The Present - Chapter 16

                Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii... No time for my bak bak today! Go ahead and read!!!

                              Chapter 16

*Court, second hearing (continued)*

           After a minute of silence when Abhijeet sir didn't answer her question... Arya said...

Arya - Your honour, I would like the court to know something... Ab tak court ko yeh toh pata chal hi gaya hoga ki am Mr. Prayduman's daughter... An adopted one... Sach kahu toh he didn't adopt me but is only my legal guardian. Your honour, Mr. Arun and Gayatri Malhorta jinke murder ka case hum discuss kar rahe were my biological parents. Jis din woh dono encounter mai mare gaye the mai bhi unke saath thi... A few months old me! Ab mujhe nahi pata ki mai kaise zinda bach gayi! Shayad Mr. Prayduman ki glati se... Marna chahte honge, maar nahi paye!

            She said the last part looking at ACP sir, who closed his eyes in pain, obviously the pain of hearing his dear daughter say such a thing about him! The pain of knowing she didn't trust him even with her life now... While she continued after a pause...

Arya - Yaa phir chod diya hoga kyuki mere bina unka property hadap ne ka plan pura nahi hota! Whatever be the reason, mai uss din ussi car mai thi par bach gayi! Later he went ahead to be my legal guardian. Your honour, mai jab paach saal ki thi he sent me to America with my childhood nanny. Aur uske baad mai abhi India aayi hu! All these years he kept me away... Mai humesha sochti thi kyu? And now i know why! Taki mai na yaha rahu aur na hi kabhi mujhe pata chale inki sajisho ke bare mai! Lekin itna hi nahi... Inhone meri property... Matlab Mr. Arun ki jo property mujhe milni chahiye thi woh bhi apne naam karwa li... Dhoke se! Aur meri baat prove karne ke liye i would like to call Advocate Raghuveer in the witness box...

Judge - Proceed...

               Advocate Raghuveer came and stood in the witness box and Arya going to him said...

Arya - Please app pehle apna introduction dijiye...

Raghuveer - Your honour, mai Arun ka lawyer tha... I used to look after all his legal matters regarding business. Uske saath hi mai uska family friend bhi tha.

Arya - Hmm... Toh app please court ko apki aur Mr. Prayduman ki meeting ke bare mai bataiye!

Raghuveer - Your honour, Arun aur Gayatri jis waqt woh encounter hua lonavala jaa rahe the ghumne... Lekin unfortunately encounter mai phas gaye. Jab pata chala ki Arun aur Gayatri uss gang ka hissa nahi the aur be wajh hi mare gaye tab enquiry hui, case bohot hyped tha... Media bhi kafi had tak involved rahi. Lekin Mr. Prayduman aur baki officers ke against kuch prove na ho pane par inhe benefit of doubt par chod diya gaya! Your honour, Arya bhi uss din unke saath hi thi gadi mai. Lekin encounter ke baad woh kisi ko mili hi nahi. Police ne usse dhundne ki bhi koshish ki thi lekin dhund nahi payi. Court ne Mr. Prayduman ko charges se clear kar diya lekin Arya ke bare mai tab tak kuch pata nahi chala aur police ne iss case ko bhi band kar diya. Yeh sab hone ke kareeb ek mahine baad Mr. Prayduman mere office aaye the... And to my shock Arya unki god mai thi! He said that he was her legal guardian now... Pehle toh mujhe inn par bohot gussa aaya lekin phir i thought ki shayad sach mai hi case mistaken identity ka hoga and as i talked to him i felt like he is a good man. He had smartly done all the process for being her legal guardian aur kisi ko pata bhi nahi chala ki yeh wahi bachchi hai jiske maa baap ki maut inhi ke haato hui thi! Your honour, uss din jab yeh mere office aaye inhone mujhe Arun ki property ke bare mai pucha... And i told him about Arun's will!

Judge - Kya tha Mr. Arun ki will mai?

Raghuveer - Your honour Arun ki will ke hisab se Arun chahta tha ki uske baad uski sari property uski beti Arya ko mile. Lekin Arun ki maut Arya ke major, that is 18 hone ke pehle hi ho gayi! So woh sari property phir trust mai chali jati... Uss din jab Mr. Prayduman mere office aaye the he requested me ki Arya ke 18 hone tak mai iss property ko trust mai na jane du... And i agreed! Also i would like to mention ki Arya ke 18 hone tak property ki power of attorney Prayduman ko hi di gayi thi... He being Arya's legal guardian.

