Recap: [From Chapter 6: End of his first life (Part 1)]

"I am Parav Jaspal, commander of the second division east 'Aegis Batallion' Dhilli. Are you Atharv Arya?" He looks at Atharv curiously, as if trying to figure something out.

Atharv hesitating responds, "Yes"

"You have been sentenced to death for assaulting and causing serious permanent damage to three prospective first tiers."

***

State: Dhilli (Central States)

"What do you mean sentenced to death?"

Atharv's mother asks looking extremely startled.

"It means exactly what it sounds. But there will be hearing before that, after all, we are a democracy. You are to report to your college's administrative office by noon today with your parents for further discussion. I will see you there; you have the right to gather your own witnesses and build your case to prove your innocence." Parav spoke in a calm and methodical tone.

Not answering any further questions, he left the envelope he was carrying on the desk and leaves the premises, ignoring the pressing questions that Atharv's mother kept on asking in vain.

The judicial system had lost its significance after Isolization. By the beginning of the National-Civil war, it was completely wiped out replaced with Court-martial. The military was the strength of the people and gradually it came to hold the most power among the people. The Central states were clustered into four different regions, and each region was governed by a General. All four generals were humans and that had always been the case but Kusokans were permitted to hold positions as high as the 'Commander' (The second highest position in a region)

Usually, crimes reported were solved by the police and didn't reach the martial-court, In most cases, crime wasn't even reported but when larger institutions and first-tiers got involved the martial-court had to step in. Even though the court seemed to be harsh by declaring that the punishment, Atharv would be given on failure to prove his innocence would be death it was also what was protecting him. Atharv had openly assaulted children who came from prominent first-tiers families, since the college had raised the case to the military there was not much the first-tiers could do. Even they were afraid of the might of the military. But they could always try to pull stunts illegally, the military had already factored this, and henceforth portraying that were already on the sides of the first-tiers was a right move.

***

Atharv and his mother are sitting outside an empty corridor; his mother holding his hand and chanting something silently. Atharv's eyes were sunken, losing his friend had already almost driven him to the extent of emotional instability. He thought to himself, 'If only...he had done things differently.'

A warm touch on his shoulder put an end to his thought-chain, his father held him by the shoulders reassuringly while his younger brother looked at him with a concerned expression.

"Every...everything will be okay, I've mostly taken care of everything. Yasu's family has already submitted their accounts of what happened" his father spoke trying to put on the best possible expression he could.

"Brother, we'll get through this", Madin whispered softly to Atharv.

Holding his wife's trembling hands, Atharv's father looked at her with an expression which said that 'Everything has been taken care of'

'But what exactly did he take care of?' Atharv wondered.

A soldier wearing a traditional military outfit approaches them and informs them that the proceedings are beginning. The Arya family started preparing themselves while the soldier walks into the room he came out from. "Remember, don't tell them about the red-markings that appeared on your body", his father spoke sternly looking at him. Atharv nods as he enters the room where the hearing is supposed to take place.

Atharv enters the room last, he sees his parents and brother being escorted to their seats. In front of him was a panel with four chairs. On them seated were from right to left, the College dean, Commander Parav, A senior officer who Atharv didn't know, and Mr. Melvin. Even though Atharv didn't know who that senior officer was, he could at once make out that he held the most authority. 'Everyone was being mindful and cautious of him, who exactly was he?'

On the other corner of the room, Atharv spotted Yasu sitting with her parents. Adjacent to them were the parents of the injured students including Vijay's father staring at him with disgust.

Atharv was guided to the center of the room where everyone could see him as a mannequin on display.

After everyone had settled down, Parav got up from his chair and began to address the gathering.

"Greeting citizens, I am Parav Jaspal the investigating officer in this scenario and General Ramcharan Kasturiraja will be presiding over this meeting."

Gasps resounded everywhere when the statement ended. The general of the western-region was presiding over the hearing. Even though four first-tier families were involved this was still not something a general would directly preside over. The shock was clearly visible on everyone's faces except Atharv's parents who seemed to be calm as if they had expected this.

