THE PAPER WAR - III

Hussain’s blood started to burn with rage and anger. He wanted to kill the man before him. But he controlled himself. He knew it was of no use. It was all over. Aalia was gone.

“Actually, I was a little drunk that day, returning from a personal party, I am sorry again” the minister was saying. Hussain bowed his head down and bit his teeth. He did not want to face the minister. “And I wanted to give this to you” the minister said pointing to a brief case.

“There is enough money in it for you, please take it” the minister said in a convincing tone. “Why?” Hussain said his first word after a very long time. “Nothing, you know its election time, even a minor news like this one could harm my image, you know what I mean?” the minister said this time a little hard.

“Oh” Hussain replied. “Drunken drive, rash driving may get converted into something big by the opposition party, also I heard that you were a journalist once, you could have made that happen in no time. But you didn’t you do it, this is for the favor you did to me” the minister replied softly.

“You mentioned this issue as something minor, right? Why do you spend this much bucks for a minor issue, I don’t want your money” Hussain replied.

The minister was a little annoyed. “Then what do you want me to do for you?” the minister asked. “Anything you want” the minister added. Hussain smiled and remained calm for a moment. “Please leave Aalia’s home” was his reply. The minister smiled back and took leave.

Hussain shut the door in distress. He rested his face in his palm and took a deep breath. He took his palms of his face and found the half emptied bottle of whiskey. Hussain emptied it. The effect of alcohol was slowly conquering him. He lost balance and fell to chair. He sat there for a long time and was thinking. He was thinking about his wife, how this drunken bastard would have hit her and sped without stopping to help her and how this cheap man decided to pay him for his wife’s life. After a few minutes of thinking, Hussain came to a conclusion. He wanted something badly. HE WANTED VENGEANCE.

He got up quickly and rushed outside the home. Hussain reached the local police station in half an hour. He started to enter in when a constable stopped him. “I want to meet the inspector in charge urgently, I need to file a complaint” Hussain said slowly, hard to find words due to the effect of alcohol. “Why do you want to meet him? You are drunk like hell, what’s your name?” the constable screamed. “I don’t want to speak to you” Hussain replied. “The respect I gave was your age, I think you don’t deserve it” the constable was holding Hussain by his shirt.

“Mind your deeds and allow me in” Hussain argued. The constable was annoyed more now. He swung his lathi across Hussain’s face in anger. “Get out, you drunkard” he yelled. Hussain was bleeding. Hearing the noise the inspector in charge came out to check what was happening. “What the hell is going on here?” he enquired the constable. “Sir, he is some third rated drunkard, he wants to meet you, he tried to force himself in when I enquired him” the constable replied. “Send him in” the inspector ordered and walked back.

Hussain walked inside the station. “Could I sit?” Hussain asked the inspector. “Yeah, sure” replied the inspector lighting a cigarette. “Why do you wanted to meet me?” the inspector interrogated. Hussain started to weep. Blood was still running from his nose. The inspector handed over his kerchief. “Thanks” Hussain replied. “Now, tell me” the inspector urged. “Yeah, I am Hussain sir” Hussain was blabbering. “Come to the point” the inspector compelled. “Yeah sir, the point is, the minister killed my wife” Hussain replied. “Which minister?” he interrogated. “Mr. Sujith, minister in the ruling party” Hussain replied when the inspector’s cell phone rang.

“Just a minute” the inspector said and walked to the next room. “Is it Mr. Prakash?” the voice on the phone enquired. “Yes, who is this?” the inspector interrogated back. “I am Sujith, I am the one about which the old lunatic in your office is talking about” replied the minister. “Yeah, sorry sir, I was about to contact you sir, what to do with him sir?” the inspector replied. “That’s good, okay, tell me, what’s your assessment on him? You are a cop, you assess people well” the minister said. “According to me, he is a coward sir” the inspector replied. “Great, that was my assessment too, okay, you know how to shut a coward’s mouth, right? Do it soon and keep this matter confidential, and I know how to shut a cop’s mouth, cash is on the way my boy” the minister said and hung up.