John was sitting flabbergasted, tired and surprised all at the same time. He had hardly slept the other night. His table was just in front of the police station entrance. The table itself was as old as the police station and just like an old person its leg wobbled timidly and was on the verge of collapse. Same could be said about the wooden chair he was sitting on. He was surrounded by files and folders of blue, brown color. His table too was almost covered with files, pages, stationeries like pen, pencil and a dark brown register which had withered on its corner. This was the complaint register file. To take his mind off from what he had experienced yesterday, John opened the register and opened a blank page. He took a ruler and pencil and started drawing vertical lines and then followed by horizontal line. He drew 6 vertical lines on the 2 pages and a dozen horizontal lines. His heart which was racing till then got a bit calm when he engrossed himself in this mundane work of slicing lines on paper.
And that’s when he entered, VIRAJ SINGH… as he always enters; pushing both the entrance doors with his hands which makes the feeble door swing all the way to side walls banging themselves before coming back to hit each other. The doors squeaking made sure that every person in the police station had their eyes on him, which was the primary purpose of Viraj. He loved the attention and that was the reason he was wearing a flashy bottle green Ray Ban Aviators with crisp ironed Uniform with the badge of his name on his right pocket. He was good looking, with fair skin and 5’10 height and a jaw line that accentuated his sharp looks. He had grown stubble which went with the latest style. After his regular Hi’s and Hello’s, he came towards John.
“So Junior? Yesterday was fun right? ” asked Viraj grinning at John
“I don’t think that was fun sir, We encountered 3 people yesterday.” Said john holding back his anger at Viraj’s stupid question.
“Are that Jayram Shikre was a Chodu . He would have died today or tomorrow. No one comes to my Pune and sells drugs here” Viraj was snapping his finger while speaking.
“But we were so unprepared Sir. We didn’t have backup, nor did we have any bullet proof vest. The Shikre and his gang were firing relentlessly; we could have got killed there. “
“Oye Junior. We are Heroes in this samjha . We never get shot, we are the one who shoot and kill. And don’t think so much, if you didn’t have the stomach for violence or didn’t have the balls to face these gangsters and drug dealers and other low life criminals , you should have chosen some other profession. Chal tell the Chai wala to bring a kadak chai immediately. ”
John nodded in affirmation.
What a dick head is this inspector? As flamboyant he was with his style and fashion, he was equally dumb. Does he really think he is just like a hero that is shown in bollywood movies? Does he think bullets will never find him? I agree in movies the villains’ fire a million shots yet the Hero especially if he is a police officer does not even care about them as he knows it will never hit him. Well, that’s a movie. It is suppose to work that way. If the Hero dies in the firing, how will the movie go ahead?
John was irritated but as a junior he was not able to emulate that on his face. He had just completed a month here. John Mackasare hailed from Satara , he always wanted to join the police force as he had seen a Police inspector single handedly reducing the crime in his town when he was little. Until 7th standard he always used to wear a police uniform to the school’s fancy dress competition. John’s father was a govt servant and he wanted his son to become an IAS officer, but soon he realized his son’s IQ and settled for a police job.
John’s mom however was not happy with his job. “Beta, choose some good career. Why this police volice ka chakkar. You know how bad these police people are .No one likes them, they just want money and most of the time work with the Gundas and Chor’s . Show me a good police person anywhere in India. Also the job is so dangerous; you constantly have to deal with criminals, that too day and night. Who will marry you beta? ”
She was right in every sense but as its said, If it’s your passion , you look only at the bright side
He knew the risks involved in a police job and the hardwork that is involved in it. You are called for duty any time, to any place. Just like yesterday at 11.30 pm, Viraj called him ‘Junior, come to vishrantwadi in another 20 min . Aaj action hai ’ When John reached , he was surprised to see Viraj all by himself. Wasn’t this an operation? Where is the backup and safety? John was confused. ‘Sir, where is the back up and jackets’
‘We are not getting Daud Ibrahim re .. Simple drug dealers. Stop being a fattu ’ Viraj whispered with a grin. They both were standing near a godown behind a truck. It was total darkness, all they could see was silhouettes of Trucks parked. John was holding a rifle which looked nothing but a lump of wood. He wasn’t even sure if it works.
“Look there they are” said Viraj pointing towards a some shadows in a yellow light under a tiny bulb. As they started crouching closer John started breathing heavily, his rifle felt heavier with each step, his legs more stiff, and his vision getting blurrier. Viraj directed john to point the rifle in front just like he was pointing his revolver.
“Shirke !! Put your hands up” roared Viraj pointing his gun on one of the shadows, so John decided to point it to another one. Before Viraj could complete his growl, he was interrupted by gun shots from opposite directions .John froze for a moment as one of the bullets just went past his left ear whistling followed by sound that you generally hear when something hits a metal. Without delay John retreated and ran for cover behind a truck. Now all he could hear was gun shots and the sparks emerging from them brightening the surrounding momentarily. He held his rifle close to his chest and eyes across his shoulder looking for someone who might eventually pop up. After 5 min there was a silence and the atmosphere was filled gun powder smell and smoke.
“Junior” a voice John was glad to hear after all this cacophony. As he peeked he saw Viraj and 3 fallen shadows.
“Gaya Shirke .. “ said Viraj grinning while panting with his hands holding his knee caps .
John started wondering … Is Viraj really a HERO…?
To be continued…