"Now beginning the session", Parav steps out of the panel and starts walking around the room with a bunch of paper in his hand. "The assaulter Atharv Arya has caused life-threatening injuries to four prospective first-tier students, in-fact injuring them to such an extent that they will never be able to pursue their designated course"

Guilt crawled all over Atharv's composure, he couldn't fathom that his rampage would have caused someone so much pain.

"Completely shattered bones that are beyond repair, this is serious damage to society and the goals of the Central States. Based on the accounts of Yasu Dubey, I now understand that this was in retaliation to an earlier fight the same day which lead to the demise of Om Dubey." Parav pauses and turns to Yasu's parents.

"But in that conflict Om was the initiator, am I right?"

Yasu hesitatingly mutters, "Yes"

"Then in that decree, all I can say is that it was an accident and that I am sorry for your loss" Parav announced meeting the eyes of Om's father.

"That's all you're offering me after the death of my son while you're going to hang that boy for injuring the murderers of my son and the harassers of my daughter." Om's father shouted not being able to hold back anymore. A towering soldier immediately pulled him back in a threatening demeanor forcing him to settle down again.

"While I do sympathize with you, I cannot agree with your sense of justice. Regarding your daughter's alleged assault, it was reported to authorities. Am I right Miss Yasu Dubey?"

"Yes but...." Yasu is cut short.

"Mr. Melvin, in this case, you are the said authority. So what action did you take?" Parav asks Mister Melvin, turning in his direction.

Mister Melvin turns his gaze to Atharv then looking back at the commander he answers, "I heard their complaint and told them that I would act on it sometime soon"

"That's a lie!" Yasu shouts out.

The towering soldier again admonishes her for speaking out of turn.

Parav acknowledging Mr. Melvin, "Yes and they should have waited for the said authority to handle the situation. Trying to take matters in his own hand is wrong and even if it's a lie your brother or your friend here had no right to attack another fellow student especially when a teacher had already been consulted."

There was a moment of complete silence, the whirring of the clock which till now had not been audible was as clear as the day. 'I know this sound, I've heard it somewhere' Atharv thought to himself.

"The representative of the defendant can now take the floor", Parav spoke as he walked back to his seat and Atharv's father walked up to the center of the room with a few papers in hand.

"My son's actions have caused great harm to the Central states and the families present here. But what I can assure you of is that his intentions were good. As already documented in the report that I and my wife have submitted. I plead guilty of manipulating my son Atharv Arya"

'What the hell is he saying?' Atharv thought, the frustration and surprise on his face clearly visible.

"The day before the incident, my son had come to me for advice and I manipulated him, pressuring him to walk the path of violence" his father continued.

"Father! What nonsense are you spewing" Atharv screamed.

"Hence, any kind of punishment that has to be administered should be done on me, my own wife is witness to my provocations"

Atharv looked at his mother in disbelief, but her head was bowed. She wasn't even looking at the proceeding.

"A noble sacrifice", the man who had been silent all this while finally spoke; it was the general.

"But, what you've documented doesn't match with other documentations, in-fact almost every report that I come across is inconsistent. Even so, the irregularity that caught my eyes was that the report Miss Yasu submitted almost matched everything with the other entries except one little detail. Every other report mentions blood spatter or some red-markings on his body except yours"

"I wonder Miss Yasu if that was done on purpose"

"Speak when the Generals asks you to!" the soldier admonishes Yasu.

"I can't recall clearly but I...I don't remember seeing any blood on Atharv", Yasu spoke softly.

"Sir, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but how does this detail even matter", Atharv's father asks the general.

"That is exactly what makes this detail important, why you so carefully sought out that people omitted it", the general replied.

Atharv's father's strong voice was reduced to murmurs.

"So if we're done with the bullshit can we move on" the general sneered.

One of the soldiers brings in a small device that resembles a rectangular metallic box; he then detaches the wires stuck to its side and attaches the wire on each side of Atharv's temple. The soldier takes a few steps back and switches the device on, everyone was watching what was unfolding in front of them with eager eyes. The sound emitting from the machine was slow and rhythmic in the beginning but with time the clicking sound started beating faster and faster. The soldier who was conducting the test was startled at the results.

