Today as I was driving back home ~ A very short story.

Today some dreams were broken.Today I brought shame to a middle class man , who had raised me with love and care.The man who had sacrificed his happiness to make me happy looks down upon me today.
The world addresses me as a criminal.The media covered the story of a young man who had knocked down a teenager while driving back home from work.Today the news report forgot to mention that this young man , who had a ring in his pocket and his first pay check in  the other , was driving home from work to celebrate his fiance's birthday . He was driving at a speed of forty kilo meter per hour , below the posted speed limit , even though he had a terminally ill mother waiting at home with his favorite Gulaab Jamun to celebrate his first pay check and that the victim was an intoxicated drug addict with suicidal tendencies who deliberately jumped out in front of my vehicle. 

The Wuthering Heights : Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff ?

(1777, aged about 13) Do you mark those two lines between your eyes; and those thick brows, that, instead of rising arched, sink in the middle; and that couple of black fiends, so deeply buried, who never open their windows boldly, but lurk glinting under them, like devil's spies?
(1783, aged about 19) A ray fell on his features; the cheeks were sallow, and half covered with black whiskers; the brows lowering, the eyes deep-set and singular. I remembered the eyes.
Ralph fiennes (he who should not be named) played Heathcliff in one of the movie adaptation (there are eight movie adaptations)  of "Wuthering Heights" - a classic story of  love that destroyed everyone it touched.I have been reading this book for quiet some time now and every time I read Ellen's description of the anti hero  , even in my wildest imagination , I did not picture Ralph fiennes as Heathcliff.Now after going through the list of movie adaptations and trailers , I am sure Julliet Binoche did a great job in choosing Fiennes to play the Fiend.It didnt work out well for Laurence oliver  or Tomy Hardy or James Husow.To me, Heathcliff is one of the most complex and compelling characters ever written and I had once thought that any actor would fall short in playing him in a film or miniseries. Having watched this beautiful and haunting adaptation of one of this novel which I just finished reading , I have to say that Ralph Fiennes has more than succeeded in bringing the aforementioned anti-hero to life. Emily Bronte would have been proud. Everyone who has read Wuthering Heights knows about the tragic love story between Cathy and Heathcliff and how he becomes a dark, brooding, manipulative, diabolical man who takes his revenge on the people who he feels have wronged him and torn him away from Cathy, including her daughter and his own child and ward. Fiennes brings out Heathcliff's many conflicting emotions flawlessly and his performance floored me.I think when it comes to playing a diabolic unsympathetic brute , no one does it better than Fiennes.

Five years later : Aarushi Talwar and Hemraj , Noida double murder mystery - Justice , a far fetched cry ?

16th May 2008 : Aarushi Talwar is found dead in her apartment at Jalvayu Bihar
A day later , the main suspect is found lying in a pool of blood at the terrace of the same apartment.Three days later Rajesh Talwar was arrested and a week later the case was transferred to the CBI.When compromised scientific evidence seemed a dead end , the joint director Arun Kumar switched to Brain Mapping and and polygraphy.The dentist couple took the tests.It however didnt yield a positive result.The charge then turned to Krishna , who Rajesh Talwar remembered reprimanding for ordering an incorrect dental cast.On searching his house a blood stained Kukri , trouser and a pillow cover was found.After being administered with the truth serum , Krishna is arrested by CBI.Two new names come up as the case progresses. Shambu and Rajkumar (Durian's domestic help)

