Your fabricated lie

30 - Final hearing

My grandfather, sitting meters away, already decoded the fact that I am in some trouble. In addition, me claiming that Shravan killed her sister added fuel to his worries.

I looked at Devansh to check his reaction. Analyzing his straight face, I guess he is being composed.

Assuming that he will help me out, I proceeded with my weaved story. "Your honor, I would like to call Mr. Bhargav in here," I pointed at the cardiologist, who was sitting in the first bench.

Initially, I didn't want to take his help but when he told me that his father is a detective, I couldn't find a better fake witness. Moreover, he is too much into the crime genre. So, I just fulfilled his fanboy wish.

The court approved and he was in the witness box after a couple of minutes. He was looking at me while taking the oath. Both of us are very well aware that this is not just a promise. A promise is a promise!

The fake promise didn't matter that much for someone who knows the judicial system and has been following the same path in the last four years to justify the justice. But as a doctor, who stays by his words and promises, he found it a bit difficult to make a fake promise. I should have warned him about this!

Once he was done, "So, Mr. Bhargav, what do you do?" I asked.

"I am a doctor working in 'Hope-alive' hospital," he said.

"How do you know Roshini?"

"My wife works in the same office. They were more than colleagues and they used to hang out a lot," he answered. This statement itself was a whole lie because he is not even married yet.

"So, you must have at least seen this person once," I pointed at Aditya.

"Yes, I did. In fact, it was more than once. Whenever I used to drop my wife, he also came to drop his wife and that is how we met," he answered.

"When did you start suspecting Shravan?" I took a sudden turn from the normal talk. Bhargav was not so surprised as the script was planned already.

"One day I saw Roshini in our hospital. I walked up to her and had a little conversation if she was doing fine. For the first few minutes she didn't tell me the truth but as I insisted, she told me that her brother hit her".

After a short pause, he continued saying, "That is when I got to know that his brother has some mental illness where he derives pleasure from hurting people. I asked Roshini to take him to a psychiatrist. In fact, I myself fixed the appointment".

"Have you ever seen her after that?"

"No, I have never seen her after that. They didn't even show up that day to meet the psychiatrist". He said, "Maybe after a week I got to know that she died".

"Then why didn't you tell all this to Aditya?" I asked and regretted the very next second. This question was not part of our script. I was so immersed in the role for a moment that I forgot the script and interrogated him just like any other witness.

Shit! Don't mess it up, Bhargav!

I was anxious. He was anxious. And I am pretty sure Gautham was too.

"Why should I bother about unnecessary stuff? I have a life to lead and family to take care of. So, I'd rather not get myself into trouble," he answered.

Phew! Well done! I was a bit relaxed.

"That's all for now. You may leave," I said. In spite of the fact that it's his first time being a fake witness, he did a great job.

"The prosecutor may cross-examine if he wants," the judge, also my grandfather, said. Devansh came back to his senses at the call of his name. Basically, that call was not even required. Maybe my grandpa was just checking if I am being genuine or all this is a worked up drama.

"Um… I have nothing as of now, your honor," he said. Well, I am caught. Had he at least asked one or two questions it wouldn't have created doubts in my grandpa's head. Stupid me. Stupid him!

Bhargav stepped down and went to his seat while I ran my hands through my case file to bring out suicide note.

Submitting it, "Yesterday night at 9:30 p.m. Mr. Shravan died and this is the suicide note we found over there," I said. Of course, we were the ones who wrote that.

I am done with this life. I can't live with the fact that I killed my sister. Goodbye, world. The note read.

I had a whole police team behind me which also included Priya. All of them were more than ready to lie and I am totally confident about their witness statements. Because it was me who trained them for a whole night. No, let me rephrase it - Trained them for a whole sleepless night!

Taking a look at that suicide night and the forensic reports, "Yesterday night?" my grandpa asked.

I understand he is doing his duty but he is making it more complicated for me today. A single wrong step from hereon would destroy my entire career.

And eventually, the dynasty I worked so hard to build on, would just destroy in a few seconds.

When the panel was taking a look at the evidence I submitted, I also provided the reports which stated that it was his own handwriting. Shravan's parents who were sitting in the last bench just cried looking at the mess their children made.

When I say I am perfect at my job, it includes sweeping the entire shit under the rug. I gotta be careful. This isn't a child's play.

"Your honor, Mr. Vikramaditya has never committed a crime. This case is nothing but him being completely crushed between the sibling affairs. I request the court to do justice to my client who has been through a lot. Mentally. And physically".

I concluded saying, "At the conclusion of the case we request you to find the defendant innocent. The state has not met its burden of proof, and we would ask for a verdict of not guilty. With this I end my closing statement here. Thank you". I walked back to my place and was seated.

"Does the prosecutor have anything to say?" The judge gave him another chance and he was left speechless again.

"I have nothing, your honor. I am also done," he said and that broke my heart. I never wanted a fresher to lose their first case. It demotivates them.

Both, Karthik and Devansh, not only lost their first case but have also seen the dark side of law. The worst thing is I am guilty for that. I shut my eyes in disbelief. Though I wanted him to support me, I didn’t expect him to do that. It was too mature of him to be this considerate at such a young age.

Winning the case against me was his father's primary motive and looks like his priorities changed. When I said he is an oddball, this is what I meant.

"The court order will be declared after the break," the judge announced and everyone dispersed except me, Rajesh, Aditya on this side and Gautham, Devansh on the other side.

I cupped my hands in front of my face. "For god sake tell me what's happening," Rajesh seemed stressed.

"I told you not to ask me anything till the next twenty-four hours," I said, facing him. "If you are still curious, you can ask the traitor".

"Who's traitor?"

"Who do you think it is?" I asked. Rajesh slowly turned towards Aditya.

"This is the reason I don't take up big shot cases," he pushed the chair in rage and left the court hall for a while. I didn't know if he left the hall only for a break or completely.

We are all psychos in someone's story and adorable humans are someone else's. Just because I am fighting for good causes with bad causes, doesn't mean I am a good person. There are times where I come with vulnerable fabricated stories to fight off evil. This may be one of them!

Locking up Shravan in the dark room is an evil thought. Wanting a pregnant woman to die is an evil thought. And lastly, shooting Aditya to death in the cruelest way is also an evil thought. The only difference is that theirs is obligation while mine is revenge.

I hate saying this but, Silence of lambs is my favorite movie.