Secret Organization in Haridwar

by Prashant Shukla

  Chapter 7

  The man whom they called the doctor was indulged in his own thoughts. He was grateful to the man sitting in the vehicle but whose public image was of the one who spread hatred among the communities. This he knew was far from truth but he also new that the man had made such image of him with utmost care so that the real world would never come to know of the things he did. He remembered that if not for this man he would have been part of the majority of people of his community who live at the fringes. If not for him he would have been totally lost. It was one of the late mornings when he was called by this man. He went to him all the hate and ignorance of a young man. He stood there in front of him all proud and erect. Why should he bow to him even though the old caste based customs would have him bow before the man who was Brahmin and he was the so called a low caste man. Even then he did not feel any fear and why would he, he thought. “Have a seat” said Mr. Gautam pointing to one of the chairs lying vacant around him. As he had approached Mr. Gautam had asked people sitting with him to leave. He wanted to this young man alone. He said on the chair hesitantly, not knowing where this meeting would lead. Would he be asked by the man whom people think is capable to doing many things to discontinue his agitation? He was a front man of a member of his community who had gained position seldom known to member of his community. He had risen to be a power player and now being a young man he had chosen him to be his front man in all the matters. “Do you know why have called you?” asked the man who had called him “I think yes” not knowing how to approach this delicate issue “And what would be your answer?” asked Mr. Gautam “How do you think I should answer?” he questioned with blazing eyes. He was filled with disgust for not only this man but for all the people who had oppressed people of lower castes since ages “You should answer as a man of intelligence which you are and not as man who feels that he is a servant of another man.” Was Mr. Gautam’s reply showing no signs of any reproach towards him. He was surprised by the answer given to him. Has Mr. Gautam acknowledged him as a man of intelligence or this is a game he was playing with him so that he loosens his stand. He was getting confused. “I don’t understand” “How would you when you have put a blinder over your eyes. I have called you not to keep you from doing the work you are doing now. I have no interest in the petty politics you are working with that fool who thinks he is a great leader of your community. People sitting at the top are using him for their own good and he is thinking that he is really running the show. You will that in coming few days the agitation you are running would be asked to stop by none other than the man who is making you to agitate. And he will not even bother to tell you why. He would just summarily ask you to back off. It is a game always played by people at the top. You don’t have the vision to look that far right now. But this is also not the reason I have called you. This could have been told in front of all the others sitting right here. The reason I have you alone talking to me much personal. You should now that I also belong to the same village as you are.” He nodded and was surprised to see where the discussion of heading “It is a family matter so I deemed it fir to sit alone and have a chat. What do you think are you going to do about that? ” asked Mr. Gautam with affection “About what, I am not able to understand what are you talking about?” “I am talking about the imminent marriage of your sister. She is about to be married and you are facing a problem on that front. I have called you to discuss that matter and not politics with you. You as a man who is from my village is like a family member to me.” “What? How do you know?” He was totally dumbfounded, not knowing what to say or think “I have made it my business to know about the well being of people living in and around my village. Now just tell me what you are planning to do about it” “I have asked my leader for some financial assistance and he has said to me that I should not worry about anything. She being my sister is a daughter to him and he would take care of everything.” He said with anger as he was not going to talk about his family matters with a stranger “I know what has he told you but has he offered any assistance till now or is he offering just words?” He hung his head. Words were the only thing being offered by his leader till now and people like him think that words were enough of them. “I take that as no. I know that you need assistance and also know that you so called leader of the community would not give you any assistance without asking something in return. So tell me what I can do for you and when shall you start preparing for the wedding. But before we carry on further you have to promise me that you will not tell this to any one. If anyone asks then tell that I had called you to back off you agitation.” What is he saying? Is he going to help me without letting me tell anyone? Why is he doing this? He was totally confused. “Do you promise?” “I do not have to promise anything as I am not going to take help from you. I know you would use this to advertise yourself and would try to buy our votes for your party. I know how you people of so called upper castes stoop low to get votes.” He said as the actual