Chapter- 41

Scent of incense, fresh flowers, and burning camphor wafted through the air. The strings of flowers hung gracefully, decorating every corner of the house with warmth and devotion. It was the first day of Navratri and the second day of the court hearing. Even the atmosphere felt like a strange blend of faith and uncertainty.

Eshita kept the pooja thal before the idol once done with the morning rituals. Her gaze rose, glancing at the framed image of Goddess Durga. Last five years she had spent questioning her faith, thinking that believing in God meant setting yourself up for disappointment. Why was she always so hard on her? Why couldn”t she give them what they wanted? First her mother, then her father, and then her brother. Her happy family broke like pearl beads slipping out of a broken string, scattering in every direction, and each time she tried to piece them back together, it ended up hurting her.

But today Eshita felt a different sense of peace. Her gaze fell on the mauli in the pooja thal. In the past, every year their mother used to tie the thread on their wrists, her belief, her prayers, her unwavering faith that the Goddess would protect her family from every evil that dared come near them.

Eshita”s fingers trembled ever so slightly as she picked up the very thread for the first time in five years. Earlier she was so upset with the goddess that she refused to believe in their existence. Her mother taught her that if they accept us like their children, then we also have the right to get hurt and upset by their decisions, and she was finally beginning to understand that.

She turned to her father, forwarding the thread. It was always their parents who tied that thread. Even before an idol, it was the blessings of parents that mattered the most.

Virendra took the thread from her hands, effortlessly dividing it into three parts. He met his son”s gaze. “Baandwaye ga mujhse?”

Ekansh raised an eyebrow. “Do I have a choice?”

Virendra shrugged. “Obviously not.”

Eshita pushed her brother forward. “Can you both please stop sulking like toddlers? Agar itna hi gussa ho ek dusre se toh talwar nikal kar hi lad lo ek hi time par. Stop annoying me with such dry replies.”

“Ask him!” Both father and son stated in sync.

Eshita groaned. Finally, they were retracing back to where they used to be. Stubborn man and their equally stubborn genes! Despite it all, she was loving the changing dynamics taking shape before her eyes.

Virendra kept his hand on his son”s head as he took his blessings. He pulled him up. “May God bless you, baccha.”

Ekansh stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his father. The present scene pulled him into the past. The familiarity hit the right chord of his heart. Today was a big day, and with the blessings of both his parents, he hoped everything would finally fall into place.

Eshita cleared her throat. “My turn!” She pushed Ekansh out of the way unceremoniously.

Ekansh shook his head, draping his arm around Ekta”s shoulder and pulling her into a side hug. She was silent and observant since morning. Not once had she denied the pooja or prasad, but her reluctance was clear. He didn”t want to make her feel uncomfortable. The moment belonged to her as much as them.

“Khush rahe humesha,” Virendra murmured, kissing Eshita”s crown tenderly.

Eshita frowned. “Bss? Aur kuch nhi? Aashirvad dene mein bhi kanjoosi, Dad?”

Virendra cradled her face gently. “Jo humara hai vo sab kuch toh humesha se hi tera tha. Aur meri beti ko mere hote hue kaun hi pareshan kar sakta hai ki main tujhe alag se aashirvad doon?”

“I wasn”t a perfect father and i don”t think I will ever be. But I promise....” His voice thickened slightly. “Jitna waqt mere paas hai usmein main tujhe dobara kabhi akela mehsoos nhi hone dunga.”

Eshita smiled through her tears. “You are making me cry on such a beautiful day. So bad!” She buried her face in his warmth, blinking away the tears. “You are the best father any child could ask for. Please don”t think like that. Mein aapko khai nhi jaane dungi.”

Virendra held her close to his heart. He knew what he was. He knew he was still in the process of changing himself. But a dying man often recognizes the footsteps of fate long before others do, and Virendra was no different.

If life truly intended to take him away, then before leaving he wanted to mend every broken piece he had left behind, fill the emptiness of those five lost years, and give his children enough love to last a lifetime. Only then would he be able to close his eyes in peace.

Eshita pulled back blinking away his tears, “Wase...” She trailed off, noticing the third thread in his hand. Her gaze met his before glancing back at Ekta.

Virendra sighed. He had by mistake divided it into three just like his wife always did, or maybe somewhere deep down it wasn”t a mistake at all, as ignoring Ekta”s presence in the family was becoming harder with every passing day.

Ekta looked on as the trio stared at her. The thread in Virendra”s hand felt heavier than it should have. She didn”t want to take it. Memories rushed back all at once. God never helped. God never answered. Her mother prayed without any expectations, without asking for anything in return, yet they snatched her away from her. She didn”t want to believe again.

Yet even while battling her inner turmoil, she found herself slowly forwarding her hand before Virendra.

