Beauty & Beast

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Idhãr aã sitãmgar hunar azmãyein,
Tu teer ãazma, hum jigãr azmãyein

When they reached courtroom, Priya's eyes searched for Abhay who was nowhere to be seen.
'Priya, meet Mrs. Gupta. She is wife of victim. He is his eight years old son' Arjun pointed towards a cute little kid beside the woman.

'Thank you so much. You are the only one who came today for our help. Thank you so much.' The woman started sobbing.

Priya felt hurricanes inside her stomach. Her gut started wrenching. She was going to betray them. She couldn't look them into their eyes so she averted her gaze towards entrance.

Oh God please don't test me like this..

In few seconds her senses got alerted. She saw Abhay make an entrance. He was dressed formally today.

He came and sat in front row and proceedings of the case began. Priya was barely listening. She was lost in her own battle.

Arjun was maybe presenting samples of bullet and revolver. Lawyers of both sides were arguing and each passing second was appearing longer and longer to her. She looked at her watch.

I have to reach home on time..

Priya looked towards Abhay who was listening everything attentively then her gaze drifted to little kid who was watching her smiling. Priya smiled back.

She heard the lawyer call her name then her legs started trembling. It was time.

She went and stood in witness box. She could feel Abhay's piercing gaze on her. She couldn't dare to look at him.

'Ms. Priya ! Do you take oath to tell truth in court today?' Lawyer was asking.

She nodded in affirmative. 'Yes'

'Do you testify that my client Mr. Abhay who is sitting in front row IS the one you saw shooting Mr. Gupta ?'

Her heart started beating faster. She looked at Abhay whose eyes was fixed at her. He was calm but his eyes were challenging her.

'Ms. Priya? Do you testify?'

Just Say no! her mind scolded her..

For a split second her gaze drifted to the kid

'Yes' her mouth opened without her permission.

And just like that her mind was clear like a fog of darkness has lifted.

'Yes, He is the one who has shot Mr. Gupta' she said with her new found confidence.

'Thank you. You may go now.'

She came back to her seat and took a deep breath. She decided not to look towards Abhay. She didn't need to.

I can't do injustice to a family. I don't need his blood money. I will figure something out.
For the first time since long she had clarity in her mind.

Judge after listening everything has decided to give his judgement on last week of the month.

Arjun came to her smiling assuringly ' Thank you once again Priya. You were amazing on stand'

You don't know how close I was to other side. She thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wine was feeling stale today. He has nearly emptied the bottle but his mind was still alert.

His cell started ringing 'Sir, our consignment of arms has been confiscated by Police. They have sieged everything. I am working on so that they can't trace it back to us. But everything is gone sir.'

He threw the phone across the room. Looks like everything was going wrong for him.

She has spoiled everything. My all efforts of last one year is down in drain. I won't spare her now. I have been too lenient on her.
He layed down in his bed frustrated.

She is pretending to be too good. I need to show her what is her actual place. She has to take her statement back.

Time was running out for Abhay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Priya was watching roof of her room. She was laying on her bed. There was no trace of sleep in her eyes.

There is no other way left. I should marry Daya. He is the only hope now. He can help us.
With thought of his presence beside her, her gut started feeling sick.

Maybe that's how rest of my life will be spent. Like a big punishment.

All I ever wanted was to someone to respect me, someone to fall back to, someone who would love me for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A day after Priya was waiting for bus on stand. Kinjal's marriage was two days later so she had stopped coming to college. For
the first time in her life she has to learn to be on her own.

Priya looked at her watch but buses were no where to be seen. Few people were also waiting. Some men ocassionally were stopping to stare at her. It made her uncomfortable.

Why do men keep doing this..
She desperately looked towards direction of Bus.

Suddenly a SUV stopped screeching in front of Bus-stand which drew her attention. With horror in her eyes she saw Abhay getting down from vehicle. Behind him some more men stepped down.

He came and stood in front of her. Priya looked around and then at him.

Is he going to kill me too in front of everyone ?

She picked her bag and tried leaving the place but he took a step and cut her way.

'What.. are you doing here? Let me go.'

'What do you think you are doing?' His voice was icey.

'I..' Priya looked away 'I have just answered questions about what I saw. It's nothing to do with you personally.'

'Oh really?' he hissed. 'Well you are going to take your words back or no one would be worse than me.'

Anger started from her spine. She looked at him sternly.

'No'

'Do you know who I am ?' he whispered with poison mix voice.

'I don't care, for in my experience you are nothing but a criminal, that's who you are. Now stop following me or I will complaint against you'

A Murmur started among the people standing around them. She turned back and started leaving.

'Well I am not yet finished' he shouted.

Just like that in heat of rage Abhay extended his hand to turn her but his hands caught sleeves of her suit. A tear appeared near her shoulder. Ivory skin of her shoulder started peeking beneath.

Time felt frozen as realisation of what has just happened dawned upon her. She saw her torn shoulder piece and then Abhay's extended hand and people all around them.

A tide of humiliation mixed anger took her over. Emotions of days of frustration and helplessness clouded her mind and without even thinking for a second,
she gathered all her strength and slapped him right on face..

She hid her torned sleeve beneath her dupatta. Turned back and paced as fast as possible without running.

I shouldn't have done that..