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Punyasloke Bose

Drama Tragedy

4.0  

Punyasloke Bose

Drama Tragedy

The Unfortunate Convict

The Unfortunate Convict

6 mins
261


Amol was being freed from prison today. His serving term had been reduced to five years from seven. Due to his exemplary behaviour and unique leadership qualities, the Governor had been kind enough to reduce the term. But Amol knew that his life was almost doomed as he was now stamped as a criminal and criminals rarely are allowed entry into the mainstream society. They forever live in the periphery.


The unfortunate incident Amol revisited in the mind. Amol was in love with a woman named Arti. They both were from lower middle class families. Their courtship continued for many years as their

 relationship was not approved by both the families due to low income job of Amol.

So they passed their time by seeing each other in public places like parks, river banks etc.

On one such scheduled meeting at a park in the evening, Amol was late. Arti was sitting alone waiting for him. At this time a stalker taking advantage of the situation came from behind to grope on Arti. Luckily, Amol had reached by now and seeing Arti distressed became enraged. Getting hold of a boulder lying nearby, picked it up and brought it down with full force on the attacker. With a direct hit on the head the prowler collapsed and lay still on the ground. Life had gone out of him and Amol was held by the Police on charges of murder. Later he was convicted with seven years of rigorous imprisonment.


Now freed from the jail on good behaviour Amol walked out. No one had come to receive him. His parents had passed away during his captivity. They had a very bitter end as they had been subject to neglect and apathy. Amol was their sole custodian and care giver. Arti had just vanished from Amol 's life, probably her family's diktats had prevented her from visiting him.

Amol was thinking where to go when a car suddenly pulled up and stopped beside him. The occupant rolled down the window and Amol saw that it was Pritam his childhood friend who was now an important politician.


Pritam asked invitingly, '' Would you like to work with me, Amol? ''. '' Come on in, I'll drop you to your house'', continued Pritam.


Amol collected the keys to his house from his neighbour and entered the house followed by Pritam.

Amol knew that no one would give him a job now to a jail returnee convict, so it's better to take the offer on hand. Pritam told him to settle down and would be in touch with him in a couple of days.

Pritam had been in politics now for almost a decade and so was well established. Plus his rating among the people was also quite good due to the numerous welfare work done by him specially among the women.


Amol started work with Pritam as a political greenhorn. He was entrusted to work for the upliftment of conditions of women in the society. Pritam said that to establish oneself in politics the blessings of the women folk is a must. Once their confidence is established then a candidate can hope to be active in the field for many years to come.


Amol remembered this commandment and worked diligently for the women. In a very short time his reputation and good intentions were well established. He slowly became known to all the NGOs and women organisations and had their blessings. He once again met Arti his lady love through his work. After Amol had gone to jail, Arti had left home permanently and started work with a little known NGO.


 Amol wanted to settle down with Arti so he proposed to her. Arti now freed from the family shackles instantly accepted his proposal. They decided to tie the knot soon.

The local body elections were round the corner and Amol would tie the knot immediately after the polls were over.

The opposition was getting edgy with the success Amol was garnering. They were secretly plotting his downfall.

But the women in the constituency had become die hard supporters of Amol like they had earlier backed Pritam.


Amol was slowly rising in the political hierarchy and following in the footsteps of Pritam. The women were getting the benefit of the schemes floated by the government and Amol was the first to explain the benefits of these schemes to the women.

The opposition plotted a conspiracy to humiliate Amol. In a case of sleaze, sexual harrasment and pornography, Amol was blamed and a Police case filed against him.

Amol was charged with a non bailable arrest and kept in judicial remand for a fortnight.

Arti became frantic and was inconsolable. She was due to tie the knot with Amol within the month and now his arrest would jeopardise all the arrangements.


Pritam was trying to get Amol's bail request listed for hearing but was unsuccessful to get a date before a week.

Finally when the case got listed the honorable Court finding absence of merit in the case dismissed it for want of evidence.

The opposition was laughing all the way to the hustings. All they could do now to just buy time and humiliate. 

After the case was dismissed Amol left the court and thanked the lawyer and finally moved on with Arti in tow to register their marriage in the presence of a first class magistrate.

Then all of a sudden a powerful blast ripped the court premises. Everyone ran helter skelter in panic to save themselves. Paper and files were strewn all over. People's shoes and slippers lying all over.

Police came and cordoned off the area. Ambulances were called and bodies removed and taken to the hospital. Two people were injured by the bomb shrapnel and five more injured in the stampede.

One of the injured from the bomb splinters was Amol. Pritam took serious cognisance of the case. The culprits were arrested very soon and from interrogation came to light that the target of the attack was Amol.

Arti had been separated from Amol due to the stampede but was found to be safe.

Amol was shifted to a bigger hospital with better infrastructure. He had head injuries. An operation had been done and splinters removed. But he was taking time to regain consciousness.

Arti and many women's groups were holding prayer meets and doing fire worship with havan for quick recovery of Amol.


The opposition was very prompt in conveying get well messages and condemning the cowardly act with strong words. The public was no fool and gullible to know whose cowardly act it was.

The medical team was hopeful that Amol would be fine within a few weeks. 

Another torrid and patient wait began for Arti. After all she had been romantically linked to the unfortunate convict. 


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