Second day in prison, part-9
I have been in jail for two days now. I did not feel that I was in much trouble during these two days. But if you have the money, you can live like a king here in the jail. If you give money, there are helpless defendants who will come and message your body. It will also pull the hairs on your head. In return you feed him cigarettes and good and bad things. Everything is about money in this jail. You don't have money boss, they will treat you in such a way, that you will neither be able to say anything nor do anything. Everything you have to bear quietly.
And yes, there was no need to say another thing, he was coming to see me today at 12 noon or 12:30. Maybe younger brother Sajeeb or my parents were coming to see, what do you know! When the mike was calling my name, I was startled to hear my Opriyo name, my father's name and address. It is necessary to say another thing here that the ward I am in, is it V. I. P. Ward. Only VIPs are kept in this ward. Here you have to pay 8000 taka for the 2 feet by 6 feet bed on which you sleep every day, sit, sometimes play chess, spend the day and night inside the jail. This money does not have to be paid every month. This money is for as long as you stay in jail as a convict. If you stay for two months, you will have to pay this amount. On top of that, the ward med (who is a convicted prisoner, this med of our ward is a murder convict, who has been serving rigorous imprisonment for the last 3 years) has to lose Rs. 3000 per month here. The reason for this is that, for example, today in the jail, only fish and rice are given to everyone, there they make some food menu in this ward on their own initiative. For example, sometimes dal and potato filling is added, and sometimes dal and potato bhaji are added. Sometimes meat is added. Sometimes extra fish or fried fish is added. Moreover, I realized that this Padma ward is a "VIP" ward only when I saw that there are 45 to 50 accused in other wards. There are only 17 to 18 accused in this ward. To take a bath in other wards, one has to bring one's own water up the stairs from below. And in this ward, there is a separate big bath room, two or three separate bathrooms next to the bath room. And you don't have to bring your own water to bathe in this ward. Leaving the power line motor, the water is lifted up through plastic pipes and stored in big drums in this ward. We bathe from that water filled drum. Those who have been jailed here before, request the med of this ward to stay in this ward if they come back to jail. Shakil (pseudonym), Med's assistant of this Padma ward, was saying these words last night. From Shakeel's words, I understood that here each ward has one med and one assistant to manage the wards. Our ward med's name is Zakir (pseudonym). Everyone addresses him as Zakir's brother. Zakir's brother is also in charge of CID inside this jail. I was talking to Shakeel about this last night. Then I asked Shakeel, - How come the prisoners who have been sentenced in the jail are again CID?
Shakil said, - Our brother Zakir is a good man. He has been handling the responsibility of this ward for the last three years. Moreover, he is in charge of the jail's cooking. And keep a special vigil on whether there is any trouble, whether anyone is creating disorder inside the jail. And if he sees any irregularity, he reports directly to the Jail Superintendent. This duty was given by Jail Super to my Med.
I said to Shakeel, - Well, Shakeel, the 8000 taka per person is taken here, where does that money go? Zakir brother how to deposit here?
Shakil said with a little smile, "-Opriyo brother, do you think that all the money in this ward is only for our Med Zakir brother?"
I said, -yes! If he doesn't get it, who else will get it?
Shakeel smiled softly and said again, "-Opriyo brother, no, Zakir's brother does not get all the money." From here the money goes to the Jail Superintendent. Jail Superintendent has to pay Rs 1 lakh every month from this ward. And Zakir's brother gives me 15 to 20 thousand taka every month. After spending this one hundred and twenty thousand rupees (Taka's), whatever is left belongs to Zakir Bhai.
I said, -how does Zakir deposit this money here in the jail? I think there is no way to deposit hard cash in jail...
Shakil said again before I finished speaking, - This money reaches Zakir's brother's house every week. Zakir's brother's family runs with this money.
I sighed and said in surprise, - Shakil brother, then this is the story! That means money can be earned here from inside the prison?
Shakeel smiled and said, -so what? Those who are sentenced convicts, who are in charge of ward meds in different wards, all of them send money to their families from this jail.
I said to Shakeel again, well Shakeel brother, if there are less convicts in the ward in a month, or if the money is less in that month, where will Zakir brother give you and the jail superintendent money from?
Shakeel said again, dear brother, we will see if the money is less. Even if it doesn't come, we will see. There is no opportunity to pay less by lying here. And the money that I take from the new accused, those are transacted with my own hands. For example, when I come to see you tomorrow, the money that will be taken from them will come to me first, then I will explain it to Zakir's brother.
I said, -hmm.
I said to Shakeel, "Brother, I cannot pay so much money." Can't keep more low?
