RIP

by Deva,Mukul

  By now they had hit the expressway. Krishna removed the SIM cards from his mobile and Raghav’s, and sliding open the window a crack, threw them out. One by one.

  The tiny pieces of plastic hit the road and were soon blown over by the wind and other passing cars. Krishna knew his K-Team mates would be doing the same. The gloves, torn up into tiny, unrecognizable pieces followed suit a bit later. Bit by bit.

  Before the day ran out dismantled parts of the weapons they had used would find their way into a dozen deep sewers. So would the planning files and data they had on their laptops.

  By nightfall the RIP would have ceased to exist. For now.

  Hopefully it would not be required again.

  Leaning back Krishna finally allowed his mind to rest.

  EPILOGUE

  One Year Later

  REENA LOOKED IMMACULATE as usual. She was smiling confidently at the camera.

  ‘In the light of the anti-corruption agitations that have wracked the country these past eighteen months and the severe mauling all political parties have taken since the RIP action against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, the results of the recent elections do not come as a surprise. As predicted by NDTV’s analysts the recently formed political party, Incredible Resurgent India (IRI), has stormed over 65 per cent of the seats in the recently concluded general elections. Speaking to Vasudha Sharma of NDTV, IRI party president Karishma Behl said that she had expected no less from the people.’

  The camera switched focus. It brought into focus a short, slim and trim lady in her mid fifties. The massive garland around her neck almost engulfed her. The smile wreathed on her face was bigger.

  ‘There was never any doubt.’ Karishma Behl, once a respected bureaucrat and a person of impeccable integrity, spoke with the passion born of conviction. ‘For all these years the Indian middle classes have shied away from taking political responsibility. That is why hoodlums and criminals had seized power and been systematically looting the country. It could not have gone on forever. I am happy that this change has happened in my lifetime and honoured that I have been chosen to lead this fine band of young men and women who have stepped up to the plate. I promise the people of India that on our watch we will do our best to ensure every Indian gets the opportunity to live with self-respect, dignity and security.’

  She paused, now visibly emotional. It went well with what she had to say next.

  ‘And I request the people of India to hold us accountable. To ensure we deliver on our promises and our commitments. As long as you, the people, are watching us and demanding more, we, the government, will deliver more.’

  ‘Do you think they will?’ Krishna asked Reena. They were sitting in her living room, watching the programme she had recorded the previous evening. ‘Deliver and make India different.’

  ‘Yes. I’m pretty confident they will.’ Reena clicked off the TV and turned to him. ‘After all, people are not stupid you know. How long would India have allowed this nonsense to go on? And even in future we have to make sure that we do not ever allow our leaders to get away without delivering on their commitments. Isn’t that the bedrock for any successful democracy?’

  Krishna smiled at her obvious passion; she had been so immersed in these elections the past few months that she talked of little else. He guessed it had also kept her distracted from Raghav’s death.

  Though Reena had not yet spoken to him about it, he could sense that she, and more so Azaan, had been badly shaken by it. As much by his death, as by the manner in which it had occurred. With a start he realized she was still talking.

  ‘And God forbid if they don’t, then maybe some other RIP will come along to make them see sense.’

  Krishna held his smile, and his silence. He knew the RIP action had been a major factor in the rout of corrupt politicians during this election. His final call to Karunakaran from Raghav’s mobile had turned the trick; all three of them (Karunakaran, Kamble and Yadav) had resigned within hours. All three had been found guilty of various scams in the ensuing investigations.

  Ironically they provided the first chink in the armour. Terrified at the final RIP strike on the well-protected Ranvijay, fear for their lives made them scramble to point fingers and present proof against others. The legal bloodbath was unbelievable, and was continuing even now. By now so many politicians were behind bars that Tihar Jail barely had room for common criminals any more.

  Though the money stolen and siphoned out of the country had yet to be recovered and brought back, the process was well underway and already making a significant impact to the country’s growth.

  Not to mention reducing the tax burden on the usually screwed middle class.

