I don’t know how do I start? To put the things in the right perspective, I need to give you a short introduction of myself.

I was born in a lower middle-class family my father was employed in a private firm. All through my childhood I have gone through many financial constrains. But somehow, I grew up with a bold nature and by the time I joined my college, I had grown up into a very extrovert person.

Like most Bangaloreans, I was well versed in quite a few languages and so I could get along with almost every person. It was only the fourth day in my college life that I come across Dasu. He was from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, a coastal district. Dasu seemed to be a very introvert person and hardly mingled with anybody in the class, even his English was quite poor and he doesn’t have any knowledge of Kannada. I told him that he could speak to me in Telugu. This happened to be a magical tool and I found him opening up very easily.

Within a few weeks Dasu and me were quite good friends. I found that he was quite talented, a beautiful painter, a good singer and also a good speaker.

One day I told Dasu about our financial problems, and also told him of my plans to start a small business to support my family. He thought for some time and asks me how much money I would be requiring. I told him that 25000/- would do. 

Those were the days of early nineties and 25000/- was quite good money. Arranging that sum was quite a herculean task for us. But Dasu did not give-up. 

After a few days Dasu became quite irregular to the college. One day he asked me to meet him at the Brigade Road and Residency Road Junction. When I meet him I was surprised to find him painting a big hoarding. On that day he gave me 10000/- rupees and asked me get on with my business. I was shocked, he assured me with that within next 2 months he would also arrange another 15000/- rupees. I really felt indebted but did not know what to tell him. 

After this I got busy with college in the morning and started garment trading in the evenings. Many times I tried to meet Dasu at his aunt’s house but normally he was not found. 

Almost after a month and a half he came to meet me. He looked quiet changed; he was well dressed wearing an expensive wrist watch and a Ray-ban glass. I felt quite impressed at his looks. He talked to me about my business and gave another 10000/- rupees before leaving. My gratitude towards Dasu was growing. 

On the Christmas Eve he invited me to the pub-world, I was shocked to see him flanked by so many young girls and he was having a gala time. I tried to ask him how his work was going on. He just smiled at me and said that there was lot of money in Bangalore; he was just taking his share out of it. I could not make out much of what he was saying. I just enjoyed the evening and returned home.

After this for almost 6 months I got no news of Dasu. I tried to contact him at every possible place I could but Dasu was not to be found. It became quite a mystery to me. Even his aunt came to enquire about him, but I had no answer. 

One night around to I heard a knock at the door. Cautiously, I asked who it was and in a very whispering tone, I got the reply. Luckily, my room was not connected with my parent room, we had separate entrance. As I opened the door, I was shocked to see Dasu standing there in a miserable state. His dress was soiled, from his looks I could make out that he had neither eaten nor bathed for quite a few days. I called him in.

That’s night he just slept off. The next morning it was almost 10 when he woke up. By the time I had informed my parents about him. After having the breakfast he asked me if I could give him some money. I had 5000/- rupees which I gave him. He told me that by night he would be leaving. After lunch, I asked him about his problem. Initially he was hesitant, but then he opened up.

Dasu had be-friend with one David and they both started contacting the boys working in various showrooms of Ray-ban and Titan. Those boys would steal the glasses and watches from the showrooms and sell those to David and Dasu. These items they sold to the boys and girls from well to do families who visited the pubs and malls. The continued this for some two and a half months. Then one of the boys in a Ray-Ban showroom was caught red-handed and then the police ware behind Dasu and David. In the mean time Dasu and David fell out and in a brawl Dasu killed David. Since Dasu is on a run. 

I felt shattered after hearing to the whole thing and asked Dasu, what he was planning for future. He did not answer, but now I was felling panicked because, the police might consider me and accomplice. I felt I had to take a decision. At night around 10 I sent a letter through one of our neighbors to the local police station the local police station. Around 11.30 pm. the police were at my doors, they arrested Dasu. He was looking at me with appealing eyes. I could not face him. 

Even today I feel bad for that night, but I believe I could not have done anything better either. I know many will call me a betrayer. But I could not have allowed my friend to be hunted and killed on the streets of Bangalore.