In The Name Of Love [Indian] | ✓

Chapter 17

Night rolled in. The moon was barely visible amidst the dark gloomy clouds. Saanchi walked back to the Bannerjee residence, a heavy silence enveloping her like a shroud. Each step she took was heavy and tiresome.

All her neighbors gathered around her house and she could hear their hushed words and feel their preying eyes on her.

The flashing lights of the ambulance illuminated the otherwise dark environment in blue and red.

She hesitated to move as she noticed a few men bringing Anurag's dead body out on a stretcher. The sight of her once loving brother laying dead made her cry but the unbelievable torture he put her through, made her hold back those tears

" Anurag, what did we become...? "

Saanchi walked in before the ambulance left the colony. She knew the neighbours were still there, but she couldn't hold herself back any longer. The weight of the entire day finally bore down and she cried.

The neighborhood was quiet except for Saanchi's cries that only died out when her body finally gave up, and she fell asleep.

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The morning sun struggled to shine through the windows that were completely covered by curtains. Saanchi was sleeping on the small sofa of her living room. The sleep wasn't comfortable and her muscles were aching from the rough surface, but Saanchi was still asleep.

She only woke up when someone rang the bell. She was confused but she decided to open the door.

There stood the inspector from yesterday and her family lawyer. She didn't know his name but he always called him Gupta Uncle.

" Gupta Uncle? ", she called out and the lawyer looked suprised.

" You remember me, Saanchi? That's a pleasant thing to know. Can we come in? ", he asked but before she could answer, they walked in. Saanchi was uneasy and didn't want them there, but followed them inside.

" Saanchi beta, I got the news about Anurag. Such a horrible fate for your brother but I'm glad they caught the killer... ", Lawyer muttered and she rolled her eyes.

" Why are you two here? "

" Well, you're the only one left of the Banerjee family but you're in deep trouble because the police suspect that you're an accomplice in Anurag's murder. I came here to offer you a solution. ", he said and then signalled the inspector to hand Saanchi something.

He quickly gave her some legal papers.

" Sign this. It says that you have witnessed Abhay kill Anurag. After this, you'll be out from this case and we'll make sure you get in no more legal troubles. Easy, right? ", the police added and Saanchi quickly read the contents of the paper.

It was exactly what they said.

" You want me to betray Abhay to save my own life? I will never do that! ", Saanchi declared, tossing the paper at the inspector.

Fury flashed across his face, and he moved to strike her. However, the lawyer intervened, holding him back.

" Don't worry about Abhay, my dear. He looks like he is mentally unstable. Society's not kind to his kind, you know. You shouldn't be either. Just kick him under the rug and lead a comfortable life! ", the lawyer said as he leaned back, playing with a pen.

Saanchi let out a humorless laugh.

" Listen to me carefully. Abhay is not a pawn or a liability that I sweep under the rug and forget about. He is the reason I'm standing here because he shielded and protected me! I love him and no amount of money or estate is worth more than that. "

" We're offering you a way out. I'm doing this because I care for you- ", the lawyer tried to explain but she didn't let him talk over her.

" You care for me? ", she retorted back in a mocking tone. " I read that paper, Uncle Gupta. It said that I will be transferring 50% of my estate to your name as a thank you gesture for helping me in this legal battle. You think you were being sneaky by placing it at the back but I read it all. "

The lawyer and inspector exchanged disappointed glances at each other.

" You talk about signing a paper, giving away a portion of my estate like it's some casual transaction. But Abhay, he did everything for me without expecting anything in return. Do you understand that? Abhay didn't calculate the percentage of my estate before protecting me. He didn't weigh the benefits before shielding me from Anurag. His love was selfless, pure, and it came without a price tag. Can you say the same for yourselves? "

The inspector got up.

" You're still living in a dream, thinking love can fix everything. But that's not how our reality works. There's no way for you to save Abhay. He is a murderer and he has confessed himself. Anurag's dead body has Abhay's fingerprints all over him. We have the item he used to kill. There is no way you can save him, so save yourself. ", inspector added in.

" I don't care what happens, but I will not betray Abhay. I won't ruin his name for my convenience. If that means giving up everything, every last penny, then so be it. ", she said and walked over to the door.

" But- "

" Leave. Right now! ", she screamed and the two men left. Saanchi quickly closed the door and close shut his eyes. She couldn't believe how she stood up to those men but she was proud of herself.

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