Last Arrest: A Short Story
The chief of police found it difficult to understand the inflexible position of the lady inspector. She tried to instill in him that discretion is the better part of courage. Although Brinda did not seem willing to reason, Mr. Goswami did his best to convince her not to go on the mission alone.
“Miss Brinda, today is your last day; tomorrow you will quit your job, get married, and start a beautiful new life. Should you take such an unnecessary risk right now? You are a dangerous criminal, probably armed. If anything happens, it would be very bad.” for all of us”.
Brave and confident, Brinda insisted that she would go alone and capture the man, dead or alive.
“Why, Miss Brinda, why? If you want to arrest him, that’s fine with me, you are one of our best officers, but why not take a full force? Why this madness to do it alone?”
Brinda debated for a moment, then decided to be frank. She told him the truth.
“This criminal, Subendu, is the twin brother of my future husband, Dibyendu. I have heard a lot about him, even things that are not in the police records. Dibyendu does not like this villain and has a score to settle against him. he broke into his house, tried to kill him, killed my sister, swindled Dibyendu out of his share of his father’s property, and there are many other acts of notoriety. I wish to capture him, dead or alive, for personal satisfaction. that I have taken revenge for my husband’s suffering at your hands. It would be the best wedding present for Dibyendu before he resigns from the police force.”
More arguments followed; Mr. Goswami finally gave up further attempts to dissuade her from her established resolve.
“However, feel free to shoot him dead, if necessary,” warned Mr. Goswami. “I will be equally satisfied with his body.”
Brinda successfully arrested Subendu; this was her last arrest. Starting tomorrow, she would have a different life, with hers, her beloved Dibyendu. No more in the world of crime, only love and happiness and, from then on, the joys of motherhood.
Brinda and Subendu were alone, and as they were about to get into the jeep someone said, “Congratulations!” He looked back and saw Dibyendu on his moped.
“You shouldn’t be here,” reprimanded Brinda. “I’m here on duty. But since you’ve come here anyway, illegal as it is, you’ll be following us at quite a distance, so no one sees us together.”
As they headed to the police station, Brinda said to her captive, “Subendu, my job will be done when I put you under lock and key. But could you answer my questions, just to satisfy my personal curiosity?”
Subendu said, “My brother, your friend and future husband, will be able to tell you anything you wish to know. Why me; even if I say it, it will not be convincing, while you will believe it completely.
“Because there are areas where he’s quiet or vague. I’ve tried many times, but he doesn’t communicate openly on certain issues.”
After much persuasion, Subendu finally agreed to come clean, promising that what he said was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Since our childhood (Subendu said) he always surpassed me, although I was stronger and smarter and surpassed him both in studies and in sports. At first I couldn’t believe that he harbored any serious grudge or jealousy against me. I would stealthily remove the copies of my homework, so that the teacher would punish me. He put stolen money in my pocket and then complained to mom, who used to beat me. But I thought of these jokes as practical jokes. Little did I realize there was a more sinister motive.
My parents were almost illiterate. When I went abroad on a scholarship for higher studies, he made a very cruel and cunning plan. Somehow, through trickery, he managed to get my parents to sign the entire property in his name, even though my parents were under the impression that they were transferring it to my name. Therefore, although I did not have a penny, and because of this I could not complete my studies, all our relatives and neighbors knew that I was rich and that Dibyendu depended on me. They blamed me for leaving my studies midway. They also blamed me for being stingy and not giving my brother enough money to continue studying, even though the truth is that he had been expelled from the university. But the worst was still coming.
You will remember that everyone, including your sister Lakshmi, planned to go on a picnic, which turned out to be the last day of her life. You got sick and the three of us left. Dibyendu had asked me to buy and bring all the groceries. In the solitary place, Lakshmi died of poisoning and she suspected me. I myself could not understand the episode at the time. I found out later that he had smeared the plate with prussic acid; people would always suspect poison in the food, not the plate. You yourself would agree that Lakshmi was more beautiful than you, and he could not digest the reality that she loved me and rejected her advances. Also, after she was killed, you became the sole heir to all the wealth, which he gets after marrying you tomorrow.
Since the police were chasing me, I hid. Our parents were very sick, but Dibyendu did not take care of them. He spread the rumor that I was withholding all the money and that he had no money to take care of his treatment.
When I found out about my parents’ pathetic state, I decided to break into the house, steal some money or jewelry, and by some devious method, commit them to a nursing home. I was unlucky, because they almost caught me, although I managed to escape and shake off a dozen pursuers. This only confirmed that I was indeed a criminal and put the police behind me.
After a short pause, he said:
“Even the fact that I got caught today is due to his betrayal. The scoundrel – er, sorry, I forgot you’re going to marry him.”
Provides raised her hand. “Now I know everything. I also know that you speak the truth. Lakshmi had told me that he had proposed to her many times, telling her that he was rich and you were poor. However, we never took him seriously as we knew exactly the opposite “My uncle, who was the director of Dibyendu university, hinted something the other day about his incomplete studies, only now I understand his meaning very clearly. And now I know why he doesn’t tell me about certain aspects of his life.”
“Forget him, marry him and be happy,” Subendu advised. “Anyway, my life ended the day my Lakshmi died. Keep the secret to yourself.”
“I promised my superior, Mr. Goswami, that I will bring the criminal back, dead or alive. I also promised my parents that I would marry a good husband. I have to fulfill my obligations.” said Brinda solemnly.
“Do it, by all means. I wish you a happy married life,” Subendu said, not understanding the deeper meaning of what he said.
Suddenly, Brinda turned the jeep into a small lane, covered with thick bushes on both sides.
Subendu, who had no idea what Brinda was up to, stared at her in silent stupefaction.
He waited a moment and then called out, “Dibyendu, come here. I need you right away.”
Dibyendu, passing by, immediately stopped.
“Is the scoundrel giving you trouble, Brinda? I’ll be there in a moment and fix it. Keep your revolver ready though, he can’t be trusted.”
As Dibyendu advanced towards them, Brinda shot him at point-blank range. She instantly fell lifeless.
Subendu shouted: “What have you done? Are you crazy?”
Brinda said, “I told you, I am going to capture a criminal, dead or alive, and marry a worthy husband. Only the roles of the dramatis personae have been exchanged. Quick, change your dress to his.” . ,; You two look alike and no one could tell you apart.”
He took off the gold chain and put it around Subendu’s neck.
When they arrived at the police station, Brinda said to Mr. Goswami, “I’m sorry, sir, I had to shoot the captive because you caused trouble in the jeep halfway. Here is the corpse of your criminal. And meet my future.” husband, we are getting married tomorrow.
Mr. Goswami injured them and they left. Brinda brought out a small silver idol of Lord Krishna. She told Subendu, “It is the Bhagwat Gita that has guided me to the right path today. A lie for a good and noble cause is better than the truth.”