"3 July 2008
The Supreme court of India rejects a public interest litigation (PIL) case challenging the administration of narco-analysis test on the accused. A bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir refuses to hear the petition, as the petitioner, a lawyers' body, was an unregistered entity.
6 July 2008
An English daily [15] reveals that on the night the murders were committed, the couple Dr. Rajesh and Dr. Nupur left their flat around midnight and came back around 5 AM. They were at a high society party for which 12 suites were booked in a posh South Delhi hotel.
7 July 2008
Dr. Nupur Talwar refuses the allegations regarding their absence on the night of the murders. She also expresses her intention to take legal action against the media house.
CBI releases an official statement on their site, stating, "A section of media has reported quoting CBI sources that Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar were not present in their house on the night of 15th May, 2008 and more than a dozen rooms were booked in a hotel in Delhi. It is clarified that the news item is speculative and not true. Investigation of the case is progressing diligently."
.After being released from Jail , Rajkumar alleged CBI of torturing him. In an interview he said " “Inspite of my requesting them to, the CBI never asked me about any missing mobiles or murder weapon, during my two narco tests. A CBI official showed me much of one of the two compact discs they made out of my tests. However, this did not have any reference to any mobiles or weapons. Even otherwise, they never asked me about any missing mobiles, but kept asking me to become an approver to frame Krishna and Mandal. The CBI wanted me to say, on camera, that Krishna and Vijay Mandal committed the murders. But, I refused. At times they would stretch both my legs out on the sides, level with the ground, and two men would sit on each leg to keep them that way. “It was agonisingly painful,” he said. He also claimed that CBI officials would tell him, “We will throw you from the fifth floor and say you committed suicide. Trying to scare me was one of the ways they tried to pressurise me.”
4 September 2009
The Central Forensic Laboratory in Hyderabad releases a report that Aarushi's vaginal samples were substituted with those of an unknown woman. The correct samples could have helped to establish who killed the teenager, and whether she was sexually assaulted before being stabbed. The clothes that Aarushi was found in were soaked in blood. But the forensic lab received clean clothes.
14 September 2009
Delhi police recovers Aarushi's mobile phone in Bulandshah
21 July 2010
Dr.Rajesh Talwar moves the court to have a restraint order passed against the unethical and misleading information being published by some print media outlets.
CBI reportedly seeking help of foreign forensic labs to crack the two year old case.
29 December 2010
CBI files closure report in Aarushi murder case. The closure report filed in Ghaziabad court says Rajesh Talwar is the sole suspect, and that Krishna, Raj Kumar and Mandal are completely cleared.
25 January 2011
Arushi's father, Dr. Rajesh Talwar, is attacked outside court with a cleaver by a youth called Utsav Sharma in protest against CBI's decision to recall the case and that Utsav was upset that Talwar was not convicted. Utsav had also in protest attacked former police chief S.P.S. Rathore of the Ruchika Girhotra case in February 2010
30 January 2011
People from all walks of life get together to protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi to press for Justice in the case.
9 February 2011
The special CBI court on Wednesday made Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar accused in the Aarushi murder case. The Court has also issued summons against Aarushi's parents, accusing them of murder and criminal conspiracy under IPC 302 and 120. The next date for hearing has been fixed as 28 February.
8 March 2011
The mother of Talwar's lawyer is found murdered in her home
18 March 2011
Supreme Court stays High Court order against the Talwars
21 March 2011
The Talwars surrender passports to the Ghaziabad District Court.
25 March 2011
Hemraj's widow files application in Ghaziabad Court claiming Talwars killed him and Aarushi.
8 April 2011
SC pulls up Talwars for not submitting their original plea.
11 April 2011
Talwars due in court 15 April 2011.
15 April 2011
Supreme Court seeks CBI's response in Aarushi Talwar case.
22 April 2011
CBI charges Rajesh Talwar with forgery and concealing facts.
23 April 2011
CBI says "Only parents could have killed Aarushi".
27 April 2011
Aarushi's hearing in CBI court on 20 July.
15 June 2011
Mayawati suspends police officer citing the unsolved thirteen-year-old Aarushi Talwar murder case.
 March 2012: The CBI argues in court for cancellation of Rajesh's bail." - Wikipedia

" April: Nupur Talwar arrested.

 May: Rajesh and Nupur charged by Ghaziabad court with murder, destruction of evidence and conspiracy.

- September: Nupur Talwar released on bail.

- April 2013: CBI officer tells court that Aarushi, Hemraj were killed by the Talwars. CBI also tells court that Aarushi and Hemraj were found in objectionable position.

- May 3: Defence counsel pleads before a special court to summon 14 people, including former CBI joint director Arun Kumar as witness. CBI opposes the plea.

- May 6: Trial court dismisses Talwar's petition for summoning 14 witnesse. It orders recording of statements of Rajesh and Nupur.

- May 13: Supreme Court refuses to entertain the Talwars' petition." Two circles.net

"Sex. Illicit affairs. Murder. Indian media, which combines British tabloid sensibility with U.S. cable’s cutthroat competitiveness, snapped it up and fed it to a gossip-hungry audience, catapulting the crime to the top of the news cycle and making Aarushi a household name.For months, media feasted on leaks from unnamed police sources. They were scandalous, accusing the Talwars of extra-marital affairs, incest, swinger parties, wife-swapping and an “honour” killing. As the whispers grew louder, the well-to-do professionals morphed into extravagantly wealthy deviants who, if allowed, would buy their way out of murder.

