The law of love

chapter 8

My eyes scanned the copy of the 42nd Amendment as I looked at the loops of the case. the most controversial constitutional amendment in history and how it attempted to reduce the power of the Supreme Court and High Courts to pronounce upon the constitutional validity of laws. 

A tap on the table disturbed me from my study as I looked at Mr. Malhotra standing in front of me. Clad in his black suit, he looked every part of the deadly lawyer he is.

"When was it considered null or void?" he asked as he took a seat in front of me.

"In the Minerva Mills Case (1980), the Supreme Court declared two changes made in the constitution by the 42 Amendment Act 1976 to be null and void. These changes were made in Article 368 of the Indian Constitution. This judgment strengthened the 'Doctrine of Basic Structure'."

I answered him, closing my book and shifting my focus.

"Not everything is useless; neither is it, Ms. Gill."

"Yes, sir, it also laid down the fundamental duties of Indian citizens to the nation."

He nodded as he placed a paper in front of me. I picked it up because it was about the debate competition held every year between colleges.

"I want you to participate in it."

I nodded at him, placing it between my books.

"And Ms. Gill?"

I looked at him, waiting for his next words.

"Win it." I nodded as he got up and left.

The phone vibrated on the table as I rolled my eyes at Shekhawat's name flashing on my phone.

"What do you want, Shekahwat?"

"Come outside; I am waiting for you." I scoffed at his words.

"Come out, Sahiba. Don't piss me off. Your father has told me to do this, and you know what will happen if you don't do it." I slammed my phone on the table as I packed my books and exited the library.

There he was standing, leaning on his car, wearing a black overcoat and shades.

The cold, numbing breeze drove past us as I looked at him, and eventually he did too. Something about the weather in December and January hits different. It's like you were too cold to feel anything.

only if there was snow.

He smiled at me. something that was very rare. He came close to me as he took my books, placed them at the back of the car, and opened the door for me. I sat in the front as he revived the engine.

He parked in front of Boston Bites and opened the gate for me. He knew I loved their white sauce pasta. how? I don't know. He seems to know a lot of things about me. Maybe wanting to get married to me motivated him to do this. He never asked me, though, if I wanted to do it or not. My father announced it one day, and I was supposed to be fine with it. I fought, but in vain, so it was either get married with a degree or without one. 

"So, how is your college?" He asked, turning his phone silent. I contemplated not replying, but I am stuck with him here for an hour or so, and being silent will be awkward. Moreover, I don't want to piss him off, as it will result in an earful from my mother.

"Fine, there is a debate competition coming up," I replied as he nodded.

"You are participating?"

"I am thinking about it."

"You should. It's a good opportunity" he replied, pouring me some water.

His reply caught me off guard. Isn't he supposed to play the villain? He chuckled at my expressions.

"I don't care about anything else, Sahiba, apart from you. If it makes you happy, do it."

The waiter came with the pasta. as I served us both. I moaned at the flavor, as it always hits differently. He coughed suddenly as I gave him some water.

"Eat slowly; shekhawat it all yours," he nodded, drinking water.

"Yeah, it's all mine."

He paid the bill even though I insisted, but he shut me up. It was turning dark due to the winter. The chilly weather is calming for the soul.

"Come, let me drop you off at your house."

He was about to leave as I held his hand.

"Pehli baar hamare sath aye hain ap, coffee nahi piyenge?" I asked him.

I didn't want to go home just yet. and moreover, nobody will question me if I am with him. Going home feels like suffocation these days. He looked at his hand, which was held by me as I dropped it. He nodded as he told me to sit in the car.

I placed my bag on the bench in the park.

Abhiraaj came with two cups of coffee, and he handed me one. I took the cup from him as I thanked him.

"Easy there, Miss Gill; one would think you like me."

I rolled my eyes at his words, as if that would ever happen.

"It was you, wasn't it? the one at the fight last weekend." He nodded his head while sipping his drink. One thing about him is that he never lies, no matter how bizarre the situation is. That's why I get scared when he talks about me.

"What was the fight about?"

"something you shouldn't be concerned about." I huffed at his words. Why would anyone not tell me about it? Abhiraj was from a different college, and they weren't on good terms with ours. It was more of an ego clash trying to prove which one was better.

The cold breeze hung between us as we sat in silence. None of us said a word, maybe because no one had anything to say or because no one was ready to break the only decent conversation we had ever had. Even if it was just a silent one, it was comforting. I never thought I would say that about Shekhawat. He felt like waves of ocean that would collide with rock mountains, letting them know about their presence every once in a while.

"When did you see me the first time?" I asked him, wanting to know more about him since he wouldn't tell me otherwise.

"I was 18 when I saw you for the first time, Sahiba. You were in college; I think it was your first year. I was there to meet a friend."

It's been four years since then.

"We meet a lot of people—the good ones, the bad ones—bad because there are some bad memories attached to them and good because they made us feel good at some point in our lives. And how do we know it? Because we have experienced it in some form or another. Get experiences, love, because that's how you know who to stay close to and whom to stay away from.......and you  will always have me to fall back on. " 

He spoke getting up and throwing his now empty cup in the dustbin.

"Come let's get you home"

.......................................................................
..........................

Hello everyone
I hope you all are fine.
Do let me know if you liked the update.
10+ liked and I will update the next chapter.
Haha jk
but it will motivate me if  you did it. ☺