Chapter 73: The Courtroom
The courtroom was packed, the tension palpable. Manvi sat at the plaintiff's table, her face calm but eyes reflecting the storm inside. Across from her, Dhruv and his lawyer were preparing to make their case.
The judge called the court to order, and Dhruv's lawyer, Mr. Gupta, stood up, smoothing his suit before he addressed the court.
"Your Honor, aaj main aise saboot pesh karunga jo saabit kar denge ki mere client ki wife Mrs. Manvi ka unki student Khushi ke father Mr. Aarav Malhotra ke saath najayaz sambandh they," Mr. Gupta began, his voice dripping with insinuation.
Gasps and murmurs filled the courtroom. Manvi's lawyer, Sharad, immediately objected. "Objection, Your Honor! This is a baseless and slanderous accusation."
The courtroom was tense, the air thick with accusations and counterclaims. The judge, a stern woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, pounded her gavel to restore order.
"Order in the court! Mr. Gupta, you may proceed, lekin main umeed karti hun ki aapke saboot strong hone," she commanded.
"Thank you, Your Honor," Mr. Gupta acknowledged with a smirk, turning to face the audience and then back to the judge. "We have gathered eyewitness testimonies and circumstantial evidence that clearly indicate an inappropriate relationship between Mrs. Manvi and Mr. Malhotra."
He gestured confidently towards Dhruv, his client. "Mere client ne aksar apni patni ko unke ghar se kaafi der se laute hue paaya hai.. kayi baar toh unki wife coaching ka bahana karke bhi unke ghar jaaya karti thi. Aur haal filhal mein unke ghar gayi thi."
Sharad rose again. "Your Honor, ghar jaane ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki unke beech kuch hai! Mrs. Manvi unse nahi unki beti se milne jaaya karti thi aur jhooth isliye bolti thi kyunki unke pati itne possessive hai ki wo kisise baat karle toh unhe gussa aata tha. Wo nahi chahti thi unke pati ke wajah se uss bachi ko takleef ho rahi baat haal filhal mein ghar jaane ki toh wo ek baap ko apni beti se milwane ki koshish kar rahi thi, ek dost ka farz nibha rahi thi."
Mr. Gupta smirked dismissively. "A good friend, indeed. We have a witness, a neighbor of Mr. Malhotra, who will testify that Mrs. Manvi visited his home late at night on several occasions."
The judge nodded in approval. "Proceed with the witness."
A middle-aged woman nervously took the stand. "Haan, maine dekha tha ek raat inhe ghar aate hue," she testified.
Manvi maintained her composure, though her hands clenched under the table. Sharad's cross-examination revealed inconsistencies in the witness's testimony, but doubt had already been planted.
Mr. Gupta seized the opportunity. "Your Honor, this behavior is unbecoming of a woman seeking divorce on the grounds of cruelty. How can we trust her claims when she herself is involved in such dubious activities?"
Unable to bear the accusations any longer, Manvi stood up, tears welling in her eyes. "Your Honor, yeh sab ilzam galat hai. Mr. Malhotra ki main bahut ijjat karti hun, unhone mujhe mere pati se bachaya tha aur yeh baat sab jante hai! Lekin koi bhi meri side se gawahi nahi de raha hai. Khushi meri student hai, bin maa ki bachi hai, your honor, aksar usey jab meri zaroorat padi, main uske paas gayi yeh sach hai baaki sab jhooth hai! Main waha sirf Khushi ke liye jaya karti thi."
The judge regarded Manvi solemnly, then turned to Sharad. "Mr. Sharad, kya aapke paas koi saboot hai Mr. Dhruv ki wajah se inke miscarriage hue they?"
"Filhaal nahi, Sir, par main jald saboot dunga," Sharad responded with determination.
The judge sighed, delivering a critical verdict. "Sharad, aap ab tak koi solid proof nahi de paaye hai Dhruv ke khilaf. Isliye ab court zyada waqt barbad na karte hue apna faisla sunayegi."
As the reality of the impending judgment sank in, tears streamed down Manvi's face. She felt defeated in her quest for justice against Dhruv's abuse. Dhruv, on the other hand, wore a smug expression, confident of victory. In that moment, Manvi locked eyes with Dhruv and could see the promise of further torment in his gaze, should he prevail.
In a dramatic turn of events within the courtroom, Aarav, unexpected and quietly observant until then, decided to make his presence known with a bold declaration: "I object, Your Honor." This interruption caught everyone off guard, particularly Manvi and Dhruv, who were both surprised to see him there.
Everyone turned behind, and Aarav removed his glasses. Manvi looked at him surprised. Dhruv wasn't expecting him here.
