Post by Dileep » 19 Mar 2010 11:40
EPILOGUE
The bespectacled figure of Dr. O. P. Malhotra sat behind the table. He looked over the young man sitting in front of him, and his eyes went back to the binder kept open in his hands. Anil Nambiar sat in front of him, a little bit nervous.
“So, I understand that you failed IPS?” Dr. Malhotra asked.
“Yes, Sir. I qualified everything, but failed in medical” Anil said, with clear regret in his voice.
“Medical? What was the problem” Malhotra asked casually.
“I am congenitally colour-blind, sir” Anil said. Dr. Malhotra quickly turned some pages in the binder and carefully read out of a page. Wrinkles appeared on his forehead. Anil's heart sank.
“Do you have problem in reading traffic lights? Malhotra asked.
“No, sir. I never knew I had the defect. If I knew, I wouldn't have taken the trouble for IPS.”
“Well, after that, you joined a course on mass communication. Why?”
“I wanted to be an investigative journalist, Sir.” Anil answered honestly.
And the talk proceeded to the subject of Investigative journalism, in which Anil participated actively. He knew that the job offer to which he is interviewing involved precisely that. He liked that side of the job, and was excited to get an opportunity to work the political circles of Delhi, which he was doing for a long time on a personal agenda.
“I understand that you had been conducting some investigation on your own for some time. Something of a personal nature.” Dr. Malhotra said, without no forewarning.
Anil was dumbstruck. A chill crept up from his toes. Beads of sweat started appearing on his forehead. He didn't get anything to say. Malhotra ignored the discomfort he caused.
“It is a noble, and commendable mission, and you have made good progress on that. But I am afraid that it is no longer useful or necessary. It is time you move on into better things in life.”
Anil had recovered from his initial shock, and the comments arose his anger. He suspected that this high ranking officer is part of the forces that he was trying to battle against.
“I don't know what you are talking about!” Anil said, carefully planning his plan of action.
“Son, no need to panic. Your father, C. G. Nambiar was a well respected officer. He laid his life down for the country, and we at the agencies are proud of him.” Malhotra said, looking intently at the blazing eyes of the young man.
Anil did not respond.
“What I am saying is that your quest has become obsolete. The perpetrators whom you seek are no more. Justice has already reached them, and your work had helped for that.”
“Justice? How?” Anil could not resist asking. Somehow, something told him that this man is telling the truth.
“All of them are dead, son! Dead in different ways. You yourself have learned that, didn't you?”
Malhotra then started tracing some of the trails that Anil had painstakingly uncovered. Path, after path, source after source, it was scary how much the man knew. He could clearly see a pattern where those suspects died mysteriously. The revelation gave him the dual feeling of immense satisfaction, and immense fear. If someone knew in minute detail what he was doing, it was surprising that he was still alive. Some one way beyond his understanding was indeed protecting him.
“How did they all die, Sir?” Anil asked, with immense respect for the man in front of him.
“Now, son, you are in forbidden territory. All you need to realize is that your job is done. You served your father right, and thereby your country as well.” Malhotra said, beaming the young man.
“So, what should I do now?” Anil asked, suddenly realizing what this interview is all about. He should have guessed that, when Vanchinathan IPS gave him the reference.
“You follow the footsteps of your father, son. You join me, to serve the country.” Malhotra said.
Anil stood up, walked around the table and touched the feet of the man. Dr. Malhotra stood up and held him in an embrace.
“Welcome home, son. You belong here.” Malhotra said, as he shook the trembling hand of Anil Nambiar.
END.
[b]EPILOGUE[/b]
The bespectacled figure of Dr. O. P. Malhotra sat behind the table. He looked over the young man sitting in front of him, and his eyes went back to the binder kept open in his hands. Anil Nambiar sat in front of him, a little bit nervous.
“So, I understand that you failed IPS?” Dr. Malhotra asked.
“Yes, Sir. I qualified everything, but failed in medical” Anil said, with clear regret in his voice.
“Medical? What was the problem” Malhotra asked casually.
“I am congenitally colour-blind, sir” Anil said. Dr. Malhotra quickly turned some pages in the binder and carefully read out of a page. Wrinkles appeared on his forehead. Anil's heart sank.
“Do you have problem in reading traffic lights? Malhotra asked.
“No, sir. I never knew I had the defect. If I knew, I wouldn't have taken the trouble for IPS.”
“Well, after that, you joined a course on mass communication. Why?”
“I wanted to be an investigative journalist, Sir.” Anil answered honestly.
And the talk proceeded to the subject of Investigative journalism, in which Anil participated actively. He knew that the job offer to which he is interviewing involved precisely that. He liked that side of the job, and was excited to get an opportunity to work the political circles of Delhi, which he was doing for a long time on a personal agenda.
“I understand that you had been conducting some investigation on your own for some time. Something of a personal nature.” Dr. Malhotra said, without no forewarning.
Anil was dumbstruck. A chill crept up from his toes. Beads of sweat started appearing on his forehead. He didn't get anything to say. Malhotra ignored the discomfort he caused.
“It is a noble, and commendable mission, and you have made good progress on that. But I am afraid that it is no longer useful or necessary. It is time you move on into better things in life.”
Anil had recovered from his initial shock, and the comments arose his anger. He suspected that this high ranking officer is part of the forces that he was trying to battle against.
“I don't know what you are talking about!” Anil said, carefully planning his plan of action.
“Son, no need to panic. Your father, C. G. Nambiar was a well respected officer. He laid his life down for the country, and we at the agencies are proud of him.” Malhotra said, looking intently at the blazing eyes of the young man.
Anil did not respond.
“What I am saying is that your quest has become obsolete. The perpetrators whom you seek are no more. Justice has already reached them, and your work had helped for that.”
“Justice? How?” Anil could not resist asking. Somehow, something told him that this man is telling the truth.
“All of them are dead, son! Dead in different ways. You yourself have learned that, didn't you?”
Malhotra then started tracing some of the trails that Anil had painstakingly uncovered. Path, after path, source after source, it was scary how much the man knew. He could clearly see a pattern where those suspects died mysteriously. The revelation gave him the dual feeling of immense satisfaction, and immense fear. If someone knew in minute detail what he was doing, it was surprising that he was still alive. Some one way beyond his understanding was indeed protecting him.
“How did they all die, Sir?” Anil asked, with immense respect for the man in front of him.
“Now, son, you are in forbidden territory. All you need to realize is that your job is done. You served your father right, and thereby your country as well.” Malhotra said, beaming the young man.
“So, what should I do now?” Anil asked, suddenly realizing what this interview is all about. He should have guessed that, when Vanchinathan IPS gave him the reference.
“You follow the footsteps of your father, son. You join me, to serve the country.” Malhotra said.
Anil stood up, walked around the table and touched the feet of the man. Dr. Malhotra stood up and held him in an embrace.
“Welcome home, son. You belong here.” Malhotra said, as he shook the trembling hand of Anil Nambiar.
[b]END.[/b]