Satish’s thought engine was running rapidly. “I have got a fantastic idea. But I am not surewhether it would receive acceptance from my readers. I want to write about prisoners. Let me start writing,” he told his wife Vidya.
Satish got absorbed into his new novel. He was writing tirelessly and reading it repeatedly to judge the impact of the story. But even after 3 months the story had not met Satish’s satisfaction. He was writing and rewriting but the story was not turning out as expected. Satish was getting upset. “Vidya, the story is okay but it lacks the punch. It is not yet riveting.”
“Do you think so?” Vidya exclaimed.
“Don’t you think so?” Satish said, “I am not at all happy with the main plot. It appears very thin.”
“Can I suggest something? Consider the emotional state of a prisoner who has been awarded the death punishment.The day before the execution,his emotional state.It would be sensational and can generate a lot of drama and strong feelings. You can think over this subject,” Vidya said.
Satish jumped out of his seat. “Yes. That is fantastic. I could not agree with you more. Thank you, darling. I am thrilled.”
Satish shifted focus to the new angle and resumed his writing. Few more weeks passed. He had finished writing several pages but had now reached an unforeseen hurdle.He could not imagine the actual state of the criminal’s mind.
Satish was falling short of reaching the depth of the emotional conflict between the sentimentsof his loved ones and the feelings of the victim’s family.
Satish wanted to experience the emotional turbulence of the convict. He was convinced that for the novel to be realistic, it was necessary for the author to livethrough the situation.That is how his previous novel “PENNILESS” had touched the hearts of the readers and had proved to bea thundering success.He wanted to do it again but how?
He took up the issue with Vidya. “Oh! That does not seem to be very difficult. You know my schoolmate, Shashank.He is the jailor inShanti Nagar Jail. We can talk to him about this,” she said.
“Great. Give him a ring right away and fix an appointment,as early as possible.” Satish was impatient about this meeting.
On the day of the appointment, Satish and Vidya reached the jail. The security guardguided them to Shashank’shouse. A nice bungalow near the stone-walled jail was a paradoxical picture.
“What a great pleasure to see you both! Tell me what brings you here?” Shashank exclaimed.
Vidya initiated the discussion. “Shashank, you know Satish is a writer.”
“Yes, of course! I have read his last novel ‘PENNILESS’. That was wonderful.”
“Thanks, but he needs your help with his new novel that revolves around a convict who has been sentenced to death.”
“Oh my God! How can a stone-hearted person like me help you with your writing?”
“Shashank, jokes apart, Satish needs your help in getting in touch with a convict who has been sentenced to death. He wants to know the exact state of mind of such a convict.”
“I can always do that. These days the punishment of hanging till death is very rare. But one or two of the jailed convicts do get hanged. The murder has to be cold-blooded. Onlythen dothey get such an extreme punishment. I will introduce you to one or two of these convicts. You can talk to them and collect all the informationyou need.”
“No, Shashank. An interview won’t help to get the true picture of the person’s feelings. I want to be with the person for at least a few days and be friends with him. I will get a chance to peep into his heart to feel the actual state of his mind,” Satish said.
“How is it possible?” Shashank was puzzled.
Satish needed this badly. “You are our best friend and have the necessary authority. You can think of some solution. And as Vidya said, only you can help us out.”
“Okay. I will think about it. Give me a week. I will check out all the possibilities within the framework of the law. Let’s meet again this coming week,” Shashank said, “Tell me about your daughter, Archana. Is she in Texas or Boston?”
“Archana is fine. She is in Boston. Her daughter is growing up fast.”
“Last year we had attended herbirthday party when the family was in India. How old is the child? Six or Seven?”
“Yes. She is seven years now. Just yesterday we talked. I told her we will be meeting Jailor uncle soon. She remembers you and Sunita very much. Sunita had prepared such a lovely pineapple cake for the birthday.
When is Sunita coming back from Puri? Is her brother’s marriage over?”
“No. The marriage is the day after tomorrow. I am flying tomorrow morning and will return a day after the marriage. Sunita will be there for one more week.”
“Ok. Satish, what would you have? Vodka or whisky?”
“Nothing. I have to drive back.”
After a nice dinner planned by the cook, and a very jovial evening, Satish and Vidya returned home.
