"Officer, how can you claim that I'm the one who plotted to kill them? For God's sake, it's my dad whom we are talking about." Aditya spoke, frustrated at the turn of events. His jaw hurt as he opened his mouth due to which he suffered from a severe headache but right now, it all just didn't matter.
"It's you, obviously it's you. You think I don't know how much you hate my mom? You think I don't know that you've blamed my mom when it's your dad who proposed the idea of their marriage? You think I don't know how high you think of that mother of yours?" Karthikeya spoke, uttering the word mother with so much hatred that it shook Aditya to the core.
"You dare speak a word against her, I'll kill you!" Aditya shouted in a cold tone as Karthikeya balled his fists at the hypocrisy of his half-brother. "Oh right. You get to plot against my mother, more worse, kill her but I can't speak a word about yours. Such a hypocritical person." Karthikeya mumbled the last sentence but it was loud enough for everyone present in the investigation room.
"Okay, that's enough!" Abhinay's commanding voice came and his juniors shivered in anticipation of what was going to come while Karthikeya and Aditya weren't much affected as they continued shooting daggers at each other.
"Sir, Mr. Reddy's mother and wife are here. They're asking if they can meet him." A constable reported to Abhinay as he sighed, shaking his head. "Aditya, go tell your family to go home and not make a scene here. I don't want this to become a public affair, understand? You've five minutes." Abhinay spoke in monotone, signing the constable to escort Aditya to his family.
Just when Karthikeya was about to protest, Abhinay stopped him, giving him a warning look. "Step back, Karthikeya. Now." Abhinay warned cautiously to which Karthikeya slumped down, holding his head in his hands as Aditya walked out.
As soon as his mother came into his sight, she quickly hugged him, weeping against his chest as Nisha looked at him, worried. "Mom, I'm okay, stop crying, alright?" Aditya said, parting from her. "Adi, what's all this? I know you won't kill your own father." Anjali said, wiping her tears as Nisha rubbed her back, comfortingly.
"Mom, there's some misconception here. I'll sort it out and come back home to you as soon as possible, okay?" Aditya said as Anjali nodded, timidly. "Nisha, take mom home and could you call up and ask Anirudh to come here?" He addressed to Nisha as she nodded, affirmatively.
As Anjali retreated, after kissing Aditya's forhead, Nisha also followed her and Aditya watched their retreating backs. Just as Nisha took few steps forward, she quickly turned back and held his hands in hers. "Everything will be okay." She whispered to him as her left hand rubbed his cheek. Aditya was the one who assured everyone that it'll be fine at the end but he too, needed a person to dispel his doubts, to comfort him and that person was Nisha; his Nisha.
He nodded, looking at her intensely to which she smiled. She peeked behind her back before cautiously examining if the coast was clear and then pulled him into a chaste kiss. He kissed her back like his life depended on it before parting. She kissed his knuckles and slowly released his hands. "Bye." She whispered, walking away as he sighed, tiredly.
-----
"Mr. Nanda, you haven't yet produced your proofs which support your claims that Mr. Reddy is the one who planned the accident of your mother." Anirudh spoke in a voice which told that he meant clear business and a constable stepped forward. He forwarded a zip lock bag which consisted of a watch.
"Can you remember this watch, Mr. Reddy?" Abhinay questioned to which Aditya took the pouch in his hands, examining it. "This watch is m-mine." Aditya spoke, as confusion settled in. "Well, this watch has been found in the car in which Mr. and Mrs. Reddy were travelling, which explains why you're sitting here." Abhinay spoke.
He forwarded two laminated pictures; in the the first one, Gautam helping Aditya wear the watch and in the second one, Gautam and Aditya posed looking at the camera with their customised watches. Aditya caressed the bottom of the picture which had the date on which the picture was taken - 30'03'2005.
"It was my fifteenth birthday and dad got these customised watches, one for me and one for him. Though he left us, I still kept this with me. A week back, I think, I lost it." Aditya said, still looking at the pictures. "He's lying. How can he loose it a week back when the accident had occurred almost before a month?" Karthikeya said, bewildered at the height Aditya could go to just to project himself.
