Interrogation

The streets were empty as the rush hour had passed. The trees remained still as there was no wind. The sun rays showed no mercy. It added the heat in the atmosphere, just like the situation in the coffee shop.

Everyone remained silent while Jerry was carried into the ambulance.

"We two will go to the hospital with this, Officer Yan. Please take care of the matters here," a police officer ordered and left in the car with the ambulance.

"Why don't you come outside with me?" Officer Yan asked Inaya.

Inaya was shocked at the same time confused.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Not so good. Still in the shock," Inaya replied.

"But you are the one who handled him," Yan immediately said.

"But I witnessed what he was doing to her," she snapped back. "And that was wrong," she made her stand strongly. "You woukd never know what it feels like to be..." Inaya stopped. "Leave it," she exhaled.

"What was that we felt there inside?" Officer Yan came to the topic.He scratched his head. He looked confused. He had always thought that he was the only one, the cursed one. But here he was found someone similar, someone younger, who appears to have no prior experience. He gazes into her eyes to see what she is up to. But he could find nothing.

"Did you feel it too? What is it?" She asked. She looked for that sign again in his eyes, but it never appeared again.

"I did, yes. Are you a shape shifter?" Officer Yan asked.

"No," Inaya rejected straight. "No, I'm not," she denied.

The last thing Inaya was looking for was someone with sorcery. She believed it had ended what everything she had done in the village. She believed that the power was given to her just for that day, only for the purpose of revenge. But there he stood before her. Someone like her. As a strong reminder for everything she wanted to forget.

"Then?" Officer Yan wanted to know. He brought her back to her senses.

"I don't know. I once worked as an apprentice to an old lady in her shack, the next thing I knew was, I came here, I fell into the water and woke up here," Inaya said.

"So there is no identity here for you?" Officer Yan asked.

"I'm afraid no. It's been only a few weeks," Inaya began to sweat.

"Then you should have remained quiet," Officer Yan looked disappointed.

"What are you?" Inaya asked back.

"A shape shifter," he replied, looking around to note if anyone is watching them. "Considering what you shared, you must be a witch, and it's too dangerous to get entangled with law. You have made a mistake. You will be taken to the station for further procedures," Officer Yan explained in detail.

"A witch? But I am not practising anything, I have no powers, nothing. I am nothing but a human," Inaya opposed.

"We will see," he ignored.

"How long have you been living here? How old are you?" Inaya wanted to know more about him.

"You don't have to ask me any questions. You are the one I'm interrogating and not back," Officer Yan cut her off. He appeared to be very strict. But for some strange reason, Inaya did not feel scared of him.

"Are you done?" Another police officer walked towards them.

"Yeah almost," he said quickly scribbling some points to his notepad.

"You may go inside," Officer Yan said to Inaya.

"Okay," Inaya walked silently.

"Why did you do this?" Kate walked towards her.

"What?" Inaya was surprised.

"It was no big a deal. Yes I didn't give permission, but now this is going to affect my education and career," Kate said.

"Are you kidding me?" Inaya asked.

"Inaya wait," Jiya interfered. "My dear child, do you know what you are committing is the actual crime? If such an incident occurs, you are supposed to report to local authorities. Letting a human like him free, results in similar assaults like this to many other girls like you. Do you even get what I'm saying Kate?"

"Yes ma'am," Kate looked scared.

"Come here," Inaya called out. She walked towards Kate and hugged her.

"Do you think that I would not know how it feels?" She asked Kate emotionally.

Inaya's mothers wailing echoed in her ears. Her own cries for help. There were none to question, to stop, but visited by everyone only to shame her.

"I know better than anyone hoe exactly it feels like. I maybe be young, know very less about this world, I maybe an illiterate, but I know what happened today is wrong, so wrong," she cried and hugged Kate. Jiya walked over and hugged them both.

The police walked in. "All three of you must come to the police station for a quick interrogation, it won't take long," Inaya looked at Officer Yan who stood outside, watching her. Inaya looked away immediately when she was caught. But he didn't take his eyes off her. Inaya felt conscious.

"Why is he looking at me? Will I get arrested or something?" She wondered.

*****

*****

"So are you willing to submit you complaint?" Kate was asked.

"Yes sir," she agreed.

"And you as the witness?" Inaya was asked.

"Yes sir," Inaya also replied.

"But you will face a punishment for assaulting, you have the right to remain silent or bring in your lawyer," the police said.

"Bran, put her in social service, that would be better," Officer Yan suggested suddenly.

"Are you sure?" Bran asked back.

"Yes, she doesn't look like she is dangerous, we will see this one time," Yan convinced Bran and tried to settle it for Inaya.

Inaya felt very grateful. She looked at Officer Yan. She stood up and bowed.

"Thank you," she said to both the policemen.

"Will we have to appear in court?" Jiya asked.

"We will let you know. You must not go anywhere and should always be available whenever we call," Officer Bran told them. "You three may leave," they were asked to leave. "Inaya, you will start the community work next week. First assignment will be the orphanage, once this document work gets done," Officer Bran informed her.

"Yes sir," Inaya noted.

Inaya thanked Officer Yan again and she walked out but Yan followed her.