A prime-time television drama added a plot twist, featuring the murder of a rebellious 16-year-old girl whose kohl-rimmed eyes were just like Aarushi’s. The murderer, of course, was the father." Thestar.com - 

The murder mystery only served as a source of raising the TRP. The media was neither concerned with the reputation of the thirteen year old nor the bereaved family members.This further complicated the murder mystery because it did everything but plant preconceived notions in the minds of the viewers.Any view contrary to the much believed opinion of parents being the murderers was considered to be wrong.
Noida Double murder mystery is not only a case of a teenager losing her life or a domestic help's decomposed body, found a day after a girl who had everything live for was found dead.It is a story of shattered hopes , it is a story of people who ceased to believe in  Justice , who felt betrayed as Indians.It is the story of an impotent investigation bureau , that was unable to submit an adequate and satisfactory closure report.A closure report that was a  masterpiece of insinuation and self-contradiction.It is a shock that an investigation system can fail so badly.Once , we used to cherish our pride in the country.Now we grieve at the loss of that pride.It is a story where "justice was not only delayed.But also denied."
Even five years later , justice is  a far fetched cry.

 Note :- Have read and quoted some of the lines from leading websites
Source :
http://www.attachowk.com/aarushi.aspx
http://twocircles.net/2013may15/will_aarushi_hemraj_murders_be_mysteries_forever.html
3.http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/01/26/aarushi_talwar_murder_a_look_at_one_of_indias_most_notorious_cases.html
http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub190211THE_HOUSE.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noida_double_murder_case

The wedding ring : Chapter 3 (Last chapter) : An incomplete dream - Our wedding ring

“It was so hard not to see your smile all these years.” He whispered and Lipika could sense the same affection in his voice. What was it that had made forgetting so hard ? She looked at him with her dark hazel eyes. “You want to sit there ?” he pointed at the bench. She turned her gaze towards the bench. It was the same bench where they used to sit while returning from tution. She nodded. She was at the loss of words..She was still wondering why he wanted to meet her. All the thoughts kept her occupied and an awkward silence surrounded them. “Badam Kulfi?” Nihal broke the silence and questioned.Lipika just smiled , tucked her hair behind her ears and nodded.Within no time Nihal came back with two badam kulfi’s. Their favourite since school days. “So you are seeing someone ?” Nihal twirled the kulfi between his fingers.Lipika stared at him in disbelief.She didn’t reply.Instead looked away and jerked her head slightly.”Can’t believe you asked me that question” she smiled sarcastically. “Why ? Couldn’t bring yourself to love another guy?” Nihal locked her gaze.Lipika was stunned.Her heart skipped a beat and her hair fell loose on her face.She felt a lump in her throat. “Yeah after my ex and I broke up I kind of gave up on the concept of love” she firmly said. Nihal raised his hands in air in disbelief. Then he inched closer to Lipika and spoke under his breath “Lies and only lies Miss Sondhi.I guess you didn’t tell your so called boyfriend that he came between two best friends ?” to this  lipika had no reply.She mustered her courage and spoke “You never told Alice either.” Nihal laughed  “I did. And you won’t believe what she said.” Lipika looked at him , waiting for his answer. Nihal bent on the table and spoke in a firm affectionate tone “Love came between two best friends. Neither she nor your imaginary boyfriend”
“You knew ? You knew all the while Nihal “ Lipika’s voice broke as she spoke 
“Yes I did.” He nodded.
“And still you never stopped me. Because you never felt anything for me.And yet again you are ridiculing my feelings.Who gave you the right, Mr. Singhwi?” Lipika grinned her teeth and sobbed bitterly. She got up to run away. Nihal grabbed her hands and pulled her closer.They were now dangerously close.Lipika looked away and everytime she did so Nihal turned her head towards him. “You listen to me Lipika Sondhi.I always tried to ask you.But you always lied.You never tried to come out. Did you even care to see that even I was falling for you.You called me your best friend , you couldn’t see the love beneath those eyes ? Humor me Lipika. You never fought for me. What stopped you after the farewell night ?What stopped you from telling me that you loved me ? You didn’t care to stop me either?” Nihal in his firm voice grabbed Lipika by her arms and shook her. One could see tears in his eyes too. “Nihal.I was afraid to loose you.I was afraid that if I tell you , you would hate me.” Lipika broke down and tears rolled down her face.Nihal looked at her innocent face and the truth in her eyes. In that moment he forgot the past.He embraced her in a bone crushing hug.He wipped away her tear and kissed her on the forehead.Lipika closed her eyes as their fingers entwined.

