The next hearing arrived sooner than anticipated, drawing everyone back to the courtroom. Preeta's reappearance after a week of absence was a delightful surprise, instantly capturing everyone's attention. She exuded charm and grace, dressed in a striking red ensemble that accentuated her beauty. Her bright red lipstick and softly waved hair complemented her elegant long dress that flowed to her ankles. She acknowledged them with a subtle nod.
Karan hurried towards her, his heart heavy with a mix of gratitude and remorse. The past week had been a period of intense reflection for him, as he replayed the family's treatment of Preeta in his mind. The scoldings, the dismissals, the unpredictable moods, and the sheer lack of appreciation for her sacrifices haunted him. Now, more than ever, he felt the need to express his heartfelt apology and acknowledge the depth of her resilience.
Before Karan could pour out his emotions, Sherlyn and Prithvi were dragged into the courtroom. Their usual glamour was gone, replaced by the stark reality of their prisoner uniforms. Their eyes, filled with resentment, bore into Preeta, who royally ignored them. The judge entered, and everyone was ordered to rise. After the opening statement, Viren took over and asked for the questioning to begin. Permission was granted.
"Mr. Malhotra, how did you know my client, Dr. Arora, and her family?" Viren began.
Prithvi's voice was strained, "I met her when her family was looking for an alliance."
Viren's eyes narrowed. "I didn't ask you how you met her. How did you know her?"
Prithvi hesitated. "I... I got to know her through Sherlyn."
Viren's lips curved into a smirk. "Oh, so how do you know Ms. Khurrana?"
Prithvi's facade crumbled. "Sherlyn is my girlfriend. We were supposed to get married. We've known each other for a decade now." The truth weighed heavily on him, his body still reeling from the trauma inflicted during captivity. The memory of needles piercing his skin, burning rods against his legs, and the electrifying pain haunted him. He'd rather face the law than endure Neil's sadistic torment again.
Viren turned his attention to Sherlyn. "Ms. Khurana, why did you agree to marry Mr. Luthra?"
Sherlyn's eyes blazed with anger. "It was to ruin him! A tit for tat!" she spat out.
"Ah, but as far as I've investigated, you were just the daughter of one of Madam Kareena's kitty party friends and had no prior connection to Mr. Luthra. I don't understand what revenge you're talking about," Viren asked, feigning genuine curiosity. Preeta and Neil exchanged amused glances, knowing Viren was playing his part.
"We planned it meticulously. We made sure that old hag Kareena noticed me. We had no connection to the Luthras, but then Rishab came along and destroyed our small world. We were happy, we were getting married, but that bastard ruined everything," Sherlyn spats venomously. Everyone turned to look at Rishab, who appeared as confused as anyone else.
"I didn't even know them before all this," Rishab shouted from his seat, bewildered.