reason for this asked for help came to his mind. Mr. Gautam was going to do politics using his sister’s wedding as a platform.” And I have people of my own community willing to offer all the help I need” He stood up and started to go “Do not hesitate to come to me when you need me” Mr. Gautam just said behind his back low enough that only he could hear. After few days he was back at Mr. Gautam’s place sitting exactly in the same place as he was on the day he was called by him. He was surprised that even though he had come on his own he was offered to sit. Even his leader had never offered him a chair to sit. “Can we now discuss the wedding of your sister?” He asked with the same affection as he had on the first time. His face was sincere like it was on that day. How foolish had he been on that day. He had blind faith on the leader of his community and he had crushed his faith. He was thinking about the words of Mr. Gautam. “He would ask him to back down. He would ask something in return for the help” And how true those words came. Just two days after he left Mr. Gautam’s offer and returned to his agitation he was asked to back down by his leader. He went to him to ask for the reason. He wanted to continue as government was about to relent under pressure and that would help members of his community. He went to beg him to allow continuing the agitation. He saw his leaders sitting with members of the political party in running the government. He became afraid because he had seen those faces only in news papers and posters but seeing them in flesh and blood was something else. Now he was sure that there would be no reason to continue the agitation as the government had sent its own people to settle the issue and see that the people agitating would get their due. He felt that now all his troubles would vanish. And not sitting in front of Mr. Gautam he felt how wrong was he to think like that. He was asked to stop agitating by his leader. He told him that government has made an offer and he has accepted it. Then they all laughed and people around him congratulated him. He also congratulated his leader for a successful agitation. He stood there for people to leave so that he can have quiet word with his leader about his sister’s wedding. His leader asked him what was he waiting for on which he said he would wait. On hearing that his leader uttered such an abusive word to him that he was taken back. He had never heard his leader using such foul language to anyone lave alone himself. He considered himself to be his deputy now. How can he use such language for him? He could not understand. He just kept standing when he again shouted to tell the reason for waiting. He was getting angry on him intruding their meeting. He said he would wait outside on which he said no and asked to say whatever he wanted to say now. Hesitantly he asked for the assistance he promised for his sister’s wedding. “Oh that, what a fool are you. Why are you feeling ashamed of asking? These are now family members and on should feel ashamed in front of his own family. Does he?” asked the leader “No" he replied “So what would I get in return?” “Return? Sir I do not have anything to give it to you.” “I think you have something which would be appropriate not only for me also these new friends would be also find it a fitting gift. I don’t think you
should deny us that gift. After all we would be helping you and if every thing goes as planned I would ask the Chief Minister to at least keep you as a helper even on temporary basis. You should know how difficult it has become to find a regular job now a day. I think you are a graduate? ” “Yes sir I am a graduate” This was all he ever said to his leader. When he heard what he had asked for his feet started trembling and darkness covered his eyes. All he could hear was the laughter and obscene words used by those people sitting and standing around. When he was not able to take it more he ran. He ran till he fell and when he regained his strength he ran again. Since then twice words came from his leader offering assistance but also reminding him of his return gift. When he did not gave any reply only a threat came from him. Keep quiet, don’t utter a word of this. The next day when he ran from his leaders house he saw in the news papers that his leader had been made a minister in the government and was given a cabinet post. Now it came to his mind why all those people were congratulating him. It also occurred to him that this agitation was only staged to make him a minister in the government. As his leader had won as an independent candidate he was free to go with any party and was bargaining since the formation of government that he should be made a minister. And with the opportune time he found someone he could use as his puppet and got the prize he wanted. Now he realized that people who publicly tried to messiah of the down trodden communities were actually the monsters who tried to take even the remaining dignity which they had. “I am sorry Sir” apologizing sincerely “Do not apologize as you did what you felt was good for you, your family and your community. How were you to found that they are the real wolves? I do not say that wolves do not exist in our community as they are more in number than expected and found every where. And let us do not waste our time in such useless matter and discuss what is more important.” “I do not have anything to give in return” said he fearing that he might also ask somewhat similar