Because it was hard ignoring that tender look in the eyes of a man who had spent the last few days caring for her. Not loudly to show off, but silently making sure her meals weren”t extra spicy, her room was cleaned by the maids every day, her AC which was making noise a day before at night was repaired the very next day because he called the technician himself.

She didn”t dare name that kind of care as anything; they shared nothing between them except for awkward silences and unaddressed emotions.

Virendra hesitated for a heartbeat before rolling the thread around her wrist. “There are many noises in the world, Ekta.” His voice remained calm and steady, “But the one that matters is ours. Jo awaaz apne dil se nikale, vo awaaz duniya ke sabhi sawalon ko, nazron ko ansuna kar deti hai.”

He stepped back, meeting her gaze. “Par apne dil ki awaaz sunne ke liye hume apne aap ko izzat se dekhna hoga. Respecting ourselves for who we are, not hating ourselves for who we were.”

Ekta”s gaze lowered, unable to meet the sincerity in his eyes. The wisdom behind his words reached her clear. Even Ekansh wanted her to do just that. She felt disgusted toward herself for her past, but they wanted her to accept herself despite it. But it was hard. Hopefully one day she will learn how to.

Quietly, she bent down to take his blessings just like Ekansh, but Virendra stopped her, holding her shoulders abruptly. “Kya kr rahi hai, baccha? Betiyaan pair nhi chooti.”

He pulled back instinctively, feeling her stiffen. Carefully, stepping back, respecting her space.

Ekta gave a small, tiny, almost invisible nod. She didn”t focus on his words but on her own actions. For the first time in so long, she didn”t recoil at a stranger”s touch. No matter how much her brain knew that not everyone was a danger, her system always went into defensive mode, but today she didn”t flinch.

Virendra”s touch was gentle yet so unfamiliar. She had only felt that with Ekansh and slowly now with Eshita too. But with Virendra, there was a strange sense of safety she couldn”t understand or explain. She didn”t know what was happening to her. Was it the start of something new or the beginning of a change she wasn”t prepared for?

✨✨✨

The air tensed instantly, thick with hostility and anticipation as everyone settled down in their seats, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

Ekta reached out for Ekansh”s hand, leaning slightly closer to him without realizing it. Even though Samar wasn”t present there, the memories of a week ago, his dark haunting orbs, and the fear he had left behind, still bothered her.

Ekansh felt her fingers tighten around his and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “It”s okay. Mein yahi hoon.” He murmured quietly.

Ekta nodded but didn”t let go.

Across the room, Suraj sat with a new lawyer, Anand Shah, a victorious smirk playing on his lips as though the verdict had already been decided.

The judge entered. Everyone stood before taking their seats once again.

Anand rose to his feet first. Picking up a document from the table, he walked forward and handed it to the court clerk.

“Your Honor,” He began confidently, “I am here to represent Mr. Thakur”s case. As we are all aware of the ongoing investigation involving Mr. Singhania, it is my professional belief that the Sehgal family is directly involved in orchestrating the entire matter. I believe they have deliberately trapped a respectable lawyer into such a dirty and fabricated scandal.”

“I object, Your Honor.” Ananya rose to her feet. “Mr. Shah is drifting away from the matter at haand,” She stated firmly. “We are here to discuss my client Ekta”s custody, not Mr. Singhania”s investigation.”

She turned toward Anand. “And before dragging the Sehgal”s into this, I believe we need evidence to support such a serious accusation. So tell me, Mr. Shah...” Her gaze sharpened. “Do you have any?”

Anand”s confidence faltered for a fraction of a second. “There is no concrete proof at the moment, Your Honor. However, if the court grants me some time, I will....”

“And you will come back with fabricated evidence?” Ananya cut him off sharply.

Anand”s face darkened. “Are you questioning my professional integrity, Ms. Kaur?”

Ananya folded her arms. “No, Sir.” A small smile appeared on her lips. “I am questioning whether you have any integrity left to question.”

The courtroom fell silent. The judge looked up.

Anand”s face reddened immediately. “Your Honor!”

“Ms. Kaur...”

“I apologise, Your honor. I wasn”t insulting him,” Ananya added calmly. “Since Mr. Shah wishes to discuss assumptions, I choose to state facts instead.”

She picked up a medical file from the table, “My client...Ekta has a documented history of severe anxiety, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress resulting from years of abuse and neglect. The medical reports submitted before this court clearly indicate that prolonged emotional stress and repeated exposure to traumatic triggers can significantly deteriorate her condition.”

She opened the report and continued, “As witnessed by everyone present during the last hearing, my client suffered a severe panic attack and emotional breakdown inside this very courtroom. The doctor has specifically advised that she should be protected from unnecessary psychological distress and situations that force her to repeatedly relive her trauma.”