"That's the exact point, Mr. Nanda." Anirudh spoke as all of them looked at him confused. "This accident had happened a month back. You can't just come over with this watch and claim that Mr. Reddy's behind the murder. You need more solid proofs and this thing here," He pointed towards the watch and pictures. "is no where near to something which can be considered as solid." As he finished, Karthikeya smirked.
"You want something solid, yeah? Then it's time to get Indra in." Karthikeya spoke as Aditya and Anirudh shared a look. Abhinay sighed before indicating the constable - who was standing in an end - to bring in Indra, Karthikeya's wild card.
Anirudh and Aditya watched as the entrance door opened and a skinny teenager entered in, walking quite timidly. His eyes never left the floor as he stood beside Abhinay with the constable behind him. "Indra, whatever you told me before, I want you to repeat it for Mr. Reddy and Mr. Krishnan. I want only the truth, understand?" Abhinay spoke as Indra nodded, fear settling inside the pit of his stomach.
"I'm a seventeen year old who works in Aditya sir's factory where the sportswear get manufactured. A month before, Aditya sir had called me and asked me to hit Gautam sir's car with a lorry which he provided. I initially declined but sir told me that he'll help me with continuing my studies and also will look after my family. Yet, I denied but then he started abusing me saying if I don't do the work, he'll kill my family." Indra spoke, as tears rolled down from his eyes.
"I was helpless and had to give in. I am sorry." He spoke and Karthikeya gritted his teeth, his jaw line clearly visible. "Take him away." Abhinay ordered as the constable tugged at Indra, who walked outside, silently sobbing. "Now, what do you have to say about this?" Abhinay questioned sternly to which Aditya sighed.
"Officer, he's lying. I don't even know him, for God's sake. I'm being framed into this and you're not understanding it, damn." Aditya shouted the last part as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Do you have any proofs to support your previous statement?" Abhinay questioned, even though he knew the answer.
"No." Came Aditya's monosyllabic answer as Karthikeya smiled evilly. "Without solid proofs you're going nowhere, Aditya. Am I right, Mr. Krishnan?" Karthikeya mocked as Anirudh sighed at the helpless situation but boy, he wasn't going to give up. He knew Aditya would never do such a thing, no matter how angry he might be at his father and Anirudh was going to fight to prove his innocence.
"If Indra was the one who caused the accident, then how did you find Aditya's watch in the car?" Anirudh questioned, logically as Karthikeya banged his fist on the table that separated the both parties. "That's what I want to know and only Aditya can answer." Karthikeya spoke, glaring at his half-brother.
"It'll be easier if you confess and we can submit the proofs, along with the recording of your confession. So, just get ahead with it, Aditya." Abhinay spoke and Aditya sighed. There has to be a freaking way. He thought. "There's nothing to confess here when Aditya hasn't committed any crime. Actually I'm going to file a case against you, Mr. Nanda." Anirudh spoke, getting up.
"You should've first submitted the proofs after filing a case in the court instead of dragging Aditya here for some so-called investigation when all you're doing is to pressurise him to confess. I'll see you at the court, with the proofs, alright?" Anirudh spoke as he walked towards the entrance.
"Oh right, you'll receive Aditya's bail papers by today evening. Till then, take care, Aditya." Anirudh spoke, walking out as Aditya rubbed his temples. How grateful he was to have a friend like Anirudh.
Name, Anirudh Krishnan. Occupation, a well-known lawyer. Qualifications, completed her Master of Laws (L.L.M). Relationship status, single, ready to mingle. Hobbies, cooking. Family, lost his parents in a bomb blast when he was ten years. He was adopted by Gautam Reddy, who helped him in all phases of his life. Friends, has a very wide friend circle.
-----
Abhinay and Karthikeya walked out, leaving Aditya alone who now rested his head on the table ahead as his mind travelled back to his childhood which was nothing but a happy fairytale. Karthikeya banged his fist to the wall and ran a hand through his hair. The man who killed his mother was going to just pass the punishment and he couldn't even do much about it.
His mind thought about today morning's incident as he remembered how he rushed to the police station when Abhinay called him and informed that a man from the car repair services agency - which had taken the vehicle in which Gautam and Amira were travelling - had come, informing that he found a watch in the automobile while inspecting it.
