"Avneet is the real culprit."

My jaw dropped.

"Faisal, what are you s..."

"Shush Reem." He snapped.

I sat back down in utter surprise, not forgetting to give Sidd a glare.

"Yes, the footing matches the correct time and location, yes it was the matching CCTV recording...." Faisal began.

"But as for the hooded figure," he walked towards Sidd slowly. "We did a DNA test right? But how can you be so sure that out of two identical objects, you've chosen the correct one?"

"Please talk clearly and not in riddles." The judge ordered.

Katrina hesitated.

"Err...what he means to say is -"

"I can say it for myself, if you don't mind, that is." Faisal smirked.

"To all who may think that Siddharth is the real culprit, it might not have come to your attention that he had a twin brother."

Suddenly, it struck me. Abhishek. But the video could not be about him, he died. This video was caught just under a month ago.

"My lord. Everyone knows Abhishek was dead since that day the police went into that alley and Reem herself shot him. There were no hospital records of him either. How can it be possible for him to have survived a bullet straight in the heart?" Katrina started sweating and became restless.

Avneet looked just as confused as me. She gave me a look of worry but I couldn't meet her eyes as my own were full of doubt.

"Reem. You know it wasn't me. You were a witness. Please save me. It wasn't me. You know it. Please." She begged endlessly.

"Avneet, it's not your fault. I don't even know what Faisal is saying." I replied.

"But in this case, my lord, Abhishek didn't survive a bullet because the bullet never hit him in the heart anyway!"

There were loud gasps from the audience.

"Please can we stick to the topic? Why are we talking about his death, it's useless! Think about the recording." Katrina was becoming agitated.

"Whoever said it was useless obviously hasn't thought this through, or is lacking basic knowledge about terrorism. A gang member, in the 21st century, that to of such a high status and extreme involvement with the police is bound to wear a hidden bullet proof jacket underneath his clothes right?" Faisal spoke on.

"Oh my God...." Katrina ducked her head in her palms and muttered.

Avneet sighed like she had given up hope.

I almost got out of my seat. Was Faisal trying to say Abhishek committed the murder???!!!!

"The truth is, Abhishek never died that night when Reem shot him, due to his bullet proof jacket. He remained alive."

I felt light-headed.

"Abhishek, a man who always intended to offer good to the community, never died."

"Faisal?" I cried across the court.

He ignored me.

What was wrong with him?

"The wrong image of Abhishek was portrayed by his twin, Siddharth. Siddharth sent out black propaganda that convinced people about Abhishek being involved in terrorism. Abhishek was an honest man, and Siddharth was ultimately the one who was involved in crime."

I shot Sidd a horrendous look, while he hung his head low and looked down at his feet.

"I will explain precisely what happened that night, and the CCTV recording."

My heart was in my mouth as I waited to hear on...

"Starting with the CCTV. That man was indeed Abhishek."

This made no sense whatsoever. Faisal literally just said he was the innocent twin and the recording showed a terrorist who was smuggling goods.

"But he was not there to smuggle and sell the drugged goods, in fact, he was there to destroy them. And it may have slipped your notice that he had a small sharp piece of flint in his upper pocket which was deliberately mistaken as a knife by the opponent. This was to make a fire to destroy the goods and save the society from getting drugged."

So that meant - the CCTV was never filmed on Sidd. The hooded figure was Abhishek.

"But Faisal - where is Abhishek now then? Sidd is here - he's getting caught. But what about the other one?" Katrina hissed.

My eyes were strained, as I didn't dare to blink amidst all this.

To my immense surprise, Faisal went and hugged Sidd, who hugged him back.

Everyone was as confused as me.

"My lord, Abhishek is in this room. Right now. Alive." Faisal's hand moved slowly and ended up pointing at Sidd.

"Faisal!" I shouted. "What is this? This is Sidd."

"No Reem. This is Abhishek."

I collapsed back down in my seat.

"That night, you didn't shoot Abhishek, but Sidd. They are identical twins."

My jaw dropped. And all this time I was thinking -

The judge was stunned.

"Faisal, how on earth did you get all this information?"

"Because I had planned it with them."

That's it. I couldn't take it anymore. This was ridiculous.

"I made a plan with Abhishek to frame Sidd, and we cleverly trapped him, eventually ending up with Reem shooting the correct culprit, and not her lover."

I blushed in embarrassment, but I wasn't smiling. My angry face turned red.

"This was - planned?" Katrina gulped. Avneet stood extremely quiet.

"Yes Miss. My plan was what you were feeding on for proof. The plan was pure, your evidence is not. You are lying and Avneet is the culprit. IS IT TRUE?" Faisal's shout at Avneet made me jump.

Avneet was sweating uncontrollably and finally told the truth.

"Y-yes... it was me. I - I wanted to frame Sidd because of the enmity between.... between...." she broke down into sobs.

"Never mind. I know the truth and that you know it too." Faisal murmured.

Avneet sank down, and two officers handcuffed her.

"This case has been finished." The judge announced. Everyone got out of their seats and headed out, until it was only me, Faisal and Abhishek left in our exact same spots.

Faisal walked up to me with his hands in his pockets. I didn't look up at him.

"You knew." I mused.

He sighed guiltily.

"I couldn't risk it."

I cast him a glare.

"If only you had told me before we wouldn't be in the court and things wouldn't have been this complicated!" I cried.

"They would be. You would have shot Abhishek, the one you actually loved. It would be complicated. Do you see?"

The twinkle in his eye convinced me. I smiled.

"Why did you do all this for me?" I laughed, and hugged him tight.

"Abhi loves you, and so do you. I know how it feels to lose someone you love." His eyes flickered down to Roshni's photo he had treasured.

"Abhi, why are you standing there like a silent spectator? Come and greet your girlf..."

I shot him a look of suspense.

"Okay okay..." Faisal chuckled.

Abhi came and stood a few meters apart. I couldn't meet his eyes.

"I'm - sorry." I whispered, looking at my feet.

"If I was in your place, I would have done the same." He took my hand in his and I settled my head in his chest.

"I'll.... leave you to it then." Faisal winked and I laughed to myself.

I brought my face closer to his, and closed my eyes as I felt Abhi's lips lingering over mine.
He planted a kiss on my lips before we broke apart and laughed.

{THE END}