by Maliha Iqbal
Pamella was getting worried. Where was Sammy? She and Jimmy had searched many places but had only found his bag in the back garden. His teacher had said that he hadn’t shown up in school. She sat thinking in a chair. Not knowing what to do. Calling the police was the last thing on her mind. It was too dangerous.
“I will teach him to worry us like this!” Jimmy roared in anger.
The door flew open and three police officers entered. One of them pointed a gun at them and said in a gruff voice,
“Hands up! Don’t try any funny business!”
“Officer, I don’t understand….”
“You are under arrest Mr. and Mrs. Hato.”
“What for?”
“What for? I thought you would know. For kidnapping and murder of innocent children.”
Pamella turned pale. She looked at Jimmy who was expressionless. He had expected this to happen someday but still it seemed too early.
“Officer, believe me I didn’t mean to do it. He, my husband forced me into this!” She pointed dramatically at Jimmy and burst into tears.
Jimmy just looked at her with disgust. What was she trying to do? The police were not little kids. One of them swiftly moved forward and handcuffed both of them.
They were taken away with Pamella shouting about her innocence.
Sammy remained in the shadows until they were gone. He couldn’t bear to watch it. What he had done was right. It had to be. His mother had looked so distressed when she saw the police… He shook his head. One thing was certain- the memories of his parents would haunt him forever.
***
Pamella hated the jail but the guards treated her very nicely. They found her to be polite and charming and extraordinarily beautiful. One of the senior officers had told her that he would get her out early some way or the other. 20 years was the most and then they would get married. She had accepted his offer but her plans were slightly different. She would move to a different city once she was out of here. Resume her old job because it was the easiest thing that she could do but she would never marry again. Men were stupid creatures and she did not like them. Jimmy was out of the picture. He was somewhere in this prison and would probably get out earlier than her because of all his connections.
20 years was such a long wait. Her own son had betrayed her. How could he? It just proved that men were foolish. He had her looks and his father’s brains. She hoped she would never see him again when she was out.
***
Sammy moved to an orphanage. Life was tough here but he didn’t mind. He just concentrated on his studies. His parents were always at the back of his mind. The guilt would never go….
His greatest love was born from the lonely confines of the orphanage and the memory of his parents. Money. That was the most important thing and the second was himself, of course…
***
Sammy felt great after confiding. Mair was quiet, he understood his pain. I should also tell you everything to Andy. Confiding would be great. Let’s admit it- I do like him also. For the first time, he realized that maybe money wasn’t everything. Maybe he had made money his best friend because he never had any.
Could he call Mair and Andy his best friends?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
***
“I can’t believe that I am going to say this again. I might even lose my only friend but you can help me. I used to talk about it a lot and tell everyone but the more I spoke, the more people thought that I was mad. Nobody believed me so I stopped telling people about it.”
“I won’t call you mad. Whatever you say, you will be the same friend to me.”
Sammy found himself eagerly listening. He visited Mair frequently and Andy saw to it that Maya knew nothing. Their friendship had continued to flourish this way but Mair was behaving awkwardly today as though he was apprehensive about something.
“I will help you as much as I can. Don’t hesitate to ask” and Sammy really meant it.
“You know that Maya is after my throat. It’s actually because I witnessed something.”
Sammy did know that Andy had once tried to murder Mair. What was Mair going to say? Was he really mad? Was his friend mad?
No! He’s my friend and he’s not mad!
Sammy looked straight into his eyes and said, “I shall support you in whatever you say.”
“I trust you Sammy. I….witnessed the murder of my parents. Maya murdered them.”
***
I checked into a good hotel. Even I deserved a treat and I did have sufficient money. For once, I slept like a log.
The first thing I did after waking up was to check out of the expensive hotel and find a cheaper one. Then breakfast and some thinking. I didn’t want to do small-time jobs for the rest of my life. So my first goal will be to educate myself but what about the money? I had completed my schooling thanks to my Mama but what now?
I began aimlessly roaming around the streets. I had to do something but I wasn’t sure what. I was tired by afternoon and sat on a nearby bench. The city was pleasant enough but my mind was so full of worry that I couldn’t enjoy anything.
There was a bank next to the bench and many people were coming and going. A big black car drew up to it and a distinguished-looking man with a pointed mustache got out. He had a certain grace about him, a timeless beauty. Sharp features and the expensive clothes made him look very good indeed. He walked inside the bank with his head held high.