“If Shashank can manage something and I am able to be in touch with my protagonist, it will be great,” Satish said.
After four days, Satish received a call from Shashank. He had found some solution. He was coming for dinner that evening and said he would discuss the matter in detail.
With a glass of whisky in hand, Shashanksaid: “I had to think a lot about the situation. And this is the solution I have come up with.”
“Well Satish, you will be charged with a double murder and will be sentencedto hanging until death. You will be lodged in the same room where an actual convict is counting his last days. The date of your hanging will be a week after that of the convict. Four days after the hanging of the actual convict, we will receive an acceptance of your petition for clemency from higher authorities and you will be released. Are you okay with this idea?
Most importantly, no one else should know about this plan. Satish, this will be a unique experience for you.This is surely to result in an amazing thriller.”
After a sumptuous dinner, Shashank left.
“Looks like a fantastic idea.” Satish was very happy.
“But I am scared. We are taking a big risk,”said Vidya.
“What risk? Inside the jail, the convicts are not tortured. They get food and all the essentials. Don’t worry at all. I am thrilled,” Satish.
“But I am worried. Whatif something goes wrong?” Vidya asked.
“What can misfire? There is no chance of anything going wrong.” Satish was excited about the plan.
The execution of the real convict was three weeks away.As planned, after a week on 10th April. Satish bid adieu to Vidya.He was to be back home a month later.
Satish reached Shashank’s house. When he was taken to the cell,he was stripped of all the things on him, including his mobile phone.
He was given the dress of the convict. Satish looked at himself. He had goosebumps. He was happy that Vidya did not see him in that attire.
While entering the cell, the chargesheet was read out.It said Satish had committed a cold-blooded double murder of a man and his wife. The court hadfixed 7th May 2001 as his execution day.
Inside the cell,Poornaji Rao, the convict, was sitting on a stool. Satish was also given a small stool. The door to the unit was then locked.
“You come out to the mess at 12 when the bell rings for lunch. You will be given a chatai to sleep for the night, a glass to drink water and a bowl and a plate for your meal. You will clean your plate yourselfafter every meal.You will take a bath every day before 8 in the morning after which you will get breakfast.Any questions?”
The attendant left without even waiting for Satish’s reply.
Nobody spoke for about 10-12 minutes. “I am Poorna Rao. What is your name?”
In a grim voice, Satish told Rao his name.
“What is your sentence?” Rao wanted to know.
“On 7th May, direct up,” Satish said as he looked up.
“They are sending me up on 27th April,” Rao said.
“Double murder. Two brothers were after me for my piece of land. For two years I tolerated it. But then I could not bear it any longer. They had come to my house to pressurise me to sell my land to them. I once again refused. They started quarrelling with me. They were threatening me to quit the place or face the consequences. I got upset. Somebody threatening me, Poorna Rao. I picked up the sickle which was near to me. I charged up and straightway cut his throat. His brother picked up the sickle and charged towards me. I held his hand and twisted it. He dropped the sickle. I grabbed it and put straight onto his neck. He moved and blood oozed out. His throat was cut. He also died instantly. I did not run away from my house. After an hour, police came and arrested me. My wife and children were crying uncontrollably. I admitted to my crime in front of the judge who did not hesitate in giving me thedeath sentence.”
“Are you feeling bad now?”Satish asked.
“Yes, when I think of my family and parents. They are left without any support. I do not regret killing the brothers. But I feel irresponsible that I left my family to fend for themselves. I do not know how they will take care of themselves.”Satish saw tears in Rao’s eyes.
It was Satish’s turn to tell Rao his story. “I am an engineer. I was living happily with my two children and wife.I murdered my neighbour who was also educated. But he was in the bad company of friends. He had taken a lot of,about a lakh of rupees loan from me. His wife used to complain about his ill-treatment to her. He had stolen all her jewellery and lost everything in gambling. Once his wife told my wife that her husband had threatened her if she did not hand over her mangalsutra, he would slit her throat and take it. My wife pleaded to me to prevent this atrocity. I went to their house. My neighbour had a knife in his hand and he was charging towards his wife to get the last of her jewellery, the mangalsutra, which is a very sacred ornament for ladies. I shouted at the person. He was in a horrible mood. He charged towards me saying that was their private matter and I should go away. I refused to budge. I insisted he drop the knife.He shouted, “why are you interested in her?”
