Shrouded Motifs

Think, think, think....

Dedicated to MeJaM35

PRESENT DAY – COURTROOM

Now that the Judge had given us extra time, I had to get to work. I climbed down from the questioning box and was escorted out of the Court by the Police. Of course, my parents again gave me a gloomy look as I passed them. Last one year had made them loose all hope for justice. I gave a feeble smile filled with hope and sat in the Police Jeep. Once we returned to the Jail, my lawyer paid me a visit. We had a lot to discuss.

"Lavanya, you have to remember now. It matters now more than ever to retrace your steps on that day of the Party. Did you return to the office? Did you see Gauri anywhere on your way there? Or did you meet her at the office? Anything Lavanya please...."

I was already shaking my head before she could finish, "Swati, its not easy you know. So much time has already passed. I am right now really happy that today was not the day of my doom. Wow! The judgement really gives this case a nice twist. I mean, think about it, the Judge himself thinks that all my accusations are false and make-believe. Yes! We are surely going to win". I just couldn't help but gloat.

Swati in turn chose to gave me scathing look, "you are getting ahead of yourself Lav, I am your friend but I am your lawyer first. Today's judgement does give us hope but its useless if we fail to come up with evidence"

"What?!, we have discussed this a thousand times already, I don't fucking know, who killed that crazy lady. I just remember returning to office, hugging Vivek tightly, he was so nice to me then. He even gave me a cup of coffee, took my car keys and also booked a cab for me. Such a nice guy and now against me...", his evidence was the most implicating one for me in spite of our past.

"Wait!, he was the one who gave you coffee? And the cab he booked it for you? Why didn't you tell this to me before? What were you waiting for? My Watson to come and ask you questions" she looked pretty mad at me.

"It is all a blurry memory man, I was so drunk. Shit, today I recalled it all sitting in the courtroom. The moment I saw him sitting in the witness box..". I frankly felt like someone had kicked me in the guts when Vivek testified against me. Everyone in the office had turned over like dominoes when I was arrested for Gauri's murder. The lies they had made up! Lavanya was Vishal's mistress, she was crazy after him, she slept with him for promotion and all those fucking lies...It pulled me into an abyss from where I could see no return.

Why would anyone think I could kill Gauri?. Even if I danced with Vishal, even if I chatted with him does that mean I would kill someone? And that too for a stupid promotion?

When I was going through all this, Vishal was busy gallivanting through the city a free man. He never turned up even to ask me about my state. Infact he just agreed to all the gossip, never took the pain to refute it. I was practically doomed till today.

"Lav, Lavie? Listen honey, stop day-dreaming we need to get you out of this. Please try to remember, okay?"

"TIME OVER! We have to take the prisoner back now" that rude lady came to take me back to my personal hell.

Swati gave me one parting look of motherly affection as she left the visitors room. I turned and trudged back to my shitty cell.