THE SOHRAB-SULTAN CASE

THE COURT

Sohrab and Sultan stood facing the judge. Sohrab had still not answered.

Judge: Why did you do it Sohrab?

The silence of the courtroom felt piercing. He didn't feel like answering at all. All he wanted to do was get out of there. The judge asked again.

Judge: Why did you become a part of this horrible incident. You know you could have acted wisely.

Sohrab: Because ….

THE BOND

The bike raced through the densely crowded streets. It had been modified to look 'sexy and cool' as he described it. On both sides it had a sticker which said "Death Racer". But this was no fun ride. His heart pounded in his chest as he hurriedly covered the distance to the hospital. Sohrab's accident had been described as 'serious'. He didn't know what exactly the doctor had implied on the phone when he had said that no movement would be possible in Sohrab's right arm. Or may be he did understand it but it was just too horrifying to believe. He cursed himself as he slowed down to let a truck pass. He felt a pang of guilt as he was supposed to reach the hospital as quickly as he could. "How could I care for my own safety at a moment like this", he thought to himself. Of course he had to slow down. Sohrab was in the hospital as a result of an accident and if he hurried and got hit himself, it would not help the situation. He could not, or well, he should not speed. He had to live with this annoying fact for the moment. He reached the hospital and ran to the reception.

Sultan: Which room is Sohrab Menon in?

Receptionist: The fair complexioned boy who had a bike accident?

Sultan: Yes.

Receptionist: Room no 12.

Sultan ran to the room, almost knocked over an old man on the way. Sohrab was sitting on the bed. His left elbow had been thoroughly bandaged. He smiled as Sultan entered.

Sultan: How serious is it? The doctor said you wouldn't be able to move your arm.

Sohrab(smiling): He meant for a week or so. Relax man. You look worse than I do.

Sultan sat on a chair with a thump.

Sultan(irritated): Ya go get hit.

They sat in silence for a while. The nurse came and bandaged Sohrab's knee, which also had taken a hit.

Sultan: So did you tell Uncle and Aunty.

Sohrab: Are you crazy? And you don't tell them either.

Sultan: All right. I'll go ask the doctor if you can be taken back to the hostel.

Sohrab: He told me to stay here for a week.

Sultan: Shit. …Allright man I’ll go talk to him about the medication.

Sultan got up and proceeded towards the door. He paused, turned and looked at Sohrab with a wicked smile.

Sultan: Hey.

Sohrab: Ya

Sultan: If you cant move your right arm for a week, how will you ...you know...

Sohrab: What?

Sultan(smiling): Well….help yourself.

Sohrab: You asshole.

They both laughed out loud. The nurse came running to see what had happened.

Sultan: Nothing Sister. (with a mock serious expression)Can I meet the doctor?

It had been two weeks since the accident now. Sohrab had gotten better rapidly. They both sat on chairs with their feet hanging from the balcony of their hostel room, smoking cigarettes. It was their routine once they were drunk. Another thing which marked such occasions was Pink Floyd music. A popular song "Coming back to life" played as two other guys, Vishal and Sumit lay in the room with vodka bottles in their hands. Sultan got up and looked at them.

Sultan(in a loud voice): Fellow men and…. Sumit. I raise a toast ..to..umm..to Sohrab. The guy recovered like ....(sitting down on the floor) like ..Wolverine.

Sumit got up and sat on a cigarette butt which had still not died out.

Vikram: Dude, we already have had five pegs. The toast is toooo late.

Sultan: The toast is neverrrrr late.

Sultan went to Sohrab and brought him inside the room. All of them stood in a circle except Sumit, who was still sitting.

Sultan: Here's to Sohrab. Wishing you good health for ever man.

Sumit: I feel something.

Sultan: Your ass is on fire, idiot.

They had a good laugh but Sohrab's mood had been grim through out. He went back and sat in the balcony. Sultan noticed it and went to him.

Sultan: Relax. There’s nothing that can be done about it.

Sohrab: I just wanted to…

Sultan: I know man.

Sohrab looked at him and gave out a sigh.

Sultan(looking at him intently): We'll miss you in the..te... team but the doc clearly asked you not to play for a month.

Sohrab: Yeah. Its just that I really wanted to play. You know I love basketball.

Sultan: Still? Umm…you need another peg man.

They both smiled as Sumit searched for a hole in his pants.

THE INCIDENT

The Inter-college sports meet had started. Sohrab hated to watch the games from the sidelines but had to. Sultan, on the other hand, did play. Normally, both of them played two quarters each so that no one got too tired. It worked well for the team too but now Sultan had to play incessantly. It showed on his face and it showed on the team's score. It was the quarter final of the tournament. They had a match with bitter rivals, bitter because their matches almost always ended in a fight between the players. Sohrab cheered the team from the sidelines. Despite putting up a valiant performance, they were loosing. It was the last quarter. The score read 42-34 against them. Sultan scored a majestic 3 pointer the crowd roared. They still had a chance to win. With 5 points between them, it was achievable. People started chanting Sultan’s name. All this celebration did not go down well with an opposition player named Rakesh. In high pressure games, the biggest challenge is to keep the cool and he lost his, right away. He looked at Sohrab sitting on the sidelines.

