Chapter- 42

The media swarmed around Samar the moment he stepped out of the courthouse after the first hearing ended. Flashes exploded from every direction. Questions were hurled at him before he could even take another step.

The aura he had carried for years, untouchable, powerful, commanding, was undeniably fractured today. The slight limp in his gait, the healing bruises that still lingered beneath his collar, the stiffness in his shoulders... all of it painted a picture very different from the image of perfection he had spent years building.Yet the subtle smirk on his face remained untouched. As if none of it mattered. He was enjoying this game.

His ever so loyal guards immediately moved forward, attempting to create a path through the crowd, but Samar lifted a hand stopping them. His smile widened slightly. He had waited for this moment since the last one week in hospital planning plotting everything, he wont let anything go to waste. Cameras, microphones, and a public stage,all were his. Ekansh Sehgal had dragged him through hell. Now it was his turn to return the favor.

His gaze drifted across the crowded court premises. And found exactly who he was looking for. Ekansh. Standing beside his father, sister. And Ekta. His eyes lingered on the girl. The terrified little girl had changed. There was strength now. But he was fine with that. The stronger she became, the more satisfying it would be to break her piece by piece.

“Mr. Singhania!” One reporter pushed forward. “What do you have to say regarding today’s hearing?”

Samar sighed softly. “I am a lawyer myself. Law is something I have dedicated my life to understanding and respecting. I have complete faith in the judiciary. Truth takes time, but it always finds its way.”

Another microphone appeared. “Sir, the girl who filed the complaint failed to appear today. Does that strengthen your case? Or are you behind this, as people are talking?”

“I was under police watch since the last one week,” Samar defended gently. “Even if I wanted to do something... main iss halat mein nai tha ki main kuch kar bhi saku. So how can I be responsible for her disappearance? All I hope is that Ms. Aarti is safe wherever she is and comes forward soon so we can put an end to all this.”

Across the courtyard, Ekansh’s jaw tightened. The bastard was trying to portray himself as the victim. Just a few minutes ago, Ananya had informed him that Aarti wasn’t answering her calls. She wasn’t at her apartment, neither was she with her friends. The police were searching for her. But Ekansh, infact all of them, knew that it had something to do with Samar. The fact that he was out on bail so easily was the answer itself.

Another reporter jumped in. “Sir, what about the allegations made against you? What about Mr. Sehgal assaulting you? Will you be filing charges? Or taking legal action against him?”

Samar shook his head. “I don’t blame anyone.”

The crowd quietened instantly.

“I understand emotions,” He added, meeting Ekansh’s gaze deliberately. “Kisi ne agar meri bhen ke saath aisa kiya hota toh main bhi wahi karta jo Mr. Sehgal ne kiya. He is a respectable man who was simply reacting as an elder brother.”

“I want to shoot him dead, bhaiya,” Eshita hissed, looking away.

She was disgusted by the performance unfolding before her eyes. What kind of system were they living in where the victim wasn’t protected and disappeared while the accused stood before cameras controlling the narrative?

Rage-baiting? Samar Singhania was the living example of that. Every fibre of her being wanted to do nothing but beat the crap out of him in front of the world and murder him. He didn’t even deserve to live.

The next question came immediately. “Sir, do you believe Ms.Aarti fabricated the allegations?”

Samar lowered his eyes, hesitating for a heartbeat. “To be honest, Aarti is a nice girl. But as you see... there are many kinds of struggles in life. Some people struggle for survival, some for success. And Ambitions are the most dangerous ones. They can sometimes make people take decisions they normally wouldn’t.”

“Aapke kehne ka matlab hai uss ladki ne aap par galat ilzaam lagaye... for fame?”

“You mean she lied?”

Two more demeaning questions about Aarti followed.

“No!” Samar protested instantly. “As reporters, your duty is to report facts, not malign someone’s image.” His tone hardened. “Just do that, or I will have to take legal action you. Ms. Aarti is already going through enough. I hope she finds the courage to come forward and this all ends soon. I don’t want one to spoil her image.”

The reporters exploded. The seed had been planted. Headlines were already being written. Samar Singhania, the gentleman. A man who lost his respect within a few allegations yet was still being generous towards the woman accusing him. Him being mature, understanding, and dignified.

Samar didn’t deny the accusations. He simply manipulated them, dipping every word in honeyed sympathy and creating a version where the spotlight slowly withdrew from the accused and shifted onto the victim in the worst way possible. His mission was accomplished!

Ekansh’s fost clenched, he looked on as the man turned on his heels, got into his car, and left the premises not before throwing a mocking look his way.

