The Death of Arjun Kumar

Arjun Kumar was a marked man. He had been marked since the time he was born. Since childhood, Arjun had a very sharp sense of mind and an exceptional intelligence which marked him unique from the others in his school. Though he was not exceptionally good at sports and academics still his keen observation skills and ability to remember the smallest details about everything made him feel that he was destined to do something different from others and this also was sometimes the reason for envy amongst his classmates. Arjun had very few friends and amongst them, Tarun, Shreya, and Vikas were his best buddies. He used to spend a lot of time with them and shared his lunch with them and vice versa. 

Even during his college days, this quality of his often used to land him in trouble with others; because he could not tolerate injustice, unfairness and corrupt practices by anyone or anywhere. It was this idealism only which led him to choose the Indian Civil Services and join the IPS as a Police Officer just like his father Neeraj Kumar. This had surprised everyone including his father who had thought he would do something different.

Anyways it’s been a few years now that Arjun had joined the police force and he had acquired quite a few accolades for himself and the police department due to his daring exploits. He started to become more popular amongst his colleagues. This was also a source of consternation and jealousy for the other officers in his department. But as we all that the twist in life comes out of nowhere; and it leaves you flummoxed afterwards. Something like this happened with our Mr Arjun Kumar. Life took on a new turn when one day he was called to his superior’s office. DCP Abhay Shekhawat, head of Special Crime Unit, had come to know lately of Arjun’s exploits and wanted to test him. 

At first, when Arjun got to know that he was being called to the DCP’s office, he was a bit apprehensive. As everyone knew of DCP Abhay’s reputation of being one of the most heroic and most decorated officers of his time. They were also aware of the fact that DCP Abhay possessed a very cool and calculating mind. That is he could penetrate virtually into anyone’s soul. This is what the current legend about him was going around in the officer circles. So Arjun was naturally intimated by this all of the sudden summoning by his so senior an officer. On the other hand, he was a bit curious also. So when he with trepidation in his heart quietly entered DCP’s cabin; here is what happened. DCP Abhay was immersed in reading some file and when Arjun came in front of saluted him, he just casually glanced and motioned him to sit on the chair in front of him. After a quiet a few minutes, Abhay looked up at him and asked him ‘how are you?’. Arjun was so startled at first that he could not reply but somehow stammered out a response, ‘I am fine sir, Thank you.’ Then Abhay again surprised him by asking about his family’s wellbeing and other trivial matters. Arjun was in a state of both anxiety and curiosity. Which DCP Abhay could perfectly make out judging from the expression on Arjun’s face. Then came the bombshell. DCP Abhay suddenly asked Arjun ‘how would you like to work undercover for me?’ Arjun this time was completely thrown off-balance as he had settled himself into this cushy, relaxed question-hour time. He hesitated at first and in a subdued voice asked ‘Excuse me, sir, I could not hear you’. Abhay just looked at him and gave one of his clever smiles and repeated ‘would you like to work undercover for me?’ Arjun though this time was ready but blurted out in nervousness ‘of course sir’. Abhay was surprised at first by Arjun’s response but again asked him ‘are you positive?’ Arjun again said ‘yes sir’; though now he was having those panic attacks as he heard people talk of Abhay of being ruthless if his men did not complete a job properly to his satisfaction.

Somehow Arjun made an effort to look calm and composed in front of DCP Abhay Shekhawat at that time. Then came the second bombshell. DCP Abhay cut straight to the chase and asked him whether he would work in an undercover role against a criminal enterprise and gather evidence. When Arjun again said yes, the third bombshell blew him to smithereens. DCP Abhay once gave a scrutinising look at Arjun and said ‘you will be working undercover in Ranveer Singh’s gang. Arjun now felt that he had made a mistake coming here. As everyone knew that Ranveer Singh was a dreaded gangster, who was being sought after by the Police forces of three states. There was not a single crime which he had not committed. He had a whole yard long charge sheet of criminal cases ranging from extortion, dacoity, murder, bank robbery, illegal weapons and narcotics smuggling, illegal human trafficking etc. arrayed against him. 

Arjun Kumar had also known that Ranveer Singh was a ruthless psychopath when it came to dealing with informants and snitches. As he had seen the bodies of grossly mutilated victims. He felt that he had signed his death warrant but agreed stoically and with enough bravado. 

He had fulfilled this job also very diligently and executed it with style. Though his personal life had suffered due to this and his wife Reena, who was an architect had suffered the greatest but had always supported him with a smile on her face. This assignment had lasted for two years and Arjun had painstakingly gathered evidence against all the members of the criminal organisation led by Ranveer Singh, who was also the local member of the parliament. Through Arjun’s efforts, the whole gang had been busted open by the police and taken to trial and face conviction. It was during this time that Ranveer Singh’s few gang members had threatened Arjun and his family with swift retribution. It was because of this that Arjun had to leave his promising career and live in witness protection in a different place along with his wife who also had to let go of her vocation. This move had also created some tensions in the family and Arjun had come out of this ordeal as a changed man. He used to talk philosophically on everything nowadays, and always used to be very nervous and give furtive glances here and there.

The worst part of this whole situation was that both of Arjun & Reena’s kids Pinky(11 years old), and Varun(9 years old) had suffered terribly as they had to uproot themselves from the cosy, happy environment they ensconced themselves into and move into unknown territory. Here they had no friends, no one to talk to of their age and the constant omnipresence of security personnel around them. This made them disgruntled, unhappy, morose and sullen; especially Pinky who had been a chirpy little bird all the time. Even Arjun’s friends and family could not contact him because of security reasons.

