The Murderer

It is often said that morning shows the day. If Bijon Roy believed in this proverb, he would have come to the conclusion that something good was going to happen to him on that day. It had rained incessantly the previous night. In that cosy weather, it seemed very hard for him to imagine how people had been dying of heat strokes for the past few days experiencing the most gruelling summer ever.

Bijon knew that it was the last day of his eventful life. In a few hours, he would be executed by hanging. Had the executioner already arrived? Bijon felt an urge to have a glimpse of the person who would kill him. When he had executed his plan perfectly to kill his own brother Sujon, he had no chance to look at his murderer. Sujon had been hit at the back of his head with a heavy, cricket bat.

Although Bijon and Sujon were twins, they possessed completely different natures. Sujon was very emotional whereas Bijon had a calm and composed attitude.

Their father was an influential political leader. Both the brothers had followed their father’s footsteps and joined politics. After some time, an ego clash between the two brothers had damaged their political party severely. Sujon had left the party to create another one of his own.

Bijon was stirring the newspaper casually. The news of his execution was published on the first page. Bijon stared at the dirty cell walls for a few moments. Then he started to read the article with rapt attention. A political party had called to observe it as a black day throughout the state.

Bijon recalled how he had surrendered to the police after the murder. At first, the police did not believe that he was capable to commit such a heinous crime. They were reluctant to take him into custody.

“Have you actually done this? I have seen very few people as noble as you in my entire life. How could you kill your own brother?” a senior police officer had asked him.

Bijon had replied with a smile lingering on his lips, “Everything you all know about me is fabricated. I was never a good human being. I had murdered in the past also. But I was clever enough to suppress them with precision. What do you think of me, officer? Did I have nothing else to do other than charity and welfare?”

The police officer had stared at him with astonishment. He could not believe that he had always perceived this man as an avatar of honesty and self-respect. He had never been aware of the hellish beast hiding under his skin.

Many political cadres had also expressed their disbelief. There were many people who used to question him, “Sir, are you trying to save the real murderer by sacrificing yourself? We all know that you always loved your brother in spite of the political differences.”

Bijon had never replied directly to these types of questions. He had told them nonchalantly, “Now you all have seen my true colour. You people always used to say that my brother was a rogue; he was trying to control the whole area using his ‘men’ and so many things. Actually he was a good man. Nobody could ever understand the depth of his heart.”

Bijon had been found guilty of murder in the high court. The judge had sentenced him to death.

Bijon put the newspaper aside. After a few moments, his son Asit would come to visit him. His last wish was to meet his son before his death. The jail authority would definitely honour his request.

Bijon was very glad to see Asit. His eyes were gleaming with tears. But his son seemed to be indifferent.

“Asit, at last I have won. The people would remember me as an honest person, not my twin brother,” Bijon laughed heartily.

“Was there any need of all these things, Papa? You did it just to prove yourself noble to the common people. What did you actually get out of it?” Asit asked his father.

“You don’t know, Asit. This person has always defeated me. Now it is my turn. Will you not praise my intelligence? Look at the caption in this newspaper. It reads, ‘Sujon Roy to Be Hanged Today for Murdering Brother.’ The journalists are all idiots. Even the common people think that I am Sujon.”

Bijon ceased talking to take a deep breath. He continued, “I have destroyed Sujon’s good deeds in a momentary masterstroke. He will remain a villain forever in the public eyes.”

“You actually did not win, Papa,”’ Asit told him in a firm voice, “I have taken the revenge on you for the treatment you meted out to my uncle.”

He brought a tape recorder out of his pocket. “This contains the whole conversation between us. The people will get to know who the real murderer is.”

Asit turned and started walking to the main road.

“Asit, please listen to me. I am your father. You can’t do this to me,” Bijon cried loudly.

Asit did not stop. He did even not turn to see his father for the last time. He knew that he was walking along the path of truth. There are not many people who can choose this way. But whoever walks this path, must hold his head high and never look behind.