Speak the Truth.....only if you love the Jails!

Slurrp........comes the sound as Devi Lal sips his usual dose of morning tea at the "A-One Tea Stall", the only one in the entire village of Bantadhaar. With every sip, comes a dose of hot tit-bits and gossips going on in the political circles of the country. Devi Lal and his mates were fully engrossed in their "High Level Meeting", when Birju (the stall owner) switched on the TV news, so as to provide them some "Live Feed" from the circus itself aka "Indian Political Circles".

'.....................and now the biggest news of this hour comes from the state of Chattisgarh. Dr. Binayak Sen has been pronounced guilty by a Raipur Sessions Court and has been sentenced to life. It's the verdict which has left many across India completely shocked. Soli Sorabjee, Former Attorney General, finds the judgement shocking and has questioned the validity of life imprisonment for the doctor. He says, "I think the judgement is shocking. After all, he has a fine record. The evidence against him seems flimsy. In any case the sentence is atrocious, savage." It is said that Dr. Binayak Sen was also shocked when the judge held him guilty. The harsh sentence of life imprisonment was a double blow. But as he spends his Christmas within the walls of Raipur jail, his supporters outside are already rallying together, bracing for another round of battle. It just seems today that whoever speaks truth or does the right thing, will be thrown into jails...be it Assange or Binayak. This is Rupashree Nanda from CNN-IBN bringing to you live..........................'

Devi Lal watched the entire bulletin without even blinking his eyes and sipping his usual cuppa tea. He then asks one of his mates, Gaya Prasad :

Devi Lal: Whose murder has this Binayak Sen committed ?

Gaya: He is not a murderer...

Devi Lal: Must have raped someone.....

Gaya: No

Devi Lal: Looted someone in broad daylight...?

Gaya: No

Devi Lal: Bribed someone...?

Gaya: Hehehehe.....No

Devi Lal: Has your wife smacked your head with a rod today???

Gaya (surprised): No

Devi Lal: Then why the hell are you giving me monosyllabic answers ???

Gaya: Yes

Devi Lal: What Yes, stupid? Who the @#$% is this Binayak Sen?

Gaya: He is a doctor who extended health care to poor people in rural - tribal areas of Chattisgarh state, doubling up as a human rights activist.

Devi Lal (angry): Now I'm sure about this. Your wife must have really smacked your head today. Lest you would not have been talking like this. Hey Birju, bring him some tea and biscuits too. It looks as if his wife did not even feed him today...That's why he is eating his words today....Heheheheh...

The entire group burst out into a hearty laugh.

Gaya (now angry): Shut up!! You @#$# and *&$%heads. I am telling you the truth.

Devi Lal (interrupting):......then you must go to jail. Hahahaha

Another one present at the stall, now enters into the scene...

Mange (to Gaya): If you are right, then why would someone who has helped somebody in distress, get such a punishment? Even God loves those who help others in distress and...

Devi Lal (interrupting): Aha! Mange...keep it up. Coming from a satsang (a spiritual discourse) today? Hehehehe...

Gaya: Shut up Devi. Yes, Mange, God loves those who help others in distress but.... not the Government. Especially if that person is eating their share of limelight by doing what the Government should have done and that too more efficiently, effectively and most important...peacefully.

Now Birju intervenes...

Birju: But why would a doctor, enjoying the benefits of a luxurious city life, go to the village to help tribals???

Devi Lal (in a lighter vein): Oye Birju, if my wife, being a female, can divorce me and leave the peaceful environs of the village and go to the hustling life of a city, then why can't this Binayak Sen do the reverse of it...after all he is a man.

The entire group, once again, burst out into a laughter.

Gaya: OK…OK…Now let's leave otherwise the thekedaar would once again cut our day's pay for coming late to work.

Devi Lal: Ya...Ya…as if he himself comes on time to check our presence at work everyday. Cutting our pay is his usual business.

Gaya: Whatever......

They all began to leave for their respective work. Just then a speeding car went pass them and hit a child who was playing nearby. It was Gaya's child. He quickly rushed to the spot and took him to the nearby clinic. A lot of people had gathered around the spot to check who the culprit was behind this insane act.

Villager: Who the hell are you? What do you think of yourself? Come out of the car. We will take you to the police.

The door of the car opens. A tall man wearing dark glasses and big boots comes out, seeing whom the villager started shivering with fear. He was Zaveri, son of the Collector of that area.

Zaveri: So, what were you saying? You will take me to the police? Come let's go.

Villager (in a frightened tone): I....I...I am sorry, sahib. I didn't recognise you. I am sorry, sahib…I will....

Zaveri took out his revolver and shot three bullets down his throat. The man fell to the ground......lifeless.

Zaveri (authoritatively): So, what did you all see? Would like to complain about me? Dare to speak the truth?

Villagers went completely silent and were both shocked and scared to react or say anything. Just then.........

