ArHi FF! We, the people [Completed] - Page 31

Originally posted by: citi

I am thoroughly enjoying this FF and the discussions among the protagonists. Just adding my two penny bit on the debate.

Privatization per se is not a bad thing but the Government should know to what extent.

An example that bears quoting here is of England and the wholesale privatization of their Railways, of the rolling stock and the tracks, under Margaret Thatcher. This lead to major issues later on because the private players who owned the tracks tried to monopolize them and others could not run their trains on those tracks. Having realized this blunder the government had to buy back the tracks.

There are certain spheres where the government has to keep essential controls, a PPP model can be looked at where certain parts can be privatized. It is simple, if public transport is privatized then the private players will essentially be looking at profit and would not provide services on loss making routes, also the fare needs to be controlled. So if some privatization has to be done then the regulatory framework has to be strong and no private player should be allowed to monopolize a service. The government has a social responsibility to provide such services to all citizens even in remote places.

One example closer home is privatization of the State Road Transport Services in Madhya Pradesh which has been very unsuccessful. People are held to ransom by the private transporter eg. if a bus has to start at 6:00 a.m. the transporter will not start till the bus is full and that might take however long, as especially in villages or small mofussil towns there are not enough passengers to fill buses on time. so the passenger never knows when the bus will start and the journey finish. On the other hand a state transport bus will start on time and the passenger is assured of reaching wherever he has to on time and not be at the mercy of the transporter...just one example of fulfilling social responsibility, as everything is not about profit.

Health, transport, education, infrastructure, law and order maintenance are core activities of the State and the State cannot abdicate its duties. Yes efficiency and effectiveness can always improve.

Originally posted by: flowers4u

awesome update...wonder what akash will do knw ...hope arnav and kushi can survive akash's prison...continue soon...

Originally posted by: Nici0306

so true train travel in india is pathetic.. we need trains with high speed, so we can have more trains running between stations and that would let people have more flexibility to travel and ofcourse the travel time would be sorted. I think if we go for speed trains then it would be beneficial if it is privately owned.. chances of public safety would be high.. otherwise over the time.. safety would be taken granted.. like in melbourne the currently the trains are run by a private company.. who got the contract from government for 8 years with possible extension based on performance.. it was earlier managed by connex and now it is managed by Metro; Metro is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation (60%) together with John Holland Group (20%) and United Group Rail (20%). Now this type of arrangement works.. the price of tickets are governed by Government but the actual management is done privately based on winning tender.

We need a similar kind of mixture..

i really enjoyed reading the chapter.. none of your characters are ever out of their characters.. khushi would always speak like khushi in your story... and i know it is how hard to keep maintaining that.. as the writer in one person thinking as all the character.. to feel and be in character.. to talk like them.. excellent work girl..

Originally posted by: supriyakhu

This is the best story i have ever heard in lieu with arnav and khushi. Writers exploit their kind of romantic set up, not that it is bad or less enjoyable but it gets monotonous over a certain period of time. Your story gives us fodder for brains. Makes us think! Excellent.

Supriya

Originally posted by: aayesha

Ok now I want to give you a salute wow man just wow what a story...brilliant you are one of a kind you should know that in writing just wow
I just came across your FF I just can't express myself how impress I m with your writing skill
WONDERFUL
BEAUTIFUL
BRILLIANT writer I must say ok now I have sent you a buddy request do accept it and pm me whenever you update well you should update soon please

Originally posted by: dazzling_glory

Wow...your research/knowledge is simply brilliant.

It is getting harfer for khushi and arnav to stay in these confined premises.

Privatisation of railways is not the answer. We have already tried it with our air trasport and I think we have failed at it because it has only caused more problems.

continue soon

Chapter 19:

ACP Malvika Singh was a woman of immense patience which she believed was truly a virtue. This virtue had come in handy when she was patrolled mountains near India-Tibet border when she was a part of ITPB. To keep in shape and not to forget her old trade, she did rock climbing at local gymkhana as often as possible. It was one of those extremely hot afternoons when things got really slow around the station and a case bothered her as if something was permanently stuck between teeth. She had decided to go rock climbing to clear out her head and think about Arnav's and Khushi's disappearances from a totally different perspective.

She waited several seconds to analyze grips around her and reaffirmed her path that took her to the goal. It was too hot and too bright in afternoon making the rock climbing area deserted. There were less than five people on floor and the support staff was hanging around in shadows.

"Stay away from the case if you wish to live," She heard a man who was climbing a feet away from her say. She took a moment to study the man who had ensured that she wouldn't recognize him. His hoodie blocked most part of his face and the bright sun made her squint as she looked up to memorize his features.

