“Life goes on but it is never the same again. I am realising it every moment of my life nowadays. My life seems the same as it was 4 months ago. I have my family, their love and my home. But the memory of these 4 months is mingled with my life so sharply that I can’t move on breaking and leaving that bond behind. One more thing that has changed in this one day. Since Maa heard about my meeting with Aditya, I had to continuously prove my dedication and love towards my family. I know Papa is hurt too but as usual, he never forces his decision on his children. When I told him that I want to go to the court, his short and firm words were, ‘Make a decision that your heart approves.’ Today is the day when I have to balance my heart and mind. I know Aditya is in every corner of my heart. I can’t defy this truth but concurrently my mind knows he is the reason why my heart bleeds. When my heart says painless love is an illusion, my mind counters painful love is hard to hold. I was sitting beside the window gazing outside when I see the peon entering our house premises holding a bunch of letters and envelopes. Manvi is taking shower. Papa went to his press. He will go directly to the court. Maa has gone to the grocery shop. Rishi is with her. After Maa comes, I have to leave for the court too. The hearing time is 1 pm. Before the peon rings the doorbell, I open it.”

“Ms Basu?”

The peon tries to confirm looking at Nandana. Nandana bobs and confirms,

“Yes, I am!”

“There is a courier. Please sign here.”

The peon gives a thick envelope to Nandana and forwards the register for signature. Nandana signs and closes the door. Her eyebrows furrow in a query. Who can send her a courier? With a doubtful mind, she comes to her room and opens the envelope. These are some legal papers. She checks the signatures, lawyer's name and context. Gradually her jaws become firm. Her eyes flicker rue. She mumbles under her surging breath,

“Whenever I want to forgive you, you give me new reasons to hate you.”

She yanks the handbag and thrusts the papers inside it and storms out of her house.

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

“At last, Aditya Sir agreed to appoint a lawyer. Mr Sundaram will reach the court in time.”

Ayan affirms while rubbing his palms in excitement. Abhiroop Agnihotri is sitting on the sofa, minutely listing to his son. His forehead lines to hear it and he asks,

“But why Aditya suddenly agreed? Did you meet him?”

Ayan sinks into the sofa and wobbles in denial.

“No..in the last 24 hours, so many things happened that I never expected. When I met SP Bhosle, he told me that Aditya Sir has been attacked in the lockup by some policemen. Needless to say, they have been bribed by the opposition. I anticipated that. However, he took quick action and secretly shifted Sir to the police hospital. But the most unexpected and beneficial thing happened when Ma’am Basu visited the police station and requested Bhosle to meet Aditya Sir. She met Sir and surprisingly Aditya Sir agreed to sign the petition paper. I don’t know what Nandana Ma’am said to him but I definitely know that now we can save Sir for sure.”

Ayan sounds confident. Abhiroop budges on his seat and demands,

“How do you know? Did Nandana say to you that she will withdraw her complaints?”

Ayan stares at his father for a moment and utters firmly,

“No…but she at least instilled the confidence and will into Aditya Sir to protect himself. Dad, you never met Nandana Ma’am but I have observed her very closely. She has that aura that can turn an adverse situation into a positive one. I also know how she affects Aditya Sir. Her presence is enough for him to love his life once more.”

Abhiroop further tries to say something when someone barges into the room. Both Abhiroop and Ayan startle to see her. Ayan leaps up and mouths in surprise,

“Ma’am…you are here?”

Nandana looks at him with piercing eyes. Her nose is flared and her jaws are clenched. She nears them and spits out,

“I can’t meet your Sir right now and demand an answer. So, I have to come here. Can you explain to me what are all these?”

She opens her bag and pulls out the paper. She slams them on the centre table and again hisses,

“Does your Aditya Sir want to buy my witness or he wants to mock my poverty?”

Ayan glances at the paper. Those are the property papers where Aditya has transferred his every possession to Nandana. He looks sheepishly at Nandana and meeks out,

“You are again mistaking Ma’am. He just wants to compensate for the damage that he did.”

“COMPENSATE! Really? He wants to compensate my pain, my suffering with his money? I started believing that he is changing. At least, the waste of my life and happiness has changed him into a bit better person. But I was so wrong. A money-minded; arrogant brute can never change. He used to value a person’s emotions through money and he still does it. Tell your Sir that I am not a girl who sells her emotion and love in return for money.”

