31

Anjali's torturous cross examination had started. With each nasty question by the defense lawyer Shyam's smirk broadened and Ajali's morale reached the dip. Her contradictory statements in her deposition were coming down crashing on her. 

"You said, you met some of his clients! What was their impression about your husband?" asked the lawyer. Anjali did not understand the purpose of the question but answered "they talked good about him!"

"He goes out of his way and helps people !... is this correct?" asked the lawyer

"I thought so!" she replied. 

"Did he help his clients or not?" asked the lawyer again.

"Yes!" came the reply from Anjali.

"When did you first get doubts about his intentions? When your brother and your sister in law Khushi ji told you about this?" the lawyer asked.

"Yes!" said Anjali. "Point to be noted your honor! This is a case of brain wash!" 

"But..!" Anjali tried to justify, but the lawyer cut her off.

"So until recently, you never doubted your Husband! And when did you decide to finish him off?" asked the lawyer. The prosecutor raised an objection for intimidating question. The objection of overruled.

"So tell me Mrs. Anjali, when did you decide to finish him off?" repeated the lawyer.

"No, I did not!" said Anjali.

"So Khushi ji told you to!" came a statement-cum-question.

"Yes, I mean... she was ..." Anjali stuttered. 

"Its ok.. We got the answer!" said the lawyer bowing to the judge to indicate that this point to be noted. ‘She shot at Khushi's instance.’

"You said, you loved your Husband! Do you still love him?" asked the lawyer
"Yes.. I mean... no!" Anjali fumbled. 

"You have an influence of your younger brother on you! You love him more than anyone else, right?" asked the lawyer

"Yes!" she said

"You listen to everything he says!" the answer was "yes"

"You can sacrifice anything for him!" came another leading statement. The answer from Anjali was "Yes!"

The questions went on and came back repeatedly in different words emphasizing that Anjali Shot Shaym at the instance of Khushi and Arnav

The prosecutor kept on raising objections and getting them overruled. The defense lawyer had thoroughly confused Anjali and she was letting it go out of her hands. She almost confessed that she had no intention to shoot him. The first session was terrifying one for all and especially for Khushi. She was next in line.

They came out of the Court Room.

"Raani Saheba!" called out sham slyly. She turned with a jerk so did Arnav.

"I am happy that you still love me, Raani Saheba! I too love you!" he came forward. Arnav's body stiffened. He clenched his fists, his rage mounting. Khushi understood the danger. She started dragging Arnav away from Sham.

"Raani Saheba! There is still a chance, we can stay happily! I still love you! Just tell your brother to get out of our way! I promise I will keep you very happy!" he said earnestly. 

"How dare you!" next moment Arnav was on top of Shaym, punching him uncontrollably. Sham acted defenseless. His drama was successful. Police intervened. Police pulled Arnav back and warned him threatening him to be put in lockup. Arnav still was struggling to free himself and strike again. Media was tipped off with the spicy scoop!! 

Anjali stood there rooted. Then came forward and holding Arnav's hand said.."Leave him chote! He is not worth it!" 
looked at Sham loathing and walked away with her brother. Khushi ran after them. 

Next day, the application was filed in the Court that presence of Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada was dangerous to life of Mr. Sham Manohar Zaa and hence should be barred from attending the Court. The application was granted and Arnav was restrained from being present in the Court except for his evidence. A counter application was filed to restrain Sham from communicating with any of the witnesses, which was granted.

Sham had won first round and was succeeded in keeping Arnav out of Court to pressurize more on these two ladies. Arnav picking up fight with sham was all over the media, the next day!!

Khushi and Aranv had a big row at home. She blamed him for losing his temper and spoiling the case and he enraged, handled her roughly and pushed her hurting her more. "This is all because of you!" he said with gritted teeth. 

"What?" she was hurt more. She looked defeated. He tried to avoid her questioning gaze.
He went out leaving her in agony. She wept for a long time. Arnav slumped himself on the chair near poolside not wanting to go inside and face Khushi. He had hurt her enough. He had taken out his frustrations on her. He always did that. He used her as his punching bag not bothering how much he hurt her every time. These cases were getting on his nerve and he was losing his composure. 

He went to office next day morning with his phone ringing continuously. The news and photo of Arnav bashing his brother in law in court compound was a sensation. He started off his routine work. Lavanya sympathized with him and supported him. 

"ASR! Forget about these cases now. This is a passing phase... it will get over soon. He found some solace in her company. He had not seen Khushi's face since morning. He felt a stab in his chest. He dialed Khushi's number. She did not pick up. His anger mounted. "Who cares!" he blurted and went back to his work.