"Do you know who I-"

"We know exactly who you are ACP Malvika Singh. You have too much of….integrity to be incarcerated by this farce of a system." She took several deep breaths and slowly opened her squinted eyes and stared directly at the sun. The man next to the Sun looked like a black blob but she held on anyway. "Go on a sabbatical. Walk as far as possible from this case."

"And I don't?"

"You would be a part of collateral damage." Without giving her an opportunity to reply, the man relaxed the rope and swooshed down on ground in one smooth move. She was only a second late in her descent but the man had managed to disappear. She let out a frustrated growl and decided to burn couple of cigarettes while walking back to the police station.

Her phone rang the moment she let out the first drag. It was Shukla.

"I was asked to stay away from this case by someone who is supporting the cause." She said without as much a hello. Shukla was more of a comrade than an associate and between them, social niceties ceased to exist.

"Did you get a good look at him?" Shukla asked.

"I couldn't."

"Where did he meet you?"

"At gymkhana. I went to do some rope climbing to clear out my head and get a fresh perspective on case." She stopped talking and walking when the inference dawned upon her.

"We are being watched," Shukla said quietly. "I know that I would be but how did anyone get a wind of your involvement?" Urgency poured from his voice.

"I don't know Shukla. I did meet Rathore at his residence and he did take me to a restaurant…" She left the sentence hanging.

"I found something Malvika. We need to meet and exchange notes." Shukla said with an obvious exhaustion in his voice.

"What did you find?" She asked curios.

"I found out about the ex-journalist." She heard him revving up the car engine. "It isn't good. Text me where you are and I will come and find you now." Shukla hung up without bothering to hear her response.

Forty minutes later, the two of them had rented a small room at a lodge whose owner had smiled at the two of them leeringly. She had purposefully chosen that place as she very well knew that it was a hub for prostitution. Sometimes one got maximum protection under the umbrella of a large crime. They would be safe and their privacy would be taken care of.

"What did you find?" She asked him as soon as he locked door behind them.

"Have you heard about a man who goes by the name Shyam Manohar Jha?" Shukla asked opening his laptop.

"The name sounds familiar. Who is he?" Malvika asked sliding the window curtains by an inch and eyed the street.

"He was a journalist in a newspaper which became defunct in 1977. He was a socialist and advocated free press. He came to prominence because of his writing against the establishment. Unlike his peers, his writings were heralded as political essays and thought provoking articles which the nation badly needed during Emergency. The media blackout made him desperate enough to lash out against then prime minister by writing a six thousand word essay in an acerbic tone and not so subtle hints about an insurgence. He was arrested and sent to jail under the guise of threat to national security." Shukla explained.

"I remember now. During those two years, many protesters were taken to custody under preventive detention. How is he related to this case?" Malvika asked.

"The credit card owner's name is Shyam Manohar Jha and is an ex-journalist. Frankly I never connected the two," he said. Malvika looked at him surprised.

"The credit card belonged to him? He would be now what, seventy odd years old?" Malvika asked walking away from window and sitting next to him on bed.

"That Shyam Manohar Jha died in prison in 1978 after severe deterioration in health however some say that it was a well-executed murder. The credit card belonged to thirty two year old Shyam Manohar Jha who was working as a journalist. That's the information I initially gathered from police report." Shukla said. Malvika looked at him and frowned.

"It could be a coincidence." She said. "The name isn't uncommon Shukla. And besides, why would anyone want to use that as a fake name?" She questioned. Shukla sighed.

"The name isn't uncommon but holds lots of secrets. The person who used that name knew the importance of it." He replied.

"That Shyam Manohar Jha was a great journalist who died in prison after speaking against government?" Malvika asked. Shukla shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"That Shyam Manohar Jha was Arnav Raizada's biological father."

Now, this is worth reading all over again, with a nice cup of strong filter coffee. I must say this story never, never seizes to surprise me. It is noteworthy, the manner in which the layers are coming into the forefront. Absolutely brilliant, please do write regularly if possible that is, it keeps the interest alive.

I recommend the readers of the story watch an old Kannada movie by the name "accident" by Shankar Nag, it is brilliant.

Originally posted by: Kalyaani

Now, this is worth reading all over again, with a nice cup of strong filter coffee. I must say this story never, never seizes to surprise me. It is noteworthy, the manner in which the layers are coming into the forefront. Absolutely brilliant, please do write regularly if possible that is, it keeps the interest alive.

I recommend the readers of the story watch an old Kannada movie by the name "accident" by Shankar Nag, it is brilliant.