It was nine o?clock at night and I was on my way home from work. My cell phone rang. It was a 208 number. ?Port-Louis, I thought, who could it be at this time?? I took the call. A man spoke and asked to speak to me. ?It is she?, I replied. ?What do you think you are doing by writing things on Indur? If you go ahead with this, we?ll have you kidnapped. Do you hear?? I will spare you the disgusting details. The language was crude and it was meant as an intimidation. It worked for a short while. I went numb. I was petrified. I couldn?t wait to get home. When I did, I spoke to a lawyer friend and he advised to go to the police station and report the matter. Which I did, after informing my employers of the situation.

Now of course when you walk into a police station at ten o?clock at night, you are disturbing many of the officers who think doing a night shift is equal to having a quiet night catching up with the gossip. I explained the reasons for my presence there. The police officers did not seem too sure what the next step should be. ?I want to give a statement,? I said. Of course I had to deal with ?he?s probably not serious? a few times. Eventually after much dilly-dallying, I managed to finally make my point; I am entitled to the protection of the law and as a precautionary measure, I want to put the threats on record just in case anything happens. Eventually my new found friends gave up and recorded my statements, probably thinking I was just another silly girl. ?Protection of the law!? I mused sarcastically as I left.

Back home, my mind was made up. Indur, the mafia, Antoine Chetty ? well it is not my battle. I am a journalist, informing is my business and it does not go any further. So, no more. I will take heed and refuse to publicise any information that I have on the Indur affair. Let the police do their job and if they have other priorities, then so be it.

I woke up and I felt ashamed for having had such thoughts. What about principles? Giving in to threats, however major or minor is for the weak. I was brought up differently. And I also believe in something called fate. And actions as well as their equal and opposite reactions. Whatever has to be, will be. End of story. I am paid to inform. I am not paid to be a coward or to be intimidated by cowards. I see this everyday at work; all of us journalists have a job to do and our allegiance is to public interest and that?s that. So it was light headed that I went to work this morning; I have a job to do. Oh and a message to my caller; next time, don?t call. Just do what you have to do. Because that?s exactly what I intend to do.