ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #5 link to next thread @ pg.1 - Page 61

Thanks for the note, will wait dear...

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 37- A

19^th August, 2014

Staring up at the ceiling, his eyes fluttered as his mind replayed a very important memory, a moment that defined him and the purpose of his life. His lips stretched in a nostalgic smile.

He remembered his criminology professor, his words at that particular day clearly echoing in his ears "I may have taught you the flaws that a criminal case may provide a lawyer, aiding him in his victory and the possible reasons behind each and every crime but I cannot dictate you all to pick the right side always. Right now, you might think that you are studying to become a lawyer so that you can fight for justice but soon it becomes a myth for most of the lawyers. Winning takes precedence over everything along with earning money. The laws in every country have been made to protect the interests of its citizens but it doesn't happen. It soon becomes a shield for the criminals and a useful tool for a lawyer to be used inside the court. When a lawyer manages to get above the basic lust for money and victory, he finds the basic purpose of being a lawyer. Bringing the wrong to the justice should be your motto. It should be the definition of your life because people expect us to help them in revealing the truth to the rest of the world, not cheating the truth for monetary benefits."

He remembered sitting in the front, his back straight in attention and interest. He remembered feeling disgust at the thought of lusting after money and victory and promising himself to never fall in the same category. No matter what the others said about him possessing a very sharp and calculative mind, he had some basic principles of life embedded in his heart, which he followed religiously.

Following truth has been one of those principles. Always.

Closely his eyes slowly, he broke out of his thoughts, a satisfied smile playing on his lips at the promise he has managed to keep to his soul and heart. Taking a glance at the grey horizon outside, he struggled to get up, pulling out the needles stuck in his hands, not caring as the liquid solutions dripped down on the floor. Picking up the clothes that he had asked Khushi to bring from his house yesterday, he stripped down the hospital gown and wore them quickly.

Pocketing his wallet, he gripped the left side of his stomach where he was stabbed and walked quietly to the door, popping his head out to make sure that no one was around his ward. Once his eyes found the area deserted, he slid outside, looking around as he left.

Getting out of the side exit, he walked to a taxi parked nearby and knocked on the glass of the closed window, waking up the driver. As the window was rolled down, he rattled an address to the driver, offering to pay him double the fare amount for taking him there.

Sliding on the back seat, he leaned back watching as the driver started the engine, looking giddy at his offer.

Not knowing that if he would have asked for more than that, Aman would have agreed for it instantly, desperate in his aim of seeking truth and justice.

Not caring for his own health.

Brushing her hairs back from her face, Khushi focused on the papers lying in front of her on the bed, her lips moving soundlessly while repeating the arguments she had prepared for the case. Her brows puckering in a frown, she kept the brush down and concentrated hard on the line she was reading, trying to remember its meaning.

"Khushi stop it. You have already read it five times." Arnav protested, sitting nearby in a chair, his eyes focusing on her completely.

Ignoring his protest, Khushi picked up her brush, combing her hairs once again as Arnav rolling his eyes in exasperation, stood up at once. Closing the distance between them, he plucked the comb out of her hands and started massaging her scalp lightly, making her sigh in relief and lean back against his stomach instinctively.

"Stop worrying, Khushi." Arnav murmured, a smile playing at his lips as tension drained out of his wife's shoulders slowly.

Closing her eyes, Khushi complained "How can you ask me to stop worrying Arnav? Many lives depend upon the way I am going to deliver my arguments today in the court. You know we cannot allow him to walk away unscathed."

Clucking his tongue against the insides of his cheeks, Arnav teased "I never thought I would ever see you this nervous over anything."

Khushi huffed, not saying anything, her body slowly melting to his soothing caresses. As his fingers slid down to trace her cheeks before squeezing her shoulders lightly, she heard him whisper confidently "I trust you, Khushi. If there is anyone who can make the verdict of this case getting ruled in our favor possible besides Aman, it's you. So, stop fretting over it."

Khushi smiled, leaning away from him, her hands deftly pulling her hairs up in a bun. As she gathered the papers, the doorbell rang making Arnav walk out of the room to open the front door.

Busy in putting the final touches to her physical appearance, Khushi froze with her hands on the pleats of her pastel saree, her eyes arrested on the pale and tired looking face of her best friend, his feet staggering as he entered in the room, with Arnav supporting him firmly. A grim faced Shyam entered in the room behind them as well.

Whirling around in panic, Khushi exclaimed "Aman, what the hell are you doing here?"

Shooting her a faint smile, Aman winced as Arnav and Shyam gently lowered him on the bed, propping pillows against his back for support. Motioning her to come closer with his eyes, Aman whispered "Just wanted to make sure that you are ready for the hearing."

