Raoul - 14

Earlier

Masud sat languidly in the chair opposite to Raoul and Lyana, the only sign of life he was showing was his ever shifting eyes which appeared to be in a hurry to absorb every sight. Raoul had always found it annoying, but today when he wanted to reach the matter's crux he found it infuriating. Lyana could sense the unease in Raoul.

To lighten the situation, she asked if Masud would like to have something and as soon as the words were out, she regretted saying them, knowing that Masud could never turn down a freebie even if it was the need of the hour.

 Masud ordered for nasi goreng istimewa, fried rice served with lightly fried egg, cucumber slices and kerupuk along with a cup of regular coffee (Lyana thought it was a strange combination for the hour). As soon as the dish arrived he dug into it with large spoonfuls.

 
Raoul found it difficult to control himself any longer, slamming the table loud enough for it to rattle, he asked Masud if he knew anything about the robbery at the Museum. Masud looked at Raoul, blinking his eyes, all colour draining from his face. Masud was never a pleasing face to look at, with the colour gone, he appeared corpse-like, choking on his food. He reached for the glass of water midst the sputtering. Raoul reiterated his question to Masud.

Masud told Raoul that he was not sure as to what he was talking about. Raoul lunged forward, covering the small table in one small movement and said, "I am asking this one last time. Don't force me to call the cops and turn you over to them. Might just put some sense into your brain."

Masud looked placidly at him, slowly chewing on the food in his mouth, all the while reminding Raoul of a cud-chewing cow. He said agonizingly slowly, "Alright, I might just know something about what you are talking. And, no, I was not directly involved. Yes, I did borrow sis's car. Had given to a couple of buddies for a few hours. Them might have been the ones you are talking about."

Raoul felt like wringing his neck with his bare hands, may be that would make him speak faster and more intelligent. To think, he had been a student at the best university at one time.

We just do not care enough...

Different countries.... two incidents...

In the first, a troubled man shot 20 kids, kids who had yet to live a life... in a school soon after he had given a similar fate to his mother. A mother who probably felt safe knowing that she had a gun at her home, safe in the knowledge that she could protect herself and her family from the 'evil'.

Little did she know that the 'evil' she so feared was lying dormant in her own hearth, waiting, waiting very patiently with a bated breath, for the time when her son would be the one to assimilate it and become the harbinger of 'evil' and death.

She had always felt safe but that day was a cursed one wherein her son took the gun and listened to the voices in his head. The voices which whisper to all of us, coaxing us to pay deference to them, to be one with them. Most of us are able to curb these voices and make a rationale decision.

Unfortunately, Adam Lanza was not able to ignore the voices in his head and believing these to be true, did what he thought was the best.... Rest we all know

He  had become a manikin to a malice which had spread in the society, a keen desire to possess a gun, a desire which was fueled by the hunger to earn more profits. The shootout led to many a candle-light vigils, many responses on the social media, sharing of the horrific images in order to sensitize the masses. There were demands for change in the gun laws

Another country.... a girl raped, tortured and thrown off a moving bus. A nation awakens, its youth getting together to speak out against the terrible crime committed against the humanity. They still are rallied as I write, braving the cold and the apathy of the government which after a month finds itself at sea about how to handle the situation.

A government which did not find the courage to address the nation on an issue which appears to have shaken the masses out of a deep slumber. A government which is headed by people who treat the many of the issues being faced by  the nation as 'chalta hai'

But does all of this make a difference to the people after the 'dust' has settled, when the people have left the place of vigil, have gone back to the mundane, to the false sense of safety which comes after a time of turbulence.

The question to ask is, 'Was it the first shootout or was it the first incidence where a woman had been shamed by the ones who were supposed to protect her'? The answer is a loud NO. It was not the first time and it would not be the last.

Many a time such incidences have occurred in the past and might happen in the future too.

The vigil of the masses have moved and scared the ruling regimes across the nations and across the sands of time, from the French Revolution to the recent upheaval in the Arab nations, causing a shift in the power structures. Masses lamentably are easily lulled into a false sense of security. The awakened multitude needs to accept its responsibility for the choices it allows people in power to make on its behalf.

The responsibility which would weigh heavy on all of us, forcing us to be proactive.