I was mesmerized by that classy beauty, the aristocratic eyes. He strolled inside the bank and came out shortly. I was hoping that he would notice me but he didn’t even glance in my direction as he got into his car and it roared down the road. What had I been hoping? I must be crazy…
I saw it! His license was lying just a few steps ahead of me. I quickly grabbed it. There was his address on it. I had nothing to do and the address didn’t seem very far so I decided to go.
***
Mansion was not the word for it. It was the biggest, most beautiful house I had ever seen. There was a guard at the gates who wouldn’t let me go inside. I told him that it was important but he was very stubborn. Actually, I just wanted to get another peek at Mr. Hamir (that was the name on the driving license).
We were in the midst of an argument when the black car came up the road and stopped at the gates. I raced towards the rear window and tapped it excitedly. Mr. Hamir’s face came into view as the window slid down.
“Sir, you dropped this when you were at the bank.” He held the license in his hands and then looked at me with amused eyes.
“You walked here from the bank?”
“Well, err…yes sir.”
“That’s nearly three kilometers.” There was twitching at the corner of his mouth. It could have been a smile.
“It didn’t seem that much when I started.” I know it sounded stupid but it really hadn’t looked like much although my feet were hurting now.
“Are you new in town?”
I was a little surprised.
“Yes sir. How did you know that?”
He smiled and it was a very confident smile.
“I could guess that. You don’t know me and you look innocent.”
“Sorry?”
“Why did you come here? To this city?”
“I want further education so that I can get a good job.”
“And you have the money?”
“Err …No.” On some wild impulse, I added,
“I was hoping to get some kind of financial help but I haven’t found anyone yet.”
“Why don’t you come to my office tomorrow? We can discuss this properly.”
***
I knocked on the door of Mr. Hamir’s office. I was so excited that I hadn’t slept properly. A lady opened it and I asked,
“Mr. Hamir…?”
“Yes, he’s expecting you.”
I walked inside and saw the sight of my life. Beautiful paintings on the walls, cleverly placed lights, and the most expensive furniture. I was ushered into another inner office where Mr. Hamir sat behind an expensive desk.
He nodded his head in acknowledgment and asked me to sit down. I sat and he dismissed the lady.
“What’s your name?”
“Alia. Alia Shannon.”
“Tell me about yourself.”
I decided that it would be better to be honest from the beginning so I told him everything- Amish, Joe, Mama, and drugs.
He listened quietly and nodded occasionally. I was afraid that he might not give me a scholarship if he knew that I was a druggie. Maybe I should have lied…
“I am ready to finance you but you would have to study law and become a lawyer.”
I have to admit that I was astonished. That was a weird thing to say but it was certainly better than nothing so I was more than happy to agree.
“Good. You shall of course be studying in the best law college here.”
***
I raced to the hotel. This was the best day of my life. A five-year course and then Alia Shannon will be a lawyer! Wow! Mr. Hamir seemed nice enough, just a little stern maybe. I checked out of the hotel and found a cheap apartment to rent. That was going to be my home.
I soon started studying. It wasn’t much difficult and the teachers were great too. I made some friends and straightened out completely. No drugs. Never. It was difficult but I finally got used to it. Sometimes I felt weak and succumbed to temptation but I eventually got over it after repeatedly seeing the doctor suggested by Mr. Hamir. It was the most difficult thing I ever did.
I slowly regained my health until I looked more or less like my old self except for a few things which included the fact that I was too thin. I was good in studies and Mr. Hamir seemed pleased. I was glad because I had grown to really admire him although I hardly knew anything about him except his name and office address. But, I still liked him.
***
It is impossible for me to say where the five years have gone by when I look at my past. Everything went so smoothly and perfectly like someone had fitted together with some machinery until its power ran out and it stopped. That’s exactly what happened to me. My luck probably ran out and stopped the perfect machinery of my life.
My world fell apart when I was twenty-two. I was a lawyer and I was pretty good at what I did. My career was just beginning and I knew that I would become very popular if I continued to work as hard as I did.
I was studying a particular case when my phone began to ring. It was Mr. Hamir. It came as a surprise because he never really called me and certainly not at six in the evening.
“Hello? Good evening Mr. Hamir.”
“Good evening. I was wondering if you were free.”
I wasn’t free but I could do anything for him.
“Yes, of course, I am free.”
“Would you like to have dinner with me? There’s a nice little restaurant I know.”
“I would love it.”
I dressed very carefully and waited for him to pick me up. He came and we were on our way. I was so excited. He seemed so nice and I was very curious to know more about him.
The restaurant was luxurious and the prices on the menu made me hold my breath but he urged me to order whatever I wanted. He didn’t seem very stern today and talked to me freely. He told me about his wife and two children. I had to admit that I was a little disappointed to know that he was married but he was actually more of a fatherly figure to me.
