ArHi FF! We, the people [Completed] - Page 35

Chapter 21:

Malvika pulled out a file from her messenger bag which was dispatched via courier only an hour ago. As soon as she received it, she had placed it in her bag ignoring the looks of her men and continued writing a FIR. Her staff had noticed her frequent disappearances during course of the day but never commented upon it. Her absence would be anywhere between two to six hours and she never mentioned anyone about it.

The file was sent by Shukla which contained seven photos and only a page, an excel sheet print out, in it. She recognized Rathore's property in photos and Imran but the other man in the photos was foreign to her. The photos were from various security cameras installed across property. The print out which came along with the photos was a visitor log - a log of all people who entered the property on a given day and the log was three days old. Shukla had already circled the name that needed her attention.

'Shyam Manohar Jha'

She frowned at this new information and before she could think anything further, her spare cellphone beeped with incoming message. 'Meet me in twenty minutes.'

Without any further deliberation, she walked out of the police station and straight to her jeep. There was something definitely going on and it looked like Shukla knew about it.

They were seated in yet another small room in a seedy guesthouse which rented rooms' per hour basis. She knew few girls who worked there and the girls were known to keep secrets. It helped their cause and she bought rounds of lunch for the girls when she was there.

"I found seventeen different people using the identity of Shyam Manohar Jha. All of them call themselves ex-journalists and are aged between thirty and forty. Isn't that odd?" Shukla said taking off his jacket.

"What were your search parameters in finding these men?" Malvika asked looking at the file he had discarded on the bed. When Shukla didn't respond, she looked up to see him staring out of the window and studying the busy street below. "Shukla?" She called, raising her voice a little. He sighed deeply and walked back to the bed and sat in front of her.

"Do you remember what the man said to you at gymkhana?" Shukla asked ignoring her question.

"He said I would be killed if I pursued this case further," she responded.

"No Malvika. He said you would be a collateral damage. He didn't threaten to kill you but he told you that you will die as a consequence of a bigger scheme." Shukla said rubbing his chin.

"What are you saying?" She asked noting his sour expression. "Collateral damages are byproduct of a war Shukla. Are you implying that these people are starting a war or something?" She asked. Shukla didn't respond immediately.

"We need to think in different direction Malvika. Let's forget about Arnav and Khushi's position in political arena for a minute, the fact that they are missing and see from perspective of the people who threatened them." Malvika nodded at that. Continuing on same thought, he said, "The people who threatened them, viewed the two as representatives of a larger idea - one that doesn't involve a true political motive."

"Profiling of those threats tell us the same and we already know that the people who threatened them aren't the ones who kidnapped. What are you getting at?" Malvika asked.

"Don't all of these start looking like sort of rebellion against government to you?" Shukla added.

"What?" Her surprise was evident in her voice. "That's taking things a bit too far Shukla. Even for you. And besides, rebellions have always existed. There are so many groups which speak and act against government and for what they believe they are deprived of which almost makes you want to pass a law stating that free speech has to be regulated by the government," she added.

"Those extremists ensure that they are spoken and written about in media which gives them the leverage of being heard or at least taken seriously by the public. Their stunts are debated in public and their PR works overtime to ensure that it stays in memory of public. But look at the language they are using in this case Malvika - in their threats and when a man spoke to you. The man could have easily put a bullet in your head and walked scot free yet he gives you a chance to walk away. Men with different backgrounds create a same persona with similar names and background information. Arnav and Khushi may have been abducted but there have been various people - bureaucrats, lobbyists, high ranking officials in government have all gone on extended holidays out of country under pretext of health or family emergency." Shukla said with heavy sigh. "These are men and women who upheld their position and their moral stature in times of digression Malvika. The transfers in last two years have been crazy and many government officials have been replaced."

"Do you realize what you are suggesting Shukla?" Malvika said shaking Shukla's shoulders. The slump of them under the wrinkled shirt made him look tired and defeated. Her stomach had lurched at the thought.

"Someone is orchestrating this Malvika. The rates with which the changes are taking place are too vast and the rapidness only adds on to support my theory. And whoever the person is must be doing this for decades. One cannot simply walk into a country this large and start dictating terms and shuffle around elite members of political society."

"A system exists for the governance of this country and another system exists as a parasite to the legal one; the parasitic system manipulates and operates in a shameless and an apathetic manner by demeaning laws of the land and performing a debauchery of basic humane morality. Now we see that an idea has been budding and evolving for past couple of decades to uproot this parasitic system and for the strangest reason, we may have to fight against it." Malvika said leaning on the headboard. Shukla wordlessly shifted next to her and sighed as soon as his back rested on headboard, their shoulders barely touching one another.

"There are no right and wrongs in governance," Shukla said closing his eyes.

"I know." Malvika said. "There is only law." She added bitterly and let out a breath of relief that she wasn't wearing her police insignia. Now that would have been the depth of subversion.

*****

Originally posted by: ivre

So finally catching up, are we?

One question- If this has been going on since decades, why act now? What is it about this moment which is special? The ancestors losing sheen? Creation of a gap which is asking to be filled in the political arena?

The Shyam Manohar Jha angle is interesting :)

Originally posted by: flowers4u

wow..so finally people are begining too see the bigger picture...excellent update ...continue soon...

Originally posted by: dazzling_glory

Brilliant part

Finally Shukla and Malvika seem to have figured out about the movement that has been initiated. They are thrown back to see the magnitude and planning which has been going on for so long.

Revolutions are often triggered by small incidences but once set into motion, there is no turning back. Seventeen Shyam Manohar Jha...now that is shocking and impressive. Shows the level of planning.

continue soon

Why am I late this time? I am to blame and now that I am here, going to ramble a bit. The mind is such an amazing creation of God, not being philosophical here, just voicing my thoughts. The way the mind works to meet goals which the very same mind envisions is difficult to understand at times and yet one cannot but marvel at it.

Another point that never ceases to amaze me is the play of power and money; the things it can do to a man, it beyond my capacity to word. The Shyam angle was a sucker punch, the old and new is what I mean.

I have to laud your effort here, it is interesting to know the thoughts of people who are a small part of the system but are the most impacted. They may not be a part of the scheme but are involved none the less.

I am going to read the story again and recommend it to my sister, who has no idea about the world of IF. She will surely like this.

PS – my brother fills me in on all the news and I too reach out to the page 3 segment first, so Usha you are not alone. My way to escape from reality is how I explain my shallowness.