Devi Lal (in a shriveling voice): I would not tell anything to the police sahib...trust me.

Zaveri (suspiciously): Really.....?? Come here.

Devi Lal was scared now.

Birju (to Devi Lal): Go Devi Lal...Go...Don't be afraid.

Devi Lal mustered some courage and went up to him.

Zaveri: So, brave man. What's your name?

Devi Lal: Devi Lal...sahib.

Zaveri: Hmm...Devi Lal...So you would not tell anything to police...would you..??

Devi Lal: No, Sahib....I won't.

Zaveri: Good........ but If you suddenly feel a thrust of courage, then remember....the next child could be yours.

Devi Lal: I don't have any children...sahib.

Zaveri: I love women too...

Devi Lal: No, sahib…She has already divorced me.

Zaveri: Old people are soft targets....you know.

Devi Lal: My parents died 11 years ago....sahib.

Zaveri was now confused and was searching for answers.

Devi Lal (quipped): Don't worry sahib...my life is still there for you.

Devi Lal then left the scene leaving behind a dazed Zaveri. Devi Lal went straight to the police station to file a complaint against Zaveri....

In the police station...

Devi Lal (to the Havildar): I have to make a complaint against.....

Havildar (interrupting): Inspector sahib has gone for lunch. Wait till he arrives.

Devi Lal: But lunch timings are from 2.00 PM to 2.30 PM. And it is only 1.25 PM on the clock...

Havildar: OK.....so now you will teach us how to read the time...Huh..?? Now we will have to take your permission before going to lunch....Huh..?? Sit on the bench and wait till he comes... (he thundered).

Poor Devi Lal felt helpless and sat on the bench and waited for the clock to hit 2.30.

The Inspector finally came in at 2.45 PM. Devi Lal went straight to him.

Devi Lal: Inspector sahib. I have to make a complaint.

Inspector: Ahh !! You people don't even let us enjoy for a while. OK...what complaint?

Devi Lal: My friend Gaya Prasad's child was knocked down by a car.....driven...

Just then, the area Collector walks inside the Police Station with his entire "troupe"

Inspector: Oh ! Collector sahib ! Why did you take pain in coming to the station. You should have called me...I would have come to your place.

Inspector, then orders the Havildars to close the doors of the Police Station and also to arrange for some chairs and refreshments for the Collector.

Havildar (to Inspector): Sahib...what to do of this guy? (pointing to Devi Lal)

Inspector: Hey you… (to Devi Lal) Come tomorrow, I'll write your complaint then...

Devi Lal: No, Sir. I'll wait today.

Inspector (irritated): Ahh ! Havildar... take him away from here...

Havildar: But where…sahib..?

Inspector: Make him seated inside the prison, till I am busy here.

The Havildar, then, took him to the empty cell on the floor above.

Havildar (to Devi Lal): Here.....stay here and relax till sahib is busy with the Collector sahib.

Below, the meeting goes on...

Collector: Inspector....I have not come here to have a drink with you. My son, Zaveri, has knocked down a child in the village and has also gunned down a villager who voiced against him. I want you to take this matter in your hands. He told me that some Devi Lal might come to you to file a complaint against him. I hope you remember my "offerings" to your "temple". Now it’s your turn to give me my "prasad".

Inspector: Don't worry sahib. I will take care of everything. You just enjoy these drinks, sahib.

And the party continued late till the evening. The Inspector then got ready to leave for his home. He had completely forgotten about Devi Lal who had now fallen asleep in the prison itself. The entire night, Devi Lal slept in the prison.

The Inspector came back in the morning. Just then, his men brought a thief to the Police Station.

Inspector: Havildar ! Throw him into the prison on the first floor.

Havildar: But sahib, all the cells are occupied.

Inspector (surprised): How can that be? Let me check.

He starts checking his registers and records therein.

Inspector: Here...Cell no. 125. This one is empty. Dump him there.

Havildar too was then reminded of the fact that Devi Lal was there in that cell all day long.

Havildar (in a low voice): Sahib, that guy is in that cell. Remember him? He came, yesterday, to file a complaint and then you had asked him to wait in the prison cell.

Inspector: Oh ! My God ! He is still in there? What a dumb man is he? Quickly, bring him here. Oh Man !

Havildar went up and opened his cell and called him out...

Devi Lal: Ahh ! You came at a right time. It's time for my morning cup of tea.

Havildar: Come with me. Inspector sahib is calling you.

Inspector (to Devi Lal): What a dumb guy you are? OK, now tell me your complaint.

Devi Lal (grinning): I didn't even speak a word of truth and I had to cut an entire night in the prison. When I'll speak the truth....God knows.... you might even hang me to death. Hehehehe.....and they said "Those who speak the truth...go to jail". Look at me, I didn't say a word but was still jailed.......

Inspector and Havildar kept looking at him with dazed eyes....trying to figure out what he actually meant............