Sam, an aspiring journalist, smells something fishy. The increased number of kidnappings, numerous crimes, and the connectivity of the criminals. Scrolling through the news, she finds a criminal standing next to an MLA, posing for a picture while receiving an award. She closes her eyes, opening them again, only to find the criminal staring back at her through the image. 

'Wasn't he jailed last week? And got a bail within a few hours after the arrest?' She thought, his picture, perfectly ingrained in her mind. 'How come he is getting the award?' She wonders and meticulously reads the whole article, paying attention to every single word, going through each line multiple times, hoping to find any loophole, or some sort of clue or evidence.

This was the same criminal who always gets arrested and bailed out in a matter of hours. All the proofs and evidence against him suddenly vanish into thin air. 

Sam needs to know what this is about. Staring at the picture continuously, she begins connecting the dots in her mind. Now she understood why he got bailed immediately, and the vanishing of the evidence against him. She searches for the MLA, and realises this criminal is always with him, in almost every photo.

Now that things have made sense to her, she makes a file out of whatever she has and goes to visit the head of their department.

The head listens to her and tells her smugly, "Don't worry about other things, focus on your internship, get a good job, and lead your life happily. Don't pry your head into these matters and invite destruction." She didn't know if it was a warning or a threat, and urged him to look into the matter. This wasn't as simple as it seemed to be, and they're talking about the lives of many girls, children, and families.

But he waved it off and ordered her to leave his office. Sam wasn't disheartened at all. What was the use of studying journalism if she couldn't help people? She didn't just want to earn money, no, that wasn't the intention. Her sole purpose was to tell people the truth and create awareness. Being an intern at one of the best news channels in town sure made her understand the reality, the dark reality, and the hidden truth of news channels. 

They don't just publish news; they try to brainwash people. They twist the news, change a few words, favour one party, and hide the truth. And we're not talking about only one such channel, but many. Almost all of them receive money to publish news in their favour, or against some other party. This has been going on for a while.

And Sam was here to expose it. It was a tough job, but at least she could do something and tell the truth to people. And this, whatever she had found yesterday, wasn't something small. The MLA had a great fan following. Right from senior citizens to the youth, all of them followed him, and he was considered a god among them.

Sam, not the one to be deterred, began conducting her own research, quietly, secretly, and all along. It took a few days, and she had found all the FIRs filed against the criminal, the right-hand of the MLA. They were filed and cancelled, torn, or not even written at all. A few people had complained against him, and in a few days withdrew the complaint, stating a misunderstanding or wrong identification. 

But Sam knew the reality, that they must've been either silenced with money, or threatened with a few phone calls and thugs. It wasn't easy, but she had to do it. Another couple of days passed, and Sam got an idea that the kidnappings were done at the orders of that MLA. He probably sells the children and youth on the black market. That explains his luxurious life, multiple cars, numerous properties, and loyal dogs who obey him from the bottom of their heart.

She tipped off about the black money of that MLA to the income tax department. A raid was called for, but they found nothing. Sam decided to step in, personally, and once visited the MLA's house, disguising herself as someone in distress. Many people visited his house, bringing in complaints, and she joined them, for it was the only way to get there.

She took note of every detail, every luxury item, every piece of furniture. Right from the texture of the floor, to the paintings on the walls, and the fancy ceiling. She went home, not getting much information, and thought of new ways.

She started a YouTube channel anonymously, posting whatever proof and pieces of evidence she found, which included the hand of the MLA in the crimes and kidnappings. 

And suddenly, one day, Sam's YouTube channel vanished from the net, all the evidence posted online was never found, and even Sam herself disappeared.

Her family and friends filed missing complaints against her, but it didn't help. It's like she vanished into thin air. Nobody saw her, and there was no evidence as to how she disappeared. They had no way to find out about her, and were stuck in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where to go or look for her. 

The Reality!

Nobody knows where Sam is now, or what condition she is in! She can be hidden by the MLA, tortured by him and his people, or worse, sold off in the black market, either wholly or in pieces (body organs). 

This isn't just one Sam, it's about many people like Sam, all those who went in search of truth, and suddenly disappeared from the face of this earth. Their family and friends can't trace them, and live without knowing if they are even alive or dead. Many journalists and people who tell the truth suddenly disappear and can never be found.

This is the dark reality of media, where news is given based on what the politicians and people in high ranks want the public to see. Whereas the actual truth remains buried in the hearts of people like Sam, who will always be kept hidden, if alive, or buried with them in their graves.

Someone who wants to actually serve the nation, tell innocent people the dark reality is either silenced or killed. 

Do something!

If you want this to stop, you need to change yourself, your family, your society, and then the nation and the world. Change begins at home, with people around you, in your heart.

Don't just keep silent and endure the torture.
Nothing will happen by cursing people at home while watching the news
Nothing will change by itself or on its own.

Be the change you want to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi

This work can't be done by only one person, but it is the responsibility of each and every citizen and individual to raise their voices together against the corruption and exploitation.

Don't just pity people like Sam and move on in your life. 

Do something like Sam and expose the wrongdoers.

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