So the admission process is over and here is where you belong. Irrespective of the fact, whether you are plain guilty or innocent, rich or poor, fair or black, chances are if I was rich enough, it would have been possible for me to be above the law. You are under judicial custody a technical name though while nobody treats a special way as far as they are considered. Everyone out here is equal. Probably the more ghastly your crime is the more respect you get and of course the more physically big you are then you have a better chance at that.

Now we go to have our first lunch. As we are led to the new block there are faces staring at us as if we have descended from the moon. Quite like being paraded naked. I did feel a little odd and realizing that I fastened my pace of my steps. The ward No. 3 where were being led was on the northern side of the jail. It has a big skyline with tall coconut trees and a lot of tamarind trees inside the campus housing the cells on both sides forming the compound to other wards on either sides. The cells had an external walls and grills and inside they were four or five cells each and each cell could accommodate anywhere from three to five prison inmates.

We ended up along the long lane to the last grilled door. Then Jai hind who was coming behind us came and shouted to the guy inside - 'Get all these guys a plate to have food'

The guy was little unclean, meaning his dress were washed only god knows when. He brought out some ten to twelve plates all of aluminum and crushes here and there.

Jai Hind said 'Just use this for the time being in the meantime I shall arrange for the better ones. Now go and take your lunch' so saying he left us. I do not know why I was feeling bad about his exit, but somehow, I was feeling as if I had known him for long. Was this thinking too dangerous or was it normal at that moment. I needed to reassure myself.

My train of thoughts was suddenly stopped when I was thrust with one of the wrinkled plates and the guy said 'Hold it dear you may sometime not have even this'

Now you need to go the start of the block to take your food.

As we walk the new guys, there are some laughing jokes played around. Perhaps, this is the way people are or are they just trying to misbehave. May be may be not. I could sense a touch of normality after I cross some cells. Seemed like people were living here. Nicely cleaned out cells and a few even washed up and painted anew. And there was this clothesline as if in a rented house zig zag and everywhere. Some were so inventive they put up the long bits of cloth to make for a rope.

As we pass one particular cell, there was commotion all around. Just wanted to avoid the scene but then the curiosity factor overwhelmed my instincts and there I saw myself walking towards that. But I woke up in time to restrict myself getting into the scene.

There had been a problem over food. Well this needn't be Somalia but food is food everywhere thats what people work their day out to earn. A lot of people world over don’t have this luxury for a day. Here then it is free food and it is the duty of the Master to actually see that it is properly given. The row seems to have erupted after one prisoner had mistakenly taken another plate which was a neat one.

So we are there at the place where they serve the rice. I could see the log of the metal table like setting with just a foot high, and the sambhar, was in a bucket brought by the two hefty guys hanging on a pole.

So its time for me to introduce one of the serious fellow prison in mates, who happened to serve the food and also maintain discipline. His name is Imran referred to as Immi.

He surveyed us all. 'New admits' he said to himself. His face beamed and his lips smiled.

'Welcome to you all', I was surprised by this. And then the next moment

'You bloody buggers, take care not to get into any trouble, Now make a line'  Hours inside this prison walls I think I had got used to this 'get into line' 'get into fours', what the heck I thought.

It was just a few train of thought before I saw the guy before me being given  a hard slap. I was really frightened. You didn't know why and then it could be anybody.

'You need to learn to be humble before food. Do you understand??' Imran seemed to be telling the guy before me.

Then it was my turn.

I bent enough to please him. But he said 'That’s too much man. Do bend too much ok'

He said all this looking straight into my eyes. 'Meet me after your lunch is over, you get me.'

So with the plate leaking around with sambhar we came back to where we got our plates. I had no appetite, who would have? Only yesterday, the same time I started thinking....

I stopped myself because I knew it was going to trouble me more than what I can manage. I keep looking at the food and then one guy comes past me and asks, 'Hey man, aren't you eating?'

I just nodded, 'need help'. I knew what he suggested and I said 'Yeah, take it if you want.'

Within the next few seconds my plate was emptied and given back. Poor fellow, I thought must have been hungry. And hunger I thought knows no race or creed, nor sex nor age.

I go out and a few steps on, at the tank filled with water, I wash my plate.