Khushi scowled, protesting immediately "You shouldn't have bothered, Aman. You still need to rest. You can't risk your health for this."

Aman laughed humorlessly "Yes, I can and I will."

Not giving her an opportunity to retort, he handed her two envelops, whispering his instructions "One of this envelop contains your father's declaration that you are no longer a member of his party and the second one contains a letter from me, depicting how you have been associated with Nia's case since the start and how I am letting you fight this case ahead since I am in no position to be present at the hearing as the prosecuting lawyer. You will need both the letters. Vikrant's lawyer is going to raise objections to you representing Nia in the court. I am just making sure that nothing stops you today from delivering your arguments."

Looking at her stunned face, Aman alternated his gaze between the three pairs of eyes focusing on him and continued "No matter what happens, Arnav shouldn't be present at the hearing. No one from the Raizada family should be there except you, Khushi. You can inform Arnav about the court's verdict once you come out. Don't talk to Vikrant before the hearing. Don't let him even see you. And demand for a quick next hearing before the hearing ends today, so that when Nia is found at Vikrant's house, the verdict can be delivered soon in our favor. You hear me?"

Khushi smiled, saluting him immediately "Got it, boss."

As worry smoothened out of his face, Aman smiled "Now, go. I trust you completely. You are going to win. I didn't keep you by my side just for support. I know you have learned all the tricks that I know as a lawyer."

Chuckling softly, Khushi leaned forward to hug him. Pressing her face in the crook of his neck, she whispered feeling his arms closing around her waist weakly "Thank you for everything, Aman."

Not acknowledging her words of gratitude, Aman gave her a sour look and pushed her away gently "Now go."

Sparing him another glance, Khushi walked out of the room, the black coat draped over her left hand, her face suddenly looking blank and cool. Hesitating for a moment, Arnav looked at Aman "Get well soon, Aman. Shyam will drop you to the hospital now."

As Aman nodded, Arnav left, following his wife quickly.

The moment they were out of the sight, Aman fell on the bed, his body twitching in weakness and agony. Gripping the left side on his stomach, he groaned in pain, looking extremely pale. Looking at a panicked Shyam with half closed eyes, he whispered "Please get me to the hospital. I am not feeling well."

"What is this whole situation regarding Anuj Raizada?" Vikrant asked curtly, looking at his lawyer as they travelled to the court together in a car.

"I don't know, Sir. Akash Raizada said that he is missing. But he isn't really missing, is he?" Sahil Awasthi replied, looking very nervous.

Smirking wickedly, Vikrant looked out of the window "No, he isn't. I killed him myself and left his body inside the house where he had kept me. It all worked out smoothly with his men siding with me for money. He was betrayed by his own security detail."

Looking stunned, Sahil breathed "Really? Sir, I don't think his men would ever betray him for money."

Vikrant snorted, replying smugly "Apparently they did. Some of them now working for Arnav and Akash, informed me that they are going to bring a new lawyer in the case today. They are all fools. Just try to not let that new lawyer prove anything in the court today. I want this case to go on past the elections so that after I win, I can manipulate the final verdict."

Bobbing his head up and down quickly, Sahil agreed "Okay, Sir."

Taking out his sunglasses as the car approached the court, with reporters pressing against the closed windows, running along with it, shouting questions at him hurriedly, Vikrant muttered darkly "The Raizadas will try to get to me outside the court but I can handle them there. Make sure to not mess anything up in the court." Not waiting for an answer from him as the car slowed to a stop, he muttered faintly "Let's get this show on the road."

"Where the hell are they?"

Looking around cautiously, Vikrant muttered, trying to catch a glimpse of any member of the Raizada family. Turning his head to stare at his lawyer, he quizzed "How much time is left in the hearing?"

"Five minutes." His lawyer answered instantly.

Scanning the surroundings once again, Vikrant whispered "No one from Nia's and Raizada family is present here till now. Are they even going to come to the hearing at all? And where is the new lawyer they had hired for the case?"

Sahil shrugged, his gaze focused on the front, to see if the Judge has arrived. Looking at his client from the corner of his eyes, he suggested "You better take your position in the convict box. Mrs Devyani will be arriving soon."

As Vikrant turned to walk and stand inside the wooden box on the left, a commotion took place at the entrance of the courtroom with people turning around to look at it curiously. Before Vikrant could even fathom to look at it, a voice announced "All rise."

Everyone stood up as Devyani Kapoor entered in the court room from the side door on the left. Looking down at everyone, she took her seat and nodded "Sit down everyone. Let the hearing commence. The defendant lawyer and the prosecuting lawyer, please stand up."

