It was a bad day at the office. Most days were, for public office bearers in India. He still had one press conference to attend, if he remembered correctly. 'Shuklaji, whats left on today's schedule?'

'Press conference about Verma Committee report, sir. Madamji also called.' answered the man in the front seat of the car, juggling two phones and a black file, as he turned back to bark at the driver.

Prakash Awasthi was exhausted, but knew that he couldn't skip the press conference. He wiped his brow as he checked his blackberry for messages. Yes, his wife had called. What did she want now?

'Aarthi has not returned yet, please pick her up on the way home' he read aloud, squinting at his phone. "Okay, okay, I will. Phew, I just need some time' he said aloud, to no one in particular.

The Verma Committee report. The Verma Committee report was constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women. It was a tricky affair; sexual molestation in India. It had been happening since, well, forever. Ever since the Nirbhaya case, it had assumed tremendous importance in Indian politics. Nirbhaya was the nom de guerre of the victim of a horrific case of sexual assault. The girl was battling for her life in a hospital in New Delhi, even as he scribbled down key issues to address at the conference.

The reasons it was a tricky affair were aplenty. For one, there had always been discrimination based on sex in his country. In backward regions, daughters would be sold by their own fathers. Upon collecting the remuneration, they would cry 'Rape!’ for the added publicity. It was a sick and dirty rut, one most Indians in urban settings and upper echelons would be incapable of even imagining. For another, justice had always been a dish served cold in India. Many victims of other crimes would jump on to the rape bandwagon to get media attention, and have justice delivered faster.

Awasthi was the new face of Indian politics. At the relatively young age of 44, the suave economist had been branded as one of the most influential men in the country and was particularly loved for his incorruptible nature. He was received by warm applause as he entered the hall. Half an hour later, he had completed his speech. 'I'll be willing to answer your questions now' he completed, and walked to Shukla, to get a sip of water.

The question was about death sentences. He was tired of explaining this, repeatedly. He began, in a manner almost avuncular 'Ladies and gentlemen, if the punishment for those convicted of rape was death, you would never hear of rape in India again. No, it would still happen. You just wouldn't hear of it anymore. Bodies will be disposed with greater care; evidence will be destroyed much more efficiently. You see, the beasts responsible for these crimes, they don't think like you and me. Otherwise, they wouldn't commit these crimes, to start with. To them, death sentences don't act as deterrents. The law would fail to reduce the frequency of the crime, and would serve no purpose, whatsoever. You do realize that the only thing it will do is further endanger the victim.' he finished, hoping for the subject to be changed. He had gone over this in his mind over and over again, and had never really felt right about it. He knew that the decision was sound, pragmatic even, but had a bad feeling about it. 'You are not expected to legislate based on these little feelings, damn it' he thought to himself. Yet, he knew fully well that the feeling was just a logical thought he was simply not letting himself articulate fully. Decisions about death sentences were difficult. Did anybody really deserve death? His was a predilection towards life and redemption. However, he knew that that question had very little to do with their decision to not punish rapists with death. Like he had said previously, those beasts would simply become more efficient, and there would be nothing anybody could do about it. It disgusted him, the knowledge that the police force was so desperately helpless against these criminals.

'And what of the victim's family?' came the sharp retort, yanking him out of his ruminations.

'Our condolences are with them, sir, but in no circumstance can we legislate based on the victim's emotions, never. Are there any other questions?'.

'Just when will rape cease to happen in India? After all, isn't that the long term goal of the government?' he heard a squeaky voice yell from across the room.

'Reducing the frequency of a crime to absolute zero is not possible, but I catch your drift. There is no easy answer to this particular question. You see, the problem is, many of us seem to think of rape as a disease. Frankly, I think it is more a symptom than a disease. A symptom of a sick, backward society. The best we can do in our current predicament is control the crime. As of now, we only have deterrents in place to check the crime. These are not weapons potent enough to destroy the Lernaen hydra that is rape. Changes in the mentality of people, and education at the grassroots, these are the measures that will eventually make a difference. We must continue to bide our time, for. . . . .yes?' he turned to see Shukla handing him his phone with a sense of urgency. What now? he wondered as he checked the caller id. 'Commissioner Talwar? The last time that man had featured on caller list of his personal phone, it had been about the 26/11. Not a good sign' he cursed observing how the day was going from bad to worse, as he held the phone up to his ear.

To say that there was a marked change in his body language, would have been an understatement. The confident man from a minute ago had been reduced to a distraught mess.

'I will kill them all. Every last one of the bastards responsible.' he bawled, forgetting his etiquette and surroundings. Dropping the phone, he swooned, muttering under his breath.

His daughter had been raped.

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Yes, I know it is not realistic, and that there is no chance that a person like her was roaming the city without a body guard. It is just an attempt to show that there is more than one side to this coin. As always, I couldn't come up with a title myself. Help please. Thanks. :-D