Ekansh’s gaze drifted down to his wrist as Ekta’s fingers finally loosened from around it. Tiny streaks of blood had surfaced where her nails had pierced his skin the whole time due to fear and suppressed panic.

That was the reason they chose Aarti to file the report... the reason they weren’t bringing what happened with Ekta, her past, and the abuse into the light. They didn’t have a witness. No place name, no exact location, not even her captor’s name except for Samar, who was smart enough to leave no evidence behind while covering his tracks.

Trapping him was not enough. Until they got strong evidence or someone willing to testify that they had actually seen Bhairav protecting his son, or confess that Samar had done wrong to those girls, nothing would hold up in court.

Otherwise, it would simply be Ekta’s words against a powerful and influential man’s. Till now, Aarti was defending them using inconsistencies in their own statements as proof, but without any solid evidence, that would never be enough. Otherwise, this was the outcome.

He didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened if Samar had won against Ekta today, if she had been the one in place of Aarti. If he had, he would have done far worse to her. The malice on his face was clearly visible.

Vikram approached him hurriedly. “Go sit inside. Break khatam hone wala hai.”

Ekansh frowned. “What is it?”

Vikram sighed. He couldn’t hide anything from his friend. “These bastards will rush to your side like creeps. Stay inside. Let Ananya handle them.”

“They will swarm her with worst,” Eshita muttered worriedly. After hearing what they said so openly about Aarti, she didn’t trust any of them anymore.

Vikram shook his head. “They won’t mess with her. They are scared of her. For now...” He glanced at Ekta, who stood there blank and stiff like a stone.

He met his friend’s gaze. “Sit inside.”

Ekansh took the hint, guiding both the girls inside. Though his expression remained calm, every instinct inside him screamed to stay close. One look at Ekta was enough to tell him she was barely holding herself together, and until this hearing ended, he wasn’t leaving either of them alone for even a second.

✨✨✨

The proceedings began soon after. Ananya dealt with the media with a single threat to stay away from her or she would file a lawsuit against them for defaming her and tarnishing Aarti’s image. Aarti was her distant cousin, but the bond they shared wasn’t any less than that of real sisters. She was worried for her little girl, but she also knew that Aarti was stronger than she looked. The girl would find a way out of darkness just like she always had. And once she did, they would deal with everything together.

Composing her emotions, Ananya rose to her feet, adjusting her coat. “Without wasting the court’s valuable time, Your Honor, I would like to call Bhairav Thakur to the witness box.”

“Permission ganted.”

Bhairav was startled at the sudden request. He glanced toward Suraj. His son gave a small nod and he rose to his feet, walking toward the witness stand.

Ananya smiled politely. “Mr. Thakur, aap apne parivaar ke baare mein kuch bataye.”

“Objection.” Anand immediately stood. “Relevance, Your Honor?”

“Let me at least start, Mr. Shah,” Ananya replied, amused.

“Overruled,” The judge replied calmly.

Anand sat down, annoyed but unable to argue further.

Ananya turned to Bhairav. “Aapni biwi ke baare mein bataye, Mr. Thakur.”

Bhairav shifted uncomfortably. “Vo kuch saalon pehle chal basi.”

“Aur aapki beti?”

Silence.

Ananya stepped forward. “Apni beti ke baare mein batayiye, Mr. Thakur. Ekta! Naam yaad hai ya phir uska sauda krne ke baad woh bhi bhool gaye...?”

“I object, Your Honor.” Anand rose to his feet immediately, “Ms. Kaur baat se bhatak rahi hai. She is misguiding Mr. Thakur toward an emotional narrative instead of facts relevant to the case.”

“No, I am not, Your Honor.” Ananya countered sharply. “All I am doing is trying to make a man at least accept that he has a daughter. Not dead. But alive. However, his stubbornness seems determined to deny even that much.”

“Objection overruled.” The judge replied calmly. She glanced at Bhairav sternly. “Aap kathghare mein khade hai, Mr. Thakur. Aap chup nhi khade reh sakte. Lawyer ke sawalon ke jawab dijiye.”

Bhairav shifted uncomfortably. His grip tightened on the wooden railing. He had never been in this kind of situation. Every eye weighed on him heavily. Why was he in this place? All because of the curse born into his family. His blood boiled at the thought.

Ekta tugged at Ekansh’s hand slowly. “Can we end this..?” She whispered. “He... he doesn’t look comfortable...”

“Chup kar.” Eshita hissed, annoyed. “Har kisi ke liye dil mein achchai hona zaroori nhi hota Ekta. Apne parents ki galti maaf karne ke bhi apne dayre hote hai. You can’t always give in just because we feel bad for them. Let your father feel the heat. Let him face the consequences of his own actions. Just like you once would have. He deserves that.”

