“Right now, I am lying on the narrow platform covered with a rough blanket in the small lock-up. I am fortunate that SP Bhosle didn’t transfer me to a cell where the other criminals are packed up like cattle. It’s not like I have any problem coping with the place. No, in fact, I am ready to face any adverse situation. Frankly speaking, it is giving me a soothing feeling. But I am thankful to Bhosle that he put me in a separate cell. Here I can ruminate over my Angel. Nandana…what must be she doing now? Is she remembering me? Her Brute! Is she recalling our happy moments or our last encounter? Is she looking the same divine even after being broken by me? Nandana, you are my life and you are my death. But I want to cherish every bit of it. If I can kill for you then I can die for you either. I close my eyes to visualise her seraphic face. I hurt you so much. So, I want to hurt myself. That will give me my desired peace. Suddenly, the metal gate of the cell squeaks and someone enters. I open my eyes and look at them.”

“Mr Oberoi, he is your lawyer, Mr Rajiv Ahuja. He wants to talk to you.”

The SP introduces a man to Aditya and further says in an authoritative tone,

“Make it first, Mr Ahuja. We have to produce him in front of the Magistrate. Do your formalities.”

Saying this, he exits the cell but not before locking it from outside. Aditya reluctantly gets up. He didn’t say anyone for hiring a lawyer for him. It must be Ayan’s decision. This boy is adamant to take him out of these bars. Rajiv Ahuja sits on a chair, facing Aditya. A file is there in his hands. He keeps it on his thigh and starts to untie it.

“Mr Oberoi, Ayan Agnihotri has appointed me as your lawyer. But before I take this responsibility, I need your signature on these papers. So, that I can produce them for your bail application. Here it is..”

Rajiv Ahuja forwards the file to Aditya. Aditya takes a glance but doesn’t show any urgency to sign it.

“What if I don’t want a bail?”

He utters coldly which furrows Ahuja’s forehead. He confusedly asks,

“You don’t want a bail…why? Mr Oberoi, I know you have surrendered by yourself and that already has made this case a bit weaker. Still, I am trying to make it a conspiracy against you. Please cooperate. We can win it.”

Aditya’s eyes flicker for a second. With a grave tone, he asks,

“Conspiracy! Care to explain, Mr Ahuja.”

Rajiv Ahuja budges on the chair and clears his throat to explain.

“Well, I will try to arrange the case in this way that Nandana Basu targeted you as her next prey when she first saw you in the school. You are a wealthy and powerful man and she is a gold digger. She wanted your money as she is a very ambitious and careerist girl. Due to her family’s financial condition, she couldn’t fulfil her dreams on her own. So, when you showed interest in her, she thought to encash this opportunity and started befriending you. Gradually, she succeeded to win your trust and heart and you got married to her. However, that was not her main motive. She wanted your money and for that, she was constantly creating pressure on you to transfer a huge amount to her individual bank account. Initially, you did and apart from that, you also bought the sinking press where Nandana Basu’s father works. You secretly increased his salary and promoted him to a higher position. Although these all things were happening under Nandana’s influence on you, her ultimate goal was a bit far. One day she asked you to transfer all your property to her name. Initially, you were in dilemma but eventually, you fell into her trap and transferred all your possessions to her. Here she showed her true colour. When she got everything from you that she actually wanted, she told you that she wants a divorce. You denied and she played her trump card. She hurt herself and put marital rape and domestic violence allegations on you. Her family knew everything and they supported her in this plan.”

Rajiv Ahuja pauses and looks at Aditya with self-pride. Aditya remains silent for a second and asks in an arctic tone,

“But she denied any physical force on her by me. How will you prove her rape and violence allegation?”

Rajiv Ahuja wobbles in self-confidence and mouths,

“You don’t worry about that. There are so many ways to change the charge sheet. I am in this field for 10 years. This is very easy for me. You just wait and watch. How I completely turn this case! Within a few minutes of the first hearing, I will prove her a shrewd, money-minded minx. Don’t worry Aditya. We shall win this case.”

Aditya gets up from the platform and starts pacing in the cell. His body language is relaxed but his eyes and hard jaws are indicating an upcoming storm. With a spine-chilling voice, he addresses Mr Ahuja,

“I am not worried about me, Mr Lawyer. I am worried about you.”

Rajiv Ahuja turns at him with a lined forehead and perplexedly asks,

“For me? Why?”

