Devil’s Advocate continues ………….

I asked him in all earnestness, ‘Why did you kill such a nice man?’

‘For the sake of my friendship with Brij Mohan,’ was his cold reply.

The details of the murder that he shared with me were, more or less, known to me. I heard Manjeet out and looked at him, my gaze filled with rage and bitterness. How could he have done it? How did he have the gumption to stand before me and admit that it was he who had pulled the trigger to shoot my defenceless friend?

I was overcome by a strong desire to get up and do something to him. But Manjeet continued to look into my eyes with meekness and a certain earnestness that was disarming. I couldn’t bring myself to even shout at him. I asked him to leave and returned to my office, emotionally drained.

In the days that followed, I was engrossed in my work at the prison. Every time I managed a visit to jail number two, I would spot Manjeet going about his work silently and devotedly.

On a couple of occasions, his request for the grant of parole was presented before me. His case was always recommended by his jail superintendent on account of his good behaviour and his past record of returning from paroles on time and without any complaints during his leave of absence.

In the nineteen years he had served thus far, he had gone on parole several times. Unlike other jail convicts, not once had he jumped parole or delayed his return to jail.

His behaviour since the day he had arrived at Tihar had been exemplary and the staff and convicts had great regard for him.


To be Continued ………….