ARVI FF: Jiska Mujhe Tha Intazaar (Ch. 8- Pg. 18) - Page 2

MUMBAI, INDIA

12:00 PM

MUMBAI HIGH COURT

The ambience of the courtroom was suffocating Arjun. Helicopters buzzed over the court and the media pounded on the sky-high doors. All eyes were on him, the young defense lawyer handling the billion rupee case. Gazing at the streaks of condensation sliding down a pitcher of chill water, he decided to relieve the pressure with a mild sedative Dr. Sharma had provided a few weeks ago.

"Me lord, may I call for a ten minute recess?" he asked.

The judge stared at Arjun for a good minute. He knew what Arjun was off to do. The wrinkles in his face were a measure of the numerous times he had given the young man permission to take drugs in the middle of a court hearing. Why he hoped this time would be different, he couldn't fathom. He had a premonition of an omen, but alas, these feelings couldn't stop the lawyer-at-large.

"Granted permission. But be back in exactly ten Kirloskar." he acquiesced.

Arjun breathed a sigh of relief and took his leather briefcase to the restroom. Instantaneously, he rushed to a stall and swallowed three pills. He felt better, with the pressure slowly alleviating. He walked out to a mirror and contemplated his reflection. Well-shaven, bronze-skinned, trimmed hair, only his eyes a bit red from a lack of shut eye. "You will win this case Arjun; just as you always have. Make mumi and papa proud." he thought. Arjun exited the restroom and took a seat next to Mr. Chaudry, ready to tackle the Mehta vs. Chaudry murder case.

"Arjun beta, just out of curiosity, what do you do admidst every recess you call?" he questioned.

"Sit on the balcony. You should try it sometime uncle" he smirked. Chaudry stared at Arjun, baffled.

"Once this case is over, I want you to go visit my doctor beta. For your own good, huh?" he pleaded.

"No thanks'" Arjun responded, drifting off into sleep.

"Mr. Kirloskar, please present you defense case to the court." echoed the judge's voice. He slammed the gavel into the lacquered, wooden surface three times to call the attention of the court.

Arjun jerked in his seat. "Me lord, I'd like to call up Mr. Ram Mehta to the witness stand."

"Permission granted."

The peanut gallery murmured as Mehta made his way to the witness stand. He was handicapped, at 47 years old. He had to roll his way up in a wheel chair.

"Mr. Mehta, how are you today?" Arjun asked sweetly.

"Objection, me lord, the defense is avoiding the topic at hand." called out Mehta's attorney.

"Overruled, please continue Mr. Kirloskar." coughed the judge.

"Main teek hu." Mehta scowled.

"Good, good. I'm glad you are well. If you don't mind, can you please recall the events on the night of the 7^th of June 2012?'

"Gladly. I was sleep the adjacent room when I heard a loud thump at 11:38 pm. I quickly wheeled myself over to the next room and found my wife's dead body on the floor. Next to her, Mr. Chaudry stood."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Arjun conceded, "but how does this in fact prove that my client has murdered your wife?"

Mehta laughed in disbelief, "Arjun sab, if your parents are in one car and a big truck speeds into them, killing the two, wouldn't you blame the big truck? Isn't the blatant truth in front of you? Maybe it depends who is behind the truck'?"

Arjun lifted Mr. Mehta out of his wheel chair by the collar, "Don't drag my parents into this Mehta."

The judge slammed his gavel, "Calm down, Mr. Kirloskar!"

Arjun loosened his grip and straightened his suit. "Well, Mr. Mehta, your claim of murder is completely invalid. The coroner's report states that Mrs. Mehta died from an incident of cardiac arrest!"

The courtroom gasped in disbelief. "Maybe Chaudry did something to incite the attack? Maybe he told her something?" reasoned Mehta.

"You mean your affair with the newest intern at RSM Industries? Miss Nadini Chopra? Does she ring a bell? Hmm?" Arjun asked.

"Yes! I'm sure he told her about my affair." Mr. Mehta shriveled away in his wheel chair.

"Well, if my client told your wife a truth, I don't see what's wrong. In fact, you are your wife's own murderer. You killed her with this affair. You killed her with you distrust!" Arjun exclaimed, hammering his fist into the wooden railing.

"Order! Order!" hacked the judge furiously. "Considering all evidences, I find Mr. Chaudry not guilty of first-degree murder."

"Thanks me lord." Arjun nodded his head and exited through the backdoor of the courtroom.

MUMBAI, INDIA

2:00 AM

MOKSH NIGHTCLUB

Auto-tuned music engulfed the room. Hideous laughs and gaudy attire paralyzed Arjun's senses. The room was burning and alcohol was bitter. He didn't know why he let Sachin drag him to such trashy clubs.

"Hey Arjun! Be a pal and lend me a lakh or two?" he winked.

They were on the dance floor. While Arjun arms were crossed and his legs were tightly locked, Sachin was a free as a bird with only his pants on.

"Sachin, we should go home now yaar," Arjun explained, "it's getting late and Manav Uncle's probably worried sick."

"Listen Arjun, I bring you to these clubs with me to have fun and you always bring down my mood. Tum lawyer-wale, kabi nahi sudroge." he chuckled.

"Ok, Sachin. I'm going home. Get a rickshaw home." he said handing him 100 Rs.

Arjun sat at the bar, gulping down one shot after the next. He had been waiting an hour for Sachin to come out of the crowd, but it appeared as if Sachin made his way to somebody else's home. Arjun walked out of the club. He was tired of babysitting Manav uncle's only son.

He made his way into his recently buffed, ivory BMW. It was the last thing he could remember.

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