It was around nine when we started to leave. We were just outside the restaurant when a car passed us. The rest of the things happened so fast that I still can’t believe them. Mr. Hamir brought out a gun from somewhere in his pocket and shot at the car. Two shots rang out and I could remember that someone was screaming. I later realized that it was me. The air was heavy with the sound of breaking glass, gunshots, and screaming.
There was a short silence after that. Very eerie. Then Mr. Hamir turned to me and his eyes were perfectly calm, as though nothing had happened.
“I will call the police. Hold this.” I was paralyzed with shock but I held the gun in my hands. He put his hands in his pocket to take out his phone and I saw that he was wearing gloves. Gloves, blood, the people in the car, dinner with him…
I suddenly felt white-hot anger. He was framing me! The gun would have my fingerprints now. Anger like I had never felt before flooded my body. I was trembling all over and everything appeared to be blurry. I pointed the gun at Mr. Hamir’s head and he dropped his phone in surprise. I don’t know which happened first. I think I pulled the trigger even before his phone fell down on the road. The look of surprise on his face was mixed with admiration. His head exploded in a burst of red.
I am not sure if I was crying but my face was wet. Everything was so quiet. I didn’t know what to do so I ran without turning back once. I ran until I reached a bridge where I threw the gun and heard it splash as it landed in the water below.
My head was spinning but I had to do something quickly. I raced into a bank and took out all my money. After that, I booked a ticket to Goa. There would be many tourists there and I could hide quietly among them.
I was afraid to go to my apartment. What if the police had surrounded it? I would walk straight into a trap but I had to go there if I wanted to collect my things.
My apartment was shrouded in silence. The police were probably hiding. I walked inside with my heart thumping away. Any hidden officer could have heard it. I unlocked my apartment and went inside. Everything was as it had been. Nothing changed.
I quickly packed some clothes, books and knick-knacks and hurried out to catch the next bus to the airport. I was sweating very badly as I sat in the waiting room. My heart refused to calm down. Some airport security officers passed me and each time I felt as though they were staring only at me. The plane finally arrived and I managed to drag myself inside. I just wanted it to take off.
***
I quickly found a hotel and checked in. I was very tired and depressed. Should I call someone back home? They would tell me all the news there was but was it safe? I wasn’t sure. Maybe just one call and then I would throw away my phone.
I decided that if I had to call someone then it could be nobody but Sheila. She was my most trustworthy friend.
Sheila immediately picked up.
“Hello? Alia, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Have you heard the latest?”
Great. The news must have spread around. She would tell me without even asking.
“No, what is it?”
“Three people were shot in front of “Lucy’s kitchen”, it’s a very famous little restaurant. One person was some rich man who had a big export-import business. The other was his driver and the third was Damian Hamir! Can you believe it?”
“Who…Who’s this Damian Hamir?”
I was fighting to stay calm.
“Oh God! Don’t you know him? He was the famous mafia hitman of our area. Almost all locals know him. The police were on his trail for some time but he always managed to dodge them. I guess you don’t know him because he was local. Not the big international mafia type. He was the right-hand man of the mafia chief around here but there’s a lot more mystery. The owner of the restaurant said that he was with a girl…”
I didn’t want to hear anymore so I switched off my phone. Now I understood why he wanted me to study law. Just so that he would always have a lawyer in his pocket.
I had to do something with my life now. Some serious thinking…
***
“She’s different from the rest of them. Not the cheap type, you know. They are all over you so you would release them. She sits there with her head held high. Hardly touches the food and doesn’t even talk to us officers unless we venture forward to ask a question which is usually “I hope you have no trouble madam?” or “Would you like me to do something for you, madam?” I have to admit, this might be a big mistake.”
The young police officer sat facing Sammy. It had been seven days since Maya’s arrest. She had quietly bathed and changed clothes before coming to the station. Andy had behaved like an enraged bull when she had informed him that she was going to be arrested.
“What? Why are they arresting you?”
She shrugged indifferently but her eyes showed more pain and sadness than ever.
“They say that I…killed my parents. I don’t know how Sammy came to know about Mair but he went there and…..you know how Mair is. He said that I have murdered my parents. To think that Sammy would believe him!”
She laughed. It was meant to be a carefree laugh, sarcastic laugh but her voice was so croaky and hollow that it betrayed her true feelings.
Andy felt a pang of guilt. How could he have been so foolish? Sammy- the sweet schoolboy, the snake in the grass. Sammy had seemed like such a good person….
