ArHi FF! We, the people [Completed] - Page 18

Nice update, will there be any chemistry between khushi and Arnav

Okay so I just finished reading all the parts. So, I'm a lil slow in understanding the political language, but I'm trying my best. Honestly, I've never read such an intense fan fiction, and I'm not at all complaining! It's challenging to understand their views when I have my own personal views that I'd stick by, but it's rational enough to make a valid point. I'm glad you started this FF.
Please keep me posted on the updates of you can!
Thank you. :)

Originally posted by: RockBarbie

Chapter 3

"We always seem to end conversation on a philosophical note these days, don't we?" He asked digging into his breakfast.

"A storm is coming."

My thoughts exactly when I read Arnav say that.

I believe Christopher Nolan has permanently changed what comes to my mind, when I hear the last statement.

That said, Kushi and Arnav have an easy camaraderie going. Are they going to be united at this front about everything? (I won't be surprised if you have already covered that in the story. :))

Originally posted by: RockBarbie

Chapter 4:

"Do you know what the best form of corruption is?" Arnav asked Khushi handing her a plastic tube wrapped neatly in green wrapping paper tied with a pretty pink bow.

That first sentence reminded me of the time right after elections. When there is no majority and congress reaches out to the left. 😊 Good ol' times, S

its always intriguing to read your updates. and after the last i am left to wonder if all characters really are grey. is there really somewhat of a writers bias towards akash(being more white thank black) or that perhaps arnav and khushi have the white to their black and become grey more so because of the reader prejudice.

maybe its just me. but i find little disturbing the idealism and the length that akash seems to have gone to create this utopian society. despite that it is not him but his two captives that come across as the bad guys. this is not to say that his(akash) arguments are wrong and that arnav and khushi have been right and are doing no wrong.

in long winded way. i guess it probably is best to just read the whole thing and then try to figure it all out. what i am tryign to say is...update soon!:)

Finally I got time to read this and I must say this is brilliant. The research that you've done and the intimate details that have been explored in a specific manner is what makes this story as realistic as possible !

Originally posted by: me_coolgul69

Okay so I just finished reading all the parts. So, I'm a lil slow in understanding the political language, but I'm trying my best. Honestly, I've never read such an intense fan fiction, and I'm not at all complaining! It's challenging to understand their views when I have my own personal views that I'd stick by, but it's rational enough to make a valid point. I'm glad you started this FF.
Please keep me posted on the updates of you can!
Thank you. :)

Ah, thank you for sticking till the end... you are most welcome to contradict any of the characters - it would be a pleasure to read them. Yes, they are trying to rationalize a thought process that's maligned by greed and self fulfilling attitudes which interestingly not too far from what a common man does...but more about this in later chapters.

Thanks!

Originally posted by: dazzling_glory

Update was very nice Most times, vixtims of serious cirme like rape and murder, want revenge and not justice, because it is in human nature to take an eye for an eye. the leagal system will try to deliver justice. But the legal system is slow and works on rules and regulations. the punishment given is not just in the eyes of the victim because the want the guilty to suffer more then them. On pbeing punished the culprit is isolated from the society where as the vixtim suffers more by staying in the social system which often does not allow them to forget the misdead done

continue soon

Thank you. You are right about revenge and justice. However the bureaucracy surrounding legal system is so complex that the legality of the argument falls through holes and the justice isn't fully delivered. Is it fault of the system - no. It's about the integrity of the people who are surrounding the justice system.

True - sometimes victims get further ostracized for something that's not their fault but people unnecessarily waggle tongues to prove a non-existant point. There's your social justice.

"What these women wanted was something painful happen to him but not justice for themselves. They are victims and they should get suitable justice for the act done upon them. Blinded by rage and driven by anger, justice takes a backseat and implementation of personal vendetta comes to picture. They aren't asking for justice for them but they are giving out verdict on Dhananjay. I am not saying they are wrong am saying that's how people are. So people like me, defend accusations like this and take advantage of people. And this is also one of the reasons why sometimes it becomes excruciatingly difficult to prosecute a case against a famous name – the resources people like Rathore can procure and the minds they can hire, people they can influence, can really contribute to the case"One of the best arguements I have heard on why women who go thru such ordeals want something along the lines of humiliation rather than justice. The pain and anger that they dealt with cannot amount to the justice the law hands down to the criminals. Pain of such matters are individualized and no matter of sentencing of the criminal can have that pain subdue.

Chapter 13:

"Sir, thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview," Karan Singh said looking at the senior Rathore who was getting mike adjusted to his jacket lapel.

"I saw your segment on that corrupt south Indian chief minister. I liked the way you both attacked him and allowed him to defend his stand on silly reforms." Rathore rarely dished out compliments. Karan Singh, all of forty six years old, blushed. It was first public interview with Rathore after Dhananjay's arrest. He had the media and the country believe that he had become a recluse but only had gone back to basics of politics. It had taken him few days to get back to the roots; generally he turned to Arnav when he was put in a spot or pushed to a corner, but now Arnav wasn't there. Lack of a senior advisor, Arnav specifically, was putting a visible staring on the party boundaries and Rathore had felt right after Dhananjay's arrest that he was going to lose the strong footing he had had with party. But things had changed after Malvika Singh came to meet him.

