ArHi FF! We, the people [Completed] - Page 23

Originally posted by: SwatiakaSonaki

Absolutely wonderful and full of long discussions...you know something's which I didn't know about politics , I came to know it through this...awesome...

Originally posted by: latekate

An amazing FF.

All the conversations initiated by Akash seem to be like he either wants to prove himself right or maybe he is trying to see a different perspective of the same situations, from people with different ideas. In a way to convince himself of his beliefs.

He had stated that he was raised in that place (cut off from the rest of the world). Is it even possible to have such a strong opinion on the world outside when you have been raised in a place where every information you get to read is controlled by somebody else?

Most of the other questions I had are already discussed and cleared

Originally posted by: Kalyaani

Brilliant would be understating it, I am more than impressed with this story and many may call me bad for actually understanding where Arnav and Khushi come from. I am not judging them, they have their own complexities and that makes interesting and relatable reading. I am always interested in the kingmakers and not the kings.

I find Khushi and Arnav, real to the point of liking what all they represent, they do and don't judge; it's almost karmic their outlook. They will do, the fruit they bear is frankly out of their control.

I am hooked and it goes without saying, I will follow this endeavor keenly.

Latha - thank you for recommending this, you sure are a darling.

Chapter 16:

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" ACP Malvika Singh asked Vikramaditya Rathore standing in his office. Rathore was sitting behind the mahogany desk and opposite to him, was a man in his late fifties. 'Must be a friend,' she thought.

"Thanks for coming on such a short notice ACP Singh," Rathore said and pointed the chair opposite to his table. She nodded and took the seat.

"This is Pankaj Gupta," Rathore said. "He is Khushi Gupta's father." He added for good measure. Malvika was rendered momentarily speechless.

"I am going to recommend you to take over investigation of abduction of Khushi and Arnav." Rathore said. The seriousness in his voice successfully masked the weariness. She wondered what senior Gupta was going through given how his daughter was missing for more than a week now. There was a man hunt on but with every passing day, the chances of finding them died a little.

"But sir…" Malvika started.

"ACP Singh, consider this as a request of two fathers and not politicians." Senior Gupta said softly. Malvika look jolted at that. The man whose pictures she had seen in magazines suddenly seemed much older up close and the father in him was beaten.

"Don't worry about issues with jurisdiction. We will take care of it. But I want you to use your intelligence and find out what has happened to them. I can promise you that you will not face any stone walls during investigations," Rathore promised. Malvika sighed. In truth, there was no reason for her to refuse an assignment like this. It was one of the most high profile cases which would definitely go down in history but she didn't want to become a pawn which can be moved around the board by likes of Gupta and Rathore. She hated politics. But this wasn't about politics. It was about a crime committed against two citizens. Making up her mind, she stood up.

"I will try my level best sir," she said standing up and gave her affirmation.

"Thank you very much," Rathore said sincerely. "The case will be assigned to you by the time you reach your station." Rathore tilted his head and looked straight at Shukla who was standing by the door. "Shukla will give you all the information he has gathered till date." Rathore added.

"Why did you choose me?" Malvika asked stopping midway. "I put your son away." She said honestly. She was expecting nothing less than death threat. It was Gupta senior who answered.

"Because you are a very good police officer. And I want nothing less than best on this case," he said. Malvika didn't question any further and walked out of the room.

Once the door was shut, Rathore sighed. "You think she will be successful?" He asked.

"She is the best. And finding our children is more important here." Gupta replied. Unlike any other day, Rathore calmly accepted Arnav as his son.

"Do you believe they are still alive?" Rathore asked.

"I am not sure anymore." The response held the fear that had been gnawing his gut from the moment his daughter had disappeared. In their world, there was a cost for everything they did. It was a time when they lived long enough to see the seeds of greed grown to a plant and produce vicious fruits.

"Sir," Imran said barging into the study. Before Rathore could react, Imran continued. "I think you need to hear this. You too sir," Imran said looking at Gupta. Rathore nodded without questioning further.

Imran walked outside in hurried steps and came back with a girl.

"Tell them what you told me few minutes ago," Imran said to the girl.

