Part 57
Delhi Civil Court β one week later, Tuesday, July 24, 1:50 pm
Raman took a deep breath at the doors of the courthouse, nervously fisting his sweaty palms by his side. This exact court had failed him six years ago, when his son had been handed over to the most vicious woman he knew. But justice and truth were supposed to prevail here. After all, this exact court had also granted him his daughter a year ago, protected her from the clutches of the same ex-wife. He was here again now, for the custody retrial of his son, hoping to right the wrongs that had been committed years ago.
When they had received the notice of the retrial, Raman had assured his family that history would not repeat itself. He wouldn't let it. He couldn't let it. They had covered all their bases. Pathak had prepared thoroughly for this case, burning the midnight oil, and he knew it inside out, like the back of his hand. They had a string of witnesses lined up to prove their ability as parents, to showcase Adi's progress after living with the Bhallas. But even so, he was still scared out of his mind. After all, this was exactly where he had lost everything six years ago.
All of a sudden, he felt warmth rush through his hand, as foreign fingers wrapped around his own, infusing him with strength. He looked over and found his wife gazing at him, eyes pouring with reassurance and a hint of anxiety.
"Dar lag raha hai?" she asked.
Raman nodded.
Ishita exhaled a shaky breath. "Mujhe bhi."
This place had once forced Ishita to let go of her daughter. She was reminded of the painful weeks she had spent last year without her Ruhi, when she had moved out from the Iyer house to the Bhalla house. The weeks she had spent with a hole in her heart, buried in work to somehow fill the empty abyss in her life.
Raman's fingers tightened around her hand. "We'll get through this. Our son isn't going anywhere."
Ishita smiled. This court had also given her Ruhi back, on top of bringing her together with her soulmate. Maybe there was hope that all could go well after all.
"Pathak and the family must be waiting for us inside," she reminded him.
"Everyone's here already?" he asked.
"You know mummyji na. She herded everyone here before we even left our offices."
"And Adi?"
"He's at home with Amma, Appa, and Ruhi."
"That's good. I don't want him seeing all this. At least, not again."
They took a deep breath and walked through the giant double doors of the courthouse. Their sense of dΓ©jΓ vu amplified.
They sat down on the first row of the left side, exchanging reassuring glances with their family. Simi, Rinki, and Romi sat in the fourth row, wearing tenuous smiles. Romi, Mihir, Mihika, and Bala were seated in the third row, sticking their thumbs up and nodding their heads in reassurance.
"Raman... Ishita..." Toshi and Omprakash called their attention from the second row. Toshi opened a tiny box and placed a handful of cashews and almonds in their palms.
"Yeh le puttar. Matarani ka prasad hai. Aaj subah subah tere papa aur main mandir mein maatha tekne gaye the. Tu dekhna puttar, yeh case hum log hi jeetenge. Mainu matarani pe pura bharosa hai."
Raman sent his mother a weak smile and Ishita nodded at her in-laws as they chewed on the prasad before turning forward to face Pathak. They went over their case β again β in low voices, without sparing a glance to the other side of the courtroom.
Shagun sighed under her breath and her nostrils flared in irritation. She flicked her curls over her shoulder and straightened her spine. She too, was overcome with a sense of dΓ©jΓ vu, similar to her opponents. But even so, certain stark differences between both days were crystal clear.
She closed her eyes and recalled Adi's last custody case six years ago. Her miserable ex-husband with an average court-appointed lawyer on one side, compared to herself, her wealthy boyfriend and their expensive lawyer on the other side. How triumphant she had felt even before she won the case, confident in her boyfriend's support and their lawyer's schemes.
She opened her eyes and blinked away an uncharacteristic sheen of poignancy. She turned her head and the sight once again sent rage rushing through her veins. Raman and Ishita sat with their lawyer speaking in hushed tones, his hand on her bouncing knee quelling her anxiety, her hand placed on his shoulder infusing him with comfort and reassurance.
Shagun gulped and gazed over at her own bench. It was empty.
Her gaze fell on the other side again. Every row behind her opponents was full. Family members from both sides of Raman and Ishita's family had shown up to support them. Their goodwill shone through their faces, and her heart pinched at the genuineness she saw in their relationships. A genuineness she had never had in any of her own relationships.
She looked over her shoulder at the rows behind her. They were empty.
How the tables had turned! They had started off in this courtroom six years ago, with Raman fighting all alone against her and Ashok's combined shrewdness and power, their resources unlimited. Now, they stood before each other again, for the exact same case, but with her fighting all alone against Raman and his wife and his family and his hotshot lawyer and all their money and resources.
The court officer struck the gavel and a clang resonated throughout the room as an elderly judge appeared. She swished her black cape aside and sat on the judge's chair, her back straight and chin held up in authority. Her silver gray hair was tied back in a low bun and her lips pressed together as she peered over the courtroom observantly. Her skin was wrinkled around the corner of her eyes and lips, a few age spots appearing on her otherwise unblemished face.
"May the proceedings of minor Aditya Bhalla's custody retrial begin," the court officer announced. "The contenders are biological father Raman Bhalla and stepmother Ishita Bhalla against biological mother Shagun Arora. Honorable judge Uma Banerjee presiding."
With the strike of the judge's gavel, the case began.
Pathak stood up from his chair and buttoned his coat as he stepped forward for his opening statement.
"Your honor," he began, "six years ago, a family was ripped apart when Ms. Shagun Arora decided to walk out of her marriage with Mr. Raman Bhalla for another man, taking their five-year old son in tow. Six years ago, Aditya Bhalla's custody was granted to his mother, but that decision needs to be changed now. Over the course of this trial, we will prove to you that Aditya cannot be kept in Shagun's care anymore. He deserves to be in the care of Mr. Raman Bhalla and his wife Dr. Ishita Bhalla."
He stepped back and gave the floor to the opposition.
Shagun's lawyer β Jeet Mishra β stepped forward and smoothed his coat. Narrow eyes, high cheekbones, and an air of cutthroat ruthlessness defined him. He was one of the most notorious lawyers in the country.
"Your honor, Mr. Pathak here is trying to overturn a ruling that was decided by this court six years ago, a ruling that was determined by the finest courts and wisest judges of this city. Aditya's custody was granted to his mother six years ago for a reason, and a damn good one. The opposition will try and convince you that my client is a monster or a witch. But the truth is, she's just a single mother who's trying her best. Every day is a struggle, but there should be no doubt that she loves her son beyond any doubt."
Once both lawyers had presented their opening statements, Judge Banerjee asked Pathak to present the Bhalla's side of the case first.
Naturally, Pathak's first witness was Raman. He asked Raman to narrate his side of the story from six years back, how Shagun and Adi came into his life, and how painfully they left. Raman drew in a sharp breath and recounted the most dreadful years of his life.
"I begged Shagun not to leave, to think about Adi at least... but she didn't listen to me," Raman said from the witness stand, as he wrapped up his narration. "We got divorced shortly after and she moved into Ashok Khanna's mansion. My ex-boss."
"What happened to Aditya after that?" Pathak asked.
Raman gulped. "His custody trial happened which Shagun won at the time."
"Do you know why Shagun won Aditya's custody?"