Vikrant looked on intensely as Sahil stood up from his seat closely followed by another person slowly rising from the opposite end of the table. Everyone stared as Khushi Raizada stood straight, staring at the judge with a proud expression on her face, wearing a black coat over her pastel color saree.

Ignoring the sudden whispers around her, she gathered some papers and strolled to the judge, laying them on the table in front of her "Khushi Raizada, the new prosecuting lawyer of this case, your honor."

A stunned silence fall around the room, broken abruptly as Sahil laughed along with Vikrant. Walking around the table, Sahil murmured slyly "Your honor, we cannot possibly let anyone stroll in here and fight the case, claiming to be a lawyer."

Turning slightly to glare at him, Khushi countered "As a matter of fact Mr Awasthi, I completed my degree and graduated as a lawyer seven years ago with first division marks. I am a lawyer. And Nia's parents hired me to lead this case ahead."

Baffled, Sahil countered in an even tone "Your honor, Mrs Khushi Raizada is a member of Shashi Gupta's political party, which is known to take a stand in opposition to my client's party. You cannot let her fight this case. It is a conflict of interest."

Chucking softly, Khushi looked at him in mock humor and retorted "I was a member of my father's political party, Mr Awasthi. Your honor, I have submitted a copy of my resignation along with a letter containing Mr Shashi Gupta's official notice, announcing that I am not a member of his party anymore."

As Devyani Kapoor looked down to read the papers that Khushi has handed to her, everyone stared, looking stunned and excited at the sudden turn of events. Vikrant scowled, catching Khushi looking at him with a smirk. Giving his lawyer a glare, he jerked his head faintly, silently asking him to stop this. Clearing his throat loudly, Sahil Awasthi started speaking "Your honor, I request you to not let Mrs Khushi Raizada fight this case. It's a mockery of the court..."

"No it isn't." Devyani Kapoor spoke up suddenly, staring down at him in disapproval. Looking ahead, she announced "Mrs Khushi Raizada has presented every necessary paper along with the letters of agreement from the previous prosecuting lawyer, Mr Aman Mathur and the victim's family. The court allows her to lead this case."

Clasping her hands together, Khushi bowed slightly "Thank you, your honor."

"Very well, then." Looking down at the two lawyers facing each other, Devyani announced with a serious expression on her face "Let the hearing begin."

"Your honor, till today the prosecution has managed to prove that my client Nia Sharma met Vikrant Chaudhary during the annual function of her college. We presented photos of the function in the court as the evidence, which the court accepted as well." Khushi started, watching as Devyani Kapoor started rummaging through the papers to see the same. Facing the judge, she turned her body sideways to the audience and continued "Since that function, Vikrant started harassing my client, making romantic advances on her which she didn't return. Furious by the fact, he took Nia to his house against her will and raped her. Next day, when my client managed to get out of his house and tried to file a complaint against him, he threatened her, telling her to not go to the police again. Not heeding to his words, when she finally managed to file an FIR against him, he kidnapped her once again, my honor. And till now, no one has ever saw Nia Sharma again."

Standing up quickly before she could speak further, Sahil retorted in a loud voice "I object my honor, the prosecution has presented no evidence supporting this story. I request the court to not let the prosecuting lawyer present a story based on false assumptions. My client..."

"Your client took my client to his house, Mr Awasthi. Against her will and the prosecution has presented a proof of that. Mr Aman Mathur submitted a photo of Vikrant Chaudhary dragging Nia Sharma inside his house with the date and time stamped on it, in the previous hearing. And if I am not wrong, the court has already accepted it as genuine evidence." Cutting the defendant lawyer's speech short, Khushi replied in a confident voice, turning to the judge in anticipation of the answer to her own question.

Peering down at the said photos clutched in her hands with hawk like eyes, Devyani Kapoor nodded, answering in a curt tone "Yes, the court has already accepted the fact along with the evidence."

"Thank you, your..."

"Your honor, the court cannot possibly accept that photograph as a genuine evidence. I have already presented an alibi of my client's presence at a rally during the mentioned time and date." Sahil countered, looking furious.

Raising a brow at his haughty tone, Devyani stared down at him, not blinking her eyes until he looked away, his expressions sheepish. Pausing a moment, she replied firmly "Yes Mr Awasthi, you have presented an alibi for Vikrant's presence at a rally. But the court didn't except it since it was turned out to be false evidence. Mrs Khushi, please proceed further."

Vikrant huffed in disgust.