“Maya! Look, I am sorry. It’s all my fault. I…I told Sammy about Mair. I gave him your entire schedule!”
He told her everything. He felt like dying on the spot. Why didn’t the floor open up and swallow him? Maya’s eyes were so sad by the time he finished that he couldn’t look at her from shame.
Her eyes might have been sad but her mind was fiery. How dare he? She wanted to scream at him. How could he have believed that Sammy? And how could Sammy possibly believe Mair? She had known Sammy to be a street-smart person who was money-crazy but never in her wildest dreams could she believe that Sammy would ever take Mair’s words so seriously! Andy was a fool, no doubt about that. He was so innocent that he would believe anything but Sammy….
“It’s okay Andy. You only meant to do well.” Controlling her emotions was like trying to hold down a volcano.
Andy felt tears coming to his eyes. Here she was- forgiving him as though nothing had happened while he himself had….
“Maya, I swear to get you the best attorney in this whole country. Don’t worry. You will be out on bail very soon.”
She forced herself to look straight into his eyes although she was disgusted. Smiling ruefully, she said,
“I trust you, Andy. You have my full trust.” This was true. She really did trust him. He was the one who would get her out of here. Although any of her employees would be eager to help her, Andy would do it with the kind of dedication that she liked. He would really put his heart and soul into it because she was more than just a CEO to him. She was his world! Nobody could argue about that…
***
“She’s got class but believe me you have done right to arrest her. Her brother really is innocent.”
This was maybe the tenth time that Sammy had reassured the nervous police officer.
He wasn’t quite as confident as he let on. What if he had made the wrong decision? End of career. End of rich boy Sammy.
Andy suddenly hurried in through the open door of the police station. He looked so angry that Sammy was alarmed. Andy faced the officer and fished a bundle of notes from his pocket. He threw it on the officer’s desk with brute force and said,
“Get Maya out of here. Now.”
It had taken seven days for Andy to get a bail order for Maya. He was the surety, of course. It would take some time before her trial started. The important thing was to get her out. Sleep had been the last thing on his mind and he looked wild. At least they had Nadia Daisy, one of the best attorneys in the country.
***
Nadia sat working in her spacious office. She was six feet with waist-length straight white hair and large green eyes. She was completely tanned because of hours spent at the beach during her weekends. A champion in surfing and jet skiing, she had finally settled down as a lawyer in criminal court because she loved the hectic life and the joy of undertaking pro bono cases. Her parents were somewhere in Africa on their second world tour. The first had been when she was five. She really didn’t miss them much.
“Hell, they have their own life and I have mine” was her standard reply.
There was a knock on her door.
“Come in.”
A handsome young man came in. He looked familiar.
“Good morning Ms. Daisy”
“Good morning. Please take a seat.”
He sat down. Nadia looked at him with interest. He was fidgety and looked worried.
“How can I help you?”
“I have a client for you. Would you please take her case?”
“Tell me her name and all the details. I will see.”
“Have you heard of Maya Miran?”
Something snapped in Nadia’s mind. Of course! This was probably Mr. Harris. She remembered meeting him and Maya when she had gone to a party. He was her sidekick, always following her and trying to please her but what was he doing here? And was he actually asking her to represent Maya Miran? She tried to hide her surprise and said,
“Yes, who doesn’t know Ms. Miran?”
“Please could you represent her in a murder case? These are false charges of course.”
Mr. Harris looked on the verge of a panic attack. Nadia studied him carefully,
It’s as though the murder charges are against him and not Ms. Miran!
She shrugged. Money was money and this seemed like a rich party.
“It would be my pleasure to represent Ms. Miran. We can work out the details tomorrow.”
Andy’s face broke into a relieved smile. His happiness was written all over his face.
“Thank you.”
***
Maya was released and soon returned to her work. One day she wasn’t there and the next day she came swooping into her office, trailed by an entourage of employees who were eager to please her and nobody dared to ask anything. Friendly and kind as she was, everyone knew their limits.
Life became the same again. Almost. Newspapers were crazy about her and followed her about. That seemed to be the only noticeable difference in her life. She wasn’t worried about the trial. They had Nadia and that was something. Andy was supervising everything religiously. She would take care of dear brother Mair after it was all over. The day of the trial came closer and closer until finally, Maya found herself sitting at the defendant’s table, facing her brother who was seated at the other side of the room.