"Yes."
"How do you know that?"
"The judge announced a few reasons behind her decision when she declared her verdict."
"And what reasons did she give?"
"Three main things I suppose. Shagun had claimed that I was a toxic husband and my family was emotionally torturing her, and Adi deserved to stay with her instead. Her boyfriend Mr. Khanna was much wealthier than me at the time and they claimed they could take care of Adi better. And... and Adi himself chose to be with his mother."
Pathak stepped back from Raman in the witness box and faced the judge.
"The records and transcript from Aditya Bhalla's last custody case are on your desk, your honor. However, every claim made by Ms. Arora and every reason behind the first custody decision was false, and I can prove it."
He walked back to his desk and picked up three manila folders.
"In this folder, I have signed and sworn witness statements from over fifty people who can attest to Shagun and Raman's marriage and how Raman treated Shagun as a husband." Pathak handed the first file to the court officer who passed it to the judge. "These include the society members that lived in Akash Ganga six years ago, Raman's old colleagues, and Shagun's friends. They have all stated how much more effort Raman had put into his marriage compared to Shagun. How it was Shagun, not Raman, who was emotionally toxic. In the same folder, you'll find a thread of emails, text messages, and photographs from Raman and Shagun's married life as corroboration to the witness statements."
He then handed the court officer another folder. "Here is a verified copy of the Bhalla family's finances. Their current combined income per month is more than enough to comfortably raise a family in Delhi." Judge Banerjee opened the file and surveyed the income of every earning member of the family. "In that same file, you'll find a separate copy of Mr. Bhalla and Dr. Ishita's joint finances, showcasing their individual financial capability."
Once the judge placed aside that folder, Pathak handed the court officer the last file in his hand. "And this file has signed and sworn reference letters from Mr. and Dr. Bhalla's colleagues, mentors and supervisors who can all attest to their character and the stability of their income."
Banerjee skimmed through each letter without letting on how impressed she was.
"As far as the final point of Aditya choosing to stay with his mother in the last custody case," Pathak said, "that will only become evident when you speak to the child yourself, your honor."
He approached Raman again. "I just have a couple more questions, Mr. Bhalla. What is Aditya's favorite pastime?"
Raman scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. This was an unusual line of questioning. But he answered regardless. Neil was one of the top lawyers in the city. He must have a method to his madness. "Adi loves football and reading," he answered.
"Which one would you say he likes more?"
"Objection your honor!" Mishra said. "This is irrelevant!"
"Your honor, this goes to show how much Mr. Bhalla knows his son," Pathak clarified.
"I'll allow it counselor, but don't take it too far," Banerjee conceded. "Objection overruled."
"Thank you your honor." Pathak turned to Raman again. "So Mr. Bhalla, what does Adi enjoy more? Football or reading?"
"I'd have to say reading. He's great at football and he really enjoys it, but books are his way of traveling to all kinds of different fictitious worlds. It's his favorite thing."
"And who is Adi's favorite music artist?"
"Taylor Swift. He won't admit it, but that's all he ever listens to," Raman chuckled.
"Thank you Mr. Bhalla. No more questions for this witness."
Pathak sat down in his chair and his opponent Mishra stepped forward for the cross-examination.
"Mr. Bhalla." Mishra stepped to the witness box and glared at Raman in an effort to intimidate him.
"Yes Mr. Mishra?" Raman met his gaze head on, refusing to back down.
"You lost Aditya's custody six years ago. So why are we here today? Why after so many years? Where were you all this time?" Mishra asked.
"After I lost Adi's custody, I moved to Mumbai. I was there building my business for five years before I moved back to Delhi last year."
"And in those five years, did you ever attempt to have a relationship with your son? Or even contact him?"
Raman exhaled a shaky breath. "I tried to-"
"Yes or no, Mr. Bhalla?"
"It's not that simple-"
"Your honor, the witness is being non-responsive," Mishra complained.
"Mr. Bhalla," Judge Banerjee interjected, "please answer the question. And limit your testimony to the question asked."
Mishra repeated his question. "Did you ever make contact with your son in the five years after you lost custody? Yes, or no?"
"No," Raman sighed.
"Why not?"
"Because Shagun had sent him to a boarding school in Dehradun away from me and my family."
"Of course she did." Mishra paced back and forth in the open area. "I mean I'd do the same if I had emotionally abusive in-laws."
Raman sucked in a sharp breath. He saw Shagun smirk out of the corner of his eye and he ground his teeth, barely keeping his rage in check.
"Objection!" Pathak roared as he shot up from his chair. "Argumentative!"
"Sustained," Banerjee declared. "Counsel, watch yourself. You can only present evidence. Don't reach conclusions."
"Apologies your honor." Mishra faced Raman again. "So you were absent from your son's life for five years. What about your daughter?"
Raman's face paled. "Excuse me?"
"How did you first meet your daughter Mr. Bhalla?"
"Objection! Relevance?" Pathak asked.
"Goes to show Mr. Bhalla's presence as a parent," Mishra answered.
"Overruled," Banerjee announced.
"So Mr. Bhalla. Please tell the court how you met your daughter," Mishra restated.
"I met her last year at my wife's place for the first time. We weren't married back then. Ishita had adopted Ruhi β my daughter β from Little Smiles Adoption Agency. I had just found out about her so I reached out to Ishita and fixed a meeting so I could be a part of Ruhi's life."
"You said your daughter was at an adoption agency before you met her. Do you know how long she had lived there before Dr. Bhalla adopted her?"
"Um... almost four years." Acid seared Raman's throat.
Mishra walked to the middle of the courtroom and spread his arms wide as he spoke. "Your honor, this goes to show that Mr. Bhalla has been repeatedly absent from his children's lives for years on end. I don't need to elaborate any further to highlight his capabilities as a parent. No further questions."
Raman watched Mishra sit down in his seat and his heart raced. This man had just presented the worst years of his life as if they were all his doing.
"Redirect, your honor?" Pathak asked, as he stood up and tied his coat button. No way was he going to let his brother take the blame for Shagun's misdeeds.
Banerjee nodded.
Pathak approached the witness stand. "Mr. Bhalla. It's been established that you were absent from Aditya's life for five years after Ms. Arora won his custody. Can you tell the court how you came in contact with him again?"
"In January, I found out that he had moved back to Delhi and was in my brother-in-law's tuition classes. I met him there and slowly reintroduced him to my family."
"Before that, did you ever try to get in touch with Aditya?"
"Yes."
"Please describe the efforts you had made to get in touch with your son."
Raman narrated every method he had utilized to meet his son. And every roadblock Shagun had ever put up.
"So," Pathak spoke up when Raman was done speaking, "despite Ms. Arora's adamant refusal to give you any visitation rights for your son, you fought tooth and nail to get back in his life."
"Yes."
Pathak walked back to his table and presented another file to the court officer and judge. "This file contains documented proof of everything Mr. Bhalla has told this court, including a copy of the money transfer from October, and a copy of the signed agreement between Raman Bhalla and Ashok Khanna from February."
As the judge perused the documents corroborating Raman's story, Pathak continued his redirect examination.
"Mr. Bhalla, now can you please explain why you were absent from your daughter's life for so long?"