Nandana’s blunt words moor Ayan to the ground. Nandana picks the paper up and in the next second, tears them. She is panting in rage.

“I hate you, Aditya…I hate you.”

She keeps on muttering while tearing the pages insanely. Abhiroop was observing her till now. Suddenly, he utters,

“But he loves you. Perhaps he loves you the most throughout his life. I know him since his childhood. He didn't know how to love or how to show it. He respects me and cares about Ayan a lot but we never heard a single praising or loving word from his mouth for us. But that doesn't mean we can't feel his love. I know he is weird, rude and to the extent stubborn but at the same time, he is dedicated to the person who matters to him. You know once he put his life in danger to save me? Because he never forgot that I took care of him as a father in his disturbed childhood. I am not justifying his wrong deeds. No. He was wrong and he should be punished but don’t say he is trying to buy your love with his money. He is not trying to compensate for your suffering. For that only he is taking all this pain on himself. He is only trying to repent and perhaps he couldn’t find any other option.”

Abhiroop pauses for a second. Nandana turns her face to hide her teary eyes. Abhiroop again says,

“Always remember, it’s not how we make mistakes but how we correct them that defines us.”

Nandana looks at him. Her eyes have a dilemma. She almost whispers,

“I will remember.”

And exits.

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

There is a buzzing throng outside of the court. People and the media all want to know what will be the decision of the Magistrate. Will Aditya Oberoi get bail or he will be sent to jail for further trial? All are speculating about that. Some tv reporters are taking interviews with the general public. Different people have different views on this case. Some People think Aditya Oberoi should rot behind the bar for the rest of his life. His crime is an insidious example for society. Some keep the thought that the court should show mercy as he voluntarily surrendered. Every person should get a second chance. Some more dramatic people opine that it is entirely up to Nandana Basu. He did wrong to her and only she has the right to punish him. Vivek Basu reaches the court with his lawyer and all the reporters rush to him like a swarm. The police try to stop them to reach him. Still, Vivek can’t avoid their blunt questions,

“Where is Nandana Basu? It is heard that Aditya Oberoi married her! Don’t you think she will protect her husband? After all, she is an Indian woman.”

A reporter inquires almost poking the microphone into Vivek’s mouth. He tries to elude the attack. In the next moment, another anchor puts another embarrassing question,

“Aditya Oberoi is a rich man. If he wanted, he could have easily saved himself from this case. His surrender only indicates that he loves his wife. Then why is Nandana Basu I mean Nandana Oberoi trying to send him to jail? Doesn’t it mean that she is only after his money?”

This time Vivek loses his control and tries to snatch the microphone. He yells in pique,

“JUST SHUT UP..Or else…”

His lawyer refrains him from jumping on the reporter. Only then, a susurrus is heard.

“Aditya Oberoi. He is here…”

The entire mob rushes in another direction where a police van stops and the door opens. All the policemen make a human barricade so that no one can reach Aditya. After a couple of seconds, two police officers get down holding Aditya by his biceps. SP Bhosle is behind them. Aditya’s hands are handcuffed. The bandage is still on his head. He looks at the uncontrollable mass and follows SP Bhosle towards the Magistrate's room. It’s 12: 45 pm. After 15 minutes, the hearing will start.

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

“Both the lawyers have submitted their clients’ petitions. The victim side has put an allegation of kidnapping, forced marriage and rape whereas the accused side denied forced marriage and rape. They have cleared that Nandana Basu married Aditya Oberoi willingly and their physical relationship was consensual. Aditya Oberoi never forced her or physically abused her in any sexual relationship. However, Aditya Oberoi previously admitted and gave his statement that the victim’s every accusation is correct. In that case, I have to take Nandana Basu’s witness. Is she present in the court?”

The Magistrate demands an answer. Basu’s lawyer Mr Bakshi and Vivek look at each other. Vivek clears his voice and mouths,

“Nandana is about to come but I know her witness won’t be any different. This man kidnapped her and cheated on her to marry him. My daughter was unaware of his evil intention. He shouldn’t get bail, Sir.”

Vivek vents out, pointing his finger at Aditya who is sitting on the chair silently. His expression is like, ‘I am ready for everything.’ Only then, a sweet composed voice startles everybody.

“I am Nandana Basu. May I say something?”