The Sacrifice. (Not a love story)

The Sacrifice. (Not a love story)

The knife she had kept in her back pocket had been pierced into his neck, on the right side, a little above his shoulder. The old bearded man cried in pain, as the blood splashed on her face, her clothes, and all around the room, surrounding where his body rested. His screams came to a halt within fractions of seconds the knife was gashed deep inside his neck. She still penetrated the blood stained knife inside the dead body lying next to her. She felt happy doing it, although she was crying out loud. The mere butchering of his body soothed her soul. She looked around to see if she could find something, and lifted the heavy metal showpiece kept on the table next to the bed, and threw it hard on his groin. He was already dead. But, she felt better.

She walked into the washroom and began to wash her face assiduously. She took off her clothes, and turned the shower on. The images of the brutal murder she just committed flashed in front of her eyes. She was happy and sad at the same time. It was something you would call the guilty pleasure. She was free, but she had committed a murder. Something she would not even think of doing in her life. She dressed into traditional attire she’d carried along with her, and left the place leaving the corpse where it lied.

Within no time, she was at the Railway Station. She had already booked her ticket in advance as it was a planned murder. She looked at the number above the berth, and finally found her berth. It was a side berth as she usually preferred. She sat on her berth, looking outside the window, crying softly, as people passing by stared at her. She couldn’t stop thinking about the cruel and horrific act she’d done a couple of hours back, but the old man deserved it. A few minutes later, just as the train was about to depart for Delhi, a tall, well built man, who looked somewhat like a Model or an actor entered the train, and sat on the berth opposite her, facing her. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice him.

‘Inspector Krishna Prasad,’ he said looking at her.

She was shivering. She was scared. She started crying out loud.

‘I am arresting you in the charge of Murder of Mr. Harivansh Kumar, your uncle, and the well known politician of Mumbai,’ he said, adding further ‘If you don’t create a scene here, we can go to the station without making the people around aware of your deeds.’

She complied with whatever he asked her to do.

Krishna Prasad had just started making big bucks. It had just been three years for him in the field and just a month he’d been transferred to Mumbai. He had been a famous personality back in college. From being the topper of the batch to the best sportsman, he had achieved them all. At a very young age, he had achieved awards and accolades one couldn’t even imagine to achieve in one’s lifetime. Born and brought up in a middle class family, he had made his way up here with sheer hard work, consistent efforts and firm dedication. Life had been tough for him, but he had that sparkle in his eyes to fulfill his dreams.

Once they reached the Police Station, he ordered a coffee for the both of them, and asked her to tell her the entire story that took place a few hours ago at the plush Apartment in Bandra. She broke into sobs, and he sensed that there was something more to the story.

He offered her a tissue, and asked her to begin from the very beginning.

‘I’m Ekankshita Sahani.My parents passed away when I was six, and then it was my uncle and aunty who brought me up. My aunty was sweet, except for the fact that she never used to treat me like she treated her own kids. It’s natural. I don’t blame her.’ She said sobbing.

‘Go ahead,’ he said.

‘It’s been thirteen years now that my uncle had been sexually abusing me. Whenever aunt wouldn’t be at home, he’d do things to me, which no human would certainly do to another human being. And whenever I tried complaining it to my aunty, he would threaten me. He’d beat me up brutally. He made me do things which I didn’t like. He thrashed me ruthlessly, often when I denied him what he demanded,’ she said, her tears flowing continuously.

She lifted her sleeves to show him some marks that her uncle left on her. There were a lot of marks on her arms which were and evidence of the torture she’d been through every day. Some marks were clearly visible on her neck and her face. Her soft body had been blemished by the old man’s heinous acts. She went about saying more of her uncle’s disgusting deeds in detail and a few more essential things the Inspector ought to know.

The Inspector was taken aback when he saw stitches and burns on her back. He was a strong guy, but he was on the verge of tears.

‘Why didn’t you complain it to the police, then?’ he asked.

‘Police? The police work for him here. They are his own men. I’ve tried complaining ‘n’ number of times, and faced the consequences. Every time I did, I was hit savagely, leaving such bruises on my body,’ she said showing the marks on her face. Although the marks were deep, she still managed to look beautiful.

Krishna Prasad could sense the tears flowing from his eyes, as all his efforts to control them failed.

He made a few calls, and after a while, a person entered his cabin with an envelope. He gave it to her.

‘What’s this?’ she asked.

‘Your Freedom,’ he said, smiling.

‘And why would you do that?’ she asked, still sobbing.

‘Once in your lifetime, you get to know the reason you’re born for. And I suppose, I was born to set you free. I wouldn’t transfer a pigeon from one cage to the other, but would rather let it fly.’ He said.

She smiled. No one had ever seen her beautiful smile. It was the first time in years she smiled.

‘Thank you,’ she muttered looking at the ticket to London. LSE. London School of Economics. Her dream.

She looked at the ticket, the admission form and the brochure. Stunned looking at them, she wondered how he got to know about her dreams.

‘How did you know about my dream to be in LSE?’ she asked him.

‘You mentioned it a couple of times in the conversation we just had,’ he replied.

‘And remember, we’ve never met each other. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Is that clear?’ he asked waiting for her to reply.

‘Do I know you?’ she said, trying to be humorous after a long time.

They laughed softly, and she left the police station, to fly to the place where her new life awaited her.

‘It was nice meeting you, Mr. Prasad. I’d always be grateful to you,’ she said smiling.

‘It was the same here, Miss Sahani.’ He replied.

It was the first time, she had met a MAN. She had always been scared of men on the road, who’d look at her, like she was naked. She always found men looking at her like they were raping her in their dirty minds. Men, whose piercing glances were not only annoying, but extremely creepy, sickening and abominable to her; the mere appearance of a man, and a look into his eyes, and she’d find his dirty intentions. She had been happy to meet Mr. Krishna Prasad for he was different from them all. He was someone who’d instilled her faith in men.

Three days later, he was suspended. The Harivansh Kumar murder case was closed soon. Luckily, the Commissioner liked Krishna Prasad, so he was spared the prosecution against him, as the facts were hidden in the reports.

He had to give up all that he had worked hard for just to free the girl who had been abused all her life. He lost his job, but he never regretted it. He was proud of himself for doing so.

Sometimes, in life, you have to sacrifice your most precious thing, just to benefit another soul. And that’s what he did. He knew his mother would be proud of what he’d done. He didn’t let the pigeon go to another cage from one. He let it off free. He let the pigeon fly.

He had realized the reason he was born for. He had accomplished the reason he was born for. It was to free Ekankshita Sahani.

And somewhere in the United Kingdom, there was a girl who was touching the sky, fulfilling her dreams, and breaking all the records. Ekankshita was the topper of her batch. Other than being good at her academics, she had even excelled at her dramatics and singing. She didn’t let the ex-cop’s sacrifice go a waste.