 “I kept on wondering what was missing within me.And I realized it was you.Sad was the cold grey dawn that used to break upon my bed and the iridescent dreams of love used to escape my groggy head.I anxiously passed the dreamless nights enduring the piercing pain and wating for you to remember me once.And then i realized it was me who pushed you away.But today I want to tell you that...” his voice choked as he took  in a cold breath .His eyes watered , Lipika immedietly wiped it away with her hands.Nihal took her hands in his and kissed it unaware of the fact that people were looking at them.But Nihal said he wanted to talk about his marriage with Alice ? Was all that just a prank ? Or is this some kind of prank he was playing to see if she was in love with him. “Lipika..” he pulled her closer , she flinched immedietly.She closed her eyes.”I love you Lipika.I always have,Always will” Lipika had been yearning to listen to this for no one knew how many years.Life had finally started to make sense again.”Marry me Lipika.”Nihal went on his knees as he continued to hold her hands. She was no longer a women waiting with no end in sight. She knew the answer ofcourse, but alice ? Keeping aside every thought  she spoke “I love..” but the voice trailed off with the loud blaring sound.
She woke up.And there was blood everywhere,on everything.There was fire and charred pieces of vehicles and wood everywhere. Dead bodies on the wet ground and all that she could hear were loud vails and cries.She panicked as she struggled to get up “Nihaal!” She shouted. She shouted again. She limped and continued to shout.She felt warm liquid oozing out of her skin.And then she stumbled upon a body. Her bleeding face turned pale.She grabbed him and shook him” Nihal” he cried till she could not hear herself anymore.He didn’t wake up. His perfect face was now bleeding. His hands were broken.It was hard to recognise him.She shook him and laid her head on his chest to listen to his heart beat. She kissed his head , telling him how much she loved him.He didn’t move. But he was breathing.She shouted for help but before she could realize a burning wooden log fell on her head and everything around her went silent.


    
13th December 9:30 am
Bhagwan Das hospital 

Alice is sitting next to me. “Where is your fiancé ?” I question. She keeps her hand on my head and replies “I got married a year ago to Surya..I had realized after the farewell night that he had always been in love with you.We had even started preparing for your wedding. We knew your answer.Nihaal’s family knew your answer.We were just waiting for his phone call. He was about to bring you home.But then we received information about this bomblast and” Alice breaks down. I breath heavily I look around,I realize I am not in the ICU anymore.A doctor is recording my blood pressure.A nurse barges in “Doctor,mr. Singhwi’s heartbeats are fading.You need to come”I cannot comprehend what I hear.The doctor rushes out of the room.Before Alice tries to stop me I open the sticky wires and pipes attach to me.I fall as soon as I rise from the bed , pushing aside alice. I struggle with my broken leg as I limp towards the ICU. The nurses try to stop me but I push them aside.I barge into the ICU and I feel pukish and shivers run down my spine when I see him wearing the oxygen mask.His head is wrapped in a bandange and it kills me to imagine the pain he must have undergone.I want to take away all his pain. What about our marriage ? Life had just started to make sense. Then Why is he there and I am here ? The doctors place a metal paddle on his bare chest. His body bounces as a result of the shock.I shout , begging them to stop. They are hurting my Nihal.I run towards Nihal but Alice hugs me tightly , not allowing me to move. “Alice , see what they are doing to Nihal. Alice no. My Nihal. I want him back” I cry out while the nurses and alice try to calm me down and take me out of the ICU.

I push them away one last time and rush towards Nihal and hold his hands.May be it was miracle but his cold grip on my hand tightens.The irregular beeping of the ECG machine turns into a loud monotonous beep.They remove  the pipes and instruments attached to his body. And then I hear something that stops everything “He is no more” the doctors declare.I fall on the floor. I sit there taking it all in and it all comes out in form of a loud cry. I hysterically start calling his name,I get up and beg him , shake his lifeless body while it continues to hold my hand.“I will marry you Nihal.I love you. come back please ? Nihal.Pretty please ?”, I bury my head in his chest and continue to tell him how much i love him.Something within me shatters.I realize love isn’t enough to bring back my best friend,my soulmate,my Nihal.