Shooting him a victorious smile, Khushi stepped forward "Thank you, your honor. I believe that till now, we have spent all our time in proving that Vikrant Chaudhary indeed knew my client beyond a formal relationship. If Nia Sharma wouldn't have been kidnapped, I would have already proved Vikrant Chaudhary's crime. But she is not here and was last seen with the man standing in convict box. Where possibly she could be at the moment? Your honor, I fear for my client's life and for the same reason, I request the court to issue a search warrant on all the houses and land properties that Vikrant Chaudhary owns in Delhi. If my client is kidnapped by this man, then it's possible that she is currently being held captive in one of those houses."

"I object your honor!!! The logic and request presented by the prosecuting lawyer doesn't make any sense at all. My client is an honorable man. Why would he keep a girl against her will in his house? Mrs Raizada is trying to damage the reputation of Mr Vikrant for political reasons. She wants the public to suspect him for something he hasn't even done." Sahil roared, earning a smirk from Khushi.

Turning to gaze at him, Khushi crossed her hands against her front "Then tell me, Mr Awasthi, why your honorable client was dragging my client inside his house against her will?"

Tongue-tied at her question, Sahil stared at her blankly. Not waiting for another moment, Khushi turned back to Devayni Kapoor "Your honor, the defendant lawyer's silence on my question shows that he too doubts what his client is capable of doing. I request the court to issue the search warrant so that we can all know the truth."

Considering her words, Devyani picked up her pen "Alright then. I am issuing a search warrant on all the properties owned by Vikrant Chaudhary. I instruct the police to collect the warrant after the hearing and start the search immediately, considering the grim situation this case has reached to."

Khushi smiled faintly in satisfaction. Bringing his palm down to slap against the wooden box, Vikrant roared "NO!!!"

Looking down her nose at him, Devyani instructed further "And I want the police to seal every property owned by Vikrant Chaudhary till the search is over. No one should be allowed to leave and enter inside any of the property without permission."

Khushi paled suddenly at her words.

Shaking his head, Vikrant pointed his finger at the judge in accusation "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!! You can't just order the police to search my house."

"I can." With a twisted smile on her lips, Devyani insisted. Looking back at Khushi in approval, she added "I believe you want to say more."

Gathering her composure, Khushi cleared her throat loudly "Your honor, considering the fact that Vikrant Chaudhary is a famous politician and people look up to him as an example, I request a media coverage for the whole search process of his properties. We owe this to all the people who believe in the politicians of this country. And I want to put my request for a quick next hearing your honor, considering the fact that the previous prosecutor lawyer had been attacked, making him quit this case. I fear that people might hurt me as well. The sooner the verdict of this case is delivered, the better off everyone will be."

"YOU BITCH!!!!" Vikrant growled. Sahil hurried toward him to quiet him down quickly.

Giving him a glare, Devyani started writing furiously "Considering the events that has happened in today's hearing, I instruct the police to take Vikrant Chaudhary in the custody right now, till the search on all his properties has been done. If the police indeed managed to find Nia Sharma during the search, then I instruct the officer in charge to arrest him immediately. From now on, I don't want to hear another false word inside the courtroom. I hope you all understand that."

Bringing the gravel down with a loud bang, she announced "The hearing of this case is adjourned until tomorrow."

Eying as a police officer stepped forward to take an angry Vikrant in custody with Sahil trying to calm him down, Khushi watched people stand as the judge turned to leave the courtroom. Gathering her papers, she dashed outside, rushing through the corridors until she reached to the back of the court. Her eyes catching the glimpse of her husband, she hurried to him, speaking breathlessly "We need to hurry, Arnav. Devyani instructed to seal Vikrant's house till the search. We won't be able to gain entry inside it after some time."

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Arnav smiled "Don't worry. It's already done. I had someone sit in the hearing so that he can inform me the moment the judge appeared to have accepted your request. Relax."

Resting her head on his chest, Khushi nodded, trying to gulp some air, speaking between the panting "I...did...it."

Kissing the top of her head, Arnav agreed "Yes, you did."

Disoriented and tired.

Trying to blink her eyes open, Anjali clutched her head as it throbbed in pain, every moment draining the remaining strength in her body. She frowned, picking on the continued beeping of the machines around her. Prying her eyes open with a groan, she stared at the white ceiling before her gaze slowly moved to the white chairs, the machines monitoring her condition and the medicines on the side table propped beside the hospital bed.

She frowned, moving her fingers to stare at the needles attached to the back of her palm.

What has happened? And what the hell was she doing in a hospital?

Her mind felt blank and her memories fuzzy. The only thing appeared in her mind was the memory of a man with white coat stabbing her with an injection every time she opened her eyes.