Ekta stiffened. Eshita said it so simply, so unapologetically, that she didn’t know if she should point out that Eshita was right yet cruel or blame herself for feeling better at those words.

“Toh Mr. Thakur,” Ananya continued, “Chaliye shuru se shuru karte hai. Ekta...”

“Meri beti hai vo.” Bhairav interjected abruptly.

“Wow! Thanks for the information.” Ananya nodded. “Par mera sawal vo nhi tha. Main pooch rahi thi... aapne apni beti ko aakhri baar kab dekha tha?”

Bhairav looked away. “Mujhe yaad nhi.”

“Okay, koi baat nahi.” Ananya smiled coldly. “Aapko jawab dene mein shayad interest nhi hai. Toh seedha mudde par aate hai. Aaj achanak itne saalon baad aapko apni beti ki yaad kaise aa gayi? Kya chahte hai aap usse? Aap usse pasand nhi karte yeh toh hum sab dekh hi sakte hai. Toh phir aapko vo apne parivaar mein wapas chaiye... kyun?”

“Kyunki usse wahi rehna chaiye.” Bhairav answered stiffly.

Ananya nodded again. The man was the lost case. “Mere ek aur sawal ka jawab dijiye. Kya aapne apni beti ko chhod kar apne bete ka chunav kiya tha? Jab aap kheti ke paise nhi de paye the... Vo kya bulate hai aapke gaon mein uss admin ko? Haan yaad aaya... Sahab ko?”

Bhairav nodded reluctantly. “Mere paas tab paise nhi the. Isliye maine woh kiya jo uss samay mujhe sahi laga.”

Ananya frowned. “Paise nhi the? Par kyun? Kya main jaan sakti hoon? Jahan tak mujhe pata hai Madhupur mein pichhle tera saalon se kheti bahut acchi ho rahi hai. Kisano ka kaafi fayda bhi hota hoga... bas fark itna hai ki uske paise unke paas nhu aaate. Lekin jinke paas jaane chaiye wahan bhi nai gaye? Kuch ajeeb nhi lagta aapko?”

Bhairav’s jaw tightened visibly. His gaze met his son’s glaring eyes for a brief second before dropping away. He stood quietly, knowing the consequences wouldn’t be good if he uttered something he shouldn’t.

Ananya shook her head in disbelief. “Your Honor, again there is no answer. Well, I have the answer.” She forwarded a few papers. “He couldn’t pay the money because of his so-called landlord because of his addiction to betting.”

“These are the recent bank statements of Suraj Thakur, Bhairav’s son. Half of the money is being transferred directly to gambling accounts.To local goons. Now, for context, we can say ki ho sakta hai his son did the betting. But the debtors identified that Bhairav was their daily customer, the picture became much clearer.”

She turned toward the judge. “The man had been addicted to gambling for the last fifteen years. His wife begged him to stop, but he didn’t. And today, after so many years, he is standing in the same pit. The only difference is... he is so obedient to his son because of the money Suraj lets him access. Otherwise, he would never have tolerated being controlled by his own child.”

She glanced back at Bhairav. “Sahi kaha na maine, Mr. Thakur? Aaj aapke paas apna khud ka kuch nai hai. Das saal pehle bhi aapke paas apna khud ka kuch nhi tha. Jo kuch bhi tha, aap satte mein haar chuke the. Jiska khamiyaza aapki beti ko chukana pada. Aapki biwi ko chukana pada. Aapke jaise aadmi hi humare samaj ke liye abhishaap hote hain. Jab aapko apni beti ko protect karna chaiye tha, tab aapne....”

“APNE BETE KO CHUNA!” Bhairav spat frustrated. “Aye ladki... kitni baar ek hi baat baar baar kahegi? Kaha na maine, mujhe jo sahi laga maine vo kiya. Beti thi vo meri. Ek ladki! Beta hota toh main apni khud ki jaan de deta lekin usse kuch nhi hone deta. Lekin ladki thi isliye jaane diya usse Sahab ke saath.”

“Aur ab achanak wahi beti aapko wapas chaiye? Kya betiyan maayne nhi rakhti? Aap yeh kehna chahte hai?” Ananya probed despite already knowing the answer.

“Haa kyuki vo bojh hoti hai!” Bhairav declared shamelessly. “Zindagi bhar ka bojh jo mujhe apne kandho par nhi chaiye tha. Waise bhi aage jaake main uski shaadi toh karne hi wala tha. Jaana toh usse kisi aur ke ghar hi tha. Mera ya mere parivaar ka uske hone ya na hone se kya fayda hota? Khandan ka naam toh beta hi aage badhata hai. Farq sirf itna hai saamye se pehle hi mujhe usse chutkara mil gaya.”