She paused briefly before adding, “This is not an attempt to avoid legal proceedings, Your Honour. However, the court must also consider the mental and physical well-being of a victim. Every appearance, every accusation, and every forced recollection of those events is worsening her condition. The medical recommendation is clear! Ekta”s recovery requires a stable environment and minimal exposure to severe emotional stress. Continuing to subject her to avoidable trauma may cause irreversible damage to her mental health.”

She placed the file before the judge. “Unlike Mr. Shah, I came prepared with evidence.”

Anand clenched his fists. He was not prepared to hear that so confidently where he had believed he controlled the narrative.

Ekta looked at Ananya with widened eyes. For the first time since entering the courtroom, she felt a tiny flicker of hope. Maybe... Just maybe this would all end once and for all. Maybe she would finally be free from the shadows of her past, free from the fear that had followed her.

Beside her, Ekansh sat perfectly still, his fingers drawing tiny circles on Eshita”s hand, who sat beside him anxious and tense, while his other hand held both of Ekta”s. His sisters leaned on him for emotional support and silent reassurance. He had already provided Ananya with whatever she wanted, using every resource at his disposal to get Ekta out of the mess. Everything was going just as Ananya had planned out.

“Your Honor, the case is very simple.” Ananya added before Anand could come up with an argument, “If Ekta Thakur is safe with anyone, then it is the Sehgal family. You should allow legal guardianship to Virendra Seghal rather than sending the girl back to her family.”

The judge adjusted her glasses.

“Another point to be noted, Your Honor... her own father chose his son over his daughter.” Ananya stated, recounting the incident that had happened in the village and how Bhairav let Tej drag away his daughter.

The courtroom fell silent.

“So what is the guarantee that history won”t repeat itself? The family suddenly remembered they have a daughter after ten years? After throwing her into a pit and abandoning her there? How convenient. Where was this concern all these years? Ten years later they suddenly want their daughter back? How? Why?”

She turned sharply toward Anand. “For ten years, did they know where Ekta was? Vo kasie jee rahi thi? Vo zinda bhi thi ya nhi? Did they file reports? Did they search every city? Where is the FIR they lodged? Where is the proof that they spent even a single day looking for her?”

“Exactly.” Anand rose from his seat. “We all know how powerful the Sehgal are. It is entirely possible that Ekansh Sehgal kept the girl forcefully. What if he found her? What if he kidnapped her?”

“From where?” Aanaya cut him off immediately. The sharpness in her voice made him pause. “Please enlighten us, Mr. Shah. From where exactly did Mr. Seghal kidnap her? Which house? Which city?”

She took a step forward. “And more importantly, why would he kidnap her?”

Anand opened his mouth.

Aanaya didn”t let him speak. “Again, Your Honor, these are nothing more than baseless assumptions with absolutely no evidence supporting them.”

She looked back at Anand, “Just for the record, Mr. Shah, there is a significant difference between a kidnapped child and a child who willingly chooses where she feels safe.”

Mmurmur spread through the courtroom.

Anand straightened his shoulders. “Or perhaps the girl doesn”t know what is right or wrong for her yet. We cannot forget that Ekta is only sixteen, Your Honor. A teenager whose judgment can be easily influenced.”

His gaze shifted back towards Ekansh. “Maybe she doesn”t understand Sehgal”s real intentions. Specifically, Ekansh Sehgal”s intentions.”

Ekansh”s expression remained cold.

Anand continued slowly. “Aakhir ek anjaan ladki ko itne saalon tk apne ghr mein rakhna... sawaal toh banta hi hai. Ab koi bhi aadmi kisi pr itna waqt, itna paisa yun hi nhi lagata. Logon ko jo dikh raha hai, zaroori nhi kahaani sirf utni saaf ho. What if his intentions were never as noble as he claimed they were. What if he used the girl for his own....”

“HOW DARE YOU!” Eshita roared, rising to her feet before he could complete the sentence. The chair scraped harshly against the floor.

Her blood boiled. How could someone stoop so low and twist something so pure into something filthy? How could they look at a man who had spent years protecting a little girl and reducing it to such disgusting accusations?

The room fell silent.

Ekta stilled. Her fingers loosened around Ekansh”s wrist as the words echoed through the hall. Those accusations weren”t new. She had heard much worse. The only difference was that for the first time she was hearing them in front of people who mattered to her. For a man she considered her brother, her saviour. A man who had given her a home when she had none, who had protected her without asking her identity, who had never once crossed a line despite all the years they had spent together.

But hearing strangers question the purity of that bond. It felt like someone stabbing her heart brutally when she was still alive. That kind of hurt was far more than she expected. She felt self-hatred rising....