Arya - Mere 18 hone ke baad apne woh property mere naam ki thi?

Raghuveer - Obviously! Arya ke 18 hote hi maine Arun ki sari property Arya ki naam kar di thi!

Arya - Thank you sir!

              And Raghuveer getting down witness box, went and sat back in his place while Arya picked up some papers from her table and said...

Arya - Your honour, kuch dino pehle tak toh mujhe pata bhi nahi tha ki mere naam par aisi koi property bhi hai! Aur jab mujhe pata chala toh mere friend Rahul ne yeh baat LRO office se pata ki, ki yeh jo Mr. Arun ki property hai woh ab Mr. Prayduman ke naam par hai! And I don't remember signing any such papers! Matlab saaf hai! Mr. Prayduman ne woh sari property dhoke se apne naam kar li! Yeh LRO se mile papers...

               Arya forwarded the papers in her hand and the assistant gave it to the judge while he studied them for a minute when Arya said again...

Arya - Your honour, please note... The date of the transfer of the property! Mr. Raghuveer ke mere naam pe yeh property transfer karne ke sirf 3 din baad yeh Mr. Prayduman ke naam par ho gayi! (After a pause, to Abhijeet) Iske liye koi explanation hai apke paas?

Abhijeet - Ab... Apko yaad nahi ka matlab yeh thodi hota hai ki sir ne dhoke se hi sign li thi! Ho sakta hai...

Arya - (interrupting him) 'Ho sakta hai' pe jana hi kyu hai? Apke sir bhi yehi hai, mai bhi yehi hu, aur judge sahab bhi yehi hai! Puch lete hai unse! Sari baat apne app clear ho jayegi! May I?

Abhijeet - Hmm...

           And Abhijeet moved a little back as he was standing in her way to reach ACP sir... And Arya moving close to ACP sir said...

Arya - Sach sach bataiye... Apne meri sign unn property papers par, dhoke se, li thi yaa nahi?

               The whole court was in utter silence, all eyes were on ACP sir, team's with a ray of hope in them while all other's were in question... ACP sir was completely silent himself, he facial expressions gave out nothing... While after a moment he took a deep breath and said calmly...

ACP - Ha... Li thi!

               Arya continued standing in her place... With her eyes still glued to ACP sir... Everyone thought it was a war between ACP sir and her... But only she knew it was a war between her and her! While everyone else was hoping to hear a 'no' from ACP sir, she was sure the answer would be yes. But somewhere deep inside her heart she wanted to hear a 'no' herself. Yes, she was a great lawyer! And she knew how to keep emotions aside but before being a lawyer she was a daughter who craved for her father's love! Gulping down her emotions she turned back to Abhijeet and said in a strong voice as if nothing affected her...

Arya - Ab kuch bolna hai apko?

              Abhijeet was once again silent, having nothing to say further... He was simply shocked to hear a yes from ACP sir! He couldn't have done this! Why on earth would he do it!!! And if he didn't do this why did he accept it! He looked at ACP sir with defeated eyes... Who didn't look back at him knowing he wouldn't be able to meet his son's gaze. He knew would not be able to meet the eyes which still trusted him the most... Which still reflected his inner belief that 'his ACP sir can't do anything wrong, ever'... Amidst all this they heard Arya say...

Arya - Your honour, it's all clear! Mr. Prayduman did fraud for Mr. Arun's property! And now its not really impossible to believe ki inhone Mr. Arun and Gayatri ka khoon bhi ek plan ke tehat hi kiya hoga. Aur rahi baat yeh prove karne ki toh iske liye hume kuch sawalo ke jawab chahiye honge jo sirf Mr. Prayduman hi de sakte hai. Your honour, i would like to request you to please allow SIT to take Mr. Prayduman in their custody... Taki hume unn sawalo ke jawab mil sake jo sirf wahi de sakte hai.

               By now Abhijeet was successful in keeping his emotions aside and he said once again in a brave tone...