6 months later.

Life and death are two sides of the same coin.Death doesn’t take someone , it misses someone too.And in that small difference between being taken and being missed lives are changed forever. 

“I want you with me for the rest of my life. I love you Lipika and the deep eternal love i have for you soothes my trouble and that is all that i long for in this short life.If i were to die at this moment i would quietly accept death because I know your love will never fade and neither will mine. My true enduring love will never die.I always knew you would continue to love me no matter where I go.Trust me I knew your answer to my proposal.And here I am penning down this note to tell you that I know we’ve been together since ages, before life happened to us and we will be together if  life happens to us again.You complete me Lipika. Do me the honor and become my beloved wife , so that I can spend my life growing old with you.And if there ever comes a day that I can’t be with you , just close your eyes and you will find me there,in your heart.                        Unconditionally yours 
Your best friend
Nihal  

I read the letter again.I get up and start walking towards my car.”Excuse me” it is a small boy of around 9 years.”yes” i raise my sunglasses and I am shocked when I recognise him.He was the same kid who Nihal was talking to..”Nihal Bhaiya asked me to give you this.Around six months ago.You are Lipika di,right ?” he smiles at me.. “Yes. ?”He hands me a rectangular box..”Latika and I were fighting over our Badam Kulfi which as a rule of our friendship , we used to share everyday.He wanted me and Latika to give you this gift when he bends on his knees.He said, we reminded him of  his childhood and his best friend” with trembling hands I take the box. “And who is Latika?”I bend down and look into his innocent eyes.”My best friend.”He smiles faintly “.Ever since that bomb blast ,my parents didn’t allow me to come here.But today I decided to come here and wait for Latika.May be she is angry at me,we haven’t spoken for six months.Good that even you are here.I could finally give you the box.Tell Nihal bhaiya I am sorry.We were standing near my cycle on the other side of the road when we saw him bend on his knees.Latika ran towards you without the gift.I  was about to take out the box when i heard the blast.I am a big boy but I started to cry and went on searching for Latika ” he bends his head and smiles.As I open the gift,I go cold and tears begin to flow endlessly from my eyes  “I want a Christian wedding.In that red bridal dress.” I run my fingers through the satin red bridal dress with laced velvet layers and a beautiful bow near the waist line.I then open the small silver box. “The wedding ring” it read , in Nihal’s handwriting.I break down into sobs as I see two solitaires.He must have thought we should have the same wedding ring.I fall on my knees and hug the dress , tears refuse to stop.Two hours later when my tears stop , the kid holds my fingers and questions “Are you alright?” I nod. “Where is Latika ?” I caress his head. He smiles“Mom says  she is with the angels .I write a letter everyday and go to the post office next to my house.Postman uncle smiles and takes  my letter but I never get a reply.She doesn’t come to school either.No one in school knows about her.” His innocent smile turns into a frown “If you meet her ,can you tell her I will never fight with her and will always share my Badam Kulfi?.” His eyes twinkle.I am at loss of words.I hug him tightly.. “Where is Nihal Bhaiya ?” he questions with innocence. My eyes water and I sniff. “With the angels.”. his eyes grow big with excitement “Did he reply to your letter ?” he looks at me with hope. “Yes” “What ?” I wrap my arms around his small shoulder “Angels are playing a game.We will soon meet them.But until that day comes we will have to smile.Or Angels will win  and we will lose.”he looks at me and his eyes twinkle with hope. “We will win” he chuckles. “What is your name by the way” I question.. “Nihal” he replies.I look at him for few seconds. “What happened ,di?” he asks. “Nothing. Lets go.We will have a Badam Kulfi.” I smile , wear my wedding ring, keep the other in box and walk towards the renovated Kulfiwala’s.The place still smells of our memories. 

Life is never fair.We never experienced togetherness.But death brought us closer and I fell in love with his absence.I dont need to close my eyes to feel his love.I can feel  it in every breath. I believe marriage is a connection of souls and not something that society needs to approve of after couple of chants and offerings.I am his and he is mine.I can see him in that wedding ring which I wear and in that ring which should have been in his ring finger ;in that bridal dress which I always wanted to wear but I never will . A part of me aches at the thought of  our incomplete dreams and I can’t wait to hold him in my arms, even though he is one lifetime away, I am glad that with every beat of  my heart I , Lipika Nihal Singhwi is a lifetime closer to my best friend.