Rakesh: Seems like you guys have a new cheerleader. What happened boy? Did you go limp?

Sohrab looked at him indignantly. He didn't believe in getting involved in these kinds of things. Rakesh kept mocking him but Sohrab kept his cool. Rakesh's other team mates also joined in jeering him. The referee tried to pull them back but Rakesh didn't budge.

Sohrab(loudly): Fuck off.

Rakesh: O!! you have a cheerleader with an attitude.

Sultan was overhearing all this. Sohrab may have been the one to keep it low, Sultan wasn't. He went up to them.

Sultan: You fucker.

Rakesh: Don't get involved. This doesn't concern you. We are talking to the pretty cheerleader here.

Sultan: Well, he joined this year. You know who did the job before this. Your mom.

Rakesh let out a cry of anger. Sultan took him by the T-Shirt and punched him in the face. Others joined the fight and by the time people were able to break it up, Rakesh was bleeding profusely. Sultan had the expression of a mad man on his face. Sohrab was in a state of shock. He didn't speak, just looked at Sultan and Rakesh with wide eyes.

Sultan(shouting): Nobody talks to him like that. You piece of shit.

He was taken away, so were the others. The game never finished.

Sultan sat in the hostel room, alone. Sohrab came running.

Sohrab(perspiring heavily): Why did you hit him man?

Sultan: He was talking shit to you. These guys can't even play properly man. What's the point of talking trash to you.

Sohrab: Wha..You don't hit people for that. I mean..did you look at him. He was bleeding like hell.

Sultan: He got what he deserved.

Sohrab came and knelt down before Sultan.

Sohrab: Relax. All I am saying is that he was talking trash to me. Even I didn't care much.

Sultan(cutting him off): So are you saying that I overreacted?? Don't say I overreacted.

Sohrab: No....no. Al I am saying is that we need to be cool about these things man. We can't pick up fights for every little thing that happens.

Sultan looked at him. He knew Sohrab was talking sense. He hated it when Sohrab was right but then the guy was always right.

Sultan(calmly): All right. I promise I'll try to keep my cool.

Sumit entered the room, looking aghast.

Sohrab: Hey

Sumit came directly to Sultan.

Sumit: Did you punch Rakesh?

Sultan: Ya. Why?

Sumit: Damnit man. Don't you know. He is friends with Prithvi, the biggest goon in the University. He'll break your bones if Rakesh tells him.

Sultan: Fuck that. We'll see.

Sumit: I am serious. You better look out when you leave the campus.

Sultan: All right man. What's done is done. What can we do now. (with a mock smile) lets see if Mr. Prithvi shows up.

Sohrab: Not everything is a joke man. I told you..

Sultan: Relax. Nothing will happen.

Sohrab(to Sumit): How serious is it?

Sumit: This guy, Prithvi is a 3 time failure man. He has connections even in the police department. People say he broke a bottle on a guy’s head once just for not laughing at his joke.

Sohrab looked at Sultan.

Sultan(in a pleading voice): Relax. Nothing will happen. Now can we go eat?

THE FINAL TEST

That night Sultan recieved a SMS. That was all the sleep he had. In the morning, he showed the message to Sohrab. It left him mortified. The message asked Sultan to meet Prithvi. If he didn't, the message said that Sohrab would never leave the bed again.

Sohrab: This is insane. Can't we call the police?

Sultan: This is UP. What do you expect? We would never escape if I don't meet him.

Sohrab thought for a while.

Sohrab: I'll go with you.

Sultan: Shut up. You won't.

Sohrab: You are not going there alone. Can’t we take guys with us.

Sultan: This is not a street fight. No point escalating the issue. You stay here.

Sohrab lost it. He seldom did.

Sohrab(shouting): Don't fuck with me allright. I am going.

That was the end of the argument.

Prithvi had called them to a flat some distance from their college. They reached there at around 6 in the evening. It looked like a deserted place with not many flats occupied. They reached the flat and rang the bell. Rakesh opened the door. The place reeked of marijuana and alcohol. As they went in, they heard a shout. They looked around to see a haggard looking, unshaven man sitting on a bed. They assumed him to be Prithvi.

Prithvi(shouting): Come here motherfuckers. Rakesh come here.

Rakesh entered the room. Prithvi stared intently at both of them. Sohrab didn’t even feel like matching his gaze.

Prithvi: Which of these is Sultan?

Rakesh pointed at Sultan. Sohrab was almost shaking out of fear.

Prithvi(To Sultan): You son of a bitch. (placed a revolver in front of him) should I blow your balls off.

Even Sultan felt a chill on seeing the revolver. His heart pounded heavily. Sohrab was already perspiring.