Abhijeet - But your honour, sir ne Mr. Arun aur Miss Gayatri ko jaan bujh kar mara hai yeh prove kaha hua hai?

Judge - Lekin unhone property ke liye fraud kiya hai yeh toh prove ho hi chuka hai... Aur yeh baat unhone kudh accept hai. Upar se unn par murder ke alligations hai... And with these kind of alligations court cannot allow him to continue with his duty. And hence court orders IG Shrikant Pandit to suspend ACP Prayduman from immediate effect and also take him in custody for further investigation. And also... Defence i would like to make a note to you... Maine apko case ke bich mai roka nahi... Lekin app Mr. Prayduman ko naam se bulayege iske baad. No matter he is your senior but here in court everyone is equal! Mai apki kuch galtiya ignore kar raha hu kyuki app professional lawyer nahi hai. But i hope you will try, not to repeat them in the future!

Abhijeet - Am sorry your honour... I will try my best.

Judge - The court is adjurned till further notice...

            Everyone stood up for the judge to leave and as he left everyone came outside the court... Duo and team were standing besides ACP sir when IG Pandit along with Insp Dev and two other inspectors came there and said...

IG Pandit - Prayduman court ke order ke hisab se we will have to take you in custody...

ACP - Sure sir...

             Insp Dev came forward with a pair of handcuffs while ACP sir forwarded his hands himself... Dev handcuffed him as duo closed their eyes in pain seeing their beloved father in such a situation while they could do nothing about it...

IG Pandit - Lets go...

              ACP sir walked two steps ahead and then glanced at his team standing behind... Looking at their teary eyes and helpless face he said to IG Pandit...

ACP - Sir mujhe bas ek minute dijiye... Apni team se kuch baat karni hai

IG Pandit - Hmm... Ok

              ACP sir turned to the team and said...

ACP - Beauro ka khayal rakhna...

              Team was too emotional to reply anything and seeing this ACP sir smiled at them and said...

ACP - Itna darne ki zarurat nahi hai! Kuch nahi ho raha mujhe! Bas thode din kaam se chutti hai meri... Ab kya mujhe aaram bhi nahi karne doge?

Salunkhe - Abhi bhi hume console kar raha hai! Tujhe nahi lagta ki ulta hona chahiye?

ACP - Ab isme mai kya kar sakta hu! Rone wali shakal leke tum log khade ho... Mai toh jaisa tha waisa hi hu!

Salunkhe - Ha ha pata hai... Kuch nahi hota tujhe! (Emotionally) Lekin jaldi bahar aana. Lab mai tere bina man nahi lagta...

ACP - (keeping a hand on his shoulder) Kyu chinta kar raha hai... Meri jagah Abhijeet se jaghd lena tu! Kya farak padta hai!

Salunkhe - Boss tum! Tum baaz nahi aaoge na (with a teary smile)

ACP - Koi shak? (Smiling)

Freddy (teary voice) - App... App chinta mat karna sir... Hum log koi na koi tarika dhund hi nikalege...

Pankaj - Ha sir... Yeh humara wada hai apse. Hum apko kuch nahi hone denge!

Purvi - Yes sir... Hum kahi se bhi kuch bhi saboot leke aayege aur sabit karke rahege ki apne kuch nahi kiya!

           ACP sir just smiled seeing their love and said...

ACP - Khayal rakhna...

           He turned to leave with this when Daya asked him from behind...

Daya - Sir please... Ab toh bata dijiye 27 saal pehle hua kya tha?

ACP - (sighing) Kuch chize na kehna hi behtar hota hai Daya...

Daya - (taking a step to come closer to him) Lekin sir agar app hume bhi nahi batayege toh hum prove kaise karege ki app innocent hai!

              ACP sir didn't answer his question instead Abhijeet held Daya's hand and pulled him back saying...

Abhijeet - Rehne de Daya... Koi fayeda nahi. Sir nahi bolege

                Daya still kept looking at ACP sir in hope that he will tell them the truth but in return got the same silence that was breaking them since past one week. And when all his hopes faded away Daya walked off in anger removing his hand with force from Abhijeet's grip who was still holding it. Abhijeet tried calling him...

Abhijeet - Daya... Aree sun toh yaar...