Abhinay and Karthikeya along with their team immediately rushed to Gautam's house and went through it thoroughly. That's when they found the album which had the pictures of Gautam and Amira. Moreover, as they inquired Indra who was looking very nervous and suspicious, he confessed about Aditya and as they joined the dots, it was crystal clear that Aditya was the culprit.
"Karthikeya, stop hurting yourself for God's sake. First, go get an attorney to argue from your side." Abhinay said, frustrated at his younger brother's reckless behaviour. "Anirudh is a very strong lawyer and he's good at what he does. Even the most experienced ones don't take up cases which involve going against him. From where should I get a person who'll fight against him?" Karthikeya voiced out his worries as Abhinay looked down, thoughtfully.
"Sir, there's this lawyer, Kavya Anthony. She's a newbie and doesn't have much work experience but she's the only one who took a stand and fought against Mr. Krishnan. There was this case about a couple of farmers from a small village and though she lost the case, she earned herself a name in the industry due to her bold and fearless nature." Abhinay's junior suggested as Abhinay nodded in approval.
"I've heard about her, too. Maybe you should ask her to take up the case, Karthikeya." Abhinay suggested. Even though he had a gut feeling that Aditya had the upper hand, he nodded as something is better than nothing.
-----
Nisha, Anjali and Anand took their seats as the tension in the air became more thicker. It was a court trail where both the accused and the complainant provided evidence. Aditya along with his family and Anirudh sat on the side whereas Karthikeya along with Kavya sat on the other side while Abhinay sat a few seats away, indicating that he was present there as a government employee but not as Karthikeya's brother.
As they waited for the judge to arrive, Karthikeya and Aditya were busy in glaring at each other, while Abhinay, Nisha, Anjali and Anand gave awkward glances to each other. Anirudh and Kavya were a whole different story altogether. As Kavya glared at him, Anirudh put up a smug face but only he knew what her eyes were doing to him.
Though he acted as if he didn't care, his insides were all jittery as Kavya's eyes never left him. When he came to know Kavya was ready to fight against him, he was really surprised and her guts impressed him. Though she always managed to irritate him and bring the worst out of him, he never had anything against her, personally.
He really wanted to ask her out but his larger-than-life ego always stopped him and he was also aware that the girl would definitely deny him so he went with the flow and enjoyed her cute lil' actions. As the judge walked in, all of them stood and bowed as a mark of respect. "Let's start, then." She said as Kavya nodded and got up to speak.
"Thank you, your honour. A month ago, in an accident which occurred in the outskirts of the city, Gautam Reddy and his wife, Amira Nanda-Reddy have passed away. So, my client here, Karthikeya Nanda claims that the accident was a plotted one which indicates that the couple's death isn't natural but a cold-blooded pre-planned murder." Kavya spoke confidently and Anirudh watched her in amusement as her self-assured behaviour imme turned him on.
"He claims that Aditya Reddy, the accused to be the one who plotted this. I sincerely request you to convict the accused under section 302 in the IPC which states that whoever commits murder shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine." Kavya ended it as Karthikeya sighed out of relief.
"Objection, your Honour." Anirudh finally spoke as he smirked at Kavya who looked like she could kill. "Objection sustained." The judge spoke as Kavya took her seat and Anirudh bowed respectfully. "Thank you, your Honour. Now I'd like to question the plaintiff attorney that what evidence do they have to prove their previous accusations?" Anirudh spoke and Kavya immediately forwarded the plastic pouch which had the watch along with the pictures.
"Your Honour, this is the watch which has been found in the car in which Mr. and Mrs. Reddy were travelling and these are the pictures in which Mr. Reddy is seen gifting this watch to the accused which clearly indicates that this watch belongs to the accused." Kavya said as the judge examined the evidences before making some notes. Kavya gave Anirudh a smug look while Anirudh rolled his eyes.
"Your Honour, it's true that this watch belongs to my client. Now, tell me when did the accident occur?" Anirudh questioned Kavya. "Before a month." She said to which he nodded. "When did the ACP receive it?" He questioned again. "Yesterday." Kavya answered. "Note these two points your Honour." Anirudh said and everyone else present looked confused while he forwarded a few photographs.
"Your Honour, these are the pictures of my client where he attended Vertex Fashion Week, 2018 and if you see clearly, he had the watch on. Moreover, this event has taken place two weeks back, i.e., two weeks after the accident has taken place. Please note this point, too." Anirudh said.