"Because I didn't even know about her." Raman explained how Shagun had left baby Ruhi at the orphanage under Ashok's influence. How he hadn't found out about her until he had overheard and confronted Ashok and Shagun at a party in Mumbai over a year ago.
Mishra's eyebrows rose up to his forehead as he glared at Shagun over his shoulder. Why didn't this woman tell me any of this? He shook his head and faced forward again. He had gotten the worst of the worst proven not guilty as a criminal lawyer; he had won cases for even the most despicable people as a civil lawyer. His infamous methods always worked, but only if his clients were honest with him.
"What did you do when you found out you had a daughter in Delhi?" Pathak asked Raman.
"I took the first flight here and found the orphanage where she was staying. From there I got in touch with Ishita and we began co-parenting Ruhi together."
"What about your business in Mumbai?"
"We had it all relocated here. We still have a smaller office in Mumbai but our headquarters are now here in Delhi. We even moved from our older flat to a bigger flat in Akash Ganga society so we could be near Ishita's family. That way Ruhi didn't have to go back and forth between two houses."
"Thank you Mr. Bhalla. No further questions."
Raman stepped off the witness stand and rubbed his sweaty palms together as he returned to his seat. Pathak faced the judge and continued with the case.
"So on one hand, we have a parent who relocated his entire life and his whole family as soon as he found his daughter. And on the other hand, we have a parent who left her son in a hostel and her baby girl in an orphanage for god knows what reason. I think that should make it evident what kind of parents they are.
"For my next witness, I'd like to call on Aditya's stepmother Dr. Ishita Bhalla."
Ishita sucked in a ragged breath and stepped forward. During her last time in a witness stand, she had been forced to tear her heart out and give it away. Her mind knew that wouldn't happen this time, but her skin still crawled.
"Dr. Bhalla, can you describe your relationship with your stepson Aditya?" Pathak asked, once she was done swearing her oath.
"He's not my stepson. He's my son. I love him with all my heart. And I know he loves me too."
"Has it always been that way?"
"No... not always. We had a rocky start when we met six months ago. But that was expected. Any kid needs time to adjust to a stepparent. It's in the nature of children-"
"Objection!" Mishra shot up. "Lack of foundation. The witness isn't an expert in child psychology."
"Sustained," Banerjee declared. "Dr. Bhalla, please limit your testimony to your relationship with your stepson. Do not generalize to all children."
Ishita nodded. "All I'm saying is, Aditya and I had a bumpy start, but we've bonded very well over time."
"Has he ever expressed concerns that you're his stepmother, not his real mother?"
"Yes, they did arise." She recounted the questions Adi had posed once, and how Ishita had used Yashoda Ma and Lord Krishna's story to alleviate those questions.
"Thank you Dr. Bhalla. Just a couple more questions. What is Aditya's favorite food?"
Ishita was taken aback from the sharp turn in Pathak's line of questioning. Nevetheless, she answered truthfully. "He's pretty good about eating everything we make. But his favorite is Italian food. Specifically, pizza and pasta. Besides that, he loves all kinds of Indian food too. Punjabi and South Indian both."
"Mr. Bhalla told us that Aditya loves reading. Can you tell us what his favorite book is?"
"The Harry Potter series. Sometimes that's all he talks about."
"Thank you Dr. Bhalla. No further questions."
Pathak sat down in his chair and Mishra stepped forward for the cross-examination.
"Dr. Bhalla, how long have you been a mother?" he asked.
"I've been Ruhi's mother for almost one and a half year. And I've known Adi for six months," she answered.
"And you think it's in Aditya's best interest to rip him away from the mother he's known for ten years and hand him over to a woman he's known for less than half a year?"
Ishita's mouth went dry.
"Objection!" Pathak yelled. "Calls for speculation. And counsel is leading the witness."
"Sustained," Banerjee said. "Mr. Mishra, the court will decide where Aditya will go. Not the witness."
"Withdrawn. No more questions."
Mishra stepped back to his seat, and the judge dismissed Ishita. Pathak stepped forward to continue his case.
"Your honor, my colleague here has claimed that Adi can't be separated from his primary caregiver, the mother he's known for ten years. To counter that statement, I'd like to call on my final witness, an expert in child psychology and Aditya's therapist, Dr. Zoya Rashid."
Shagun's face went slack in shock. Her son... had a... therapist...? He... he was in therapy? And she didn't know?!
"What the hell?!" she shrieked, shooting up from her bench. "My son is in therapy?! He's seeing a psychiatrist?!"
"Ms. Arora, please be quiet and sit down," the judge warned.
But Shagun had lost all sense of rhyme and reason. She towered over Raman and Ishita, eyes raining fire.
"Tum dono ne mere bete ko ek psychiatrist ke paas bheja?!" she screamed. "What the hell do you think of him?! Who paagal thodi hai?!"
"I'm warning you Ms. Arora!" Banerjee struck her gavel. "Please sit down!"
Mishra caught Shagun by the arm and forced her to sit down, even as she continued her tirade against Raman and Ishita. He was growing frustrated with his client. There was only so much he could do for her if she didn't cooperate.
On the other hand, Pathak smiled smugly. His job was becoming easier by the minute. If Shagun kept it on like this, she'd tell the court herself how undeserving she was of Adi's custody.
Judge Banerjee struck her gavel again and the room finally quieted down. "Shagun Arora," she seethed. "You will maintain the decorum of my courtroom or I'll have you held in contempt. Mr. Pathak, please proceed."
Dr. Zoya Rashid was sworn in and Pathak began his line of questioning.
"Dr. Rashid, do you know Aditya Bhalla?"
"Yes. He's been my patient for three months."
"Without breaking confidentiality, what can you tell us about his mental health and progress in the last three months?"
Dr. Rashid cleared her throat. "Aditya's father brought him to me three months back so he could get some help to navigate his new family situation. He needed help balancing his relationships and gaining some confidence. Over the last three months, he's grown beyond leaps and bounds. He's become a better and happier version of himself under the Bhallas' care."
"That's great to hear. Has he ever expressed a desire to stay with the Bhallas over his mother?"
"I can't answer that without breaking confidentiality."
"My apologies. Let me rephrase that. Based on your testimony and the rest of your interactions with Aditya, would it be reasonable to assume that his wellness lies in staying with the Bhallas, namely Raman and Ishita?"
"Yes, absolutely."
"Does that mean he shouldn't be staying with Shagun?"
"No, he shouldn't. His mental health has deteriorated in her company. He wouldn't fare well there."
"And why wouldn't he fare well with Shagun?"
"Because Shagun has emotionally and mentally abused Aditya all his life. And unfortunately, she's even raised her hand on him." Dr. Rashid detailed the events from last month that had led to her filing an official report of said abuse.
Pathak stepped to his desk and walked forward with a sheet of paper which he handed to the court officer. The judge took the piece of paper and surveyed it.
"Your honor, this is a copy of Dr. Rashid's official report that she had submitted to the Office of Children Welfare. It corroborates her story," he explained. "No more questions for this witness."
Mishra stood up to cross Dr. Rashid.