He looked at his wife and yelled, “You prostitute. You must havehad an affair with this man.” He stabbed his wife twice. She collapsed in a puddle of blood. He then turned over to me and attacked me with the knife. I was swift in ducking that but he fell in such a way that the open knife pierced his stomach and he died instantly. Two murders. And I was the only witness.
I informed the police. My wife was baffled. She was shocked.In the court, I was charged with a double murder for killing both the husband and the wife. My pleading innocence was of no avail.The judge sentenced me to death.”
With a grave face, Satish added,”They have booked me on 7th May”
Satish noticed that Rao had total sympathy for him, despite his own precarious position.
The bell rang and they had to go to the mess with their plate and bowl to have lunch.
Slowly, Satish realized Rao was not a hard-core culprit. Superficially, he was showing up to the world that he was a hardcore criminal and did not regret his action of killing. But from within, he was very soft and repenting his action of killing though the murdered persons deserved it.
They became good friends. Poorna Rao once said, “Even though you are educated, you had to go through this ordeal. I am a born farmer. Weput our sweat and blood to produce the paddy and some grains and we are happy. That is the way, we farmers live. But any injustice or atrocity we cannot tolerate.“
Satish and Poorna Rao gradually became thick friends. Satish was getting exactly what he was searching for. Rao had let Satish enter his deeper feelings.
April 27thwas approaching fast. Poorna Rao was getting upset thinking about the problems his family would have to face.
On 25th April, news came that Shashank had gone on emergency leave as his father-in-law had expired. Manoj Dighe had taken over his place. Satish was so absorbed in understanding his protagonist that thisnews did not mean anything to him.
On the 27th, Poorna Rao was woken up early. He was asked to finish his morning duties. After his bath, he was given fresh clothes to wear. At around 6, he was escorted to the gallows. Satish was very sad. His very close friend was being taken away. He hugged Poorna Rao intensely. He could not control his sob.
Rao said, “Don’t worry my brother. I will go up and book a place in heaven for you where we can share our feelings. Just a matter of few days.We will meet soon.”
Poorna Rao left this world. Satish was grieved.
“Take courage, Mr.Satish. Eight days more and you will also have to follow the same procedure. After all, you people are heartless. When you killed someone, your sensitivity had gone for a walk, Now, when your turn comes, you are feeling sorry,” Manoj Dighe, the jailor, remarked.
Before leaving, Dighe said,” Mr. Satish, 7th May is also very near. You also get ready for the departure.”
Satish was shocked to hear his statement. “Sir, when is Shashank sir coming back?”
“Why, is he going to free you? Mr. Satish, Shashank is out of the country. And he won’t be back for six months. So, forget about him. You won’t see him in this life.”
“Are you serious, sir?”
“Yes, of course. But look at destiny. An uneducated Poorna Rao got hung with a rope and an educated person like you alsowill be with the same rope.Education or no education, the animal instinct is the same in every person.”
“Sir, can I speak to my wife?”
“Yes, why not. The last desire of the person who is going to leave this world is always fulfilled.”
“Can I give her a message? I want to see her urgently.”
“Satish, I will give her your message that you want to see her urgently.
But I find this word ‘urgently’, funny. Arrey, you are left with only a few days. Everything is very urgent. Only a few days. So, I will contact her immediately and give her your message. Okay?”
Satish was alarmed. This new jailor did not know the plan they had executed for his next novel to be realistic. Satish decided to tell Vidya to come here immediately. She would make the situation clear to Dighe.
In the evening, Dighe came for the visit. Satish was anxious about the status of the message.When Dighe came to his cell, Satish looked at him expectantly. Dighe said, “Satish, we could not get the line despite our trying several times. Don’t worry. Tomorrow, I will send the messenger with the message to Mrs.Satish. He will bring her along by evening.”
Dighe left the cell and asked the attendant to see if Satish wanted anything.
Satish was getting tense now. Why did Shashank have to leave the country now?
The next day,Dighe took a round in the jail only in the evening. When he came to Satish’s cell, he talked to the guard on duty and started leaving. Satish was annoyed that Dighe’s words had no value.He had promised that his man would bring Vidya, along with him, and there is no information about it.