Khushi started off with her work in the morning after Arnav left. Shondeep consoled her. She had narrated everything. He even talked to Anjali showing her his concern and support. Anjali felt better and so did Khushi.

"Khushi, the Nanded meeting is scheduled next week. May be you can join us with Arnav!" suggested Shondeep. She did not respond. Looking at present situation, she doubted Arnav's willingness to take her along with him. 

"Khushi... I will talk to him!" said Shondeep. He gave her enough work to keep her busy. Her phone rang. It was Arnav! She looked at the dark marks on her arms. She did not answer the call. She went down to Anjali's room for a while before resuming her work. "Khushi.. I know its all because of me! Had I been stronger..." started Anjali in a weak voice.

"No Di! Its not your fault. If fact, its not anybody's fault!" consoled Khushi thinking about Arnav. She repented for not answering his call. She came back to her room and dialed his number. He picked up the phone.

"Hello..!" Arnav's heart ached, hearing khushi's voice over the phone.

"Arnav ji! I am sorry... I was..." she stated weakly. "Khushi..!" he responded. Khushi was weeping. 

"Khushi...!" I am coming home!" said Arnav disconnecting the phone.

********* ******** *********

Next session of Anjali's cross examination was more torturous to Khushi. The defense lawyer grilled her asking questions about Khushi interaction with Raizada Family and her association with them. 

Khushi felt as if the entire proceedings were to prove her guilty rather than sham. Every deadly deed he did was linked with Khushi, raising doubts about her intentions. The entire week the cross examination continued putting Khushi deep in trouble mentally. 

She had started getting those weird dreams again and again. She kept them to herself but whenever she used to take out her diary, Arnav came to know about her dreams. He tried to cheer her up. Everybody in the family tried to support Anjali and Khushi. 

****** ******** *********

"Come...!" the boy was taking her somewhere. She was scared!!

"No!" she resisted. "Not there! My mother will beat me up!" she said looking frightened. The boy was in no mood to listen to her. He was dragging her. "No...!" she pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"Nothing will happen! No one will see us!" said the boy assuring her. They jumped off the wicket gate behind the palace and he took her to the top floor to his room.

They were in his room. She gaped with open mouth.

"This is a room?" she asked with wide eyes. "Our house is smaller than this!" she said. He held her hand and took her to the terrace. She looked at the huge expanse and was lost!! He leaned against the parapet and watched her. She was revolving in slow motion. She looked at him and a broad smile appeared on her face. He came nearer.

"I am leaving tomorrow!" he said gravely. The smile wiped off from her face. She kept staring at his face. He brought her in and took her hand in his. He kept a golden pendent in her palm and said.. This is from me! 

"No! I can't accept this. Mother will beat me up! You keep it with you!" she looked scared.
"Nothing will happen! Hide it somewhere.. till I come back!" he said resolving her problem. That brought smile back on her face.

"Like the mannat wali chabi?" she asked him innocently. He nodded. 

He went upto his cupboard to take out something else. She kept looking at the intricate design of the pendent in her palm. The door of the room banged open. Two persons were at the door. One of them came rushing in and held the girl by her shoulder slapping her. She screamed. The boy turned with a jerk. The person had already started slapping and beating her calling her thief.

"Stop it!" the boy shouted at the top of his voice. The two persons took a step back.

"She was stealing!" accused the person again trying to slap her. A third person appeared at the door. The same boy who had followed them everywhere!! He had done the damage. He was smirking.

"Stop it!" the boy shouted again. The girl stood rooted in shock.

"How dare you touch her!" he came on the person gritting his teeth. The person was taken aback.

"But Maalik(boss!), she was stealing!" he tried to justify his actions.

"Enough!" the boy shouted showing three of them the door.

"Don't you dare call her thief!" he shouted. The girl had retreated to the door.
Before he could send the persons away, the girl disappeared. The pendent lying on the thresholds of his room!!

"Wait...!" he called her. She had vanished.
.........

Khushi woke up with a start and gazed at her palm. Nothing was there. She took a sigh of relief. She took out her diary.

****** ******

In this dark lengthy night there came a small ray of hope. 

Anjali's marriage was declared null and void. Sham's previous marriage with Rama was proved. He was already charged with two murders; his first wife and his child! The second marriage was annulled automatically. 

The prosecutor was happy. This annulment would be helpful in proving sham's malicious intentions. They slowly started building up the evidences and tightening the noose around his neck.

But in this Attempt to Murder case, Anjali had flunked miserably. Now everything depended on Khushi to establish the guilt. The lawyer kept on advising her on what not to say. Papaji rarely called her. But whenever he called he kept on explaining her why he was not coming to show her support. Khushi kept on telling him that she knew the reason and she is ok with it.
Her dreams had intensified. Arnav hardly slept to get any dreams.