Meanwhile, Sammy had asked Mair to move in with him. He was an interesting companion and always thanked him for being such a good friend. Actually, I should thank him. I have finally found something better than money! Still, he would have felt happier if Andy would have supported him but he refused to leave Maya’s side and had stopped speaking to Sammy or even looking at him. Sammy was worried for him. He knew that Andy was under tremendous pressure because it clearly showed in his tired face. He was genuinely nice and friendly and anyone deserved happiness after that kind of past.
***
Viaan Samar was representing Mair. He was addressing the judge,
“Maya Miran is rich and does not live like the poor in our country. She has power. She can do as she pleases. Buy a new car every day or anything but there’s something that she doesn’t have. In fact, nobody has that. Nobody has the power to take someone’s life.”
He looked slowly and deliberately at Maya,
“I shall prove beyond reasonable doubt that she’s the one who murdered her parents. The parents loved her and took care of her. What’s more, she blamed everything on her brother, the sole witness to the cold-blooded murder. Once you hear the evidence and the witnesses, you will be convinced as I am that this is none other than a case of first-degree murder”
The judge turned to Nadia and she strolled over calmly. It was a pleasant change from the raging Viaan.
“The woman seated here is said to be guilty of murdering her own parents.” Speaking softly and in a soothing voice. She shook herself as though warding off evil thoughts. “That’s a terrible crime. A cruel thing to do.”
“What do we know about Maya Miran? That she’s rich. That she’s hardworking. She has many charity organizations, donates generously, and is one of the few people who actually care about their workers. She has been conferred with so many awards, most of them for active social work. Every single employee praises her. I shall soon call some of them as witnesses. That is the kind of image that I had in mind before meeting her. Now it is clear to me that she’s exactly as she is known to be. Maybe nicer. How can anyone ever say that she is responsible for such a cruel deed? It’s quite a joke. You actually dragged a mental patient from an asylum and then you listened to him and filed a case.”
Her voice had slowly risen as she spoke. Now it was a whiplash,
“Well, it is my job to prove that this woman is not guilty and after hearing me out and seeing all the evidence, there’s just one verdict that you can reach. Not guilty.”
Now the trial had really started.
***
Maya watched with keen interest as the lawyers came forward to speak but she also returned to her work with a peaceful mind. Nobody could say that they were ever going to lose the case unless of course, a miracle happened. Viaan was good but Nadia was unbeatable.
She had not fired Sammy as of now. I will take care of you once this case is over.
“I would like to call Dr. Abed as a witness.” Viaan waited as Dr. Abed was sworn in. It had taken a lot to get him there as a witness. He was Maya’s man but he was also a religious man. Some preaching and God’s fear had brought him here.
“What do you do doctor?”
“I am the head doctor at ‘We Care’ mental asylum.”
“Do you know Mair Miran?”
“I sure do. He was my patient.”
“Ahh…so was he like every other patient at ‘We Care’?”
“I wouldn’t say that. In fact, he was very different. Never talked illogically, read most of the time, and was eager to know what was happening outside the asylum. Most patients don’t care what goes on outside.”
“Could one even say that he was perfectly stable? Or like everyone here? I mean most of us like to read and I can assure you that nobody is illogical either.”
The doctor didn’t hesitate a moment before saying,
“Well, I suppose you could put it that way.”
“And was he on medication?”
“None.”
There was a hubbub in the court. Everyone started talking at once.
“Order! Order!”
“What do you mean by ‘none’? Surely, he wouldn’t be in the asylum in the first place if he wasn’t even on medication.”
The doctor started explaining with an air of importance,
“By ‘none’ I meant that Mair never ate his medicines. I would give them to him and try to force him to swallow them in front of me but he would never do it. He would always tell me to go and assure me that he would eat them all later. I would return to find the medicines gone so I assumed that he must have eaten them. One day Mair and I were walking around on the lawn. Mair started telling me that he wasn’t a mental patient. It was something he always said so I didn’t say anything in reply. He got very frustrated and in his frustration, Mair told me that he never really ate his medicines. He would flush them away. After that, I tried more fervently than ever to have him eat the medicines in my presence but Mair was very stubborn and I had many more patients to deal with so the same old routine continued. He never had his medicines I believe now. He was probably telling the truth.” He sighed and added rather ruefully,
“I wish I had taken him seriously then, but Miss Miran can be convincing I guess.”
People were getting excited in the courtroom. Little murmurings could be heard.
“I suppose he really isn’t a mental patient.”
“Maybe his sister did murder her parents.”
Viaan turned triumphantly towards Nadia and said “Your witness.” Let’s see you get out of this one.
About the Author:
Maliha Iqbal is a freelance writer settled in Aligarh.