return and he cannot give what these hounds are after “Why do you think I want something in return” “That monster asked me some thing in return which I would not give even if he took my life” said he with anger rising in him “I know what happened in there and I assure you that he had been told that you are out of his reach. He has been specifically warned that if he ever tries even to put his eyes towards anyone of your family then things can go horribly wrong for him and think he is too shrewd not to understand the meaning” “How can I ever repay you, Sir” “If you really want to repay me then come to after the wedding is over and then we came talk about that.” Said the man smiling. Then for few weeks every thing went smoothly and finally his sister was sent to her home and the wedding over without any fuss. Mr. Gautam had declined the invitation as he did not want to be seen as helping him. He was out of the country during the wedding on some important work. No one ever found out that it was Mr. Gautam who actually funded the whole wedding and some of them present actually abused him privately for acting as he was and not even blessing the newly weds. And he could do nothing but to just sit there and here the abuses hurled at Mr. Gautam. He was so much ashamed that he was not in a position to defend the man because of whom the wedding was taking place. After the wedding Mr. Gautam called him when he came back o the country. A ticket for him for Delhi was given to him by one of aides of Mr. Gautam. He went to Delhi for the first time and was made to stay in the very house where Mr. Gautam was staying. This was unfathomable incident even by his terms. How could he stay in the same house under one roof? But he did what he was told. In the morning he was called for breakfast and found that he had to share table with Mr. Gautam. Again this was not possible in his village even in the next century. But he did what he was asked to do. “So are you really going to repay me or were you just trying to impress me with your words?” asked Mr. Gautam smiling “I don’t have anything to give you” “Yes you have.” He brought out a paper from his pocket and handed over to him. It was advertisement for a government job. He was surprised. What it has to do with the repayment? “Just fill the form and give it to Mr. Sunder, he will do the rest. You stay here till the exams are over because you have to taking coaching to clear this exam. And stop worrying about your family.” “But what will I say to them?” ”Tell them you got a job here. Every month a fixed amount would be given to your mother” “I do not have money to stay in Delhi leave alone pay for any coaching. And how will I send home money?” “Who said you need money to live here? This is one of the places I own and I do not run a hotel here. And your admission has been made in one of the best coaching institutes in Delhi. You just stay here and study hard and leave the matters of money for me. You just worry about clearing the exam.” Within few months the exams were over and when results were out he was surprised to find his roll number is the list of the people who have been selected for interview. He had studied hard but there had been rumors that big players had used money power to get selected and he had nothing to give so that left it on his fate to decide his future. Just as he was thinking about his next move Mr. Gautam walked in with a news paper in which results were declared and a box of sweets. He gave a tight hug to him and put a sweet in his mouth. He then just said then he should work hard and prepare of the interview and leave his family matters to him. Every week he used to write a letter to his mother telling her different types of lies about his job. His younger sister used to reply his letters saying that their mother was very happy. Now he wrote them about this exam he has cleared and told them that if he cleared the interview then he may get a government job. After one week the reply came that they were very happy to hear that he had cleared the exam and need not worry about the outcome of the interview as he had already done them proud by clearing the exams. In the coming days the interview was also over and he again cleared it. On the day the final results were declared Mr. Gautam came to him and said that he had to return home. He gave him a ticket to return and said that there would be some more time he would had to wait for because there would the necessary background checks and after that he would have to join. As he came back to his village there was huge celebration the following night and he was one of the first who had cleared an exam and got selected for a government job from their community in all the villages near and far. During the celebrations there was usual eating and dancing and merry making. It was there someone said that he should go and thank their community leaders. He asked why he should thank them. “Son you don’t know but it is because of their struggle and sacrifice that we were given reservations in government jobs during independence and when one of gets a government job it is just because of them. So we should be humble in our success and thank them.” “Yes it is true” said many of the voices “But I don’t think he would ever go. He even forgot to thank our leader by whose assistance his sister got married” He was shocked “By whose assistance did my sister got married?” “Our leader helped you to get your sister married and even got you a job in