The atmosphere in the courtroom shifted as Sharad smiled knowingly. The judge, a figure of authority with a stern demeanor, glanced at Sharad, her expression questioning.
"Aap kaun?" she inquired, her voice demanding clarity.
"Mera jikar kaafi baar ho chuke hai aaj iss court mein toh socha apni hazari laga dun," Aarav responded calmly, his presence unexpected yet commanding attention.
Sharad quickly interjected, introducing Aarav formally to the judge. "Sir, he is Mr. Aarav Malhotra."
"Aapko jo kehna hai, yahan witness box mein aake kahiye," the judge instructed, allowing Aarav to take the stand.
Sharad wasted no time and began questioning Aarav about his connection to Mrs. Manvi. Aarav, his gaze briefly meeting Manvi's, recounted how he had hired her as a tutor for his daughter Khushi, who was struggling academically.
"Mr. Malhotra, aur aapka unse kaisa rishta tha?" Sharad inquired.
Aarav's response was unexpectedly blunt and candid. "Sharad! Sab jante hain iss court mein, I am a woman's man! Niyat toh meri thodi kharab hui thi ispar, par yeh mere type ki hai hi nahi! I like someone bold, sexy, and hot... not this seedhi saadhi boring teacher," he declared, earning a mixed reaction from those present, including a surprised look from Manvi.
"Yeh meri beti ke bahut close aa gayi! I hated her... toh kaise affair ho sakta hai mera iske saath?" Aarav declared, his tone emphatic as he emphasized the implausibility of any romantic involvement with Manvi.
Aarav proceeded to reveal a critical detail: he had intervened to rescue Manvi from Dhruv's abuse, providing her with shelter at his own residence. This revelation startled the courtroom, contrasting sharply with the accusations against her.
In response, Sharad presented evidence to bolster Aarav's defense. "Your Honor, yeh hai meri client ke call records. Ismein kaafi agents ke number hain, aur ye uss waqt ke hain jab Mrs. Manvi Mr. Malhotra ke ghar rah rahi thi. Agar unka affair hota inke saath, toh wo waha se rented ghar dundhti hi nahi," he argued persuasively, pointing out inconsistencies in the opposing claims.
Aarav continued to support his testimony with compelling evidence. "Your Honor, yeh magazine mein jo tasveer hai, wo meri beti ke summer camp ki hai. Main nahi janta tha yeh usi summer camp mein hai... last day pe yeh mujhse takra gayi thi aur maine inhe girne se bachaya tha tab meri beti ne yeh photo click kiya tha," he explained, presenting a photograph that inadvertently captured the moment he had met Manvi.
The courtroom buzzed with tension and intrigue as these revelations unfolded. Manvi, visibly stunned by Aarav's testimony and unexpected support, struggled to process the turn of events. She had never anticipated that the ruthless and seemingly misogynistic Aarav Malhotra would testify in her favor.
Following these revelations, the judge took a moment to deliberate, considering all the evidence and testimonies presented. Finally, she delivered a decisive verdict: "Sabhi saboot aur gawaho ko mazenadar rakhte hue, yeh court Mrs. Manvi ka divorce grant karti hai! Unhe Dhruv se khatra hai iss basis pe unhe turant divorce diya jaata hai! Yeh court saath mein Mr. Dhruv ko arrest karne ka bhi order deti hai... unhe 7 saal ki saza sunati hai for domestic abuse. The court is adjourned," she announced, her decision met with a mixture of solemnity and quiet satisfaction.
Manvi, finally achieving justice after enduring Dhruv's abuse and the arduous legal battle, closed her eyes briefly, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. Aarav's unexpected support had not only vindicated her but also ensured her safety and the end of a traumatic chapter in her life.
After the courtroom drama concluded with Manvi finally achieving justice against Dhruv's abuse, she walked over to Sharad, her lawyer, and expressed her gratitude with a smile.
"Thank you!" she said sincerely.
But Sharad redirected her thanks towards Aarav Malhotra, acknowledging his crucial last-minute intervention. "Nahi... thank you Aarav Malhotra ko kaho, Manvi. Unhone hi last minute aake sab saboot mere assistant ko diye aur khud aake gawahi di. Warna aaj hum haar hi jaate," Sharad explained, emphasizing Aarav's pivotal role in turning the case around.
Manvi turned to thank Aarav, but he had already left the courtroom. As she glanced around, her eyes briefly met Dhruv's, who threatened, "Manvi, main wapas aaunga..."
Infuriated and empowered by her victory, Manvi swiftly slapped Dhruv across the face. "Tum iss baar bahar nahi aa paoge, Dhruv... 7 saal toh bahut kam hai. Maine toh 15 saal dard saha hai! Shayad jail mein tumhe ehsaas ho jaye ki patni paav ki jooti nahi hoti," she retorted fiercely.
