32. Ranjith in tension

CHAPTER 32

Ranjith in tension

Ranjit was sitting in his office with other officers. He was in great tension. “We are trying so hard and yet not a single clue. Day and night our men are covering all the slum areas in different disguises.”

Assistant officer said seriously, “Sir, it is impossible for Afzal to escape your eyes and leave this city. He may conduct one or two blasts. At the third blast, he will be in our grip.”

Ranjit laughed, “You are talking so confidently.”

Confidently with high spirit pointing to Ranjit, Assistant officer said, “You are no.1 officer in our state. You have put so many terrorists inside and finished them.”

Pointing to the ceiling, Ranjit said with confidence, “God is there. We should not allow him to escape.”

*************************

Maula gets truth out of Jamir

Maula was sitting with his wife feeling desperate. Jamir came inside. He looked at his father and smiled. Taking out a bag from his pocket, Jamir said, “Father, our agent has given 50 thousand more. I think this will be enough.”

He took out 50 thousand rupees from the bag and showed it to his father.

Maula was shocked. He got up and closed the door. He went to the shelf and took a Koran. He asked Jamir to sit down. The boy was surprised but obeyed his father’s words. He sat down. Maula kept the Koran in front of Jamir.

Maula said, “I know very well from whom you brought this money. He is a dangerous man. Why are you moving around with him? Tell me why he has given you so much money.”

Jamir was a bit shocked and disturbed. He became alert and said, “To go to Dubai, father.”

Maula got angry. He knew that the boy was telling a lie. “To go to Dubai you need passport, visa. We have to give handful of money to the agent.”

Jamir was shaken. He stared at his father silently.

Maula said, “You have only studied up to 10^th class. I am sure that he is not giving you money to send you to Dubai.”

Maula caressed his son’s head lovingly and pointed to the ceiling.

“Beta, He is sending you up. He is sacrificing you.”

Maula had tears in his eyes. “Keep your hand on Koran and tell the truth.”

Jamir’s mother was shocked to hear this. Jamir was their only son. She started crying. Jamir was silent.

Maula took hold of Jamir’s hand and kept it on the Koran.

“Tell the truth.”

Jamir was silent. Mother put her hand on the boy’s head. With tears in her eyes, she said, “You are my only son. Please tell the truth.”

Jamir looked at his mother. Tears started falling from his eyes.

“Father, I could not see your trouble that is why I joined Akram group. I am ready to become a human bomb. I am ready to sacrifice my life for your happiness.”

Maula was shocked. He slapped Jamir left and right. He caught hold of Jamir’s hair and said, “Eh badmash, it is better to take poison than to cheat your own nation.”

Mother came and patted Jamir’s cheeks. “Eh! You were born 10 years after our marriage. You are a gift from Allah. Have we ever kept you hungry because of our troubles? Do you have to die to fill our stomachs?”

With tears in his eyes, Maula said, “We are living happily in spite of our problems just by looking at you grow. We will die before you die. Go if you want to.”

With tears in his eyes, Jamir took hold of his father’s hands.

“Forgive me father. I could not bear to see your problems. That is why I agreed.”

Maula said, “Don’t hold my hands. Cheating your country is equal to cheating your own mother. I don’t care if a son like you dies. But before you die there, I will kill you now itself.”

He took the knife. Jamir’s mother immediately came in between father and son. “Forgive him. He is still a small boy. Let us advice him.”

Jamir cried bitterly and put his hand on Koran.

“Please forgive me father. I will never cheat you or my nation. I will return the money.”

Maula became cool and went near his son.

“Beta, no one can return their debt to their mother or their nation. For the mistake you have made the solution is not to return the money they gave. But we should get those saitans arrested and hanged.”

Father hugged his son.  Maula said, “Come; let us show an end to those anti-nationals.”

They both went out. Mother was watching with love. She took the Koran and held it to her eyes. Then she put it to her chest. “Koran makes people walk on the right path. People who have read and understood such a sacred book like Koran will never cheat their mother or the nation.”

Maula took Jamir to Ranjit and told him what had happened. Ranjit was shocked but happy that Maula had come to him.

After listening to the story, Ranjit got up and extended both hands to Maula. He hugged Maula.

Looking at Maula with new spirit, Ranjit said, “You have been of great help to us. This country is safe due to nation loving (desha bhakta) people like you.”

With a new spirit, Maula said, “We are ready to give our lives for the nation. Due to the anti-national deeds being done by a few saitans among us our Muslim community is getting a bad name. India needs more Muslims like you who will not tolerate terrorism or anti-nationalism. After that no one can shake our India.”

Pointing to Jamir, Maula said, “This boy did a wrong deed by joining hands with those saitans. Please punish him.”

Folding his hands, Jamir said, “Forgive me sir. I could not bear to see my father’s troubles. That is why I agree to do such a thing for the sake of money.”

With a new spirit, Jamir said, “I will die but I will never agree to do such anti-national deeds again in my life.”

Putting his hand on Jamir’s back, Ranjit said, “You are a small boy. You have realized your mistake. That is enough for me. But I will punish you. Just wait.”