"Dr. Rashid, you said you've been treating Aditya for three months. But from my client's earlier outburst, it's clear that she didn't know about this. So how were you treating her son without her consent? Considering that she was the sole legal guardian for Aditya?" He gripped the witness stand with both arms, elbows locked, and leaned forward, glaring at her to intimidate her.
In turn, she narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, meeting his gaze head on. "Counselor, Aditya's biological father consented to his treatment. Aditya himself consented to his treatment. That's all we need to accept him as a patient. Other than that, everything else about his treatment was kept confidential. For his own best interest."
"Fair enough." Mishra straightened his back and momentarily stepped away. "Dr. Rashid, you gave an elaborate account to the court about Shagun's 'abuse.'" He said the last word with air quotes. "In this whole tale, you got Aditya's perspective. Even Raman and Ishita's persepctive. But have you ever considered Shagun's persepctive? Have you given her the benefit of the doubt?"
"I'm not obligated to do anything for her. My duty lies towards my patient, Aditya."
"But isn't it possible that she had a different take on the incident that you don't know of?"
"Sure, it's possible."
"Another question for you, Dr. Rashid. You recommended that Aditya be removed from Shagun's care. Is this how you usually address family issues for your patients?"
"Objection! Irrelevant!" Pathak called out.
"Goes to show the doctor's bias, your honor," Mishra explained.
"Objection overruled."
"So doctor," Mishra turned to the witness again. "If you come across a strained relationship in your patients, let's say through couples counseling or family therapy, then what is your goal?"
"My goal is to help both parties understand each other and reach a common ground. To help them find their happiness with each other again. Usually that's successful, but sometimes, it's better for them to part ways."
"So your first effort is to mend a relationship, correct?"
"Usually, yes."
"Then why did you immediately recommend terminating Shagun's custody rather than helping Aditya mend his relationship with her? Isn't this unfair for my client?"
"Not at all. In fact, helping him mend his relationships was my intial goal. I wanted to help Aditya find a balance between his relationships with his mother, father, and stepmother. I wanted him to come out from under his mother's control and think for himself. But that changed the second Shagun slapped him. Up until then, her abuse had been emotional and mental. That was the first time it turned physical. She was escalating and I had to do something. I do not tolerate abuse, and that's what I strive to teach my patients too."
"Really doc?" Mishra scoffed. "It was one slap. That can't count as abuse. Doesn't a parent have the right to discipline their kid when necessary?"
"There are healthier ways to discipline a child, counselor. Slapping or hitting or spanking is not necessary. And as far as Shagun's slap is concerned, it had nothing to do with disciplining her kid."
"Oh really, then what was it about?" Mishra crossed his arms over his chest in a mocking gesture.
"I can't answer that."
"You're in the witness box, doctor. You have to answer."
"I'm also a health care provider, counselor." Zoya crossed her own arms over her chest, mirroring the lawyer's pride. "I'm not going to break my patient's trust by repeating what he told me in confidence. If Adi chooses to reveal what we talked about in our therapy sessions, then that's his choice. But I'm not saying a word until I get served with a subpoena or a court order to do otherwise."
"Okay then. Let me ask you a different question. You keep saying you only have your patient's best interest in mind. Do you believe Aditya's best interest lies in being cut off from the one parent he's ever known? The one parent who's been his constant all his life?"
"I think it's in his best interest to be cut off from the one parent who has mentally and emotionally abused him all his life. Whether or not Aditya chooses to have a relationship with Shagun is his decision. But he definitely should not be kept in her care."
Mishra gritted his teeth. This cross-examination was not going well. "No more questions for this witness."
He stomped back to his chair and Dr. Rashid left the witness box, a small smile on her lips and her head held high. It was going to take much more than one arrogant man to rattle her composure.
Pathak pushed his chair back and stood up. "I've presented all my evidence, your honor. I rest my case."
Banerjee noted something down with her pen before addressing the courtroom. "We'll take a fifteen-minute break after which Mr. Mishra will present Shagun Arora's case."
And just like that, with a strike of her gavel, the court was excused.
.....................................................................................................................
Meanwhile @ Iyer House
"Ugghhh... Tata, Paati! The TV isn't working!" Ruhi yelled. "Bhaiya, dekho na!"
She flicked through the channels but was greeted by a grainy black and white screen after every click of the remote.
"Here, let me try Ru." Adi plopped down on the sofa beside his sister and took the remote from her hand. He slapped the remote against his palm, shaking it vigorously, before he tried again. But to no avail.
"Vishwa! Aiyyo Vishwa!" Madhu called out from the kitchen table in the middle of breaking off cilantro and mint leaves from their stems. "Come fast na! Baccho ko help kar do!"
"Coming!"
Vishwa hustled out of the bedroom and appearing in the living room. "Kya hua beta?"
"Tata look, the TV isn't working." Adi pointed to the TV.
"Oh no, not again..." Vishwa sighed. "This has been happening for a while beta. Humaare ghar ke channel ka connection thoda weak hai. Maine cable company mein call kiya tha. Kuch din mein woh kisi ko bhejne wale hain."
"Kuch din mein!" Ruhi exclaimed. "Toh hum log abhi kya karenge?!"
"Hum log kuch aur games khel sakte hain na," Vishwa suggested.
"No Tata!" Adi groaned. "Hum subah se games hi khel rahe hain. Aur ab bahar bhi bahot sunny hai. I really wanted to just watch some movie or something."
"Accha...?"
Vishwa chewed his lip as he contemplated the dilemma. Adi and Ruhi were true Bhallas, stubborn to the core. If they insisted on watching a movie, it would be hard to convince them otherwise. He and his wife loved their grandchildren to bits, but they weren't capable of handling their tantrums. They just weren't young and energetic enough anymore.
"Ek idea hai!" He snapped his fingers as a light bulb switched on in his head.
He squatted against the TV console and picked up a stack of DVDs, bringing them over to the couch by Adi and Ruhi.
"Cable jab tak waapis aayein, tab tak tum dono in DVDs mein se koi movie dekh lo," he suggested.
He fanned out the DVDs on the coffee table, as Ruhi and Adi peered at them curiously. They included religious sermons, Tollywood and Bollywood movies, animated films, and home videos.
"What's this?" Adi picked up a DVD with Tamil scrawl on it.
"Oh, that says Thillu Mullu. It's a great movie. Humara favorite Rajinikanth hai usme. Woh old Hindi movie hai na... Gol maal? Uska remake hai. Tum ko dekhna hai Adi? Usmein English subtitles bhi hai."
"Adi beta, bahot accha movie hai!" Madhu interjected from the kitchen table, picking up another sprig of cilantro. "Tumko dekhna chahiye."
But before Adi could make a decision, Ruhi's eyes lighted up as her eyes fell on a particular DVD.
"Wait wait! Look!" She picked up the DVD and showed it to her brother and grandfather. "Can we watch this? Pleeeeease?"
Normally Adi would put up a fight against his sister, but the title of the video truly intrigued him.
"Yes! Let's watch this!" he agreed.
Vishwa smiled and put on the chosen DVD. The grainy images changed to clear colorful video as he settled down against the sofa with his grandchildren. Vishwa, Adi, and Ruhi gazed at the TV from the sofa, while Madhu watched from the kitchen table, fingers twiddling with mint leaves and cilantro sprigs. Words appeared on the screen and Madhu smiled as she realized what they were watching.
