Thursday 2024

Naina Jaiswal, a teacher at the Little Tots play school in Colaba, Mumbai, had been absent for three weeks without explanation, raising concern among her colleagues and parents. Her school sits across from the property owned by her fiancé, Rohit Mirchandani, where he resides, adding a personal connection to the unfolding events. One particular day, Naina interacts with a parent dropping off their child, Niharika, with whom she discusses the upcoming birthday celebrations, requesting that a cake be sent to the school. When the parent asks if their driver can deliver the cake, Naina becomes agitated and, unexpectedly, calls the police to announce that she has taken 16 children hostage.

The situation quickly escalates as Rohit’s driver arrives with the cake, and Savitri, the helper, returns for her phone, both becoming involuntary hostages. Initially, authorities suspect Naina’s hostage situation is a hoax, but their doubts are dispelled when she fires a shot, signaling her seriousness. ACP Catherine Alvarez, with her complex history working alongside Javed Khan, attempts to negotiate with Naina, who insists she will only speak to Javed. She demands a transfer of ₹5 crore to her account and threatens the lives of the children if her demands are not met.

As negotiations progress, Naina insists she will only communicate with Javed, whom she believes she can trust, and demands to speak directly with the Prime Minister, Maya Rajguru. The Prime Minister responds, speaking directly to Naina on the phone, and Naina then requests a meeting in person. During this tense interaction, Naina reveals her knowledge of Rakesh Mathur and Charan Kumar, whom she believes are involved in her trauma. The police manage to locate Rakesh in Goregaon but cannot find Charan, leaving Naina’s true motives even more ambiguous.

Further investigation uncovers that Naina has been dependent on antidepressants and therapy since she was 16. When Catherine searches her home, she finds receipts from Dr. Juneja, leading her to contact the doctor. This prompts Naina’s mother, Kusum, to disclose a heartbreaking detail: Naina was sexually assaulted at 16. Kusum’s account reveals that Naina’s case was initially overlooked by Javed and Catherine during their pursuit of a high-profile case, which made her feel neglected and dismissed over the years. Her mother’s testimony deeply affects Javed, stirring feelings of guilt and regret.

In a pivotal moment, the Prime Minister decides to meet Naina in person, accompanied only by Javed. During their conversation, Naina questions the effectiveness of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act enacted in 2012, asking why there isn’t similar protection for adults. She demands justice for her rapists, including the possibility of the death penalty. The Prime Minister assures her her rapists are imprisoned, but Naina shocks everyone by claiming that the child she previously said she murdered is actually alive.

In a shocking revelation, Naina identifies Charan Kumar as Niharika’s driver, who had brought the birthday cake, and she accuses him of being one of her rapists. She also accuses Rakesh of holding her hands during the assault. Naina then shoots Charan, and the police special forces storm the school, arresting her amidst the chaos. Rohit, witnessing her arrest, salutes her—a gesture rooted in a prior conversation where he expressed respect for those who truly deserve it.

While being taken to prison, Naina’s case sparks a parliamentary debate on capital punishment, which the Prime Minister raises to the assembly. Seven months later, Naina is seen teaching a class behind prison bars, and as she picks up a newspaper reporting on capital punishment, she smiles, suggesting a sense of quiet resolution or hope for justice.

“Where does the justice for those who have been hurt beyond repair truly lie?”