"Mr. Rathore, Mr. Gupta," she addressed the two men formally. "My name is Payal and I am here on behalf of Khushi Gupta." Senior Gupta shot up from his chair and exchanged surprise looks with Rathore. Before he could continue, the girl spoke. "I was asked by Khushi to come to you if anything ever happens to her. The instruction was to wait for a week after any even which would affect her life invariably and take a judgmental call. I think it's time you should know." She said.

There was no reaction from anyone in the room. Payal turned and looked at Imran. She said, "On your way out, please close the door behind you." Imran looked at Rathore who nodded him to go.

Payal watched Imran close the door behind him and once she felt it was safe to talk, she turned around.

"Things are not what they seem to be. I could only tell first part of information to Khushi before she went missing. I recently unearthed a much bigger conspiracy that will change the country as we know it." Payal said opening her briefcase.

"What do you mean?" Gupta recovered first.

"Do you know the true meaning of totalitarian government?" Payal asked, booting up the laptop. "It's not lawlessness but defining a law which governs every aspect of public's life. The examples we have seen in history which stemmed from anti-communist tendencies shaped up over the course of world wars and cold war to slowly lose its existence. The lines between authoritarian and totalitarian blurs and a mix of both are followed." Payal explained.

"You mean how there is an individual calling all shots but an official ideology exists. It's a dichotomy that exists in this strange amalgamation of two political systems." Gupta replied.

"It's a lot like a political party in India – especially one that's born from depths depravity and ideology which fundamentally was supposed to fix a problem but in turn becomes yet another conflict in political arena; a conflict which is necessary but lacks the luster to last for a long time in the darkness we are surrounded in. We saw it happening months before with Anna movement, and the entire brand being dismantled because of this particular clash of dichotomy. The inevitable dismantle of ideology due to continuous promotion of individualism and pluralism." Rathore replied. "What about it?"

"I think someone or some organization is trying to be exactly that." Payal said with disbelief in her voice.

"That's not possible," Gupta refuted first.

"Payal if someone or a group of people are trying to control politics from outside, then we would have known. In a system like ours, the superficial nature of relationships between people in politics is never out of spotlight. Anyone trying to enter politics goes through a range of morally challenging decision making process by the end of which they are sterile to empathy to a large extent. Even those who are doing well, feel incredible amount of guilt because they end up compromising on something important to achieve a greater good." Rathore added, agreeing to what Gupta had said.

"Sir, the idea is not to bring out a change so drastic that it shakes up the entire system. That kind of revolution is impossible in the state in which our country is in." Payal replied. The men looked at each other wondering what she was on about.

She said passively, "How much do you know about our military?"

Originally posted by: RockBarbie

Thank you - for reading and recommending to your friend.

I don't know about the ease part but his opinions come from his experience. Since you brought this point, can you explain the other point that Akash makes about the same society from the perspective of coal miners? What is the use of outside world which is a constant struggle to survive?

The people under BPL who struggle on a daily basis don't particularly care about things that the outside world fret about. All they want is source of income, daily food and shelter. Only when these three basic aspects of life makes one content, they elevate to next level of participation.

While reading this story, I was reminded of Pramod Mahajan of BJP, his rise through the ranks and his untimely demise. He is a prime example of what power and money can do to an individual. Coming to this update, I have a strange yet strong feeling Bhanu Pratap is behind all this and Akash even. Akash an idealist may be a victim himself, I will accept it may be premature to say that at this point, will wait to read more.

Originally posted by: Kalyaani

It is interesting you make this point about people under BPL; I would like to share an anecdote. It was Independence Day and I asked my maid's daughter, a girl of 13 who had not seen the insides of a school, if the day meant anything to her or if she knew anything about our country. She had no clue and it surprised me, for it was another day and she had to go to work with her mother to the many homes they were committed to. At the end of the day for a person who struggles to make ends meet, it is essentially "roti, kapda aur makan" things like democracy, politics, and political parties mean nothing. If it does it is the biryani packet and some money they get at the end of the political rally the volunteer to attend.

Originally posted by: indiavizion

hey i am the first one...

i guess payal was implying, dictatorship...possibly taken over by military...but how is aakash able to control all that...as if he is in some control centre and moving his pawns effortlessly