Shruti's night in jail

[desiaks]

SATURDAY MORNING, 1 A.M.

Mumbai

A red sports car whizzed past Inspector Ganesh on the highway going 120 km per hour. He turned on his lights and siren and followed.

It was at least a full minute before the driver pulled over. Ganesh continued to follow as the driver pulled to the shoulder and stopped. He stopped behind the car and stepped out of his vehicle. He cautiously approached the driver's door, shining his flashlight into the lowered window.

The driver shielded her eyes from the light.

"Is there a problem?" she asked.

Ganesh gave a beat before answering.

"You were going pretty fast back there," he said. 

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I must have lost track of how fast I was going."

"I need your license and registration, please," said Ganesh.

She pulled the items from her purse which sat on the passenger seat. She handed them to him.

"Look, Inspector," she said. "I'm very sorry for speeding. Would it be possible to just...get a warning this time?"

Ganesh looked at her license.

"I thought I recognized you," he said. "Shruti Hassan, the actress."

She smiled and nodded.

"That's me," she said.

"Miss Hassan, your speech is a bit slurred. Have you been drinking tonight?"

She hesitated before answering.

"I've—I've had a couple," she said. "Not enough to impair me, though."

Ganesh nodded.

"Uh-huh," he said. "Ok, what I'm going to need you to do is to turn your engine off and step out of your vehicle, please."

"Come on, Inspector—" she squinted to read his name tag, "Inspector, I told you I'm not drunk. I—"

"Miss Hassan, please turn off your ignition and step out of the car."

Sighing, annoyed, Shruti did as she was asked to do. She was wearing a low-cut red dress which left ample cleavage.



"Wait here for one moment, please," said Ganesh.

He walked back to his car and picked up his radio.

"This is Unit 35," he said. "I am on the Hollywood Freeway going north just past the Santa Monica Boulevard exit. I am on a traffic stop, may have a DUI arrest. Please prepare a unit to cover my post and await confirmation."

"Standing by to confirm," the voice responded over the radio.

Ganesh took out the breathalyzer from his supply kit and returned to Shruti outside her car.

"Miss Hassan, I need you to breathe into this device, please."

"Inspector, is this really necessary. I—"

"Miss Hassan, please do as I ask.*

Sighing again she breathed into the breathalyzer. It made several beeping noises and Ganesh took it back and read the display. It gave a .14 reading.

"Miss Hassan, you are well over the legal limit to drive."

Shruti sighed again and closed her eyes.

"I'm afraid I need to place you under arrest for driving under the influence," Ganesh continued. "Please turn around and face your car."

"Inspector, please," Shruti pleaded.

"Miss, turn around please."

Reluctant and scared, she turned around.

"Arms behind your back please," said Ganesh.

She did as she was asked. Gently, Ganesh locked a pair of handcuffs around her wrists.

"Inspector, please," she pleaded.

Ganesh leaned in.

"Miss Hassan, if I let you drive away and something happens, I am responsible. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"Then just give me a ride home, please. I can't go to jail."

"Miss Hassan," Ganesh said, still not addressing her by her first name. "I've always liked you. You've always struck me as very down-to-earth. I hope you don't believe you're above the rules."

She shook her head and said nothing. Simply to follow procedure, Ganesh recited her Miranda rights to her. He reached into car, took her keys out of the ignition. He led Shruti back to his car and gently assisted her into the backseat. He sat back into the driver's seat and picked up his radio again.

"This is Unit 35 again," he said. "Please send unit to cover my post. Returning to station with DUI arrest."

"Confirmed," the voice responded.

Shruti was silent on the entire drive to the station. When Ganesh had pulled into the station lot, she finally spoke.

"There's no way to keep this silent, is there?" she said.

"Ma'am, this is a DUI. You'll need to appear in court for it. As for now, you'll be spending at least the night in jail."

She hung her head. Ganesh got out and helped her out of the car. He led her into the station and took her to processing. He removed her handcuffs and handed her a plastic bag.