"Thank you, sir." Karan Singh was polite as ever. The man was intelligent, charming and a perfect host. He rarely opinionated on the comments made by guests – on screen or otherwise but didn't allow them to wheedle away without giving a concrete answer. He was notorious in the way he was detached from the subject matter – this gave an added advantage to him as he was being seen as a neutral journalist which had become a rare phenomenon of late.

If played well, the interview would reinstate Rathore's footing in politics. If he mucked it, then there would be no going back.

"How do you feel about Dhananjay's incident – as a father?" Karan started the interview with a bang. Though the subjects were already shared, Rathore hadn't expected that Karan would put perspective into picture. He adjusted his facial expression to lose the practiced stiffness of a politician and smiled wearily.

"To sum it up in one word – disappointed. We start looking at things larger than life to such an extent that we lose sight of the life in itself. For the past few days I have been on a retrospect trip – what could I have done to avoid such a thing happening to my son? Was it lack of attention that the boy needed or the cultural education that should have come from the family? I am honestly lost in this cause Karan." Rathore sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes. "Dhananjay is paying for the crime I committed – I failed as a father to him."

Karan looked at the man stoic; he wasn't buying this self-deprecating trip. Rathore, if not anything, was one of the star performers in politics. He could evoke empathy in a matter of minutes with carefully chosen words and diluted facial expressions. It wasn't any different now.

"Do you think he really committed the crime? You don't believe he was framed?" Karan asked pushing the right buttons.

But the answer didn't only surprise him but surprised the entire nation.

"I believe in our justice system Karan. The ACP who worked on this case was diligent and didn't neglect her duties even after knowing who Dhananjay was. The police department and the prosecutor office could have easily pushed this case around for years but they didn't. They delivered justice when it was duly needed. And to answer your question Karan – yes. I believe the evidences which were gathered by the police department are fool proof and aren't tampered with. They have shown due diligence during investigation and have shown that no person is above the law." Rathore's voice was soft and was generous with guilt.

Even a seasoned journalist like Karan Singh was rendered momentarily speechless. The follow up questions which he had planned to ask when Rathore denied allegations, were all thrown to the wind. He breathed a sigh of relief when the executive producer stopped the interview for few moments. Like him, even the EP was baffled at Rathore's response and now they had to quickly prepare debating points as their plan was squashed beyond point of redemption.

Rathore offered a small smile when Karan walked back to the set and took the chair. He wondered if Rathore was being a good politician or a father. It had suddenly become hard for him to read the man sitting opposite to him.

"You were looking at Dhananjay as your next heir. Who is going to lead the party, now that Dhananjay isn't around?" The question was mild. Rathore cheered inwardly. He was safe for now.

"It's democracy Karan and not monarchy. Sure, as a father I wanted Dhananjay to take up the party helm and upheld our principles. But he would have fought for it the way the other candidates are. He went to Orissa because he wanted to help and he never anticipated for anything in return. He was very surprised when he was found out by local reporter. Now he isn't around but there are a lot of other intelligent candidates whose vision and zeal rival Dhananjay's. The party isn't my own Karan; it belongs to people." Rathore finished.

Karan wanted to give up the defensive and poke in wrong places but something stopped him. He looked at the older man who looked weary for the ordeal he was going through but the sharpness in the eyes told a different story.

The recording of what would come to known as the most famous interview of the year, continued for three more hours.

*****

Two days ago:

"What can I do for you ACP?" Rathore asked Malvika Singh who had shed her uniform and donned a pair of jeans and t-shirt.

"Sir, I won't beat around the bush and come to point. Dhananjay isn't innocent. But I believe a stage was set up for him." Malvika said right after sitting down. Rathore looked at her, surprised.

"What do you mean ACP? Are you saying Dhananjay is innocent?" Rathore asked exchanging looks with Imran.

"Sir, there are too many coincidences revolving around the incident. Someone brewed a perfect setting and baited Dhananjay to ensure that he slips and falls into the trap."

"Do you have evidences to prove that?" Rathore asked, interested in her line of thinking.

"They are all hypothesis sir. I discarded the statement about those victims walking into a police station which was in different ward. It was a conscious choice they made and I honestly respect them for that. But it's the other small details which are bugging me." Malvika Singh took a deep breath and delved right in. "How did the DNA test got done so fast? There is a fairly lengthy waiting period for DNA results and this case was worked upon on priority. It could have happened only if the recommendation came from right office." Malvika said not looking at him.

"You didn't push for it?" Rathore asked peering at her.

"I am an ACP sir. Forensic labs don't take orders for priority from me. The orders came from higher up." Malvika said and took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Imran.

It was an interview transcript between the department head of lab and a caller who remained unknown till the end.

"It was Bhanu Pratap who made a call to the forensic lab – not to fake the results but to expedite." Malvika said and looked at Rathore, whose grim face didn't successfully hide his anger.