Raman
(son of Mr. Omprakash Bhalla & Mrs. Santoshi Bhalla)
WEDS
Ishita
(daughter of Mr. Vishwanathan Iyer & Mrs. Madhavi Iyer)
"Adi bhaiya, Ishimaa aur papa ki shaadi mein itnaaaaaa mazaa aaya tha humein!" Ruhi exclaimed with her arms spread out, as if measuring the amount of fun she had had.
Raman and Ishita's wedding video played on the screen, and four pairs of eyes watched intently. It began with their sangeet performances.
"Look bhaiya! Maine aur Ishimaa ne sab girls ke saath dance kiya tha!" Ruhi pointed out as their performance came on.
When Raman and Ishita's first couple dance played out, Adi laughed out loud. "They look so awkward here," he commented. "Mihir mama ki shaadi mein to kitna accha dance kiya tha."
"Yeh unka first time tha na aise dance karte huye, isiliye," Vishwa explained.
The sangeet ended and the events of the wedding day began.
"Wow!" Adi exclaimed. "Ishita Aunty kitni pretty lag rahi hai!"
"Aur main?" Ruhi's hands landed on her hips.
"Haan baba, tum bhi bahot pretty lag rahi ho video mein." Adi rolled his eyes in exasperation.
The priest chanted the sacred mantras, guiding the bride and groom through various rituals. Every now and then, Raman yawned and blinked his eyes on the screen, eliciting hearty laughs from the viewers.
"Adi bhaiya, aap ko pata hai, papa itna yawn kar rahe the pure wedding mein," Ruhi giggled.
"Sirf papa nahi. Look." Adi pointed to the screen. "Dadi, chachu, aur bua bhi yawn kar rahe hai.... Paati," βhe twisted in his seat to look at Madhuβ "yeh Tamilian weddings itni early morning mein kyun hoti hai? Mama aur chitti ki shaadi bhi kitni early morning mein hui thi."
Madhu dusted her hands and set the steel plates of mint and cilantro leaves in the kitchen before joining everyone in the living room.
"Kanna, humare weddings isiliye early morning mein hoti hai, kyunki woh time bahot shubh hota hai, jab suraj ugta hai. The rising sun brings prosperity, hope, and new beginnings. So getting married as the sun rises is very auspicious," she explained.
She glanced at the TV, where Raman and Ishita took sacred pheras.
"Adi bhaiya, I was soooo excited when mumma and papa got married," Ruhi exclaimed. "I think it was the best day of my life!"
"Aisa kyun?" Adi scrunched his eyebrows.
"Kyunki mumma humesha ke liye mere aur papa ke saath rehne aa rahi thi na! Pata hai, first I had mumma with me, but no papa. Then I had papa, but no mumma. Lekin unki shaadi ke baad, I had both of them!"
The gears turned in Adi's brain. Something wasn't right. Something didn't click.
"Ek minute... What do you mean?"
"Main pehle mumma ke saath rehti thi. Main aur mumma yahin rehte the. Tata, Paati, aur Chitti ke saath. Phir muhe papa mile... Toh main unke saath rehne gayi. Lekin mujhe mumma aur papa dono chahiye the. Isiliye mumma aur papa ne shaadi kar li!"
It didn't make sense though, Adi thought. His mom had told him that Ishita Aunty stole Ruhi and Raman from her. He had made peace with the fact that maybe that was his mom's misunderstanding. But what Ruhi was saying was at complete odds with what Shagun had claimed. If Ruhi met Ishita first and Raman later, then how could Ishita have stolen her? And where did Shagun come in all of this?
"Ruhi, lekin tum Ishita Aunty ke paas pohchi kaise? I thought ki tum mom ke saath-"
"Accha suno suno!" Madhu loudly clapped her hands together and stopped Adi's questions. "Main sab ke liye dosa bana rahi hoon. Aap logon ko khaana hai? Adi? Ruhi? Ekdum crispy wala... aur woh bhi cheese daal kar."
"Yes!" Ruhi exclaimed. Adi nodded as well.
As the wedding video played on the TV, Madhu ushered everyone to the kitchen table. Vishwa set out plates for everyone, as she removed the canister of dosa batter from the fridge. She spread out the batter on the hot sizzling pan and served crisp dosas to her grandchildren.
Amidst their happy crunching, Madhu breathed a sigh of relief, her gut churning in residual anxiety at how close Adi was to asking certain irredeemable questions. If he had found out the truth, there was no way she could've handled him.
And Ruhi... She couldn't bear seeing the little girl remember her time in the orphanage. Thanks to her young age, most of her memories from that time hadn't solidified, and those that had, were close to fading away. If she didn't think about that time, it was quite possible that in the long run, she'd forget those years of her life.
Madhu continued pouring batter onto the pan, making dosas, as the children munched away. Even so, questions had risen in Adi's mind, and they wouldn't be quelled without real answers.
.....................................................................................................................
Delhi Civil Court β 4 pm
"Order order!" Judge Banerjee struck her gavel twice as everyone settled down. "I hope everyone has had a nice break, but it's time we proceed with the trial. Counselor Mishra, please present your case now."
Mishra rolled his shoulders and stood up from his desk. The first witness he called was Shagun.
"Ms. Arora," he drawled, leaning lazily on the bar of the witness stand, once Shagun had been sworn in. "What can you tell the court about your relationship with Aditya?"
"He's my everything." Shagun straightened her saree and faced the judge from the witness stand. "We've been the most important person for each other ever since he was born. I love him more than anything."
"So you've been his primary caregiver?" Mishra stepped back and paced back and forth.
"Yes."
"Have you provided him with all necessities? Taken care of what he needs?"
"Of course I have!" She tipped her nose upwards and her eyes darkened with empty pride. "In fact I've given him more luxuries and comfort than he could've ever imagined! More riches than I ever got as a kid!"
"That's great to hear. Adi is lucky to have you as a mom," Mishra smiled. He walked back to his desk and handed a file to the court officer for the judge. "Your honor, this file contains copies of Shagun Arora's purchases and the money she has spent on Aditya's schooling and his lifestyle."
The judge skimmed through the file as Mishra addressed Shagun again.
"Ms. Arora, we've heard today that you've mentally, emotionally, and physically abused your kid. What can you say about that?"
Shagun sighed and turned to the judge. "Your honor, I love my son. I would never do anything to hurt him on purpose. But I'm... I'm a single mom your honor. And I try my best. But not every day is a good day. Sometimes I might say or do something my Adi doesn't like but I never mean to hurt him. I love him. And I need my son." Angry tears pooled in her eyes. He's all I have left.
"Thank you Ms. Arora. I have one final question for you." Mishra needed to clear up one last blemish on Shagun's character. "You left your daughter Ruhi in an orphanage as a baby. Can you tell the court what forced you to make such a difficult, heart wrenching decision?"
"Objection!" Pathak rose from his chair. "Counsel is leading the witness. Plus, this question is irrelevant. This is Aditya's custody trial, not Ruhi's."