Prithvi(shouting): Should I blow your balls off. (slapped Sultan) How did you have the guts to touch Rakesh?

Sultan kept quiet. Blood appeared on the edge of his lip.

Rakesh: He is a motherfucker, bhai. Acts like a don in his college.

Prithvi pointed the gun at Sohrab.

Prithvi: Now you will do exactly as I say or I'll shoot him in the leg.

Sultan nodded. He had to.

Prithvi: Kiss Rakesh's feet.

Sultan did not move. Prithvi slapped Sohrab hard across the face. Sultan, in an instant, was at Rakesh's feet. The dust on the floor seperated as Sultan breathed heavily. He looked at the feet. Sohrab looked at him, his eyes already moist. The revolver pointed at him made sure that he didn't stop perspiring. Sultan kissed the feet and got up quickly. Sultan looked at Sohrab.

Sultan: Come lets go.

Prithvi: Not so soon, motherfuckers. Rakesh what do you want him to do?

Sultan swallowed hard and did what he had never done.

Sultan: I am sorry.

Prithvi: What?

Sultan: I am sorry. Shouldn't have hit Rakesh.

Prithvi smiled.

Prithvi: No you are not. Not yet. You will be sorry. Rakesh did he kiss your feet well.

Rakesh(laughing): Yeah.

Prithvi approached Sultan and whispered in his ear, holding the gun all the while.

Prithvi: Now go kiss his dick.

Sultan lost it.

Sultan(looking straight into Prithvi'e eyes): Fuck off.

Prithvi raised the gun in Sohrab's direction and fired. It hit the wall. Sohrab started sobbing.

Sultan(shouting out of fear): All right. All right. Don't hurt him.

He trembled as he spoke.

Sultan: I will do it. Don't hurt him.

Rakesh: Bhai did you ask him to ....hahaha. Come kiss it fucker.

Sultan went on his knees. His mind had gone numb, he felt a rush of anger and fear, both at the same time.

Rakesh(shouting): Kiss it!!!

As Sultan was about to do that, Prithvi spoke.

Prithvi: What did he tell you about your mother Rakesh? Now isn't this how his mother would kiss it.

Rakesh and Prithvi laughed. That was it. Sultan exploded. In a flash, he got up and punched Prithvi in the face. Prithvi fell to the ground, the revolver fell from his hand. Sultan picked it up.

Sultan(shouting): You son of a bitch. What did you say?

Sohrab was still shaking, partly because of Sultan's unexpected move.

Sohrab: Lets go Sultan.

Sultan was still in a rage, pointing the gun at Prithvi. Rakesh started shouting and in the mayhem a shot went off. Everybody looked, stunned at Sultan. The trigger had gone off without Sultan realizing it. Sultan dropped the gun as Prithvi lay on the ground, hit in the chest. Rakesh ran out of the scene. Sohrab and Sultan were speechless, still not able to believe what had just happened. They were still not able to believe what they saw, their minds went blank as it took some time absorbing the horrifying reality that faced them. His whole life flashed before Sultan, his parents, his college, everything. He knew that in an instant it had all ended. Sohrab stood there staring at Prithvi in his last moments. Suddenly, Sultan ran to the window, peeped out and then came to Sohrab.

Sultan(with bloodshot eyes): Leave. Leave fast.

Sohrab: Bu...but..

Sultan: Leave. I am finished. Rakesh will testify and with the contacts he has, I am done. I won't escape. (shouting) you run Goddamnit.

Sohrab thought about leaving and felt a pang of guilt. He felt helpless. There was no way he could save his friend, he knew it but the realization was unbearable. He couldn’t leave Sultan there. He was fast running out of thoughts. It was not Sultan's fault, he knew it. His belief in Sultan was still unwavering. The only thing he knew was that they had gotten in this together. "And together we stay", he thought. As things went hazy, he found only one way to make the situation less painful. Sultan started looking around in a frenzy, all the while screaming at Sohrab to leave. Suddenly, he heard a shot. Fearing the worst, he turned around. There stood Sohrab with the revolver in his hands. Prithvi's movements had ended. He was now dead. Their minds had gone blank. There was not one thing which Sultan could say to Sohrab at that moment. The silence persisted for a while as Prithvi lay dead and they stood there short of words, even short of expressions. Then Sohrab spoke softly, with a blank expression.

Sohrab: Don't say that I overreacted. We’ll see how it goes.

The gun fell from his hands and he sat down. Sultan came and sat beside him. Tears rolled down their faces

THE COURT

It had not been a long trial. After Rakesh's testimony, there was little doubt left. The judge had sentenced both of them to serve a life sentence each. Their parents could not stop crying as they were taken away by the police. People left the courtroom discussing the motive behind the murder. Some felt it was University politics. Some felt the two boys were just cold blooded. As they were taken away to the prison, only Sohrab and Sultan knew what the motive was and they cherished it as they had all these years.