THE PAPER WAR - V

Two days after that conversation there was another call from the minister. It was a shorter one this time. The inspector was ordered to meet the minister at a local bar in the evening.

Prakash reached the bar on time. He was invited by a couple of men and they led him to a VIP room where the minister was waiting. Prakash entered the room and greeted the minister. The minister greeted him back and asked him to sit. “Enjoy your drink” the minister ordered. The inspector emptied half of the bottle in a flash and yelled “What do you want me to do to him? Tell me sir”. “Nothing, just leave him for now, you know? The press loves articles like this and these people always believe what is written, wait and watch, this guy will everyone’s hero within a month, villains like us couldn’t do anything to these heroes” the minister paused to have his drink. “So, what’s next? Forgive him and watch him grow?” the inspector pounced back blabbering.

“Ya but wait, let me tell you something there is only a very thin gap between a hero and a villain, so no one is a true hero, all heroes have haters, even Mahatma Gandhi has haters till today, so what I am trying to tell you is that wait till Husssain’s haters ratio increases and then we shall do something to him” the minister explained. The inspector smiled and took leave.

“Was this your plan?” the attendant asked the minister after the cop took leave. “This is just and alternative, to be more clear, this is plan B, plan A is different” the minister smiled

The article became an instant success and Hussain was lauded for his honest writing. There were a lot of opposition for the minister and the police department. Social networks poured in support for Hussain. There was at least a small supporting article for Hussain in the newspapers every day. Almost the whole nation were talking about this old man. The whole nation was talking about him because the nation had nothing else to talk about. Then something happened.

All the newspapers in the nation the next day carried one news in the front page. There was a terrorist attack in a renowned shopping mall, killing around 400 people. The terrorists also released a video footage in which the leader of the group explained his reason for his attack. This made the issue more interesting to the people.

The minister watched the footage and smiled to himself. He contacted the inspector. “Mr. Prakash?” he asked. “Ya sir” the inspector answered. “The rat has fallen into the trap, did you see the footage? The leader of the gang explains that he did this as this nation doesn’t respect his religion and its people” the minister paused. The inspector on the other end smiled as he was getting the plan. “”FAMOUS HUSSAIN ENDS UP IN PRISON FOR INDUCING VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING THE NATION’S PEACE THROUGH HIS HEROIC ARTICLE” this would be the front page if you nab that bastard today” the minister ordered in a stern tone and hung up.

“Was this your plan A?” the attendant asked. “Yup” the minister replied. “Okay, but how did you know this would happen?” the attendant asked excited. “Well, I was lucky, I was actually expecting some violence to break up locally, so that I could link his article with it, but it seems god is not with Hussain, he is now locked in something big” the minister said laughed heavily.

Hussain was watching the news channel when someone locked the door violently. Hussain opened and found the inspector of police with a hand cuff. Hussain tried to protest when the huge fist of the inspector hit across his face. Hussain fainted. In the next few hours, Hussain was in the city prison locked in a cell.

It had been three days since Hussain was arrested. He didn’t eat and was starving. He had revealed the truth in his article. He wanted to die.

In the control room there was a call from an anonymous number. “Hello, who is this?” one of the cops answered. “We want Hussain bhai released” the voice answered. “Who the hell are you?” the cop enquired. “We want Hussain bhai released if you want minister Sujith alive” the caller hung up. The cop panicked and ran as fast as he could to inform his senior.