PART-24
She could not take it. It was a huge shock. Whatever happened in the courtroom wasn't supposed to go like that but it did. She was staggering as she walked. Her legs felt feeble and unstable. Her head was reeling. It should not have happened. It was all over. She was ruined. Nothing could save her now. She was now all alone, helpless and condemned.
******
Captain Naina Singh was being asked to give her statement. But she was quiet. Alekh hadn't returned yet. She could not have said what Alekh had asked her to until he returns or it would be like courting trouble in case he couldn't make it on time. But at the same time there was every possibility of her silence being misinterpreted as a mute acceptance of the crime she was being tried for. She was in a fix. One wrong move could prove to be fatal. She realized that someone had just entered in the courtroom. She turned to see and it was... Alekh.
She was relieved to see him back. He gave her a reassuring smile and gently nodded his head gesturing a go-ahead. She closed her eyes tightly to summon all her courage. Whatever she was going to say could be destructive if she didn't mind her words. She had to carefully balance each and every word before she said it otherwise it would be suicidal. She finally opened her eyes, took a deep breath and regained her composure. She looked more confident than before. She had prepared herself for that statement which would decide the direction of her life.
"Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat was a traitor. He was one of the people who used to supply ammunitions to the anti-social elements. We discovered this fact much later. We were trying to collect...."
"We? That means you were not working on it alone. Who else was with you?" She was interrupted by one of the presiding officers.
"Me and Lieutenant Alekh Sharma."
"Okay. You may carry on."
"We were trying to collect proofs against him but somehow he got a whiff of it. That night we had a confrontation on the matter and when he realized we have proofs against him he tried to kill me and to protect myself I had to kill him. It wasn't intentional. But I was just trying to defend myself."
"You mean to say it was only an accident and he was killed in self defense."
"Yes."
"So where are the proofs against him?"
She turned to Alekh. He pointed towards the file he was holding. She continued.
"It's with Lieutenant Sharma."
Lieutenant Alekh Sharma was called to give his statement. He handed over that file to the presiding officers and they were convinced with the contents that Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat was a traitor. They found Captain Singh's statement convincing enough. But they still had one question.
"Captain Singh why didn't you give your statement before?"
"Because we didn't have all the proofs and the ones we had were not enough to substantiate my statement so I was waiting for Lieutenant Sharma to return with more proofs."
"Okay. In that case I think we can close the case releasing you out of all the charges."
Those words came as a big relief to Naina. She was overjoyed. But that joy was very short-lived. Infact she could not even feel it completely and it came to an end.
"Excuse me sir. I want to say something." Lieutenant Sharma interrupted.
He came forward with another file and handed it over to them. "Sir Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat was not the only one involved in the treason but Major Rastogi and Captain Huda were definitely not his partners. It was.... Captain Singh."
She was dumbstruck as she heard those words. Her face went white and pale. Her eyes brimmed with tears and her heart quivered. She was shaking at the thought of the punishment that might come up next if he could prove his allegations.
The presiding officers saw the file and glared back at Captain Singh.
"What do you think you have to say about this Captain Singh?"
"Si... Sir... I....no...ammmm....this...err...." She was at a loss of words. She didn't know what to say.
"Sir this was the proofs secured by Captain Huda against Captain Singh. These documents are what accounted for his murder. Sir right now I don't have proofs to show Captain Huda's and Major Rastogi's innocence but I am sure I can do it very soon. All I need is a little time. Besides I have submitted you all the proofs which says the entire scandal was planned by Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat and executed but Captain Naina Singh."
"Is there anything you want to say Captain Singh?"
She kept quiet. She didn't know what to say and how. She was in a state of immense shock.
"Alright then. Miss Naina Singh you do not deserve to be a part of the Indian Army. Tomorrow will be the final hearing of this case. We have secured all the proofs against you. Your verdict will be declared tomorrow and Lieutenant Sharma, re open Major Rastogi and Captain Huda's murder case and re investigate it. You have 30 days to file a separate report on that matter."
"Right sir."
******
Naina was being taken to the interrogation room. She had to be interrogated for another case that was just now re-opened. She was prime suspect for that case and the investigator was the eye witness of the crime. She was trapped and there was no way out.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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