Mr. And Mrs. Bhalla

17

Author's  POV

The tension in the Bhalla household was palpable. Mr. Bhalla paced back and forth, his face a mask of disappointment and worry. He couldn’t believe that his son, his own flesh and blood, was entangled in such a serious accusation. The silence in the room was broken only by the sound of Mr. Bhalla's voice, thick with anger and disbelief.

“This is unacceptable, Raman! How could you let it come to this? Our family’s reputation is on the line, and you stand there as if nothing is wrong!” Mr. Bhalla’s words hung heavy in the air, each one a blow to Raman’s already burdened shoulders.

Raman stood still, absorbing the weight of his father’s words. The anger in his father’s eyes mirrored the turmoil within him. Ishita, standing beside Raman, could feel the tension tightening around them like a noose. She knew this wasn’t just about the business or the accusations; it was about the trust Mr. Bhalla had lost in his son.

Before the atmosphere could grow any more suffocating, Mihir stepped forward, his expression resolute. “Uncle, I understand why you’re upset, but Raman isn’t guilty. We’ve been working day and night to gather evidence that proves his innocence.” His voice was firm, carrying the weight of truth and conviction.

Mr. Bhalla’s gaze shifted to Mihir, the sternness in his eyes softening slightly. “What evidence? How can you be so sure?”

Ishita, sensing the opportunity to ease the tension, spoke up. “We’ve found discrepancies in the documents that were used to frame Raman. Mihir and I have been investigating, and we’ve uncovered some crucial information that points to foul play.”

Raman finally found his voice, his tone calmer but no less determined. “Dad, I know I’ve made mistakes, but this isn’t one of them. I won’t let Ashok win. We have enough evidence to turn the tables on him, but we need to do this the right way.”

As if on cue, the doorbell rang, cutting through the tense moment. A hush fell over the room as everyone turned toward the door. A few seconds later, a servant walked in, holding a large envelope. “It’s a legal notice for you, sir,” he said, handing it to Raman.

Raman’s heart pounded as he took the envelope and tore it open. His eyes scanned the contents, his expression growing more serious with each passing second. “It’s from the authorities,” he said, his voice steady but edged with tension. “They’re summoning me to court.”

The news sent a ripple of anxiety through the room. Mrs. Bhalla, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward, her face pale. “Raman, what will happen now? We can’t lose this case; we can’t let them ruin everything.”

Raman met his stepmother’s worried gaze, his resolve hardening. “We won’t lose, Mom. We’ve got Mr. Pathak, one of the best lawyers in the business. He’ll handle this.”

As the family grappled with the situation, across town, Ashok sat in his plush office, a smirk playing on his lips. He was confident, perhaps too confident, in his belief that he had outmaneuvered Raman this time. The pieces of his plan had fallen perfectly into place, and the thought of Raman being humiliated in court brought him no small amount of satisfaction.

In the Bhalla house, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to Ashok’s smug arrogance. Mrs. Bhalla and Dadi had retreated to the temple room, lighting incense and praying fervently for Raman’s victory. Their prayers were filled with hope, love, and a quiet determination that their faith would protect their family from harm.

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The Bhalla household was eerily quiet that evening. Even the usually bustling kitchen was silent, with only the occasional clatter of dishes as Ishita absentmindedly put things away. Raman had retreated to his study, needing some time alone to process everything. Mihir was on the phone, making calls to contacts who might help them with their case.