"Objection sustained."
"Your honor, Mr. Pathak used Mr. Bhalla's relationship with Ruhi to establish him as a good parent. I'd like to do the same to show that Ms. Arora isn't the big bad wolf he's making her out to be," Mishra entreated.
"But you opened that door during your cross-examination of my witness," Pathak countered. "I simply built on that in my redirect."
Judge Banerjee leaned back in her chair and pushed her glasses up her nose. "All right. I'll allow Mr. Mishra to use this line of questioning, as long as it speaks to Ms. Arora's ability as a parent. And do not lead the witness counselor. One more leading question, and I'll end her testimony," she warned.
"Yes your honor." Mishra turned to Shagun and Pathak sat down disapppointedly.
"Ms. Arora, please explain to the court why Ruhi ended up in an orphanage."
Shagun gulped and strung up a story regarding her decision to put Ruhi in an adoption agency, embellishing it with the heartbreak of a mother forced by life to let go of her baby.
How she had given birth to a baby, but was in no shape to care for one. How she didn't have the courage to deal with Raman and his family and so she had found an alternative method to send Ruhi to them. How she had included a letter for the adoption agency but it had gone missing, causing Ruhi to get thrown into the foster system.
"I tried my best to win her custody again, but Raman and Ishita-"
"That's all, Ms. Arora." Mishra raised his palm and signalled Shagun to stop speaking. She was close to badmouthing her opponents and that wouldn't paint her in a nice color in front of the judge.
"Your honor, my client isn't an evil witch. She's a single mom trying her best. We can all debate on how she went around dealing with Ruhi, but what can't be debated is her devotion for Aditya." Mishra stepped away from the witness box. "No more questions for this witness."
Pathak walked over to Shagun for the cross-questioning.
"So Ms. Arora... You told the court that you've given Aditya luxuries and riches and gifts beyond anyone can imagine."
"Yes, I have."
"Can I ask how much time you've given him?"
"What?"
"You heard me Ms. Arora. How much time do you spend with him? And what do you guys do together?"
"We... um we... go shopping sometimes."
"How often did you go to his hostel to check on his grades and his health?"
No answer.
"How many of his football matches have you attended to cheer for him?"
No answer.
Pathak laughed. "All right, let that be. Let's focus on these gifts you've given your son. Can you tell me how you bought them?"
"Excuse me?" She squinted her eyes in derision.
"Well, as far as I know, in order to buy something, we need to give money. So... where did you get that money?"
"From Ashok. I bought eveything with Ashok's money."
"Oh... I see. Does Ashok earn all the money you use? Or do you earn some of your own money?"
Shagun's nostrils flared from a hurt ego. "No, Ashok earns all the money," she said through gritted teeth.
"So what's your job in the household? Is it reasonable for the court to assume you're a homemaker?"
Shagun remained silent and averted her eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with being a homemaker, Ms. Arora," Pathak persisted. "In fact, homemakers have the hardest job of all. They're never not at work. Whether it's in the kitchen, or while cleaning the house, there's always something-"
"We have staff in our mansion to take care of things like that," Shagun cut him off. Her tongue turned sour at the thought of her performing such measly tasks.
"Okay then, let's see if I have this right." Pathak walked back and rubbed his chin as if he were in deep thought. "You don't fulfill any financial responsibilites. You don't contribute to the household in any way. So what exactly makes you an accomplished woman? And how do you plan on taking care of your son?"
"You seem to forget that Ashok earns more than enough money for me and my son."
"Does that mean you have a right to Ashok's money?"
"Of course I do! His money is my money! I'm his fianceΓ© for crying out loud! Look!" She flashed her ring finger in his face, her diamond rock of a ring glinting against the light.
"You see, now that's where I'm confused." Pathak lifted his index finger and tapped it against his chin. "In your testimony, you referred to yourself as a single mother. But now you're saying you're engaged. So what's the truth? I hope you haven't perjured yourself."
He crossed his arms against his chest and lifted his eyebrows at Shagun, waiting for an answer.
"W-What... What I meant was... I-I mean... I've been raising Adi alone. Ashok isn't involved with Adi much. That's why I called myself a single mother," Shagun stammered.
"So the man that you rely on for your son's expenses isn't involved with raising him... I see... So does that mean you don't have a support system to raise your son? I see that no one has shown up here for you either."
Shagun fumed. She had made this realization long before, but having someone else point it out was beyond humiliating.
"I do have a support system!" she insisted. "Ashok, Suraj, their friends, my friends..."
"I see. And can you rely on them for help? Are they a good influence on your son?"
"Y-Yes..."
Pathak smirked. Shagun had walked right into his trap. He picked up a stack of papers from his desk and presented it to Shagun. "Ms. Arora, can you please read the highlighted section from this court document?"
Shagun cleared her throat and read aloud. "Arrest report for Ashok Kha-" She lost her voice as she realized what she was reading.
"Please continue reading," Pathak urged.
"Um... A-Arrest report for... Ashok Kh-Khanna. Defendant has been remanded to Central Jail for seven days by the order of Judge Meeta Bakshi on one count attempt to bribe a public official and one count obstruction of justice," she hesitantly read aloud.
"Now read the highlighted section on this next report please." Pathak flipped through the stack and presented another document.
"Official inquiry against Suraj Khanna. Allegations of... illegal m-match fixing and fraud. Under investigation by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs."
"And finally, please read the headline of this newspaper clipping."
Shagun sighed and read aloud. "Khanna Brothers Drowning in the Deep End. Bankruptcy Threatens..."
Pathak smiled as he handed the entire stack of papers to the court officer, who passed it to the judge. "Your honor, I believe these documents speak for themselves regarding Ms. Arora's support system."
Banerjee flicked through the stack of papers she had received, as Pathak continued questioning Shagun.
"Ms. Arora, I'd like to switch gears a bit now. It was brought up earlier that you slapped Aditya last month."
Shagun sucked in a sharp breath.
"Can you explain why you did that?"
"I um... I had to. He was getting out of hand... He had started arguing with me... I had to dis-discipline him."
"What did he do?"
"Um..."
"Why did you need to slap him? What did he do?"
"I heard you the first time!" Shagun shrieked, as she slapped her hands against the bars of the witness stand.
"Ms. Arora!" Banerjee warned. "I've told you this before and I'm telling you again, please maintain the decorum of my courtroom. If you have one more outburst here, I will have you removed from my court! Please quietly answer the question you've been asked."
Shagun managed to lower her voice from a bellow to a hiss as she answered Pathak's question. "Mera beta mujhse zubaan ladaa raha tha. Use sabak seekhana zaruri tha."
"I see... One last question Ms. Arora. What is Aditya's favorite movie franchise?"
"Um... He used to watch Mickey Mouse a lot."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"I um... I guess... then maybe Disney is his favorite movie franchise."
"Are you sure? Because I've heard he loves Superman."
"Th-That could possible. He likes superheroes too."
"So then is the DC universe his favorite franchise?"
"Maybe?"
"Or is it Marvel? Because I thought he likes Spiderman-"
"Objection your honor!" Mishra shot up from his seat. "Counsel is leading the witness. This line of questioning is confusing my client."
