Chapter 19 Court Room

I didn’t sleep that night as I was worried about Utkarsh. In fact, no one else did either. We were all sitting in the drawing- room. Utkarsh’s dad was stressed out. I knew he was thinking about his son and his mind was trapped in a state of confusion as he discussed the trial l. Saanvi was battling her own trauma. she didn’t reply to a single word that uncle was saying to her. Something inside was killing her. She was refraining from sharing her emotion but, in a while, she started sobbing.

I went close to her and gently asked, “What happened?

Why are you crying?”

She was depressed and tears came rolling down her eyes.

“I am worried about Utkarsh, Avi. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” she cried on my shoulder. I comforted her. Saanvi was enduring an endless amount of pain. Ishita saw her sobbing and got her a glass of water.

“Don’t worry, beta. He will be fine. God is with us,” my dad added.

Every one of us tried their best to comfort her and make her relaxed and after about thirty minutes or so her tears finally dried. She was a little relaxed now but a bit of insecurity still existed in her mind. For a moment, I was about to blurt out about getting the evidence. However, I stopped myself from disclosing it but, within me, felt restless about keeping it a secret. I put my hand on Saanvi’s head and promised her.

“Saanvi, don’t worry. I won’t let happen any wrong. Trust me.” She smiled a then, Ishita took her to the bedroom to help her sleep for a while. Dad and Uncle went to their respective rooms too but I kept sitting there. I was impatient for the next day I wanted the day to fast forward itself. I wanted to bring my brother back home as soon as possible. Life had been cruel to me. I thought of the days that I had spent in the lockup. They still haunted me. Those five years were not easy for me. I was in the fear that Utkarsh might have to go through the same trauma as well. I wanted him to walk free. I wanted to save my brother from this bog.

...

Ishita and I reached the court half an hour before uncle, dad, and Saanvi. We had to meet Mr. Juneja(Vikas’s Dad) and headed towards the chamber . I was scared. My heart was pumping. Today was the initial trial. If we could produce the evidence initially, it could be an open and shut case. I hadn’t told Rana uncle about the video. I planned to give the video evidence on the spot. The chamber was on the 3rd floor but the hearing was on the ground floor. We quickly went upstairs and found his room. He was waiting for us.

“Come, Avi… Ishita, have a seat,” uncle welcomed us. I closed the chamber door and we both settled down.

“Any problem, Avi?” Uncle asked, as my shutting the door was definitely something rather unusual.

“Sir, I have a very sensitive information to share.”

I unveiled the secret of the video to him. We re-watched the footage on his laptop. He was astonished. He applauded me for my effort of getting the evidence and assured me that it was in safe hands now. I handed over the pen-drive to him.

The meeting was over and it was now time to go to the court. He asked us to reach there on our own and he would follow us after a brief hearing on the 3rd floor. I was getting a call from Saanvi about their arrival and meeting with Utkarsh before the trial began. I told Ishita to leave first. And be with the family. I told Uncle that I will go along with him. I didn’t want to leave Uncle alone even for a second. The pen-drive was in Uncle’s hand and I wanted it to be safe. I

As we left for the court on the 3rd floor, I noticed some men following us. I was now aware that we were being chased. After completing the hearing, uncle and I headed to the ground floor. We were walking down the stairs when someone pushed us. I somehow managed to get a hold of myself but uncle lumbered down the stairs. I panicked on seeing him lying almost motionless at the foot of the stairs and I scrambled towards him. Thankfully, he was in senses. I glanced behind me and saw one person running towards us. He came near us and punched me on my right cheek. The blow blinded me momentarily. He took out the pen drive from uncle’s coat pocket and ran off.

