with the economic reforms." Arnav said. Akash nodded.

"In the name of uplifting women, government robs opportunity of another person who rightfully deserves the opportunity. The balance of which is never attained. Competition is healthy for a government and country to perform better but people who can perform better and who are much smarter lose out in the process." Khushi replied. Arnav and Akash looked at her. "If the three of us were offered a job position and I was chosen automatically because I am a woman, I would be insulted and it wouldn't be fair for either of you. In grand scheme of things, little things like this can have a lasting impact on people who have been left out of the race because of what they are not."

"Your argument is applicable to most urban and population which is gender aware. But when you go deeper into the country where gender bias exists in every home, there wouldn't be many women coming out to apply for higher education or jobs for that matter," Akash replied.

"And besides Khushi, the laws are there to ensure that the execution of these policies is following the expected process. There are governing bodies which ensures this," Arnav said.

Khushi laughed mirthlessly. "It's quite ironic to see two men arguing about laws and rights of women when the said women are also grossly misusing IPC 498A. Statistics show that there is a steep increase of women filing this complaint against their family and it rarely comes from women from economically poor backgrounds or women living under shadows. The law is made to protect the women but its tearing apart families in some case and in many cases, women aren't even aware of it. The number of women serving in police force is so less and in this country's interiors, women aren't all that forthcoming while talking to a stranger man. Making a law isn't a big deal if infrastructure doesn't support it."

"What's your point Khushi?" Akash asked.

"It's the attitude of men and women that needs fixing; laws and policies can only fix the problem but the root cause of the problem has never been addressed till date." Khushi replied. "I am not blaming government for this one. The entire blame lies on the society as a whole. The expectation of what a woman can and must do comes as an automatic reflex due to years of systematic thinking. There is a natural expectation that the woman performs all the cooking at home. This expectation has turned into a well ingrained habit and now it's a natural expectation from me which I somehow try to fulfill. Unknowingly, I am a part of that messed up process too - a victim and the perpetrator." Khushi said. She leaned backwards and lay flat on the grass. Akash and Arnav followed her suit.

"You realize what you said was a rant and not fully logical?" Arnav asked slowly. Khushi groaned.

"I know that Arnav. The concept of reservation annoys me and it has made many people leave this country in search of opportunities which they truly deserve." Khushi sighed. She closed her eyes, silently sending a message that she wasn't interested to talk further. The three of them lay like that for a good thirty minutes before she spoke.

"Akash, if we try to escape from here, will you kill us?" She asked.

"I will Khushi." He replied.

"So how long are we here for?" She asked again.

"As long as it takes," he replied.

"What takes?" She asked.

"We will be here till the scandal goes into public purview and media tears the politicians apart. There are going to be resignations, new government, more follow up scandals, legal messes et al. Akash doesn't want us to be there and I don't understand that part," Arnav said.

"Why?" Khushi asked sitting up.

"Because I don't want the fixers of a political party to clean up someone's mess and use it as a political opportunity. I want the system - the one set up by politicians to save themselves when they fall from grace, to fail." He said without getting up. "If it pleases you, let me assure you that all brilliant political advisers, strategists, lawyers have been detained at their homes; either that or they have taken vacations to unreachable places." Akash said serenely.

This caught Arnav's attention and he sat up. Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances as the news sunk in.

Originally posted by: Nici0306

It is kinda of heavy for me.. I will re-read.. But I got at the end what Akash is trying to do.. What khushi said about women reservation quotas.. I totally agree with her.. It has always annoyed me..

Originally posted by: RockBarbie

The cough syrup thing happened two years ago in border towns of Karnataka where in a shed, cough syrup was manufactured with no hygiene. They added color to give the signature pink color of cough syrup and it was primarily a sugar solution with a bit of alcohol derivatives.

man what has world come to.. literally playing with people's life.. i know this is off topic but it reminded me of when i last heard of doctor's strike.. i was like are you serious man.. would you be okay if army men at our border decide to strike and leave the borders unprotected... in some profession they have to find solutions for their issues without strikes.. as strike would mean so many lives in danger..

can't believe something like this happened in Karnataka. forging cough syrup

The latest addendum to dowry law is one of the most ludicrous one where the woman getting divorced gets half the property of the man.

You can not be serious... i am missing on so much being away from india.. i had no idea..