Azad again went through a period of deep depression, He could not think properly and was always seen in brooding mood. Some times he felt that he was going out of his mind. Then, he suspected everyone around him. He thought that some traitor was amongst them who was betraying him and the party. At one time he even suspected the faithful comrade like Yashpal and wanted to shoot him. Thankfully it didn’t happen as Azad was able to pull himself out of the hole of the depression in time. To him Tiwari’s behaviour also looked suspect. But no one could find any hard evidence against him.
One day Yashpal suggested, “Our party is almost ruined. We are immobilised. We must reorganise ourselves after proper training. You can go to Russia to receive political and revolutionary training. It can be arranged. At least two of us can go. Then as trained revolutionaries we can raise a new army and lead the battle afresh.”
Azad didn’t agree to it. He said, “I won’t leave India. It is my motherland. I will stay here and try to reorganise the party. You can go if you like. I insist that you must leave for Russia with one another comrade for training. I will hold the fort here.”
So, two of the comrade began preparing to go to Russia. One day, a comrade arrived with a wad of 1500 rupees sent by Motilal Nehru to help Azad and his group. Azad wanted that money used for the travel of two comrades to Russia. When Azad refused to keep any money for himself Yashpal forcibly put 500 rupees in his pocket. No one was in more need of money than Azad, Yashpal knew.
The government was becoming more repressive. Most of the militants were in jails. Only Azad and few of his confidant revolutionaries were still free. The police was making all efforts to nab Azad. His elimination would take all the wind out of the sails of revolutionaries.
The first big break for the police came when they clued to a man named Tiwari through the reports of the C.I.D. The person was supposed to be confidant and sympathiser of Azad. It was that Azad should be maintaining contact with him.
The police zeroed in on Tiwari fellow and started shadowing him from the Chowk Baazar of Allahabad, later the investigating police learnt that one of the constables of the city police was a close friend of Tiwari. The constable was sought out who took the city Inspector to Tiwari’s house who was at home.
The constable introduced them, “Sir, meet Mr. Tiwari. He is a close confidant of Azad saheb. And Tiwariji, it’s our C.I.D. Inspector sir.”
They shook hands. The Inspector frankly revealed, “I have come to seek your help in the arrest of Mr. Azad. You know that how badly the authorities need him for the law.”
“Oh! I see,” Tiwari spoke and added, “Please excuse me, my friend. I can’t betray Azad and become a traitor of my country. And besides you should know how dangerous it could prove to me. He is trigger happy.”
“You are forgetting Mr. Tiwari that the country is ruled by the British. Infact traitor is one who goes against it. The police will get Azad sooner or later anyway. The militants are almost finished. Gandhiji had to give up his Non-cooperation movement. Think over it carefully, Mr. Tiwari. It is golden chance for you.”
“Golden chance of what?” Tiwari was puzzled.
“If your information leads to the arrest of Azad you stand to gain reward of ten thousand rupees.” The Inspector put his hand on Tiwari’s shoulder.
“Inspector! Are you trying to buy me. For your information I am not for sale. How can I betray a friend for money…ten thousand?”
“What’s wrong with you, Mr. Tiwari. Ten thousand is no small amount. Many people commit murder for that kind of money.”
“That’s enough, Inspector. I have my conscience also to keep. And there are other dangers. I don’t want to get killed for ten thousands rupees.”
“Come on, you know quite well that revolutionaries are finished. There will be no one left to kill you after the arrest of Azad. And he won’t even get bail.”
“But Inspector! I will have to face my people…the remaining members of the organisation. They will spit at me. I would become a bad name, a traitor.”
The Inspector realised that he was making impression. It was time to press on and hit the iron while it was hot. He said, “What happened to revolutionaries who became wise and cooperated with the police in Kakori case and Sanders case? They are living as honoured citizens. Who is spitting on their faces? Who is calling them traitors? Today every body is respecting them because they are rich due to the government help. Money can buy everything in our society, Mr. Tiwari. Still if you wish your name will be kept secret. No one else will know except we three present here. Be practical and grab this chance. Here.”
The Inspector put five thousand rupee wad of notes in Tiwari’s hand. Tiwari stared at the bundle. His eyes were twinkling. The sight of money was working like magic. The greed in Tiwari was winning over all of considerations.
That is how money magic is. It can turn friend into betrayers. It makes brother kill brother. It can buy one’s conscience. Tiwari now decided to rat on his friend but he kept up his act.
“Don’t force me, Inspector.”
The wily Inspector noticed that Tiwari’s hands were clutching the bundle of notes. That told him that Tiwari was in his bag. He smiled at Tiwari and gave a wink.
“You are doing the wise thing, Tiwari.”