Aditya stands in front of him and scoots forward to meet his baffled eyes.

“Yes, because when I will beat you black and blue in the next minute and you will become unconscious, how will you be able to cook up this nasty story against Nandana? You will be hospitalised for at least one month and perhaps my punches will make you forget your 10 years of work experience. Now, you are worried about yourself, Mr smart lawyer? Yeah…”

Aditya’s voice is scary cool. Fright clouds Rajiv Ahuja’s eyes. He gulps the saliva and gets up with shaking limbs.

“Look, Mr Oberoi…I…I only tried to make the case…stro…stronger…nothing personal…Nandana…”

He couldn’t complete his words and Aditya’s sucker punch smashes his chin. With a wail, Rajiv Ahuja plummets to the floor. With a howl, Aditya nears him. His handsome face is distorted with wrath. He hisses out,

“Don’t utter her name with your filthy mouth. What did you say? You will prove her as a gold digger? A minx? You can’t still I am alive. I will kill you bastard for even thinking of this. She is my Angel. Nobody can sling mud on her character. She is pure…innocent. I am the brute…I am the wrongdoer.”

He is blabbering while continuously kicking Mr Ahuja’s writhing frame. The SP and other officers and constables hear Rajiv’s shriek and Aditya’s howl. They immediately rush to the cell and open it. Two constables grapple Aditya from behind. However, he is too strong to manage. Two officers hit Aditya’s stomach with the club and a constable fists his hair to withdraw him from Ahuja’s proximity.

“STOP ADITYA….or else I will transfer you to the underground cell. Don’t force me to treat you as a normal criminal…”

SP Bhosle yells but Aditya doesn’t pay any heed and continuously tries to reach Ahuja. He is constantly abusing him,

“YOU BASTARD….HOW DARE YOU SAY ALL THESE FOR HER? I WILL KILL YOU PIMP.”

Under compulsion, Bhosle hit Aditya’s back of the head with his cosh. He loosens his body and gradually loses his sense. The constables lie down his slackened body on the platform.

“Get him to the underground cell and make sure nobody…I repeat, nobody can meet him. He has to learn discipline. Come, Mr Ahuja. I think you have had enough. Aditya Oberoi is an insane man. I think you have understood till now.”

Ahuja comes out of the cell with his trembling limbs. This was an unexpected experience in his career. He has to say to Ayan that nobody can fight his case. Because it’s a lost case and Aditya is doomed.

...........................

“According to the SP, perhaps the trial will start next week. Did you say anything to Nandana? She has to be prepared for this. She can’t confine herself in a room like this. Court won’t realise her emotion. If we want justice, we have to be strong.”

Vivek Basu sounds rigid while Jaya takes a deep sigh.

“I tried to make her convince zillion times that she should at least go for a morning or evening walk. But as you know, she doesn’t want to face a single known person and I can’t even blame her. Everybody asks the same question. How long will she keep mum?”

Jaya vents out her frustration. Vivek thinks for a minute and mouths sternly,

“Hmmm…from tomorrow I will take her out for a walk. Rishi will also go with us. Let’s see who can bother my children.”

They don’t notice that Nandana is standing behind the curtain, listening to her parents. Tears prick her eyes. She mumbles under her breath,

“I will Papa…I won’t let you down. I will be your brave child like I was.”

.............................

“Ayan Sir, Rajiv Ahuja has turned down his appointment. He said that Aditya Sir denied signing the bail application paper. Not only that, he battered Ahuja inside the cell. Rajiv was adamant to file a case against him. I held him back by offering money. What to do, Sir? If Aditya Sir won’t cooperate, who will agree to take the case? It’s a gone case, Sir.”
Ravi Shetty shows his despair while sitting in front of Ayan and Abhiroop in their living room. Ayan looks at his father with despondency.

Hmmm…Aditya is always an adamant person since his childhood. Nobody can make him do anything against his will. If he has decided to punish himself, he will exactly do it.”

Abhiroop affirms.

“But Dad I can’t let this happen. I know he has done wrong but now he has changed. He has changed for Nandana and she should know it.”

Ayan sounds desperate. Abhiroop immediately replies,

“Then let her know. I came to know that she goes for an evening walk in the nearest park to her house. Meet her and tell her all things. You have to convince her Ayan or else we can’t save Aditya. You have to convince her that Aditya is sacrificing his life for her. And only pure love can give this strength to a person. Make her understand his love for her and save Aditya.”