It was one of those sunny days at Haldwani , a small town in Uttarakhand state of india .The birds were singing to their joy..The winds coming from the mountains carried the coldness and the aroma of pines and flowers of the Kumaon.The day has just started with the sun showing himself shyly across the mountains .Anu was waiting patiently for his friend Paras who owned a motorbike.The two will drive to school.Anu's father owned a restaurant on the main road of Haldwani that would open in later hours of the day.They were a bunch of teenagers who spent day going to school,flirting with girls ,tuitions ,evening games and would enjoy musical evening listening to local bands who played at their friends restaurant "The Aryans ".
Anu recently fell in love with Maya who also loved him in return.Anu was lost in thoughts of Maya and was awakened by Paras who grinnned to see him lost. "Maya ki yaad aarhi hai ?" He asked. "Yes of course you asshole . Who else it could be !" Anu replied with a smile. The two joked and reached school. It was mid week at Riverdale School.The day went off as Anu spent whole of it with Maya and after school they promised to meet at "The Aryans" the restaurent owned by Prem, also known as Pappu amongst his friends. Anu and Maya sat beside the banks of Gaula river lost in each other listening to the soft romantic music played at the Aryans. Bryan Adams it was that the local band played that evening and they sang "to really love a woman" track together ,locking their fingers.. kissing each other and making promises to never separate in this life time and went back home lost in those sweet feelings of love.The gods were laughing.
It was middle of September 1970and Anu was supposed to prepare for national basketball tournaments that were to be held in October second week.Anu began to wake up at early hours of day and begin to practise for the event.
It was magical and memorable part of their lives and all four friends carried their lives forth in wait for every next tomorrow..
September 16,1970.. 7.30 a.m. : Anu came back from practise sessions and was in middle of shower.Soniya ,Anu's mother was cooking in the kitchen."Hurry up Anu " yelled Mr Girish, a proud father. "Coming Dad" replied back Anu smiling about Mr Girish's love for him.The family sat together for breakfast.Anu was the only kid in the family.They were deciding the menu for lunch when the doorbell rang .. "I'm gonna check that ..you guys eat " said Mrs Soniya as she headed for the door .
She opened the door and was half shocked and half surprised to see a half dozen cops on the main door. " what is it inspector ? " she demanded..
Mr Rawat ,the Inspector told her nothing and went in and asked "Who is Anu ?"
"What is it inspector ?" demanded Mr Girish.
Mr Rawat didn't tell him a thing and handcuffed Anu and handed Mr Girish a copy of arrest warrant saying Anu was to be arrested for charge of abducting ,raping and later murdering Maya.
Maya was missing since last two days (Saturday and Sunday ).On Sunday evening her badly mutilated dead body was recovered from forest near Kaladhungi,a town near Haldwani.The police enquiry led to hold Anu as chief suspect … Mr Rawat arrested Anu and took him to the city police station… Anu was left stunned and his eyes filled with tears. The tears of sorrow and rage.. I'm not going to break he promised himself and accompanied Mr Rawat to his police jeep.
Mrs Sonia was crying loud . " How can they do that. My son would never do such a thing .why doesn't anyone tell them to stop". She grabbed Mr Girish by collar.
"Inspector you are making a mistake here. Anu was at party for last two days with his friends. He can never do such a thing." Mr Girish told Inspector Rawat.
"You tell that to the court" Mr Rawat told him.
" Jaldi se gaadi mein daalo isko or chalo yhan se " Inspector Rawat ordered his constables who took Anu to the police jeep and he was made to sit between the two constables. The vehicle moved and Mrs Sonia chased it before falling on the ground and Mr Girish consoled her and took her back to the house. There was silence in the neighbourhood and Mr Girish called upon his advocate for help.