Shakil said in a mocking tone, -what do you say brother? Don't have your gold shop? You are the owner of a lot of money. Why are you doing it? There are some defendants who will pay not only 8000 thousand taka, but also 20 thousand taka if they say 20,000 taka.
I said to Shakeel in a pleading tone, Shakeel brother, the matter is not that...
When I was going to explain my problem to Shakil, Zakir's brother called Shakil, -Shakil! Is this Shakeel?
Shakil got up from me saying yes, yes Boss is coming.
It was 10:30 or 10:30 at night. Shakeel did not come. I fell asleep too.
The next day around twelve thirty, after calling my name on the mike, Zakir's brother also came inside the ward. And addressed to Shakeel, he said, -This Shakeel is the one who takes away the Opriyo. His people are coming to meet him.
Shakil said to Zakir's brother, - Well, I am taking Boss.
Shakeel said to me again, -let's go, Opriyo brother.
I said to Shakeel, -ok let's go.
After that I and Shakeel left the ward. I am thinking in my heart, my younger brother Sajeeb doesn't know that he has to pay money to stay here in jail. I didn't even know that there is so much money in the prison! I'm thinking, Sajeeb will give money from where? And I will give money to Shakil or from where? Sajeeb does not earn money, he is a student. That money will get or from where? As such, our lower middle class family is somehow struggling. My father didn't have much capital, I didn't have much capital. With the income from our two shops, we rent our house and the family of 5 members (father, mother, me, younger brother and younger sister. The elder sister got married 10 years ago.) was running. I could not think how to ask for money from the younger brother Sajeeb? I never asked him for money. Meanwhile, even if I don't pay, who knows where I will be placed in which ward?
Meanwhile Shakil and I walked from the ward to the jail gate. The distance from the ward to the jail gate is two to three minutes. I came and entered a big room. Come here and see, some other defendants are talkingwho are coming to see them. I entered and saw Sanjay Da and younger brother Sajeev through the iron chain. Sanjay Da looked very worried. I could clearly see the worry on Sanjay Da's face. Sanjay Da looked at me with a sigh and said, -how are you Opriyo?
I also let out a sigh and said, -yes, I am fine, grandpa. how are you grandpa
Sanjay Da said, -we are fine. Well you have a problem here? Tell me if there is a problem.
I said to myself, if there is a problem, what else do I have to do? When I come to jail, I have to stay in jail. I told Sanjay Da, -no no no problem. Everything is fine.
I said to my younger brother Sajeev, -how are you?
Sajeev shook his head and said, -I am fine.
I said, -how are mom, dad, juli (younger sister)?
Sajeev said, -don't worry about them. They are fine.
Sanjay Da again said, -after hearing about your coming to Jail, the situation in the area has cooled down now. For the time being, no one is threatening to come home.
i am silent.
Then Sanjay Da said again, -what else do you need here?
I said, -give money to PC.
Sanjay Da said, -how much money will be needed? How much to pay?
Meanwhile, Shakeel was also standing behind me and listening to our words. Shakeel was pinching me from behind, looking for money for the seat (the bed I was on). Shakeel was beckoning me with five fingers, as if I wanted 5000 taka from Sanjay Da. I am thinking in my mind where will Sanjay Da give this money? I could not do anything for Sanjay Da in my life. So I will ask for money from Sanjay Da? My elder brother Sanjay Da. I truly respect this man. Not only that, I respect this man in my life more than my father. In which there is no adulteration. There are no complications. There is clarity in Sanjay Da's actions, his speaking, speaking to someone. Meanwhile, Shakil was pinching me from behind and asking for money so much that finally I gestured to Sanjay Da and said, I need two thousand rupees here.
Sanjay Da said, -will you pay two thousand rupees? Tell me if you need more?
I very shyly said, -no no dada, it will be.
Sanjay da said, -ok then. Don't worry you will be bailed. And here in the PC I am depositing 1000 rupees.
After saying goodbye to Sanjay Da and younger brother Sajeev, the chest heaved, tears came to his eyes unknowingly.
Meanwhile, Shakeel is also yelling at me. I understand that Shakeel is very angry with me now. Shakil mixed his words with a lot of annoyance and said, you are a useless person brother! He wanted to give you money, why did you ask him to pay two thousand rupees?
I'm walking behind Shakeel. Secretly wiping my tears, I took some time and said to Shakeel, he is my elder cousin. How can I ask for 5000 rupees from him? Also, I own a gold shop, that doesn't mean I own a lot of money. You think that gold shop means they have lots of money. This is your misconception brother.
Shakeel looked at me with annoyance on his face, very angry, and said, -brother, don't explain this to me! We understand these tricks.
Shakeel's disdain towards me is slowly starting from that day.....
(continued)