"As per the claims of the plaintiff, the watch was found in the car yesterday. So now, I'd like to question that how can you find the watch yesterday when my client still has the watch with him after the accident has taken place?" He spoke and Kavya kept mum, not knowing what more to say. Karthikeya stilled as realisation struck him like a lightening bolt; he never thought it in this way.
"Moreover, my client also says that he had lost this watch a week back which leaves us with only one option and i.e. someone has stolen the watch and placed it in the car." Anirudh spoke. "What are you implying at?" Kavya questioned as the anger bubbled inside her. "I conclude saying that my client is being framed and if this accident is truly a murder, then I'd say there's a killer out there which proves my client's innocence." He concluded as he sat down with a smug look.
"You've anything to say?" The judged questioned Kavya after making some notes to which she shook her head, sitting down. "Well, then, the other evidences and witnesses will be taken into consideration in the next trail. Till then, the court is adjourned." The judge spoke as everyone else rose and bowed respectfully.
After she walked out, Karthikeya left in anger and Abhinay followed him out while Kavya sat there, deep in her thoughts. Anirudh hugged Aditya and Anjali, who looked a bit relieved as they all walked out, leaving Anirudh and Kavya alone.
He looked at her defeated face and sighed. Looking at her, he remembered how he was when he was a newbie. He shook his head, seeing himself in her as he walked towards her and sat infront her. "Kavya, are you okay?" He spoke, clutching her hands to which she immediately jerked away from him, moving away.
"You're such a cheater. You, that Aditya, everyone are so freaking bad. You rich people have a very wicked way of manipulating stuff, isn't it?
You know Anirudh, all of my seniors tell me that you always fight for what is right and strive hard to bring justice to the righteous one. But right now, I highly doubt that, you know. How much did that filthy rich guy offered you, ah?" She shouted, pointing a finger at him to which he balled his fists.
He quickly pinned her to the wall behind as ducked his head to meet her level. She struggled against him but all he did was to look at her with red eyes which stung with tears. "Kavya, that's enough now. You're the first girl whom I liked, you know. Why do you think that it's Aditya who is the murderer? No, if I sold my soul to Aditya, then did you sell your body to Karthikeya?" He spoke in a venom-laced voice as she looked at him shell shocked at his confession.
"Anirudh." She whispered in a soft tone and stopped struggling to which he looked away from her for a millisecond before crashing his lips onto hers. She stared at him with widened eyes, blinking repeatedly and even before she could react, he pushed her to the side, parting from her. "I hate you." He whispered, walking away as tears formed in her eyes, her heart filling with regret. Why do I have to mess up, always? She thought.
Name, Kavya Anthony. Occupation, lawyer. Qualifications, completed her Master of Laws (L.L.M). currently searching for a job. Relationship status, single. Hobbies, reading. Family, her mother, Disha Anthony passed away after giving birth to her. Currently, living with her father, Chris Anthony. Friends, has a very wide friend circle.
-----
Aditya stood in the balcony, reminiscing his memories with his father as he realised how much he missed his father. Tears welled up in his eyes as he clutched the railing in a tight grip. He gritted his teeth and took deep breaths in an attempt to keep his tears at bay.
Nisha walked out of the washroom, wiping her wet hair when she saw him standing in the balcony. She immediately placed the wet towel on the bed, walked towards him and hugged him from behind, her cheek resting on his back. "Aditya, I know I shouldn't be asking this but are really you okay?" She questioned, hoping strongly that he'd open up to her.
She wanted him to share his feelings and his weaknesses with her; she wanted to be a part of his happiness and sadness. "I'm fine." His hoarse voice made her shiver as she realised he was anything but fine.
"Aditya, are you crying?" She turned him around to face her as he looked down, hiding his tears.
She quickly lifted his head up by his chin and watched as tears flew down freely from his eyes. "Oh, Aditya." She mumbled under her breath as she tip-toed to hug him. She caressed his back and hair as he leaned in and engulfed her tiny waist in his huge arms.