As the sands of time-shifted just like in two-sided jar when turning one upside down; so did Arjun became more stoic and quiet and resigned himself to his fate. This further infuriated Reena who also had to sacrifice a lot because of him. So when one day Tarun, one of Arjun’s old-time buddies came to visit him, all the barriers which Arjun had built within himself started to tumble. Tarun who had also joined the police force and later on had been promoted as a Senior Inspector to the Crime Branch had somehow managed to get his address and convince his superiors that he was just going there on personal business. When Tarun met Arjun, he was shocked to see the straight, handsome man who always stood out against injustice was now drooping and had aged a lot. When he asked Arjun ‘what has happened to you?’, Arjun just looked at him and gave a smile and said that ‘I have seen a lot of things in life, now nothing fazes me and I am just waiting for my time as I know it’s up’. Hearing this coming from the mouth of a man who was still a hero to some Tarun felt stunned and shocked and also disappointed for his friend. Anyways they had a long conversation and ruminated about old times when Tarun looked at his watch and said ‘I have to go’, Arjun did not immediately respond but just got up and hugged him dearly and whispered in his ears ‘ this is perhaps the last time we are meeting’. Tarun was surprised and taken aback a bit by this strange utterance so he looked closely at Arjun. Arjun looked back at him but this time with the same smile on his face which he earlier used to have. As Tarun started to leave he had an unusual hunch that this is the last time he is seeing his friend so he turned around and Arjun standing there and waved to him. Tarun waved back and dismissing such negative thoughts coming into his mind like swatting a fly he left.

The next day the whole world and especially Arjun and Reena’s families were shocked and stunned to read that Arjun Kumar and family had been brutally slaughtered despite protection. Everyone was surprised and dismayed at the thought that how come could anyone have so ruthlessly murdered the Kumars in cold blood despite heavy police protection and the most tragic part was that the killer/killers had not even spared the little children. This news had completely broken both Arjun & Reena’s families and created a void which could never be filled; as it is they were not in contact with Arjun and his family due to security reasons and now this tragedy was too much to take. Even Arjun’s friends were shocked, especially Tarun who was so devastated as he was the godfather to Arjun’s kids and not long ago he had met them and talked with them.

Now the question was who could have the motive to kill them. Though Arjun had made a lot of enemies during his career; especially in the criminal underworld and political circles but no one was supposed to know about his present whereabouts. The media, the establishment, Arjun and Reena’s families and friends all were demanding questions from the police department who had no answers as they were as stupefied and aghast at the loss of a brilliant officer and a wonderful man. 

Time passes by and still, there are no visible leads or clues to the Kumar murders, although the police are leaving no stone unturned. It was then that Tarun decides to investigate the murder of his best friend. Though getting permission from his superiors was an uphill task but somehow he convinces them. The first thing he does is to review the security tapes very minutely and interviews all the policemen who were supposed to be guarding the Kumar family. Though he finds nothing in the tapes it was during the questioning of one of the police constables Ram Singh that he finds it odd the way Ram Singh keeps on giving nervous glances here and there as if he was scared of something. When he asks ‘what’s the matter? Do you have an appointment?’ Ram Singh looks very nervously at Tarun and tries to give a faint weak smile. 

This further strengthens Tarun’s suspicion that Ram Singh has some kind of involvement in Arjun and his family’s murder. So he decides to quietly follow him and see where all he goes and with whom all he meets. Rest of the day is spent on interviewing the other guards and nothing conclusive comes out of it. As Ram Singh gets free from his duty and starts to leave for home, Tarun quietly starts following him taking precautions so that Ram Singh cannot see him following. On the way, he stops at a lot of places like a cigarette seller shop, a tea stall, even at a barbershop. The strange thing which Tarun observes following him is that at each of these places Ram Singh stops and talks to some unsavoury characters and also gives nervous glances behind his back. It seems as if he knows that Tarun is following him!

Luckily Tarun had taken photographs of Ram Singh meeting these people at all these places. The next day he decides to again interrogate Ram Singh, so when he appears in front of Tarun; he decides to ask Ram Singh directly by showing the photographs and says “Who are these people and why were you meeting them?” Ram Singh looks troubled and breaks down and confesses that all these people were from the same dreaded gang headed by Ranveer Singh. He then recounts how Ajitesh Yadav, a deadly shooter had contacted him and got the daily schedule of Arjun and his family from him. He also recounts how Ajitesh Yadav had blackmailed Ram Singh by threatening his family and had gained entry into the tightly secured facility and shot the whole family on cold blood. When Tarun asks ‘what about the CCTV cameras, how did he escape their surveillance?’ Ram Singh replies ‘I had disabled some of the cameras and this had facilitated Ajitesh to gain entry into the safe house and kill Arjun and family’. Tarun was surprised and enraged at the same time but he could also understand Ram Singh’s position.

He then took the full address of Ranveer Singh and his gang and with the help of an arrest warrant went to arrest him. Ranveer Singh meanwhile had got wind of the knowledge that he was going to be arrested. So, therefore, he was planning to escape into Nepal and when he saw the police approaching, he got cold feet all of a sudden and surrendered meekly to the police.

This is how the case of Arjun and his family’s murder was solved and Tarun got all the accolades but Tarun was not happy as he had lost a great friend and he knew that no one or nothing could fill this empty void which Arjun’s passing had made in his life.