"Sir! The waves are off the charts" the soldier spoke with a tinge of excitement in his voice, "The Theta and Delta waves are not only higher than human standards but also kusokan standards"

"This clears things, Atharv Arya is a Kusokan" the general announces with a confident voice.

"After reviewing the medical reports of the injured student, everything hinted towards this possibility. Damage like that inflicted by bare hands is not something a human being is capable of but the fact that he was nineteen years old was the only deterrent. Nonetheless, now I understand that he is an anomaly after all and cannot be judged by the normal standards"

There were gasps and sneers all around the room, every single person in the room had already deduced that outcome from the clicking of the machine during the brainwave test but it was difficult to believe what they were witnessing. A kusokan hiding amongst civilians without being recognized by the military was the highest-crime any person could commit.

"Traitors!" a woman sitting with the families of the first tier remarked. "Hang their entire family!" a man from the same crowd spoke his mind. The room was gradually getting noisy.

"The parents were unaware?" The general asks looking at Atharv's mother who was sitting back in the stands.

Neither of the parents replied, the only way they could think of to save their son was to sacrifice their own lives, but the façade they had tried to build was easily destroyed. When Yasu had narrated the incident to Atharv's parents they at once understood what had transpired. They had come across a Kusokan before, so when they heard about the markings they could deduce easily that Atharv was a Kusokan. But if this was made known to the public the consequences could be life-threatening for Atharv. He had crossed the age when a Kusokan goes through an awakening and that only made matters worse. They couldn't expose their son to a life of hardship and constant battles. If only they could buy their son some time using their own lives but alas that plan didn't work out. From the very beginning, they knew it was a stupid plan but they had to try nonetheless.

"With that, there is no point further debating it. Atharv Arya is hereby a Kusokan from today therefore under section 24A of the constitution he is to join the military services immediately. Refusal to do so would lead to death. The session is dismissed."

At the end of the announcement, despair began to consume Atharv's father from inside while his mother could only watch.

"But they were hiding a Kusokan!", someone from the crowd objected.

"No, they were not", Parav answered confidently.

"The markings generally appear at the first awakening of a Kusokan, it's truly remarkable that a nineteen-year-old had not awakened yet"

The soldiers started heading out to the gallery, Om's father head out to meet the General, but he was stopped by one of the soldiers.

"What about my son! Will he not get justice?" His words falling on deaf ears as he was pushed out

As the soldier was handling Om's father and the other guardians, Vijay's father jumped over one of them and dashed towards Atharv with an expression full of hatred. Before he could reach Atharv who was still standing at the center of the room, he was stopped by the other soldier who was standing guard. The soldier then started dragging Vijay's father who persistently fought back.

Shouting at the top of his voice, "You destroyed my son's life! We sacrificed everything for his future, you took away my only happiness!"

Parav who was having a word with the general turns to the soldier and speaks, "Take him out from the other gate; we don't want a ruckus outside. (Pointing to Atharv), He is to join the service from tomorrow itself; an officer will be sent to his residence to bring him in. All his rights and facilities will be discussed with him when he reaches the camp."

Atharv's mother raising her hand caught the General's attention and requested a word with him. The General allowed it with a gesture from his hand. Atharv's mother headed towards the general to have a word as Atharv and his father along with his brother were guided out of the premises.

As they stepped outside, Not a word came out of anyone, Atharv looked at his father wanting to ask him about the stupid stunt he pulled inside but he changed his mind when he saw his father's expression. Atharv kept walking blankly, he kept walking ahead slowly, his mind from the moment he had entered the room had been switched off. There was not a single thought running in his brain. He then stopped walking and stared at Om's father who was crying by the corner of the corridor with Yasu consoling him. They looked at each other and then Om's father turned and walked off with Yasu. As Atharv stood by the walls, his mother came out with an expression confirming that she had not gotten the results she wanted. She turned to Atharv and hugged him tightly, crying. His younger brother also tugged onto him, his father also bracing them in an embrace, probably the last one all of them share together. While a troubled Atharv wondered, 'Why did the sound of whirring stop now?'

Story by: Four Eighty One

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