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PART 80
"When the Lord closes the Door
Somewhere He opens a window"
Manek took Angad to the Card Room of Tolly Club. At a table in a secluded corner, a tall, white-haired, distinguished-looking gentleman sat playing chess with another grey- haired gentleman. The tall one was smoking a cheroot, lost in the game, stroking his chin with one hand! Angad recognized the tall gentleman on sight….he had read articles about him and seen his pictures in magazines. The founder-owner of Bangla Patrika newspaper- Dr. Manimohan Chatterjee!
He was quite a legend…..a self-made man who had risen from the streets to establish one of the top-selling newspapers and magazines of West Bengal. He had started his life as a fearless journalist during the struggle for Indian Independence and risen his way to the top of his profession, establishing his own paper and getting Honorary Doctorates from Calcutta University and other Indian Univeristies!
He was also Mishti's grandfather!
Angad whispered to Manek: Dr. Chatterjee? Yeh humein kaisey help karega?
Manek muttered admiringly: Yes! The Grand Old Man of Patrika! He WILL help us, you wait and see!
But hes Mishti's grandfather! Why will he help us?
Don't worry, just come with me….Manek reassured a doubtful Angad and steered him to the Chess-playing duo.
Good Afternoon, Sir! He grinned pleasingly at Chatterjee.
The old Man looked up from his game, his eyes still sharp as an eagle's at 85 years of age: Yes, what do u want?
Sir, I am Manek, Shyamal's son! I had called you about that personal matter?
Oh Yes, yes! I remember…..Please excuse me, Mr. Lahiri, I will be back shortly.
He got up and accompanied Angad and Manek to an ante-room…
Manek told him about Mishti: Sir! We appeal to you, please help us bring Mishti to justice! Usney bahut bada jurm kiya hai….aap uskey buzurg hain, apki baat shayad wo maan jayegi"
The old man said: I have only heard bits of the story…..tell me the whole thing, then I will decide.
Angad recounted the whole terrible story of how Mishti had plotted to kill Kripa and sent her driver later to make another attempt on her life. Chatterjee listened in grave silence, his face inscrutable, unreadable!
When Angad had finished, he asked: Kya tumharey paas koi proof hai ke Mishti ne hi sab kuchh kiya hai?
Angad showed him all the proofs, including Kartik's statement, Shyamal's testimony, the videotape from the Hospital, Kripa's mobile record from that fateful night.
Chatterjee's expression became very serious…..he went up to Angad: Young Man! I am very sorry for what happened to your fiancee! I pray to God that she recovers her eyesight soon. I sympathize with you for all the pain and tragedy u and ur family have undergone. I have spent my whole life building a reputation for my Newspaper for speaking the truth and fighting for Justice. Now my own blood has shamed me…..Mishti has dragged my name into the mud! She will be punished for it! Don't worry, I will try every means to bring her back to India!
Thank You, Sir! Humein aapsey yehi ummeed thi" Manek was almost prostrating himself in front of the Grand Old Man.
Angad just looked keenly into the Old Man's eyes…..he read truth there! He saw a genuine man, honest and straightforward. His hopes were enlivened once more. He shook hands with Chatterjee and thanked him and then they left the Club.
Chatterjee was true to his word…….he called Mishti's brother Mainak in Chicago and informed him about Mishti's crimes back in Kolkata! Mainak was horrified! He confronted his sister who denied it of course! Manimohan called Mishti directly and used his biggest weapon…..Disinheritance!
He threatened that he will disinherit Mishti if she doesn't return to Kolkata and face up to the charges! Mishti was in dire straits, on one hand it meant losing the millions she would inherit one day, on the other was losing her freedom behind bars. She called her father, Madanmohan and complained about Grandpa's ultimatum.
Madan was too afraid of his all-powerful Dad to protest his dictum. He advised Mishti to stay put in the U.S. He reassured her that even if his father disinherited her, he would send money for her expenses and by coming home, she would bring shame and infamy on the family! So Mishti stayed back in the States, her Grandpa officially disinherited her, with strict instructions in his Will that even after his demise, his son would never be able to transfer any property or money in Mishti's name.
Mishti fumed in rage, sitting in Chicago, as her inheritance was gone! She was now dependant on her brother's and father's contributions and pocket money. Mainak soon made it clear that she was unwelcome in his house…..he didn't want to support and harbor a criminal. Mishti moved out and rented a tiny apartment in a dingy part of the city. She was forced to work in a department store to keep up her expenses.
Did she get punished for what she did to Kripa? Later events will show if she did face Divine Justice although she managed to escape human Court of Law!
Angad heard about Mishti's refusal to come back and her subsequent disinheritance by her grandpa! He was pleased with Manimohan's impartial sense of fairness and Justice. But he was very disappointed that he had failed to bring Mishti to Justice and send her to Jail for what she had done to Kripa!
He felt defeated! The self-confident, brilliant lawyer Angad had failed to nail the person most responsible for his personal tragedy! It was a big blow to his Ego! He felt as helpless and frustrated as a common man on the streets who fails to bring criminals to Justice, fails to punish the ones who have wronged them!
Kripa, mujhey maaf kar dena, main tumharey sabsey badey gunahgaar ko sazaa dilaney mein na-kaamyab raha! Main khud se hi bahut niraash hoon! Main haar gaya, Kripa!
Angad sat in his office with eyes closed, contemplating his defeat, when the phone rang!
It was Nishant: Angad! Good News! Gaaji pakda gaya….apney Hometown mein tha…he was hiding in a friend's house!
Angad jumped up, his emotional pendulum swinging back to hopeful mode again : That's Great News, Nishant! Thank You! Teri Vajeh se yeh sab kuchh hua! I cant thank you enough!