Silence fell in the courtroom. Even the people seated looked disturbed. Some exchanged horrified glances while others stared at Bhairav as if unable to comprehend how a father could speak so casually about his own child.

Ekta glared straight at the tube light, letting it burn into her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t cry. She repeated it like a mantra. Why was she getting affected? She had heard those words so many times before. Then what has changed today? Maybe because for the first time she was hearing them in front of people who considered her worth protecting. Maybe because somewhere deep inside she had started believing she deserved better.

“ORDER!” The judge slammed her gavel.

She looked visibly disgusted. In an era where society was fighting such mindsets and advocating equality, here he was proudly speaking about daughters as burdens. She didn’t even want to think about the kind of rubbish she heard in court every other case involving children and women.

Ananya waited calmly as the man went back to his seat. She turned toward the judge. “As the court has just witnessed, Your Honor, Bhairav Thakur doesn’t deserve to be called a father. On one side stands Virendra Sehgal, a man who admits his mistakes and is actively trying to redeem them. On the other stands a man still trapped in the belief that a girl child is a curse.”

She shook her head sadly. “People like him forget one simple fact, Your Honor. If women didn’t exist, then men like him wouldn’t even be born.”

The courtroom fell silent.

“The difference is clear. One man acknowledges his failures. The other glorifies them.”

“I object, Your Honor.” Anand rose immediately. “I think Ms. Kaur is forgetting that Ekta’s guardianship isn’t even being sought by Bhairav Thakur. It’s her brother... Suraj Thakur who has applied for guardianship. Not Bhairav.”

He turned toward Sehgal’s. “Unlike the Sehgal family, where an ill man with serious medical complications initially sought custody. His inabilities....”

“Hearsay, Your Honor.” Ananya cut him off firmly. “Inabilities?” She repeated. “That’s a harsh word for a man trying to redeem himself. You are correct. Ekta’s guardianship application has been filed by her brother. But that raises another question, Your Honor. Suraj Thakur is only twenty-one years old. He wants the guardianship of his younger sister.”

She folded her arms meeting Anand’s gaze firmly, “How does he intend to provide for her? Does he earn enough? Is he financially stable? He is already married at a very young age. Can he truly shoulder such responsibility?”

“Of course he can,” Anand immediately countered. “His financial records can be provided. And even the signed documents where Bhairav Thakur himself wants his son to be the primary guardian of Ekta....”

“And what about Ekta? What does she want? Her wishes?” Ananya interrupted sharply.

Before Anand could come up with another argument, the loud clock struck the hour, signaling that the session had ended. Every eye turned toward the judge. Silence stretched across the room in anticipation.

The judge reviewed her notes. “Both parties will submit additional evidence.”

She looked toward the lawyers. “The next hearing date will be issued accordingly.”

Then her gaze shifted toward Ekta, who was leaning against Ekansh. The way Eshita beside sat holding her hand, while Virendra held Eshita’s hand, the silent unity between them and their fierce protectiveness toward the girl screamed of one thing... love. Not the kind bound by blood, but the kind forged through choice, trust, and unwavering presence.

“Until then, the minor shall continue residing with the Sehgal family,” She stated firmly.

Anand immediately stood. “Your Honor...”

“Sit down, Mr. Anand,” The judge continued. “The previously requested family interaction sessions are cancelled until further notice. No member of the Thakur family shall approach, contact, pressure, or attempt to influence the minor without court approval.”

The gavel struck hard. “Court adjourned.”

The loud sound echoed through the courtroom. And for the first time that day... the Sehgal’s relaxed their tensed shoulders and held their breath a little easier. The first day of Navratri didn’t just make them realize how hard it is to face the truth, but also gave them a ray of hope in the battle between wounds and healing that existed within every heart.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Tbh, all I want to do is shoot Samar in the head, expose the other person to the light after murdering him, and remove Ekta’s entire family from the scene by conveniently drowning them in a river.

Being a writer, patience is supposed to be my greatest virtue, but unfortunately, I lack it in abundance. I don’t know if you feel the same while reading these chapters, but I am genuinely angry at everything I am writing right now and struggling to continue.

Anyways, justice doesn’t come so easily... So just bear with the story while reading, the same way I am bearing with it while writing!

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Share your views!!!(It’s my first time writing all these court proceedings. So do share how you feel about it all. Does something seemed too much or I missed something, I will work on that while editing digital version.)

Next Update: Friday!

Thanks for reading!!!

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