Closing her eyes, she tensed as a familiar voice echoed in her ears, standing over her "Keep her sedated doctor. No one should know that her condition is improving rapidly."

It was a recent memory. Slowly, her mind started working, her survival instincts whispering in her ear to get the hell out of here, before the man comes in to sedate her again.

Moving in alarm, she stood up on her shaky feet. As she tried to make a run out of the room, the needles attached to her arms wrenched away painfully, making her cry out in pain.

Stumbling towards the door, she tried to keep her mind focused on reaching it. Watching it open suddenly, she froze, her eyes catching the sight of her tormentor, forcing her to use the last ounce of her energy to shove past him.

Falling down on the floor outside the room, she cried out in pain at the sensation of her body slamming on hard surface. Looking up, she whimpered in relief, as a stunned Akash rushed forward along with her mother.

She coughed "Help me, bhai."

Feeling herself being cradled in the arms of her brother, she fainted, missing the way her mother shouted at the approaching doctor to stay away, her phone glued to her ear, already calling the police.

Something was terribly wrong.

Standing inside his house flanked by two police officers, Vikrant Chaudhary watched the reporters snapping pictures of him through the window, their curious eyes taking in as Khushi spoke to the officer-in-charge of the house search along with his lawyer, Sahil.

He watched his lawyer snap in frustration as the woman who was responsible for everything smiled, looking back at him meaningfully. Together, they all watched as many officers stormed inside different rooms of the house, picking and searching through the things it held.

As the time progressed with every one of them coming back empty hand, he smirked, relieved that it wasn't a trap like he was suspecting it to be. Oh he knew that Khushi Raizada came here with a plan in her mind, otherwise she wouldn't have bothered stepping inside his house.

But what was her plan if Nia wasn't found in his house till now? What if they found her at some other place owned by him? He knew and has considered all the possibilities of it happening. Hell, he was even prepared for something like to happen. But what if...

He is being played by that bitch.

"What about the basement of this house, officer?" Khushi asked, a little too innocently. That's it, Vikrant thought, knowing that things were about to get ugly from here.

As everyone moved toward basement along with a man officially recording everything on the camera, Vikrant followed, the officers on the either side of him watching his every move, ready to retaliate if he tried anything like running away or touching the stuff inside the house.

There were only three rooms in the basement and if Nia is supposed to be found here, she would be in one of them, Vikrant thought with a grim smile. As an officer moved and opened the first room, he peered inside it along with everyone, watching it being rummaged thoroughly by the officer before declaring it's empty.

As they moved to the next room, Vikrant looked away, not wanting to see what he already knew. He felt the door open and as its inside came into view, everybody froze. Taking a step forward, Khushi whispered with a gasp "Anuj Raizada??"

WHAT????

Snapping his gaze up, he took a step forward, peering inside to see a man lying on the floor in a fetal position, a thin streak of blood trickling down his forehead, pooling down slowly on the floor. With his hands and legs tied with a rope, he looked unconscious, his clothes wrinkled.

His eyes moving on the face being turned toward them fully, Vikrant cursed. Bloody hell, it's indeed him. And not what he had suspected. He snapped "WAIT!! What the hell is HE doing?"

Staring at Khushi, he saw her shocked expressions, her blank mind at the sudden turn of the situation. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at the man in question before he heard her whisper "I have absolutely no idea."

He protested "THIS can't be HAPPENING. I DIDN'T KIDNAP HIM."

"The head wound is fresh. He was hit by a bat or something." The officer said, crouched over Anuj Raizada as he looked at the man. Turning to him, Khushi quizzed looking angry "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?"

"I didn't do anything. I know that's your plan, you bitch." Vikrant snarled, his eyes wild.

"Sir, we have found Nia in the third room." A constable reported, hurrying to stand in front of the officer-in-charge as everyone stared at Vikrant.

Taking out the handcuffs, the police officer moved behind Vikrant, bringing his hands behind his back forcibly to cuff him "Mr. Vikrant Chaudhary, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you in the court."

"BUT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING." Vikrant roared as he was mauled out of his own house roughly "YOU BITCH, YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS."

I don't even know how to apologize for the delay. Trust me, I did everything I could to hurry updating this chapter but my hands were tied with work. Sorry for the wait again,

Hope the chapter is upto your expectations,

Aditi

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AWESOME!!!!! LOVED IT..!!!

I was wondering where I missed this story. Am so glad to have found my way back to it!!! And this update was awesome. Thank you aditi for finally giving some positive news in the case

Wonderful update

Awesome update she is one smart cookie

Wow i cant believe aunj would b there every thing is coming back to normal now angali will also be ok soon