Kumkum: Ties of Love and Lies (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

Sandhya sat in the cold, sterile confines of the jail cell, her mind racing with every possible scenario about Pugazh. Her tears had dried up hours ago, leaving behind an aching emptiness. She replayed the last moments she had seen him, bleeding and barely conscious, wondering if he was still alive.

The sound of footsteps broke her thoughts, and she looked up to see Aravind approaching, his face grave but determined.

"Sandhya," he said softly, unlocking the cell. "Let's go. I've bailed you out."

She stood up shakily, her heart still heavy. "What about Pugazh?"

Aravind hesitated before pulling a small recording device from his pocket. "I found this in Pugazh's jacket before they took him to the hospital. It's a recording of his confrontation with Rekha. It has everything we need to take them down."

Sandhya stared at the device, the weight of its significance hitting her. "This... this is enough to put them all in jail?"

Aravind nodded. "Yes. But we need to act fast."

Sandhya's shoulders slumped, fresh tears streaming down her face. "I don't care about the case anymore, Aravind. They can take everything—Ezhil, Rekha, Gautham. None of it matters if I don't have Pugazh."

Aravind placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening. "We'll find him, Sandhya. But this evidence is what he risked his life for. We can't let it go to waste."

She nodded, wiping her tears. "Let's go to the hospital. I need to see him."

When they arrived at the hospital, Sandhya's heart sank. Pugazh's room was empty, the bed neatly made, as if he had never been there. She turned to the nurse in a panic.

"Where is he? Where's Pugazh?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

The nurse looked confused. "He was here earlier, but... now he's missing. We don't know where he is."

Sandhya's knees buckled, and Aravind caught her before she collapsed. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, this can't be happening."

Her mind raced with dread. They've taken him. They're going to finish what they started.

She turned to Aravind, her eyes blazing with determination. "I don't care what it takes. I'll find him. I'll bring him back." 

"We will," Aravind assured her. "But first, let's make sure they can't hurt anyone else."

Aarvind presented the recording to the court the next day. The audio played clearly for everyone to hear, Pugazh's voice steady as he confronted Rekha:

 "And Gautham helped me. She called him, thinking he'd protect her, but I paid him enough to turn on her. We burned all the evidence she had collected. And now, you're getting too close, Pugazh."

"You don't have to do this, Rekha," Pugazh said, his voice firm. "It's not too late to come clean."

Rekha laughed bitterly. "Come clean? You'd like that, wouldn't you? But no. When I'm done, you'll be gone, and I'll frame your little wife for your murder. She'll rot in jail, and with you both out of the way, the hospital will fall back into Ezhil's hands. Everything will go back to normal."

The courtroom fell silent as the weight of the recording settled over everyone. The judge turned to Sandhya.

"Mrs. Sandhya Rajasekhar, do you have anything to add?"

Sandhya stood, her voice trembling but resolute. "My best friend, Shravani, called me the night of her death. She was scared, panicking about something she had uncovered. She didn't tell me much, but it was clear her life was in danger. After her death, I discovered that it was connected to illegal activities at R-ogya Hospital—organ trafficking run by Ezhil and this group of people."

She paused, gathering her strength. "Pugazh knew nothing of it at first. When he found out, he tried to stop it and protect the hospital's reputation. But Rekha, Ezhil, this other man i don't really know much of and Gautham conspired to kill Shravani and silence anyone who stood in their way. My husband risked his life to expose the truth, and I'm here today because of him."

The judge nodded, his face stern. "This court finds Ezhil Rajasekhar, Rekha Rajasekhar, and Gautham guilty of conspiracy, murder, and illegal organ trafficking. I will hand this case to the CBI to dig deeper into finding whoever else are involved. They are sentenced to life imprisonment. The hospital's reputation remains intact due to the bravery of Mr. Pugazh Rajasekhar."

The courtroom erupted into murmurs as the verdict was delivered. Sandhya felt a brief moment of relief but was still consumed by the ache of Pugazh's absence.

After the trial, Sandhya stood outside the courthouse, staring at the sky. Aravind approached her, his expression cautious.

"We've done it, Sandhya. They're behind bars."

She nodded faintly, her voice barely audible. "But where is he, Aravind? Where's Pugazh?"

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll find him. I promise."

Sandhya's heart ached as she whispered to herself, "I just want him back."

Her fight wasn't over. The truth had been revealed, but her love was still out there, and she wouldn't stop until she brought him home.