Family is Forever-Parivaar Hamesha ke Liye

Death Penalty

Arjun noticed that Prem's reactions lacked something. It acted as akin to a shock and anxiety trigger. To resolve the issue, he made the decision to talk to him. "Papa ji,kuch gadabad hai kya(is something wrong?)" Arjun understood more about Prem than just his shake of the head. "Apane daamaad ko sach batao. Main jaanata hoon ki aap kuch chunautiyon ka saamana kar rahe hai. Aap ek jaise vyakti nahi lagate(Tell your son-in-law the truth. I am aware that you have been experiencing certain challenges. You don't seem like the same person.)" Prem admitted with a sigh. "Arjun, meri phaansi ki saja do saptaah se bhi kam samay mein hone vaali hai. Meri maut nikat hai. Haalaanki, main marane se peedit nahi hoon. Isaka uddeshy aap logo se alag hona hai(my execution sentence is due in less than two weeks. My death is near. However, I'm not suffering from dying. The purpose is to part from you guys.)" Arjun knew that the correct thing needed to be done. "Main court ke saath vaastavik sachchai par charcha karoonga. Yah jaari nahi rah sakata(I will discuss the actual truth with the court. This cannot continue.)" Before he departed, Prem took his hand, half in sorrow, half in fury. "Nahi, tum nahi kare. Abhi ko is dard ke havaale karane ke bajaay, main mar jaoongi. Vah mere javaan bete jaisa hai. Arjun, tum samajh nahi rahe ho(No, you are not. Rather than submitting Abhi to this pain, I would die. He is like my young son. Arjun, you're not understanding.)" Arjun gave a headshake. "Aap samajh nahi rahe hai. Prthvi par aapaka jeevan samaapt ho raha hai. Mummy ji, aapaki beti aur poora parivaar kasht sahega. Vishesh roop se main. Mujhe ise sahi karana hoga. Yum mujhe rokane mein asamarth ho(You're not understanding. Your life on Earth is coming to an end. Mummy ji, your daughter, and the entire family will endure hardships. Especially me. I must put this right. You are powerless to stop me.)" Prem gave him a tense glance before he departed. Abhishek sat in a dimly lighted room, wringing his hands, a great weight of shame pressing him down. Arjun was standing across him, desperation and frustration engraved on his face. There was a tight silence in the room until Arjun finally spoke. "Abhishek, tumhe sach chhupaana band karana hoga. Yah aapaki jaan jokhim mein daalane se kaheen adhik hai. Yah Prem ka bhi jeevan hai(you have to stop hiding the truth. This is more than just your life on the line. It's Prem's life as well)," argued Arjun. Unable to look directly into Arjun's fierce gaze, Abhishek hung his head. "Mujhe pata hai Arjun, lekin mujhe dar lag raha hai. Agar maine aatmasamarpan kar diya to main kaaraavaas mein chala jaoonga aur sab kuch kho doonga(I know, Arjun, but I'm scared. I'll go to imprisonment and lose everything if I surrender.)" Arjun became extremely irate and raised his voice, " Kya tum nahi samajhe Abhishek? Aap chup rahakar ek nirdosh vyakti ko - jise aap Papa maanate hai - us aparaadh ka khaamiyaaja bhugatane ki anumati de rahe hai jo usane nahi kiya hai. Ab jab Riddhima aapake saath nahi hai to sudhaar karane ka daayitv aap par Prem aur Riddhima ki aatma ka hai(Don't you understand, Abhishek? You're allowing an innocent man—who you consider as a father—to bear the brunt of a crime he didn't commit by remaining silent. You owe it to Prem and Riddhima's soul to make amends now that Riddhima is no longer with you.)" Feeling the heaviness of his actions, Abhishek's eyes were bursting with tears. "Main Riddhima se badala lena chaahata tha kyonki main usase pyaar karata tha. Mujhe vishvaas tha ki main jo kar raha tha vah sahi tha(I wanted to exact revenge on Riddhima because I loved her. I believed that what I was doing was correct.)" Arjun's rage turned to compassion. With a gentle tone, he moved closer to Abhishek. "Main samajhata hoon, Abhishek. Main aapaki peeda aur nyaay ki aapaki ichcha ko mahasoos karata hoon, lekin Prem ke jeevan ko khatare mein daale bina ise poora karane ka ek aur tareeka hai.(I understand, Abhishek. I feel your suffering and your desire for justice, but there is another way to accomplish this without endangering Prem's life.)" Abhishek raised his head and met Arjun's gaze. "Arjun, main abhi kya kar sakata hoon? Ise sahi karane ke liye main kya kar sakata hoon(what can I do right now? What can I do to make this right?)" Arjun gave Abhishek a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Aap court mein eemaanadaar rahakar shuruaat kar sakate hai. Sveekaar kare ki vah aap hi the jisane Riddhima se badala liya tha. Prem saza ka hakadaar nahi hai, lekin vah aapake kaaryon ke liye ise sveekaar karane ko taiyaar hai(You may begin by being honest in court. Admit that it was you who exacted retribution on Riddhima. Prem doesn't deserve the punishment, but he's willing to accept it for your actions.)" With a scarcely audible voice, Abhishek brushed away his tears and said, "Main yah karoonga, Arjun. Main Prem ki raksha ke liye eemaanadaar rahoong(I'll do it, Arjun. I'll be honest in order to protect Prem.)"