Broken jar: Art of Lying
By: Ravi Narayan Bishnoi
Tags: Police Brutality, Motherhood, Innocence, Childhood Memories, Truth Telling

“I swear. I didn’t. He did” pointing his dog, five years Abhinav accused his dog, sniffing newly brought jar of pickle, which now lies on the floor with thousand pieces.

“I saw you”

“But I didn’t! How can you know without being here that I broke this?”

His adroitness puzzled her. It reminded her of childhood. Back then when mother used to scold, she didn’t know a single excuse to lie or get away with anything.

She had no other option “Tell me the truth, I know you’re lying.”

Once, she overheard her mother with another lady “Our Sonu never lies. She is a pure soul. All thanks to her father for such values.” She was thrilled by that but later she realized it was a trap. From then, whenever she tried to hide or lie, she failed miserably. From that experience, she learned that sometimes even praise can help to bring out something which can’t be pulled out through anger and screaming.

She took him in her lap, looked into his eyes, and kissed his forehead. Instead of asking for the truth, she decided to tell him a story.

“Abhi when I was of your age, your nani used to tell ‘god watches us, every moment of our lives’. You know, he keeps an account of every act we do knowingly or unknowingly. Our every sin and charity is noted down and whenever we become weak, he pronounces his fate. So, I always tell truth.”

But her mind transacted into the past where she used to wear a tiara of being idol and truth worshiper, which one day paid her a visit behind the bars. Even today in nightmares she wonders why that happened to her, and still in the quest for answers. Sometimes she doubts herself, ‘because I couldn’t lie or became a meek spectator for what happened in front of me, that’s why it happened with me.’

She continues “Beta, it might be possible that revealing truth may end up you in trouble. But you know, god always give justice to them, who never take a stance with a lie.”

Her conversation was more of an oscillation in the past and present.

“Madam! You saw nothing” constables shook her shocked body. She stunned by what happened in front of her. Waving his hands in front of her eyes he continued on a high note “Oh! Madam, I’m talking to you. Don’t you understand? Nothing happened here. Go to your business. This is not a nautanki show.”

She didn’t know what was going on but she refused to move. This was her first time when reality was blinking in front of her. All her fairy tales of truth and ideal world fantasies came to an end the moment she encountered that act.

Two constables pushed those who stopped hereby in the galli. “You did this. He is at no-fault. You are the demon dressed as the messiah.” She was shouting the hell out of her.

Inspector generated a challan and took her to the police station. On her way to the station, the brutality of a police inspector on a man next to him danced in front of her eyes.

“Beta, sometimes people can force you to lie and try to suppress your voice against injustice and atrocities. But you should always make choice based on truth and justice.”

“Why you arrested me?” she shouted from behind the bars, standing in isolation, fully cut off from the outer world — full of choices, expressions, and freedoms. But, now she had no choice, no freedom, and no expression except self-doubt and isolation.

“At least give me a solid reason for this confinement, or else let me call my family. I am supposed to know the reason.” No response came. But the fear in isolation sowed seeds of doubt, why she reacted in this way?

Truth can bear false acquisitions and can still stand for centuries but her legs can’t. She crushed down with her own weight. Weight of truth and idealization of the world she carried throughout her life in her head.

“Madam you are charged with violation of traffic rule. You were driving in the wrong lane.” A lady constable whispered. Even night has a moon.

“But there was nothing…”

“Shhh….” She gestured to be silent and offered the phone.

“Abhi, even if you are caught in the darkest hour and no hope of light coming. Believe in yourself. There is always another option or way, which validates the truth.”

“Why they caught you? Are they gone mad?” Shaker bewildered. He can’t see his wife in agony.

“I should call the commission. This is ridiculous. Have they lost the integrity of social justice?”

“Listen to me. I know what is going through you right now, but first, you need to prove my innocence without that justice won’t be delivered to those who deserve that.”

“Keep that out, I don’t care about anyone but I need you to out this moment.”

“Stop! Stop please! Listen to me”

“Why are you doing all this?”

“Promise me you won’t call anyone.”

His head messed with this situation. He thought for a moment ‘Is she also gone mad?’

“What all rubbish you are saying? I’m coming now.”

“Listen first you need to prove it.”

“What you want to prove, you’re behind the bars and I’m….”

She interrupted “I know how you can.”

“You know Abhi, I believe ‘truth always triumph’. If you tell the truth you will be free from the after-effects of lying. You know what I mean. Once the truth is out, your heart becomes free from the cycle of guilt.

As I said god always watches our actions and he always suggests a way out if you believe in him. Do you believe in God, Abhi?”

“When they forced me into the jeep, I saw, there is an ATM at the end of galli where it meets the main road. Look for CCTV footage. If you get, you can help me.”

“But how can I..”

“I know you can and you will.”

“Madam, balance khatam ho jyaga.” Lady Constable from the other side of the world.

“Thank you very much.”

She had nothing to do in the dark, dusty dungeon but to lost in thoughts, how the family of that vendor would have reacted? Had they gone mad by the miserable condition of their father or husband or son, or they just accepted it as their fate?

Suddenly, the police station came into the activity. The phone started ringing, television geared up for breaking news, she could hear ‘The nation wants to know’.

It was the earthquake she anticipated a few hours back. The same constable came running to open the lock, “Madam please forgive me.”

She had nothing to say but to watch what they had done to him for a few free oranges. The whole nation witnessed his bruises and abrasions over national television. This was the moment that nation really wanted to know.

The trio (inspector and two constables) were suspended with immediate effect. Commissioner apologized on the behalf of police administration and gave full assurance to take strict actions so that this does not repeat in the future.

Shaker came with wide open arms and hugged.

She murmured, “I know you will do it.”

“Don’t say any other word.” They made their way out.

“Yes, mom! I believe in god and truth, but won’t you scold me, if I tell you the truth?”

His expression showed — he got nothing from her gyan, but at least it courage him to give a try.

She looked in his eyes, so innocent and pure. Gave him a hug and kissed again “no beta”

“That jar slipped from my hand.”

She had nothing to do but to enjoy his innocence.