“Hey bastard!” I shouted, and began to chase him but he was running too fast. My speed was plodding compared to him. He was rowing through the stairs in a flash and, in no time, was on the ground floor. I shouted at the people there to stop him but no one did as they didn’t know what was going on. I almost lost him however I managed to take a

shortcut. He was running to the left of the corridor, heading towards the exit. I managed to chase him till the full cut from the 1st floor. I was in a parallel sink. He was running to the exit area on the ground floor while I was following him on the first. I spotted a grassy area on the ground floor and I jumped off the railing, eventually landing safely on it. He was about to take the exit door when I took a round off from the other side and grabbed him from the front.

“What the fuck!” he fumed.

“Give me the pen drive.” I grunted and punched him. He took out the drive from his pocket and showed it to me. I stretched my hand to grab it but before I could do so he dropped it on the floor and crushed it beneath his feet. so that he could hand it over to me.

...

“What happened, Avi?” Ishita asked me as I entered the courtroom with Rana Uncle.

I was unable to reply to her. It was a deep concern for me as to what will happen now without the pen drive. Meanwhile, the judge entered and asked us all to sit down. Rana uncle was feeling better and I was relieved that he was fine and ready to present the case. My family kept on asking me about the face bruise but I kept silent and assured them that it was nothing and that I was feeling okay. I promised them that I will tell them the details after the trial.

Utkarsh entered the courtroom. He was handcuffed and was being escorted by two constables. His face was severely marred. His body was shivering and he just seemed off. The judge asked him to come step into the witness box.

The plaintiff presented the case. Utkarsh was accused of section 421 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and section 17 ofIndian Contract Act, 1972

“Do you plead guilty?” the judge asked Utkarsh. “No,” he replied in fear.

Then, the judge asked Rana uncle to adhere to the show cause reply to the allegations. Uncle tried to explain the event that happened a few minutes ago and said that we had the pen drive containing the evidence but now, it was broken. The judge understood the situation and asked the court authorities to make an inquiry about the attack. He almost chastised them that crimes had increased so much inside the court complex. He ordered immediate and strict action against the culprits. event.

We didn’t have any evidence to put forward. The judge asked uncle if, by any means, we could retrieve the evidence. Uncle bent his head down and said no. The judge had no other option but to give us a new date. And as he was pronouncing his order, I interrupted him.

“I have a duplicate pen drive, Sir. If you allow me, I can show it to you.” “Sure. Give it to Mr. Juneja. He will present it.”

He then ordered for a television to be brought into view the evidence. As the video was going on, Rana uncle beautifully explained the situation of how the account slips were changed.

“Sir, if you carefully watch the video you will clearly see how a person comes in and changes the slip attached to the laptop of Utkarsh when he is away. It is all planned, your honour. my client is innocent.” Rana uncle said to the court.

The judge went through the video around five times. He closely observed each and every second of the it as he, perhaps, wanted to be extra sure. Finally, it seemed like, he was convinced. He asked for the pen drive and told one official to make another copy. He asked him to hand over the duplicate to him to maintain the records. After watching the video, he pronounced an order. The order we all had been waiting for.

“I accept the bail application of Utkarsh Dhiman. He has to deposit a bail bond but he is allowed to be released from police custody. I further order the police to investigate about the man in the video and I want him present in the court on the next hearing.”

I was bustling with happiness. Everyone in the court applauded the order. I looked at Utkarsh’s face and saw joy coming back to him. and His Dad and Saanvi thanked god. Utkarsh got the bail and I couldn’t control my emotions. In the end, my efforts didn’t go in vain. Ishita came to me and hugged me.

“Congratulations, Avi,” she looked even more excited than me

Utkarsh’s hands were uncuffed. He signed the bail bond and was finally free to go. His Dad met him first and he took his blessings. Saanvi met him next. I was in the back. He saw me and rushed over to me. He hugged me with everything he had and I could feel his heart beating against my chest as he clung onto me with his arms wrapped around my back.

“Thank you, brother,” he emotionally said.

He cried for the miserable time he had spent for the last two days. I pushed him back and holding him by his shoulders, wiped his tears with my finger. held his shoulder. I wiped the tears with my finger.

“Bhai ko kabhi thanks nahin bolte., I said, and added, “let’s go home.”