With the police taking Dhruv away, Manvi left the courtroom, her emotions still running high. She searched for Aarav but couldn't find him anywhere. Amidst the chaos, the media surrounded her, eager to capture her reaction to the victory.
Manvi faced the cameras confidently, speaking passionately about Aarav Malhotra and his unexpected support. "Iss desh mein Aarav Malhotra jaise bhi insaan hain, jo dusron ka dard samajhte hi nahi, unhe himmat bhi dete hain usse ladne ki... Agar unhone mujhe samjhaya nahi hota toh main kabhi himmat nahi karti court tak aane ki! Hume hamesha awaaz uthani chahiye. Wo ek acche pita hi nahi, ek acche insaan bhi hain! Duniya unhe bhale hi katoor insaan kahe, par dil unka ek dum naram hai," she expressed passionately, her words resonating with conviction and gratitude.
With these heartfelt words, Manvi not only acknowledged Aarav's pivotal support but also highlighted the importance of standing up against injustice and the impact of unexpected allies in the fight for justice. Her journey through adversity had found a meaningful conclusion, marked by resilience, courage, and the support of those who believed in her.
Malhotra Mansion
Aarav, tired yet content after his day in court, enters and carefully hangs his jacket on a coat hook by the door, signifying a moment of transition from his professional duties to his personal space.
Khushi, evidently moved after seeing the news, rushes to Aarav's room. Emotionally charged, she calls out to him, addressing him affectionately as "Dadda."
Aarav turns, his expression softening as he sees Khushi standing there, tears shimmering in her eyes. Without hesitation, she throws her arms around him, seeking comfort and reassurance in his embrace.
A small, gentle smile spreads across Aarav's face as he reciprocates, holding Khushi close. Their embrace becomes a sanctuary of solace, a moment where words are momentarily unnecessary in the exchange of their emotions.
Softly, Aarav addresses her, "hey mera bacha," his voice tender with paternal affection.
Khushi, finding comfort in his presence, expresses her emotions, "maine news dekhi Dadda.. aapne jo dost ke liye kiya" acknowledging and appreciating his recent actions, likely in the court case that has gained attention.
Aarav strokes her hair gently, his touch conveying reassurance and love, "maine wahi kiya jo sahi tha Khushi." His response reflects a sense of moral conviction and integrity in his actions.
Khushi looks up at him with admiration, her eyes reflecting gratitude and respect, "aap hamesha sahi karte ho.. jab muskil hota hai tab bhi" recognizing his consistent pursuit of righteousness even in challenging circumstances.
A soft chuckle escapes Aarav, a modest acknowledgment of her praise, "wo main nahi janta Khushi par tumhe mujhpe garv hai yahi mere liye kaafi hai" his humility and paternal pride evident in his words.
Moved by his daughter's appreciation, Aarav gently wipes away Khushi's tears, his gesture tender and caring, "thank you Khushi. mujhe mujhse milane ke liye jo saalo pehle kho gaya tha aur ek wada karo mujhse tum hamesha khudke liye khadi hogi chahe wo mere saamne hi kyun na ho" expressing gratitude for her role in bringing him back to himself and eliciting a promise from her to always stand up for herself, regardless of the circumstances.
Khushi nods in affirmation, making a heartfelt promise, "promise dadda," her voice filled with sincerity and determination.
Aarav's smile warms as he pulls her into another embrace, feeling a deep sense of pride and love for his daughter, "I love you Khushi," he whispers softly.
Khushi reciprocates his sentiment with equal tenderness, "I love you too Dadda," their bond strengthened by their shared understanding of justice, compassion, and unconditional support.
Khushi's eyes lit up with excitement "Dadda, kya hum dost ko ghar bula sakte hai? Celebrate karna chahiye na unka ye win?" she asked eagerly.
Aarav looked at Khushi with a soft smile playing on his lips. After a moment's pause, he nodded gently. "Thik hai, bula lo," he replied, his voice calm yet warm with approval.
Khushi couldn't hide her surprise at Aarav's unexpectedly soft demeanor towards Manvi. She knew deep down that her father needed to open his heart again, to believe in love and allow it to heal the wounds left by Maya, wounds that ran deep. She was aware of Manvi's feelings for Aarav; it was evident when she had respectfully declined Khushi's suggestion of marrying him, emphasizing the importance of not forcing any relationship.
In that moment, as Khushi contemplated the dynamics between her father and Manvi, there was a mixture of hope and longing in her gaze. She yearned for her father to embrace happiness once more, to let go of the pain that had haunted him for so long. The room seemed to hold a sense of quiet anticipation, as if change and healing were on the horizon, carried by the simple act of extending an invitation to celebrate.
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