cross road

Chapter-34

Pallavi arrived at the panchayat in her own car, making her way to the large open area beside the historic fort where most of the attendees had gathered.

A few minutes later, Raghav, Swathi, and his brother arrived, along with the patient's wife.

Shortly after, Raghav's father and the other panchayat members, accompanied by a few police officers, took their places at the desk, signaling the beginning of the proceedings.

The police officer they had met the day before began presenting all the details of the case. Typically, it wasn't the police's responsibility to handle such proceedings, but since the townspeople placed their trust in the panchayat, the officers were obliged to assist.

As the officer continued with the case, detailing the facts and evidence, Pallavi couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. The presentation seemed meticulous and factual, but something about it didn't sit right with her. Her mind kept circling back to the missing CCTV footage, the one piece of evidence that could prove her innocence, yet no one had mentioned it. She tried to focus, but the nagging feeling in her gut refused to fade.

She glanced over at Raghav, hoping to find some comfort, even if it was just in his presence. When their eyes met, his gaze softened, and he subtly raised an eyebrow. His silent inquiry, "Are you okay?" spoke volumes. Pallavi gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine," she whispered with a faint smile, hoping to calm both his concerns and her own. But inside, the unease grew with every passing minute.

The officer's voice droned on as he continued to lay out the case, but Pallavi's attention remained fixed on Raghav. He stood tall, his expression unreadable, but she could tell he was feeling the same tension. His hands were clenched by his sides, a subtle sign of the storm he was holding inside. She wanted to tell him what was bothering her, but the words wouldn't come. She could only hope that the truth would eventually come to light, that the missing footage would surface.

As the officer moved toward the conclusion of his presentation, Pallavi's anxiety reached a new peak. 

Pallavi hesitated for a moment as she stood up, her heart pounding. She wanted to approach the police officer and ask about the missing footage, but before she could say anything, Raghav's voice cut through the tense silence in the room.

"Yesterday, my brother provided you with the CCTV footage," Raghav said, his voice tight with controlled anger. His eyes were fixed on the officer, his hands clenched by his sides, visibly struggling to keep his composure. "I'm not seeing that in the evidence. Where is it?"

The officer, who had been calmly sorting through papers, looked up at Raghav, his expression unbothered, almost smug. He shrugged, feigning indifference. "I've submitted all the evidence we have. And I never received any pen drive from your brother." He looked over at Raghav and gave a slight, almost taunting, smirk.

The words hung in the air, thick with implication. Pallavi could feel the blood drain from her face. It was clear the officer was lying, and the frustration that flared in Raghav's eyes was impossible to ignore. He was on the edge, his control fraying with every word the officer spoke.

The tension in the room thickened as Raghav charged with frustration and disbelief. Pallavi could feel her heart racing, her pulse quickening at the unfolding drama. She had never seen Raghav this furious before, and it frightened her. She knew him to be level-headed, always in control, but now his anger seemed to consume him.

His brother tightened his grip on him, trying to pull him away from the officer. "Calm down, Raghav. This isn't going to help," his brother pleaded, his voice laced with concern.

Raghav's chest heaved with each breath as he fought to free himself. His eyes were fixed on the policeman, burning with a mix of disbelief and rage. "Calm down?" he spat. "How can I calm down when I see someone lying to my face? This is my pallavi's freedom at stake! You want me to just sit back and let her get framed?"

Pallavi, feeling a swell of panic rising within her, stepped forward. "Raghav, please." Her voice trembled as she reached for his arm.

Raghav's fiery gaze flickered momentarily to her, his expression softening for a brief second. He could see the worry in her eyes, and for a moment, he hesitated. But then, with a frustrated growl, he shook his head, his fists still clenched.

The officer, seeing the escalating situation, sneered, "You should listen to her, Raghav. Not everything goes the way you want it to. Some things, some people, can't be controlled."

That was the final straw. Raghav, in a burst of anger, yanked his arm from his brother's grasp, and his voice thundered across the room. "You think you can get away with this? You've made a mistake, and I'll make sure everyone knows it."

But before he could take another step, pallavi stepped Infront of him.Raghav stopped in his tracks, his body tensing as Pallavi stepped in front of him. For a moment, it felt as if the room itself froze. Her hands gently cupped his face, and for the first time, he saw the fear in her eyes, something that pierced through the haze of his anger. She didn't have to say much—her voice, calm but urgent, cut through his boiling frustration like a lifeline.

"Please listen, Raghav," she said softly, her fingers trembling slightly against his skin. "This is what he wants. He wants you to make a move, to touch him while he's in uniform. And if you do, he'll use it against you. He'll have you arrested on the spot, and I can't lose you. I don't have anyone but you to stand by me. Can you please step back, just for my sake?"

Raghav's breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening as he took in her words. The intensity of her plea, the desperation in her eyes, was enough to cut through the seething rage he'd been struggling to control. He stared at her face, her eyes wide with worry, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of everything—the pressure of the case, the looming threat, and the anger at the officer—felt like it all disappeared.

His fists slowly unclenched, and the tightness in his shoulders eased. The fury that had driven him moments before evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming concern for her. Raghav's gaze softened, and the fire in his eyes dimmed as he looked at her, taking in the sincerity and fear in her expression.

Without a word, he gently placed his hand over hers, a silent promise that he would listen, that he would stay composed for her sake.