                But paying no heed Daya simply walked away... And seeing his angry younger son walking away ACP sir said to his elder one...

ACP - Sambhal lena usse. Kuch zayada hi ziddi hai...

Abhijeet - (with a painful smile) App bolege nahi, woh manega nahi... Aphi se sikha hai usne bhi!

ACP - (with a small laugh) Tumhara toh alag se hisab karuga mai... Advocate Abhijeet. Bohot case ladne ka shok hai na... Yeh wala case hone do kudh ko defend karne ke liye bhi tayar rehna...

             Abhijeet looked down in a small smile and ACP sir walked off saying to IG Pandit...

ACP - Chaliye sir...

             And ACP sir walked away with IG Pandit, Insp Dev and other inspectors... Team kept looking at him until the police van in which they took ACP sir disappeared from their eyes. The pain only making their decision stronger to go to any extent to save their dear ACP sir. After a moment, Dr. Salunkhe took the charge and said...

Salunkhe - Ab hume bhi chalna chahiye... Yaha khade rehne se thodi kuch hoga!

Abhijeet - Yes sir... App log gadi mai baithiye. Mai Daya ko dhund kar lata hu.

Salunkhe - Theek hai...

             Team along with Salunkhe sir and Tarika walked off to where their car was parked while Abhijeet went in the direction Daya had gone. When even after searching for 10 minutes he couldn't find Daya he tried calling him... But Daya wasn't picking up his phone. They had all kept their phones on silent being in the court and hence maybe Daya didn't know Abhijeet was calling him. Looking here and there Abhijeet saw Arya and Rahul standing there talking about something. Having no other option he walked upto them and asked them hesitantly...

Abhijeet - Sorry for disturbing... Tum dono ne Daya ko dekha kahi?

              Arya nodded her head in a no while Rahul said indicating towards the garden that was in backside of the court...

Rahul - Maine... Unhe waha jate hue dekha tha...

Abhijeet - Thank you...

           And Abhijeet quickly jogged to the garden area where he found Daya sitting down on the grass leaning to a tree... His one leg was streached out while another was folded from his knee... His hand resting on his knee. Abhijeet came there and stood staring at his dear brother's face which showed clear lines of anger... But after all this while, Daya didn't seem to notice his presence. So Abhijeet settled in the same position, leaning on the same tree but on the opposite direction... And said after a while...

Abhijeet - Hmm... Toh koi naraz hai...

             Daya was shocked to see Abhijeet there as he turned back but soon he returned to his original position and said in an angry grumble...

Daya - Mai kisi se naraz nahi hu

Abhijeet - Naraz toh tum ho... Lekin kisse? Bas yeh pata karna hai! ACP sir se? Ki unhone bataya nahi ki 27 saal pehle hua kya tha? Ki mujhse? Ki maine tumhe sir ko force nahi karne diya?

Daya - Maine kaha na mai kisi se naraz nahi hu! Bas apne app par gussa aa raha hai! Sir ko custody tak mai le liya gaya aur mai kuch nahi kar paya...

Abhijeet - Iss baat ke liye toh mujhe gussa aana chahiye! Case toh mai lad raha hu na... Aur mai phir bhi rok nahi paya...

Daya - Lekin jab sir ne kudh hi accept kar liya ki unhone Arya ki sign dhoke se li thi toh usme tum kya kar sakte the!

Abhijeet - Ha toh tum kya kar lete?

Daya - Wahi toh problem hai na Abhi! Hum kuch kar hi toh nahi paa rahe (he said in a teary voice)

               When hearing his brother's teary tone Abhijeet got up and came to Daya's side and sat on his knees besides Daya keeping a hand on Daya's shoulder..

Abhijeet - Daya? Hum kuch nahi hone denge sir ko! Koi na koi rasta nikal hi aayega! Lekin uske liye humara strong rehna zaruri hai na? Agar hum apne hi emotions control nahi kar payege toh kaise prove karege ki sir begunah hai!

               And he gave Daya a side hug which always worked wonders for his brother... And so did it work today... He and said after a moment as Daya felt a little better...

Abhijeet - Ab chal... Sab humara intezar kar rahe hai gadi mai! Aur janab toh kisi ko gadi ki chabi bhi nahi dete! Bahar khade honge garmi mai!