"Objection sustained. Where are you going with this, Mr. Pathak?"
"My apologies your honor." Pathak turned away from Shagun and faced the judge. "I was simply trying to show how much Ms. Arora knows her son. She's been his constant support and caregiver for ten years, yet she couldn't answer one simple question about him. On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla have known him for only six months, but they answered each of my questions without hesitation. They happen to know Aditya's every habit and hobby, every like and dislike."
He stepped back to his desk. "I have no more questions for this witness."
As Shagun walked back to her bench, having been obliterated on the witness stand, Mishra stood up and spoke out.
"I'd now like to present-"
Before he could present his next piece of evidence, the clock struck five pm signalling the end of court.
"We'll continue with this case on the next date," Judge Banerjee decided. "Counselor Mishra can finish presenting his case then. We'll reconvene on Thursday July 26th at 10 am for the next hearing. I'm going to request minor Aditya's presence towards the end of that hearing, so I can speak with him myself. Until then, you are all excused."
With one final strike of the gavel, the court was dismissed.
.....................................................................................................................
Khanna Mansion β next day, Wednesday, 11 am
Shagun paced back and forth in her living room, craning her neck towards the entrance every now and again.
"Yeh Mishra ji kahan reh gaye?" she muttered.
Five minutes later, the doorbell rang. The butler opened the door and Jeet Mishra walked in.
"Mishra ji? Aap kahan reh gaye the?! I've been waiting for twenty minutes!" Shagun complained.
"Sorry Shagun ji. I got stuck in traffic."
"Accha chaliye. Kal ke liye aapki court ki kya strategy hai, woh discuss kar lete hai."
"One minute Shagun ji." Mishra stopped Shagun before she could turn away. "Aap ko to pata hi hai. Main apni fees hearing ke pehle leta hoon. So first, pay me my fees for tomorrow's hearing, and then we can talk."
"Fine. Come with me," Shagun huffed.
She led him up the stairs of their mansion and approached the study. Ashok and Suraj sat at the desk facing each other.
"Ashok, the lawyer needs to be paid his fees." Shagun ran a finger through her curls.
"Not now." Ashok's eyes remained fixed on his laptop.
"Ashok!" she screamed.
"What?!" Ashok slammed his hand against the desk, finally looking at Shagun, face screwed up in rage.
"Mishra ji ko unki fees de do!"
"It's two lakh rupees for tomorrow's hearing," Mishra piped up.
"Two lakhs?!" Ashok exclaimed in shock as he shot up from his chair. They were on the verge of bankruptcy and all this woman could think about was herself. "Shagun, I've had it with you. Main tumhe do lakh toh kya, do phooti kaudi nahin dene waala!"
Shagun's eyes widened. "You've already refused to stay by my side during Adi's custody case. This is the least you could do!"
Ashok rolled his eyes at the woman's tantrums. "I have a meeting across town. I got to go," he declared dismissively.
He shut his laptop and deposited it in his bag, smoothing his coat as he made to leave.
"Wait Ashok," Suraj called out. "Just sign this for me before you go." He turned a file towards him.
"What's this?"
"I'm trying to secure funding from this investor I used to know. I just need your sign too since we co-own the company." Suraj opened the file and pointed where Ashok needed to sign.
"Fine."
Ashok hoisted his laptop bag over his shoulder and hastily scribbled his signature, before flying past Shagun and Mishra.
"Ashok! Tum aisa nahi kar sakte!" Shagun screamed. "I need the lawyer for this case! And he needs his fees!"
She followed him downstairs, crying out for his help, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Ashok left out the front door, slamming it in her face, leaving her behind.
Mishra cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um... Shagun ji, agar mujhe meri fees nahi mili toh main aapko represent nahi kar sakta."
Shagun wiped her tears and turned to glare at her lawyer. "Aapko aapki fees mil jaayegi. Main kuch karti hoon."
"Kya karengi aap?" Mishra scoffed. He knew her and her fiancΓ© well. Shagun didn't have her own money. And Ashok had obviously refused to pay.
"Main... Main woh..."
"Let it be Ms. Arora. It's clear that you can't afford me anymore. So I can't represent you. Bye."
He stepped towards the front door but Shagun stopped him.
"Wait! You can't leave like this! Mera... Mera case kaun ladega?"
"Hire someone else. And if you can't afford someone then the court will appoint someone for you. You still have the civil right to counsel. You'll find someone. All I know is that I can't represent you anymore."
He dashed out of the mansion and Shagun was left behind, all alone.
.....................................................................................................................
Delhi Civil Court β next day, Thursday, July 26, 9:55 am
Raman squirmed in his seat on the bench. If all went well, then the decision of the custody case would be declared today. His eyelids fluttered shut as he sent another silent prayer to the gods above.
"Raman?" Ishita shook his forearm from where she sat beside him.
"Kya hua?" he asked.
She nodded her head towards the opposition. "Woh dekhiye. Shagun has a new lawyer today. Do you think she has another trick up her sleeve?"
Raman's eyes widened in surprise. "I have no idea."
He leaned forward and tapped Pathak's shoulder. "Neil! What's with the new lawyer over there? Where's Mishra?"
Pathak looked over to his right. He recognized the new lawyer she had retained... and smiled.
"Tu muskura raha hai?" Raman asked quizzically.
"Bhai, bhabhi..." Pathak twisted around in his seat and faced Raman and Ishita. "That's Yash Agarwaal. He's a government-appointed junior civil lawyer. Looks like Shagun couldn't afford Mishra any longer, so the judge assigned one for her. Courts usually appoint lawyers for people who can't afford one."
Realization dawned in Raman's eyes and he leaned back, as Pathak adjusted his posture and faced the front. Judge Uma Banerjee had arrived in the courtroom. She struck her gavel to let the proceedings begin.
Agarwaal stood up and cleared his throat. "Your honor, Counselor Mishra has backed out of the case, so I will be representing Ms. Arora today."
"Sounds good. Please proceed," Banerjee said.
Agarwaal wiped a bead of sweat from his brow as he stepped forward. He had received the case file less than two hours ago, and considering his inexperience, there was no way he could've prepared thoroughly enough to present any more evidence. In fact, Shagun herself didn't have anything more to present in her favor. He got a hold of his nerves and found his voice.
"Your honor, I believe Mr. Mishra had presented all the available evidence in the last hearing. Therefore, I rest my case. I am ready to proceed to closing arguments."
"Very well."
As Pathak and Agarwaal presented their closing arguments, Shagun stewed in her seat. This was the most humiliating experience of her life. The fact that she couldn't afford the topmost lawyer, the fact that this new lawyer couldn't even put up a fair fight, the fact that she had no one in her corner compared to the herd of people who were on Raman's side. Her blood bubbled with the fury of her hurt ego.
"All right then." Banerjee finished her notes and addressed the courtroom. "Before I give my decision, I'd like to speak with Aditya. Is he here?"
"He's here your honor!" Romi called out.
They all collectively turned their heads to see Romi and Rinki enter the courtroom with Adi.
"I hope we're not late," Romi said. "We had lots of traffic on the way."
"You're right on time," Banerjee replied. "Aditya beta, please follow me to my chambers."
