The last wish

Murari looked clean after the shave and shower. It was 5 pm but getting darker. He was to be hanged early next morning

The jailer came to his cell and asked him "Tonight you will have your last dinner. If you wish to eat something specifically, tell me I will try having it made"

"No, I have no such wish. I would rather prefer to skip the dinner" he replied

“Have something. Don’t be on an empty stomach. Do you have any last wish? If it is reasonable, I can arrange it"

"Yes, I have one wish. If you can meet it, I would be beholden to you"

"Tell me, I will try if it is possible"

"I wish to meet the judge who condemned me just for two minutes"

"Oh, oh.That may be difficult. He may not agree to meet you , I am sure. I can pass on any message you have for him" the jailer replied.

."Please tell him that I would peacefully depart from this world if I can meet him for just one minute. I will be behind iron railings and shackled if you wish. Let him have no fear. I just wish to convey one small news"

"Let me try though I am not sanguine about the outcome"

"Surprisingly the judge was there at 8 pm. Murari stood behind the wire meshed partition.

"Can I have one or two minutes with judge in privacy?"he said to jailer. The jailer and constables went out of earshot.

"What is it you wanted to tell me?" asked the judge.

"Do you remember my case, Sir?"

"Yes, I skimmed through before I came here. You can tell me"

"Just this, Sir.I will be dead by dawn tomorrow. I do not need to lie to you.
Suffice it for me to tell you that I am not guilty and did not commit any criminal act. I swear upon god the truth of my statement. Unfortunately I was at the scene of crime"

"The case was that you killed a hapless woman when she rejected your lustful advances and that you were found with the weapon. The police had an iron clad case against you” said judge

"You knew who killed her” replied Murari

"Who?"
"You and none else. When you had abducted that woman in your car and attempted to molest her in a secluded corner, I surprised you by peeping into the car. She screamed for help on seeing me. Fully drunk and tottering as I was I could not help her. Seeing my state you shot her, hit me on the head and thrust the gun in my hand. You tipped the police from a booth. Even my government appointed lawyer would not believe me and to my ill luck you heard my case in court"

"Bad for you but good for me no one knew the truth.Tell me if you have a family. I will take care of her. Goodbye" he said with a vicious smile.

"My last wish was to have this conversation recorded. You will have your retribution" replied Murari and spat on judge's face.