  Reena’s expression altered, suddenly becoming thoughtful. Krishna sensed she was traversing down memory lane. Her next words proved him right. ‘Talking about RIP . . . I’d never have thought Raghav was the kind to do something like that.’ He looked away. ‘Isn’t it strange? We live with someone for so many years and yet never come to know who they really are.’

  Once again Krishna held his peace. He did not feel very nice about having taken advantage of Raghav and Vinod’s deaths, but it had been the strategically expedient thing to do. He was aware that if the cops were not convinced Raghav had been RIP and Vinod was killed when he accosted him, they would have gone on searching. Eventually they may have succeeded. As it is the hunt for Raghav’s accomplices had gone on for months. And Raghav, at least in death, had become something of a hero, a symbol of change, for the more radical Indians.

  ‘There is something I have to show you.’ Reena got up and led him to the spare bedroom, which she used as a home office. Opening one of the drawers she pulled out a bundle of papers. ‘This is what Raghav’s lawyers sent to me last week, after his will got probated. It seemed he’d never changed it even after we . . .’ Reena broke off.

  Krishna sensed her distress. ‘Reena,’ he touched her arm, ‘we don’t need to talk about this.’

  ‘But we do,’ she insisted. ‘I have been going through them. I had no idea Raghav was so rich.’ There was a slight hesitation. Then she continued. ‘I even went to the four safe deposit lockers he’d maintained. They’re full of cash . . . in many currencies.’ She studied Krishna closely, trying to gauge what he was thinking, and how he was feeling. ‘I know all this wealth must have been acquired by some dubious means. I don’t feel right keeping it.’

  ‘Then . . .’ he began but she cut him off.

  ‘Wait. There’s more.’ She led him to her car and they drove off. Some time later they drove into the Satbari farmhouse.

  ‘This too?’ Krishna gave a low whistle as he surveyed the plush farmhouse.

  Reena nodded. ‘I know he could not have earned this rightfully,’ she said softly.

  ‘So what do you want to do?’

  ‘I can hand it over to the government.’

  ‘Yes you can.’ Krishna nodded. ‘Though you’d have a bit of a challenge explaining all that cash.’

  ‘So what do you suggest I do?’

  Krishna gave her a long look. ‘Have you heard that saying? In times of war God is remembered and the soldier knighted. And in times of peace God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.’

  ‘Yes. As a matter of fact, I have.’ But she looked puzzled.

  ‘Well I’m thinking there are lots of forgotten soldiers in our country . . . like in many others. Ignored by the country and often even abandoned by their kids. Maybe we can’t do anything for all of them, but I can certainly see quite a few of them living here happily for the rest of their lives. This lovely farm and all that money . . . what better use to put it to?’

  Reena caught the distant look on his face. She could sense he was visualizing a dozen aged veterans happily pottering around the beautifully landscaped farmhouse. He looked so much at peace.

  ‘I think that’s a wonderful idea, Krishna,’ she whispered, reluctant to break that dreamy look in his eyes.

  For a long moment they just
stood there, side by side, almost touching.

  The sun was setting now. It cast a beautiful reddish glow. There was silence all around. No honking of cars. No revving of engines. No chatter of human voices. No booming of generators. Nothing.

  Then the sun dropped below the horizon. They were almost enveloped in darkness. Almost. A warm, silent darkness.

  Finally. ‘Shouldn’t we be getting back?’ Reena whispered. ‘The kids have school tomorrow.’

  He turned to face her. ‘Don’t you think it would be easier if only one of us had to drop both of them to school everyday?’

  She leaned closer and looked up at the tall, ramrod straight soldier before her. His eyes were clear. As was the love in them.

  ‘Are you proposing to me, Colonel Athawale?’ Her lips curved into a beautiful smile.

  ‘What do you think ma’am?’ He grinned back mischievously.

  ‘I think you’re full of good ideas today.’

  He took her in his arms. Then their lips met.

  There was nothing gentle about that.

  The silence around them deepened.