Her thoughts trailed away. She glanced down. Ekansh held her hand before she could pull back completely. His grip tightened ever so slightly. Hesitantly, she lifted her gaze and met his eyes. She didn”t care what people said about her. Her heart knew the truth. But she couldn”t bear anyone questioning Ekansh. His character. His intentions. His goodness. Turning something so selfless into something ugly and shameful.

“Don”t give such people the power to define your truth.” Virendra”s low voice cut through the silence as he gently pulled Eshita back into her seat.

Such tactics were older than the business itself. When people failed to attack your strengths, they attacked your character. He was barely holding himself back. Otherwise even he didn”t trust the sudden protective instinct rising within him.

Eshita clenched her fists. “Bhaiya, how can you be calm after hearing that?”

“Because outrage is exactly what they want,” Virendra replied for his son, though his eyes had turned dangerously cold. “And we shouldn”t give them that satisfaction they are looking for.”

Ekansh gave a small nod toward Ekta. He had heard what his father said. So had she. That”s what he also believed in. For the rest, he would make sure Anand Shah paid a heavy price for even daring to utter such things. If the man thought he could walk away after inflicting wounds with his words, then he was gravely mistaken. Ekansh Sehgal never forgot, and neither he never forgave.

For now his focus was Ekta. He could offer her support. He could stand beside her. He could fight the entire world for her if needed. But she had to be the one who believed that none of those words defined her. His jaw tightened. He was furious. He had been prepared for this from the day he gave Ananya informatipn about his past. People always questioned what they couldn”t understand. He didn”t care what names they called him. He didn”t care what stories they invented. Ekta was his priority. And she always would be.

The judge shot Anand a warning glare. “Mind your words, Mr. Shah. Don”t forget that a minor is present in this courtroom. You aren”t discussing a criminal case but a bond between a brother and sister. Be careful with your choice of words, or I won”t mind holding you in contempt.”

“I apologize, Your Honor,” Anand apologized immediately, straightening his coat. “I was merely presenting the facts before the court.”

He paused before continuing. “To be honest, I don”t think the Seghal”s deserve Ekta”s custody, especially when their own lives are a mess. With your permission, Your Honor, I would like to call Mr. Virendra Sehgal to the witness box.”

“Permission granted.”

Virendra rose from his seat. The entire courtroom seemed to straighten unconsciously as he walked toward the witness stand. Even after everything, the man carried an aura that demanded attention, icy, controlled and unshaken. He took the oath before settling into the witness box.

Anand adjusted a few files. “Mr. Sehgal, is it true that a decade ago you and your wife adopted Ekansh Sehgal?”

Virendra met his gaze calmly. “Yes.”

“So your adopted son...”

“My son!” Virendra cut him off coldly. “He has a name.... Ekansh Virendra Sehgal. Address him with respect or I won”t mind teaching you some.” The threat hung heavy in the air. He gave a damn about courtroom formalities or anything. No one could come and reduce his son to a label like that.

Anand remained unfazed. “So protective? I appreciate that. But is it also true that five years ago you asked your beloved son, Ekansh Sehgal, to leave your house?”

“Yes.” Virendra answered without hesitation.

“And why exactly?”

“It was a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” Anand repeated sarcastically. “A misunderstanding serious enough to separate a father from his son for five years? Did you blame him for your wife”s death? Did you accuse him? Why did you ask him to leave?”

Eshita reached for Ekansh”s hand in support. The questions hurt her, but she was sure her bhaiya might be feeling more than just discomfort.

Virendra remained composed. “None of them. My wife passed away. I was grieving. I made decisions in my emotional turmoil, something I shouldn”t have.”

Anand opened another file. “Let”s move to another matter.” He held up a medical report. “Mr. Sehgal, are these your medical records?”

“Yes.”

“Are you an addict?”

“I was.”

Anand nodded. “Your alcohol consumption has been quite heavy for the last few years. And you collapsed last month, later diagnosed with acute liver failure.” He turned toward the judge dramatically. “Your Honor, the reports clearly show that Mr. Sehgal is suffering from advanced liver complications. Furthermore, he admits to alcohol addiction.”

He glanced at Virendra. “Thank you, Mr. Sehgal. You can take your seat.”

He looked back at the judge. “That”s all, Your Honor. As we can see, Mr. Sehgal is a father who threw his own son out because he couldn”t deal with his emotions. He is a recovering alcohol addict. Adding to this... there have been murder investigations connected to him. One cleared his name years ago, while another remains under investigation.”

He pointed toward the Sehgal family. “It is clear that Virendra Sehgal is hardly a suitable person for a child. He is a bad example.”

The courtroom erupted into murmurs before the judge called for order and announced a break of half an hour before proceeding further.

The Sehgal”s sat still in their places. The past never truly fades away; it simply waits in the shadows until you gather the courage to face it. Would the acceptance be enough to outweigh their mistakes? That was the question.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Share your views!!!

Next Update: Wednesday!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

← Previous