"It'll be okay. We'll be fine." She whispered and felt him nod his head as he buried his head in her neck. They both parted after few minutes and stood beside each other, stargazing. "My dad fell in love with Karthikeya's mother and left me and my mom. They both got divorced and my mother had to move out along with me. She wasn't highly educated so she couldn't get a job for herself. We'd keep moving from one place to another like nomads; it would be a temple for a week and then a railway station for next. She picked up odd jobs just so that she could provide us full meals." He spoke as Nisha listened to him, patiently.
"Things were tough. I'd at times help my mom by teaching children. But things got tougher when she was removed from work from a construction site as the construction of the building was halted. She had to search for another work but she couldn't find one. My year end was fast approaching and she had to pay the fees for me to get into a university but there was no money. S-so sh-she had to sleep with different men." He said and broke down in her arms.
Tears welled up in her own eyes as she realise what all he had been through. "I was almost eighteen and I wasn't dumb. I knew what those brutal men did to my mother but she would always put on a smile for me, indicating me that everything was okay. They wouldn't allow me to go inside as I sat near the closed room and heard my mom scream. Every night these sounds would echo in my ears as I'd get nightmares of different men with my mother. It is so freaking horrible and these memories haunt me every freaking day and night." He weeped more.
She parted from him and engulfed his lips. They shared a passionate kiss as tears kept streaming down. "The other day, Anand uncle was walking through the street and a truck came from the opposite side. The brakes of the truck were failed and the horn wasn't working. Moreover the driver was drunk. Just when the truck was about to hit him, I jumped in and saved him. That's when he came to know about our situation and decided to help us. He paid my fees, gave us shelter and all other necessities. My mom also helped Ambika aunty in her work. If I'm here today, then the credit goes to my mother and Anand uncle." Aditya said as Nisha nodded.
"Who's the reason for all of this? Isn't it him, my father? I was angry at him. I was really mad. No one told me that if a person could fall in love, then he could fall out of love, too. With time I got over all this but the anger I had inside me never reduced as a result of which I never visited my father even after knowing that he suffered from cancer. I didn't care about him." He spoke as Nisha caressed his hairs and nape, looking at him intensely.
"But now, after he passed away, when I look back, I regret all of it. I know what he did was wrong but I also knew he regretted it. Yet, I hadn't paid a visit to him. Today, I still don't know what I've achieved holding so many grudges against him. I just have reasons to hate him today but neither do I have him or his memories, which utterly sucks." He whispered and Nisha quickly wiped his tears.
"Aditya, it's all in the past, okay? You can't change anything now. All you can do is pray that you're father rests in peace, no matter where he is." She whispered, placing a kiss on his forhead to which he nodded, slowly. "Moreover, always remember you're a strong man. My strong man. No matter what poeple say, don't ever think otherwise, okay?" She said to which she nodded, again and she hugged him.
He let a breath out and his tears felt on her collar bone to which she immediately jerked back, chucking to which he gave a confused look to her. "I'm sorry, I'm ticklish." She said, touching her collar bone to which he threw his head back, laughing and here she thought only girls had mood swings.
"Don't laugh, Aditya." She glared at him and looked like she was going to punch him where he raised his hands, defeatedly. "Woah, little tigress, calm down." He said to which she stuck her tongue out at him.
He looked at her intensely to which she moved back, getting stuck between the railing and him. He placed his hands on her hips, trapping her to which she pulled closer by placing her hands around his neck.
He ducked his head down and entered his tongue into her mouth as they both kissed under the moonlight. He pulled her more into him by pushing his hands inside her tee to which she moaned. He then buried his head in the crook of neck, sucking on her sweet spot. He rolled his tongue all over her from her left jaw to her left collarbone.
She kept threading his hairs with her right hand while the left one clutched his shirt in a tight grip. He now bit harder on the place where her neck and shoulder met while his hands travelled up on her her back. As he pressed his hands more into her skin and at the same time bit her harder, drawing blood, she winced slightly before pushing him back.
He looked at her confused when she immediately looked, nervously. "Nisha, what happened?" He looked at her who was suddenly acting all distant as her body tensed up. "N-nothing. Actually I'm a bit tired, we should get to bed now." She stuttered out, not meeting his eyes and quickly walked inside. He sighed, watching her who got in the bed and covered her body totally with the duvet.
Maybe she's really tired. He thought to himself.