Satish called out toDighe sir.
“Sir, what happened? My wife did not come?”
Dighe turned back and came close to Satish’s cell. Slowly, he whispered, “She is very busy these days. When she gets time, she will try to see you,she said.”
Satish was shocked. ”What would Vidya be busy with? What is more important than my life? Has she lost interest in me?”
In the night, sleeping on the chatai, Satish’s mind was wandering over some unwelcome thoughts.
“I am upset with Vidya’s message that she would visit this place whenever she gets time. What must have happened? Her friend Shashank is also not to be seen. Could there be any link between these two happenings? Also, does Dighenot know our plan? Will he really hang me on 7th May? He keeps referring to the last desires of the dying person. Are these really the last days of my life?
Could that be the ploy between Shashank and Vidya, to get rid of me with this plan? Oh my God! Where have I landed myself? In the morning I must try and tell DigheSir about their plan. Deciding this course of action for the next day, Satish slept.
In the morning, the guard enquired whether Satish wanted any specific thing to be done? Any unfulfilled desire he was holding? In that case, the jail would try to satisfy those things.
Every staff member passing by this cell had a very sympathetic look at Satish. Satish was getting disturbed by their pitying looks.
In the night, the watchman said, “Don’t worry saheb. Everything will be alright. All the staff members are perturbed that an educated, highly cultured person like you, could commit a murder. One wonders if there is a God. Now sleep well saheb. Last few nights in this life.”
Satish was getting upset with such remarks.
“So, theseare the last days of my life. I should have spent my life a little differently. I should not have taken risks such as this.”
Satish, lost in such thoughts, went off to sleep.
The next day morning during his visit, Dighe came to Satish’s cell.
He tried his last effort. “Dighe Sir, I want to tell you something. Sir,I am a writer and the protagonist of my new novel is a convict to be hanged.” Satish explained the entire plan to Dighe sir, “But unfortunately, Shashank sir had to go on leave. And here I am stuck. So please believe me. I have not committed any murder. I just wanted to get prepared to write the story. Please, do not arrange to hang me.”
“But where is your wife? She also did not care for you.
I am sorry. But I have to follow instructions from the higher authorities. Be ready to leave this world the day after tomorrow.”
The next day Satish was given a specialmeal. But he was extremely disheartened. He recollected all his plans. They all were doomed. His love for his wife was proved to be disastrous. One after another, negative thoughts were taking charge of his mind.
‘How much I loved Vidya. Even if she was away for just a day, I would miss her so much. Every matter, we used to discuss. It was not that we used to agree on every point. But we saw to it that the other person was convinced. When I got a big cheque from the publisher, the first thing I did was that I bought gold bangles for her. Whenever my story was getting rejected, we both used to feel extremely sad. When I was ill and admitted to the hospital, she took care of me during my stay in the hospital, and after I returned home, for the following couple of months. We laughed together. We cried together. She was my better half, in a real sense.
But now, she has planned to get rid of me! I will still miss her in heaven.
And my daughter, Archana. How much I loved her. I wanted to dedicate my next novel to her, for her inspiration. That desire remained unfulfilled. And the son in law, and the sweet little granddaughter. I loved them too.
But all of them will now hate me for committing a murder. All the love and respect they had for me, will be reduced to nothing.
The entire society will look at me as a murderer. I will be condemned by everyone. I will be the topic of gossips. All relatives and my fast friends will distance themselves from me. No one, not even my loved ones will understand me. They will consider me as a murderer and will try to forget me completely. I am finished. Totally finished.’
In the morning, he was woken up early. After bath, he was given new clothes. At 5:30 he was escorted to the gallows. A black mask was put around his head. He could not see anything. He was then taken to the spot. A narrow-diameter noose was looped around his neck.Satish was told to think of his most loved person. Satish heard some quick movement of people. Everything was dark. Countdown started. Three, Two. One.
And ….and … instead of rope around his neck getting tighter, the mask was taken off. And Satish saw Vidya, Shashank, Dighe and some other persons were in front of him.
Shashank came forward and said, ”Satish, this was a real-life experience for you. Now we want a wonderful novel from you which would be remembered and appreciated for a very long time.”
Satish, shocked and delighted, came down the platform supported by Vidya.
After reaching home, Satish resumed writing the novel.