Nishant had grown close to Angad during the last few weeks of investigation….he laughed and said: Theek hai…..When you marry Kripa, I want a special daawat from you, with special dishes prepared by Bhabhi!
But how will Kripa cook? She cant…….Angad protested.
Think positive, Angad! I am sure she will get back her eyesight when treatment starts, I have done some research on her ailment as well!
Touch wood, Nishant! May that day come soon when Kripa is your Bhabhi and cooks dinner for you! Angad smiled whimsically, dreaming of Kripa as his wife, her vision cured, cooking dinner for his family and friends. Kitni achhi Devilled eggs banati thi…..
Angad got lost in a dreamworld where Kripa was making devilled eggs in Khanna House kitchen while he disturbed her, hugging her waist and kissing her neck from behind, till she giggled and called him Dushtu in mock anger. Kitney din ho gaye uskey mooh se Dushtu lafz suney huye!
Kahan kho gaya? Kripa ke khayalon mein? Nishant teased him, Ab kaam ki baat karein? Trial date kab rakha hai?
May 16 ko trial shuru ho rahi hai….Angad informed him, Judge Basu is presiding!
Ohh, Basu? Wo toh mere Dad ke achhey dost hain…
Yes, my Dad knows him too! We have nailed Kartik and Gaaji, nobody can save them from Jail sentence now! I only wish Mishti ko bhi hum pakad saktey……Angad couldn't get over his defeat.
Tu dil chhota mat kar, Nishant assured him, Mishti nahin mili toh kya hua, Van ka asli driver, asli kaatil toh hamarey haath mein hai, usey ab koi nahin bacha sakta!
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The joint trials of Kartik Bose and Gajendra Sahu in the case of attempted murder of Kripa Bose started in May and continued upto June!
Gaaji confessed that Mishti had paid him a large sum of money to pose as a Ward Boy that night and he went in and disconnected Kripa's Life Support tubes!
Shankar Singh, the vendor on Park Street and another eyewitness positively identified the Van that had run over Kripa ! Shyamal testified about Mishti asking him to sign the release of the Van to Kartik, Manek recounted parts of Mishti's plan to lure Kripa to the Hotel that night, leaving out the parts about Angad and Simone.
Finally Kartik's confession was replayed in court! Afterwards, Gaaji's confession was read out too!
Both were proved guilty by the Prosecution Lawyers, who were friends of Dilip and Debu! Both the accused couldn't afford expensive Defense lawyers so they didn't have any means of escape from Justice!
But the main culprit Mishti got away because of wealth and means to escape punishment.
Angad, Dilip and Debu attended the hearings alongwith Gayatri on some days and then with Gautam when he arrived from Delhi. Kripa and Shurjo werent allowed to attend the hearings for health reasons. But Kripa did attend the last day when Kartik was going to be sentenced.
She insisted on going to the sentencing…..she wanted Kartik to see her in that state when his sentence was read out…..perhaps he would feel genuine remorse, perhaps he would regret what he had done to her!
So Kripa, wearing a lime green salwar and dark glasses attended the last day of the hearing when the verdicts would be read out! Angad drew in his breath when she walked into the rapidly filling courtroom! She looked as fresh as a green vine….amidst all the black and white outfits in the court!
He stared at her hungrily, it had been so long since he had seen her from such close quarters. He only saw her every evening strolling on her terrace! As Kripa passed him, she stiffened, feeling his gaze on her. She felt his presence and quickly went forward, her face impassive but her heart pounded in her chest!
An-gad….An-gad….every heartbeat seemed to say…Angad yahin hai, paas mein kahin….mujhey uski saanson ka ehsaas hai, uskey dhadkan ka ehsaas hai….main kyun iss ehsaas ko khatam nahin kar sakti?
Kripa sat down between her mother and Uncle and listened to the verdict being read out while Angad stared at her without blinking…… As if he would capture her in his gaze and imprison her inside himself forever! Kripa's face slowly reddened, feeling the heat of his constant gaze…as she tried to concentrate on the Judge's words.
Judge Nirmal Basu read out the final verdict that Kartik was guilty of deliberately trying to end his cousin sister's life to obtain property! He was sentenced to 7 years of Hard Labor in Central Jail! Kartik looked sideways at Kripa as the sentence was being read…he looked at her still form, the dark glasses hiding sightless eyes…….But did that make him regret his action ? Unfortunately, the only emotion that flitted across his face was hatred and anger that Kripa was still alive and he was going to Jail!
Gaaji was sentenced to four years of Hard Labor!
Kripa listened passively to the verdicts. She wasn't even shocked that Gaaji had removed her tubes and tried to kill her again at the hospital!
Nothing really shocked her anymore! Loving Angad had made her that way, she had become shock-proof!
While coming out of the court-house, Shyamal came forward and greeted the Boses and enquired about Kripa's well-being! He was really apologetic that his single signature had caused this lovely girl to go blind!
Angad went forward and cleared his voice nervously. He felt like a tongue-tied schoolboy on his first encounter with a girl!
Auntie, Uncle kaisey hain? He asked after Shurjo's health.
Achhey hain Beta! Doctor ne Court mein aaney se manaa kar diya tha, isiliye nahin aaye"
Kripa turned her face aside, away from the sound of his voice…..her whole body was stiff and clenched….she didn't want to show any signs of weakness in front of him!
Gautam and Gayatri congratulated and thanked Angad and Nishant for solving the case and bringing the culprits to Justice!
Angad still gazed with utter longing at Kripa and said: Yeh toh mera Farz tha…….
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Pallavi
Edited by pallavi25 - 17 years ago
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