             And Abhijeet got up quickly and forwarded his hand to Daya... Who grabbed it and got up. Both walked back to the parking where their car was. Daya looking a lot more better now...

____________________________________________

*Night, Daya's house*

             Whole team along with forensic doctors were sitting in the living room. They were here to discuss what to do further now that ACP sir was already in the custody of SIT... Purvi and Pankaj came out from the kitchen with glasses of juice for everyone and kept it on the centre table. And then settled down themselves being a part of the discussion...

Salunkhe - Ab kuch na kuch toh karna hi padega... Pani sar ke upar jaa chuka hai. Hum aise hi haat pe rakhe nahi baith sakte!

Freddy - Lekin sir hum karege kya? Sir toh kuch batane ke liye tayar hi nahi hai!

Purvi - Aur court ne bhi orders diye hai ki hum iss case ko investigate nahi kar sakte!

Daya - Bhaad mai gaye court ke orders! SIT is kind of working for Arya... Mujhe nahi lagta ki unhe aisa koi bhi proof milne wala hai jo sir ko innocent prove karega! They are not even thinking from that perspective!

Salunkhe - True! Humne toh Abhijeet ko bhi Prayduman ka lawyer bana diya hai! Aree lekin usse court mai kuch prove karne ke liye saboot bhi toh chahiye na! Nahi toh kab tak defend kar payega yeh bina kisi saboot yaa gawah ke!

Abhijeet - Jis tarah se Arya har baat ko present kar rahi hai na... Jayada waqt nahi lagega usse sir ko guilty prove karne mai!

Daya - Aur hum usse aisa karne nahi denge!

Pankaj - Ek toh woh Advocate Raghuveer! Uski gawahi ke wajh se sir pehle hi suspend ho gaye!

Freddy - Mujhe toh yeh samjh nahi aa raha ki sir ne yeh baat accept kyu kar li ki unhone Arya ki sign dhoke se thi?

Abhijeet - Kyuki Freddy ho sakta hai ki sir ne waqai li ho!

Tarika - Lekin woh aisa kyu karege?

Abhijeet - Humne bhi toh sir ki sign dhoke se li thi na? Mujhe unka lawyer banane ke liye? Humne sir ki sign dhoke se li thi sir ke bhale ke liye... Ho sakta hai sir ne Arya ki sign li ho Arya ke bhale ke liye?

Salunkhe - Possible hai... Lekin kya wajh ho sakti hai ki usse aisa karna pada?

Abhijeet - Wahi toh pata karna hai!

              For a long time Daya was sitting silent... And noticing this Abhijeet asked him...

Abhijeet - Kya baat hai Daya? Tum achanak chup kyu ho gaye?

Daya - Kuch nahi Abhijeet... Bas kuch soch raha tha!

Abhijeet - Lekin kya?

Daya - Kuch nahi! Purvi kal subah 9 baje tayar rehna... Advocate Raghuveer se milne jana hai! (To Abhijeet) Tumhe beauro aane ke pehle Veer se milne jana hai na? Mai tumhe beauro mai batata hu! (After a pause) Chalo bhai... Mai toh chala sone! Good night! Abhijeet tum please jate waqt darwaza lock kar dena!

              And streaching his hands Daya got up from the couch and left towards his room upstairs... While the whole team was looking at him in shock...

Salunkhe - Yeh kya tha??? (To Abhijeet)

Abhijeet - Kuch nahi sir... Bas ab yeh investigation mode mai aa chuka hai... Aur isse ab koi nahi rok sakta! Kuch pata chala hai isse! Jo ab hume kal hi pata chalega!

Salunkhe - Bade ajeeb character ho yaar tum dono! Kaise sambhalta hai Prayduman tum dono ko?

Abhijeet - (with a sweet smile) App bhi sikh jaoge sir... Jald hi! (After a pause) Chalo bhai... Sab apne apne ghar chalo! Mujhe janab ke ghar ka darwaza lock karna hai!

To be continued...

              Kya lagta hai... Kya sujha hai Daya sir ko? What is it that will now take the case forward? And now that team has decided not to sit quiet anymore what will be their next step? All questions to be answered in the next chapter... Keep reading and reviewing!