Adi nodded and followed the judge, passing through the aisle between the rows of benches.
He looked to his left. His big fat family all smiled at him, nodding and showing thumbs-up signals to boost his morale. But his anxiety wasn't completely quashed until his gaze landed on his parents.
"Beta, don't feel scared, okay?" Raman said. "There is nothing to worry about. Just answer the judge's questions as best as you can."
Adi nodded.
"And don't worry Adi," Ishita added. "Everything you tell the judge will be between the two of you only. So be completely open and honest, okay?" She grasped his hand and squeezed reassuringly.
"Okay Aunty." Adi squeezed her hand back.
He turned to his right to follow the judge out of the back door. As he walked, he passed Shagun and glanced at her. Other than the lawyer, her entire side was empty. He gulped as his heart racked with guilt. How could he think of staying with the Bhallas when his mother was all alone?
When his eyes finally met Shagun's, his mouth went dry. Her eyes were red β almost bloodshot β glimmering with anger, fear, despair, and expectation all wrapped in one. And his spine shriveled. He averted his eyes and left the room for the judge's chambers.
Shagun managed to suck in a deep breath in her lungs as Adi walked away. There was still hope for her. All was not lost yet. Adi... Adi had to choose her. He was all she had left.
.....................................................................................................................
Judge Uma Banerjee's Chambers β 10:15 am
"Hello Aditya," Banerjee spoke softly to the boy seated on the other side of her desk.
"Hi Aunty." Adi fidgeted with his fingers. "I-I mean... Hi your honor."
"It's okay beta. You can call me Aunty," Banerjee chuckled lightly. "Beta, do you know why you're here?"
Adi nodded. "It's my custody case, right? You have to decide who I'll stay with permanently."
"Yes beta. I want to ask you a few questions. Is that all right?"
"Yeah sure."
"Great. Beta, can you talk to me about your dad and stepmom? How long have you been living with them?"
"It's been almost..." Adi did some mental math. "...three months."
"I see. And how do you like it there?"
"I love it there!" The lines of anxiety vanished from his face replaced by a bright smile. "Dad and Aunty are great. And they're so funny. They fight about weirdest things." He laughed as he recounted the hilarious tiffs and banters he had witnessed over food preferences, career differences, and cultural variations. "They're the cutest!"
"My husband and I fight over the same things. I'm Bengali and he's Marathi. And while I'm in law, he's in the armed forces," Banerjee chuckled. "Who else is in your family?"
"Um... my sister Ruhi! She's the biggest draamebaaz of the world! And there's chachu and bua, dadu and dadi..."
Adi talked animatedly about his family and everything they did together. His hands waved around merrily and his body language turned vibrant as he detailed his time with the Bhallas.
"Ishita Aunty and Dadi make the best Indian food. I never thought I could like Indian food so much, you know? But dad makes better Italian stuff. His tomato sauce is the best I've ever had! Oh, and we all play so many games together! Carrom, monopoly, card games, and even football. Dad almost always wins at carrom, and Tata somehow always wins at monopoly. And Dadi and Paati always end up fighting when they play cards together. Paati thinks Dadi cheats..." he chuckled. "But I'm the best at football! Did you know I made the regional football team?!"
A soft smile crept up Banerjee's lips despite her insistence on remaining neutral and professional. Kids were her weakness. She loved seeing them this sprightly.
"I'm glad to hear that beta," she said, when Adi managed to end his monologue. "What about the time you've spent with your mom? Can you tell me more about that?"
Immediately the light went out in his eyes. But he shook his head and slapped a smile on his face. "I have fun there too. We um... we go shopping sometimes. Mom loves to buy new things. And she loves jewelry and sarees a lot. Sometimes we even go out to eat. Her favorite food is usually stuff like bagels and eggs and coffee..."
It didn't escape Banerjee's notice how all his past-times with Shagun centered on what she liked.
Finally, she asked the momentous question. "Aditya beta, where do you think you should stay?"
He opened his mouth to ask to be kept with the Bhallas. It was right there on the tip of his tongue. But no words fell out.
The image from the courtroom flashed against his eyes. His mother, all alone, eyes raining fire. His father and stepmother and sister all had each other. They'd be fine without him. But his mother? Not so much.
His heart screamed at him in retaliation but he knew exactly what he needed to do. He gathered every last ounce of courage he had left and spoke out in a hoarse voice, "Aunty, I-I have to... I have to stay with my mom. She... she needs me."
"Why do you say that beta?"
"Because... because she relies on me. She's done so much for me Aunty... I can't l-leave her alone now. She expects me to be there for her."
"Okay beta. I understand."
Banerjee's expression turned solemn as she realized the depth of internal turmoil this boy was in. Kids were her weakness. She hated seeing them this dejected.
"Aap jaa sakte hain beta. Go wait with your family in the courtroom. I'll come back and announce my verdict in a minute."
Adi stood up from his chair on wobbly legs. The only sounds he heard were the scrawl of Banerjee's pen, the noise from the fan, and his heart breaking like glass. The smiling faces of Raman, Ishita, and Ruhi flashed against his eyes, and those shards of glass pierced his chest. He had made this same decision five year ago, out of innocence, without knowing how deep the consequences of his words could go. But now, he took this decision, knowing full well he was about to break three hearts.
Sorry Papa.
Sorry Ishita Aunty.
Sorry Ruhi chuhi.
.....................................................................................................................
Author's Note
Hello my precious readers! Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long for an update. School has started so my updates will be a bit more infrequent. But still, I'll try my best. β€οΈπ€
Firstly, I want to let you know that the court case I've presented here is completely fictitious. I'm sure you already know this, but I wanted to make it clear, because I have zero knowledge about law and court cases. Everything I know comes from watching Law and Order SVU. This probably isn't what a legal trial looks like in India, but I think it's realistic enough for a work of fiction.
I wanted to write this trial to show the complications and nuances behind a custody trial. I wanted to bring up issues like whether one slap can count as abuse, whether parents have the right to hit their kids or not, and the balance between time and money.
I also wanted to hit on circumstances where women are forced to let go of babies they've given birth to. Lot's of women find themselves in situations where they can't raise a child so they have to put them up for adoption. I believe Shagun found herself in a similar situation six years ago but obviously, she didn't go about it as maturely as she should have, choosing to instead exploit the situation for her own selfishness.
As we can see, Shagun is starting to face the consequences of her choices over the years. While Raman, Ishita, and the Bhallas are flourishing, Shagun, Ashok, and Suraj are crumbling as a unit. Life is coming full-circle, as both sides are receiving the fruits of their actions (even if they are years late). Wait up until the next chapter to see Shagun's complete downfall.
Lastly, I'm sure you guys may be upset that Adi has chosen to stay with his mother towards the end. But unfortunately, this is a very realistic scenario. People who have been trapped under someone's thumb and who have been exploited emotionally (or abused in any way) take years and years to come out from under their perpetrator's shadow, especially when the perpetrator is their parent. I know of people who have taken over 15-20 years to cut off certain relations.
But rest assured, he'll get his happy ending soon. And Shagun will face her consequences soon as well.
Stay happy and healthy! I'll try to update the next chapter soon! β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
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