“But this thing should remain secret. No one should know about it. It don’t want to lose face before my friends.” Tiwari put the bundle in his pocket and looked sheepishly around. All his dignity was gone and he was acting like a thief. He was even finding it difficult to meet the eyes of the Inspector and his constable friend. The Inspector consoled him, “Don’t worry. No one will know about this deal. No one.”
“What shall I have to do?”
“First, tell me where is Azad right now or these days?”
“In Allahabad. In Jhoosi colony I think.”
“Can we lay a siege there where he lives?”
“No.”
“The reason?”
“You can’t confront him in any open place or in a crowded colony. That is not the way. You will have to think of a clever trap. And I may not know everything about Azad. He keeps some things to himself only. After Kakori case he told his friends that he was going to his village to hide from the police. But he never went there. He went in some other direction. In the present situation also he might have some ace up his sleeve. If he slips away all of us would be in trouble,” Tiwari said.
“So, What do you suggest? Where do you meet him?”
“At Naini, or the bank of Yamuna.”
“Never in the city?”
“Sometimes, by chance.”
“So, suggest something.”
Tiwari and the Inspector talked in whispers for quite a long time. They were obviously hatching some plot.
“Remember, 10 a.m.—morning. Near that park.”
“Tiwari, keep up your end of the deal. Do not betray me. My future and your future depends on it.”
“Don’t worry.” Tiwari assured him.
Once a man takes to the path of sins, he is not satisfied with one sin. He adds more sins to it. Just like a falling person who can not arrest his fall and keeps falling until he hits the bottom.
Tiwari knew that Azad had deposited a sum of eight thousands rupees with a man in money business. The money belonged to the organisation ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Army’. Azad wanted that money back as he had drawn new plans to go South and rebuild the organisation there. The greedy businessman knew that the organisation was almost dead. He though that he could usurp that money. Just two days ago Azad had met that businessman. Tiwari was with him. The businessman tried to put him off. The dishonest Hindustani character was at play. He knew that Azad was in a delicate position. He could not threaten him or use force anymore.
Anyway he had promised to produce the money at noon two days hence. It was that day. Tiwari thought that he could grab that money posing as an agent of Azad. The businessman had seen him with Azad. There should be no problem. But the businessman was looking dishonest. He might think of some other reason to again put off Azad, Tiwari thought. In bad days even your shadow tries to trick you.
So, Tiwari went to the businessman early in the morning and woke him up. The sight of Tiwari frightened the businessman. Then he became normal when he found that Tiwari was alone. It was not revolutionary raid. And the matter of relief was that Azad was not with Tiwari. Tiwari said that he wanted to speak to him privately. They both sat is a small room.
Tiwari whispered, “Sethji, Azad know all about it.”
“About what…what?” The businessman stammered.
“Don’t hide the truth. The word is out that you have informed the police about Azad.”
“What? No. No. I didn’t inform the police. I swear.”
“Don’t put on an act. You should know that Azad has informers in police. This fact has been confirmed.”
Tiwari was as crafty as the businessman. The businessman had indeed informed the police about his scheduled meeting with Azad. By getting Azad arrested he could keep all the organisation money to himself, he had planned. And Tiwari had guessed it by the guilty expression on his face when he had woken him up. The businessman was on the defensive.
Tiwari said, “Whoever betrays Azad gets no pardon. He was about to send militants to kill you. But I cooled him down somehow on a promise.”
“Promise what?”
“Promise that I will make you return the party money at once. Eight thousand rupees. He needs for reorganising the party.”
“But…but I have no money.”
“You had promised to keep the money ready. What happened to that? You thought that you won’t have pay by getting him arrested? That was your plan, huh? Give me atleast half of that money so I can stop him from sending half a dozen militants after you. He wanted to leave to some place by 11 a.m. train. I will get rid of him for the time being.”
The greedy businessman did quick thinking and decided to pay something to buy time. He feared the arrival of Azad.
He brought out two and a half thousand rupees and pleaded that it was all he had. When he found that Tiwari was too eager to grab that money he smelled the dishonesty of Tiwari. Either the party was desperate for money or this man is going to cheat Azad just like him, he correctly guessed. So, he suddenly changed his stance.
He said to Tiwari, “I will give you 2500 rupees but you must give me a receipt of the full amount, 8000.”
Tiwari glared at him. ‘The cheat,’ he thought.
But he to had guilty conscience. For him whatever comes was a bonus. He was not going to refuse the bonus.
So, he said, “Okay, I will give you receipt for full amount. Azad needs money urgently. The rest you must pay later as it is country’s money.”
The businessman nodded his head and paid the money and took the receipt. Now why would he pay the rest? He got the receipt as a proof of the full payment.
Thus, two greedy Indians sold the revolution to each other and both felt victorious.
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