Delhi. What you had done to him was disgraceful but now that you got a job you should go and thank him for all his sacrifices for us otherwise you can leave this village for ever” said few voices. This was also seconded by many more. They all wanted him to thanked their leader for getting selected and getting his sister married. How on earth did such thing come to their minds? Have they gone mad? “You do not know who helped me for my sister’s wedding and how did I got the job in Delhi. Your leader had nothing to do with it.” “It was his sacrifices due to which you got this government job. You would have even cleared the exam without reservation. You should go and thank him.” “I did not got selected because of reservation. I never applied for reservation. I fought on unreserved seat and cleared it all on my own merit and not because of any leader’s sacrifice.” The whole crowd was stunned into silence. How is it possible for a member of their community to be selected for a government job with using reservation? It cannot be true. He was laying false claim because if anyone could clear only through merit from our community then our leaders would not have struggled for reservations. They cou
ld not have sacrificed for something totally useless. They all concluded that he was stating false and that he had to be made to see some sense. Just when the crowd was about to attack him he pulled out a piece of paper and said “Have a look here. I have the admit card for the exam in my wallet. You can all see the category mentioned for yourselves.” Someone took the paper and after reading it became dumbfounded. Someone took it from his hands. In a very short time the little piece of paper had been into many hands and who ever read it became speechless. How can this be ever possible? A member of their community getting a government job just by his sheer merit without using reservation meant for them. Just when someone was about to protest the crowd cheered for such a success was not even possible in their dreams. They had their true hero in front of them. They all forgot about thanking their leaders and enjoyed the remaining night as they never did before retiring finally for night. In space for two months all the necessary documentation and background checks were completed and he left his village to join in one of the most secret and feared organization in the country, Intelligence bureau. He did well because of his skills and rose to be called as the dreaded doctor.

  During second year of hi joining he met Mr. Gautam and informed him that he had received information that his erstwhile leader had met with an accident and had died on spot. Mr. Gautam did not showed any surprise but had just told him that he had not paid heed to his warnings and thus had met his fate. Later on he learnt from his sources that the leader was not scheduled to be there where his car met accident. He was too far from his scheduled route. When he inquired more he saw that the minister had died just few kilometers from his village. He was more intrigued and was about to launch a full blown search behind the motives of the minister being there when he received a call from Mr. Gautam. He went to meet him and was surprised to hear that he did not want him to carry an unofficial inquiry on the minister’s death as the government had already announced an official one and he was sure that the truth will come out. “How did you know I would be searching for reasons of his death?” “If I have not forgotten the gift he had asked from you then I do not believe that you had forgotten it.” “I have not” “All I can say is that your fears were true and he was going to your village for only one reason” “I would have killed the bastard if he had even toughed my younger sister.” “But then it would had been too late. He would have gotten what he wanted but just thank God that it did not happened like it” winked Mr. Gautam and went away. He had since then tried to find out things that let to the accident but he with all his skills was not able to found out how or why did the minister met the accident. And the more was unsuccessful the more he became sure that Mr. Gautam had something to do with it. He since then vowed he would do any thing for him when ever such time come and that he would be indebted to him for all his for saving his family honor. As Mr. Gautam never raised that issue his also respectfully never tried to find anything more. For him the inquiry was over and he satisfied with the decision of the judge. Such person had to be executed. He also investigated the exams and results which he cleared. He had worked hard for it but even then he had his doubts on being selected. A village lad getting selected in a national level exam is a romantic thought but it really happening was nearly impossible. He thought that Mr. Gautam had somehow rigged that exam and interview in his favor. He was able to find that someone high had put enough pressure so that the exams were held in totally fair environment and no one who was not eligible how ever high his sources are should not be selected. He was told by one of his informants that it was one of the cleanest exams ever held since 60s. He also found out that the scale tilted in his favor in the interview when the board came to know that he belonged to a scheduled caste but did not opt for reservations as he had faith in his ability and he did not want to use the crutches of reservations.

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