Hi Everyone,
Thank you all so so much for liking the last chapter. Am happy you all enjoyed reading it. Here's the next part to the story. I hope it will be liked too. Apologies for not getting back to you all individually. I really feel bad apologizing again and again but trust me guys, life isn't easy at my end and am barely able to make time to write. But trust me you all, I read every comment and cherish all the love that you guys show towards me and my stories. Just one more to go for this one. Happy reading.
Oh! One more thing, wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Wish you and your families health and wealth and prosperity in every aspect of life.
🥳Happy New Year 🥳
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Chapter 10
Uday arrived early to get Zoya in her disguise. Court was set for eleven o'clock and it took him two hours to get her made up. When he was finished she looked so much like a man it shocked her. That made her less nervous, because now she was sure she would get in the building without a hitch. Chetan had met Rohan a couple miles down the main road earlier last night to give him the reporter badge that Zoya would need to complete her disguise. Asad couldn't be seen anywhere near Zoya, when they got to the courthouse just in case someone would be watching if he arrived with anyone. Chetan had left his car for Zoya to drive and after getting to the court house she parked in the area that was reserved for reporters. She was nervous when she walked into the building but no one paid any attention to her. The back rows of the court house had been set aside for the reporters and Court TV had been given permission to film the proceedings so cameras were set up on both sides of the courtroom.
Everyone had to go through three metal detectors before being allowed in the courtroom. The judge had ordered that no one other then his bailiff and the two court officers stationed at the court room doors could have a weapon in the courtroom so all police officers had to check their guns in before being allowed into the courtroom. He had not allowed anyone other than the reporters into the courtroom where he explained the rules of his court on how they would behave and what they could and could not do. No one was allowed to have cameras except the film crew and all cell phones had to be checked outside so that no phone calls could be made or taken during the court proceedings and no camera phones would be able to sneak some shots of what was going on either.
He had made them all come and stand up by the door to his chambers while explaining this to them and when he excused them to go back to their seats, Zoya was pulled into his office without anyone noticing her. The judge introduced himself to her then showed her his private bathroom where she was able to take off her disguise. She had her blouse and slacks on under the suit she had been wearing and had gotten all of the glue off her face with Uday's help. He was there in the office where he had spent the night. He had every thing ready to make Zoya up again as the judge after she had testified. She was going to have to stay in the judges chambers until he dismissed court for the day, but the judge had told her and Uday that he was going to adjourn court until the following day after Zoya testified so she could make her escape as quickly as possible.
Asad was a nervous wreck, he wanted to be in the courthouse with Zoya but they had decided if he showed up in court he might be followed if they thought he had anything to do with Zoya's appearance in court.
"Your honor can I talk to you for a moment before this all starts?"
"Zoya does it have anything to do with what your going to say in court?"
"No sir."
"Good, because even I can't discuss this case with you before you testify."
"Sir, there have been a lot of people who have worked to keep me safe until this trial that I can't pay for their services. I think the justice department should be made to pay their wages and expenses."
"Don't worry young lady I will make sure that all those involved will get paid. I'll even make them pay in cash here at the court so no one can trace who's services you used."
"Thank you sir."
"Ok, lets get this show on the road. Judge Kumar was a good friend of mine and I want those involved in his murder to get what's coming to them."
Zoya was shaking like a leaf on a tree on a windy day, waiting to be called in to testify. She could hear all that was going on in the courtroom from the judges office.
"Your honor the state would like to request an adjournment for a few days until we can find the whereabouts of our star witness."
"That won't be necessary Mr. Lal, your witness is here, now please call your first witness."
You could hear the astonishment of the people in the courtroom when the judge informed them that their witness was there.
"Your honor the defense asks that you excuse yourself from these proceedings if you have been in contact with the witness without informing the state or defense of her whereabouts."
"Mr. Ghosh, the witness came here of her own accord less then an hour ago and asked that she be kept protected until the trial began. I did not at any time know of her whereabouts. So your suggestion that I recuse myself is denied."
"Call your witness Mr. Lal."
"The state calls Zoya Farooqui to the witness stand."
When Zoya walked out of the judges chambers the whole courtroom gasped. She was sworn in, then the state began questioning her on the events the day the judge had been murdered. One man near the back of the courtroom had stood up and tried to leave but the uniformed officers at the door wouldn't allow him to leave. The judge told him to sit down that no one could leave the courtroom until court was adjourned. When the state prosecutor asked Zoya if the man she saw shoot the judge was in the courtroom she pointed to the defendant and told him that was the man.
"You"re positive that this is the man you saw shoot and kill Judge Sharma?"
"Yes sir. Just before the judge had been shot I saw that man over there fold his newspaper and tap it on his leg looking across the street, then he turned and walked away. I turned to see who he was looking at because it just looked odd and that's when I saw that man shoot the judge."
When Zoya had pointed to the DEA agent he tried to get up to leave but the officers detained him and cuffed him. The first man who had tried to leave was pale as a ghost and nervous. The judge ordered for him to be arrested as well and both of them were sent to holding to be questioned about their involvement with this case.
When it was time for the defense to question Zoya the defense lawyer said he had no questions for her. The judge excused Zoya from the witness stand and told his bailiff to escort her into his office and get her safely out of the building. A few minutes later the judge adjourned the trial until the following morning giving the two lawyers time to have the two men being held questioned. The judge was in awe when Uday had finished making Zoya up, he couldn't believe how much she now looked like him. He had been thinking of how this woman could get out of the building safely while he watched her being transformed into his lookalike.
"If I change my normal habits someone is bound to notice so I think you should take my car when you leave. You can call me later and let me know where my car is and I'll have it picked up. Your friend and I will stay hidden in my bathroom for an hour, then no one will think I'm here when they see you leave. Here is the key to my office door, lock it when you leave then turn right and go all the way down the hall until you come to the parking garage elevator. Take it to the top floor. When you get off the elevator my car is the first one parked next to the elevator. You'll see my name on the parking space sign. I drive a silver Lexus, press this key to unlock the car. Good luck young lady. Have your friends contact me in a couple of days with their bill and I'll make sure they are compensated for their time and work they have done."
"Thank you."
"Your supposed to call Asad when you leave and he will tell you where to meet them."
Uday handed her a cell phone, hugged her and wished her luck.
Zoya hadn't run into anyone when she was leaving the judges office. She saw no one in the garage and didn't see anyone following her when she left the parking garage. She called Asad and told him she was driving the judges car. He told her to meet him in another parking garage and to go to the third level of the garage where he would be waiting for her. After Zoya found Asad she changed her outfit in the car before they left the parking garage. Asad had been keeping his eyes out to see if anyone may have followed her but no one had. Uday had the foresight to know that he was going to have to disguise the judge as well to get him out of the building after Zoya had gotten away. They had made their way outside without anyone paying one bit of attention to them. He drove the judge to where Asad had left his car and the judge drove himself home in his own car.
Asad's heart had slowed down once he had Zoya safely back with him. He had never been so scared in all his life as he was for the woman he loved who was sitting safely beside him, her head on his shoulder. He called his brother and told him to get contractors over to his place and replace all the windows in his house with bulletproof glass and he wanted them all to have the same kind of privacy tinting. He told him he wanted it done by the end of the week. He said he would call him on Thursday to make sure it was done before he came back home. He told him he was taking Zoya back to where he had been keeping her until the end of the week when he would bring her back to his house where he knew she would be safe once the house was full of bulletproof glass.
P.S. Please hit the like button if you liked the update and please do leave back your feedback. I would really really love to know what you guys feel reading this one.
Edited by ChocoBerry - 9 years ago
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