The illegitimate daughter of a powerful businessman, she was sent to live with her six half-brothers after her father's sudden death.
The boys were born from privilege, pride, and perfectly manicured bloodlines. No one welcomed her. No one cared.
De...
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It felt like the coldness had surrounded me, no matter how many people I was surrounded by.
Maybe it was because of the deadly silence in the courtroom, or maybe it was the way Karan sat across the room with his face blank that was impossible to read.
His lawyer stood up first. "Your Honor, after the incident, my client suffered severe head trauma. The reports confirm that he has lost his memory... and even after years of therapy, he hasn't regained it."
What?
I wanted to jump right in between.
But I sat there immovable. My hands were clasped on the table so tight that my knuckles turned white, but my expression stayed calm.
The judge skimmed through the files, flipping pages as the lawyer continued, "My client, Karan Dixit, wishes to close this case. He doesn't want to stretch it further. He chooses to treat it as an accident. Miss Maheer Singh Rajput," he looked in my direction, "has nothing to do with it."
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him.
I wanted to scream to everyone that he is nobody to prove my innocence when I was innocent from the beginning.
The air in the courtroom shifted at that moment; only the sound of papers rustling reached my ears. The brothers were looking as stunned as I felt. But I was furious as well.
The judge's voice broke through my thoughts. "The court apologizes for the inconvenience caused to Miss Maheer Singh Rajput. She is hereby declared innocent of all allegations. The case stands closed. Court adjourned."
The sound of the gavel echoed like a full stop.
Everyone started leaving. I stood there for a moment, trying to understand what had just happened.
Then I walked out, the air outside sharp and bright. My mind was still a blur of questions when I heard a voice behind me.
"Miss Rajput?"
I froze at my place.
Karan was walking toward me with hesitant steps. There was no flicker of recognition in his eyes, like he was speaking to a stranger. He stopped right in front of me.
"I... wanted to apologise," he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "For any inconvenience I might've caused you in the past. I don't really remember what happened, but... I hope you can forgive me."
He gave me a small, almost boyish smile. I couldn't bring myself to reply because my body went stiff.
I felt warmth around me, and I realized all the brothers are now standing closer to me. Their piercing gaze was burying holes in Karan.
Suddenly Karan's expression turned into something that suggested he might have peed in his pants, and he hurriedly walked... no, he ran past me.
Behind me, I heard Aditya mutter something colorful under his breath.
