Chapter 2
After the airport incident Shravan somehow gained strength and courage to go to the Army headquarters in Delhi and confess his mistakes hoping it would revoke whatever he saw at the airport. Suman had been sentenced to be hanged till death and he could not let such a thing happen he had to do something as he knew Suman can be selfish, mean, rude or anything but not a traitor.
As he reached the headquarters, he asked for Major General Bakshi, he was the man who was heading the investigation of Captain Suman Tiwari. He also had been Sumanās mentor in the army hence Shravan hoped that he would help him in getting the death sentence revoked for Suman. Shravan had heard about MG Bakshi and Sumanās relationship here and there; everyone knew that MG Bakshi treated Suman like his daughter.
In Major General Bakshiās office:
As Shravan walked in, he saw MG Bakshi sitting on his chair and sipping coffee. He did not look very old maybe a little older than his father. Shravan wondered if he would help him, as he wondered wouldnāt this man try to save Suman if he loved her like his daughter, why would he head the investigation and more importantly why does he seem so clam, a slight doubt crossed his mind about opening up to him now. However, he did not know who else to speak to, so he decided to take the risk just for Suman.
After 2 hours when Shravan came out of MG Bakshiās office he looked very confused and could not make out what to understand from the recent conversation. At one point it seemed like this man would do anything to save Suman as if she was his daughter and next moment it seemed like this man was playing games, he had asked Shravan to keep quiet and never open his mouth in front of anyone till MG Bakshi asks him to. Shravan was confused but he thought of waiting for 24 hours before taking another step. In meanwhile he had requested a meeting with Suman and was able to gain permission due to MG Bakshiās help.
He somehow gathered the courage to go meet Suman. She was kept in a special jail with extra protection as they feared an attempt from her āfriendsā to recuse her as she was an asset for them. He laughed a little at the thought.
Flashback
āSumo yeh army me gundo aur terrorist logo ko kaha rakhte honge aur unka karte kya hongeā
āShravan tum pagal ho yah stupid mujhe samjah nahi aata, obvisouly unke liye special jails hote hai with extra security taki unke saathi ya friends unhe bhaga na le jayeā
āLo toh friends toh bhagane ke liye hote haina, phir chahe kiske bhi friends ho agar dosti paki ho toh koi bhi dewar thod sakti haiā
āTum sach me pagal ho pata bhi hai agar yeh log bahar aa jaye toh kitna nuksan kar sakte hai TUM jaise civilians koā Sumo laughing
āArrey pata hai mai mazak kar raha tha, waise agar tumhe aisi jail me jana pade na toh mai zaroor aunga tumhe bahganeā
āOh, please phele mujhse tezz toh bhag lo phir deware thodna tum, tab tak mai khud bhagne ka intezam kar lungiā
Suddenly a thought crossed Shravanās mind to rescue Suman out of the jail, but he too was an Army officer and understood the repercussions of this plus knowing Suman she would never run from the custody; she would rather stay and fight and give up her life for the country. She was never selfish when it came to her country and doing something for it.
As he entered the jail, he realized what conditions she might have been living in as it was dark, dusted and smelled horrible. As he walked towards her cell, he realized she was kept in isolation, he walked towards her and saw a very petite figure sitting on the ground with her head into her knees. As he got closer, he could see her wounds and marks of beating. She was in a miserable condition and that hit him harder than any of the bullets so far. He blamed himself for her condition. He was surprised how she did not look up or realize that someone had walked into her cell, the once attentive Sumo did not realize someone was standing so close to her this broke him. He mustered the courage to call out her name after 5 minutes of standing and looking at her or more like analysing her, āSuman, mai hu Shravanā. Suddenly her head shot up and her eyes were blood red with cut marks and bruises on her face. She had been tortured for information. Finally, she spoke, and he was happy and what she said did not surprise him at all, āNikal jao yaha se, just get outā she shouted with all the energy she could gather.
PS: I only have a basic understanding of the Indian Army, hence if I am going wrong with anything please point it out though I will take a bit of creative liberty here and there. And I'm sorry if I hurt anyone's sentiments.
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