A Midsummer's Love Tale

A Midsummer's Love Tale - Chapter Thirty Two - Court Craft

                            ALL COPY RIGHTS RESERVED

                     A MIDSUMMER’S LOVE TALE          

                     CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

                         COURT CRAFT

As I made my way inside, I heard my mother reciting her morning prayers. That was one thing she never failed to do early in the morning.

 It was good that I had inherited this habit. I too went and stood beside her with folded hands.

 She was reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and I just stood with my eyes closed and hands folded. The fragrance of incense sticks was good for the senses and helped in the connection with the Almighty. An early morning prayer has this calming effect both on the body as well as the mind.

She suddenly asked me, ‘What would you like for breakfast? Ok let me think. How about alu ka paratha?’

‘No Ma, not today, I’ll doze off in Court. I want something lighter.’

‘Ok, then how about poha, and crispy toast with it.’

‘Yes, that would be a better idea Ma.’ I agreed brightening up at the thought of a good wholesome breakfast. I quickly made my way inside for a bath.

When I finally reached the breakfast table she had everything organized. Our trusted cook Rohan who had been with us since donkey’s years, had made poha with steaming hot toast with glistening butter on it.

There was cut fresh fruit to complement that and to top it all there was a glass of orange juice.

 Life was good and I had no complaints. I was in fact watching my mother and realized how contended and happy she was, and there was no way I could compromise all this and ask her to accompany me to a crowded place like Mumbai.

I couldn’t leave her here alone. That was out of the question. So my shifting was totally ruled out.

I finished my breakfast, gave her a kiss on her cheek and left quickly. I knew I would not discuss this issue with her relating to Sohana. It was just pointless.

Ashok my trusted aide and driver was waiting outside with the car. As soon as he saw me coming he got up to open the door at the back.

 I smiled at him and got in along with the newspaper. I scanned the screaming headlines. It was the usual stuff. Promises and more promises. The fiscal deficit was high, economic situation was grim; the middle class was agitated because the price of onions was rising.

What kind of economic pattern were we following? The State Government was elected more on caste lines than performance. People with criminal background, past history of criminal acts were all elected and were now riding in flashy cars to the Assembly. What could the people expect? Nothing!

Where had the good people gone? The people who didn’t want anything in return for serving their Country.

The people who respected duties as much as they yearned for their rights. Not all was lost, and definitely there would be change; a change for the better.

A messiah would come who would settle these problems, solve them at the frenetic pace required presently.

My thoughts were disturbed with Ashok stopping the car as my destination had arrived.

‘Sir, should I carry your bag up to the office, or leave it here?’ he asked me.

‘Let it be here. In any case we have to leave for the Court in a short while’ I told him.

In the office I hurriedly disposed of a few waiting people as I didn’t wish to get late for my work.

Today was an important day, as Mr Raina was coming to argue the case in which I had gone to brief him in Mumbai. He was already in town and checked into a hotel. I had to pick him up en route from there. I dialled his number and found him waiting for me in the lobby.

‘Ashok, we have to reach Hotel Shyam immediately as Mr. Raina is ready and waiting in the lobby.’

All the books he had told me to bring were already in the car. He was not the one to cite too many books and always argued from the file. He also followed my father’s ideology; if the Judge is satisfied from the facts and reading of the plain section, why take him elsewhere into the jargon of law?

As expected he was waiting patiently in the lobby. I rushed towards him, extending a warm handshake.

‘How are you Mr Raina? Hope you arrived in time and had a pleasant flight?’

He had arrived the night before as there were no direct morning flights from Mumbai. An early evening flight had brought him to Allahabad via Delhi. The clients were also with him. I shook hands with them too before we decided to leave for the Court as it was getting late.

I found Mr. Raina fully updated with the facts of the case and whatever was left was discussed en route to the Court.

When we arrived I came to know that the case may be called out at a late stage or may not be called out today at all.

 I requested Mr. Raina to make an out of turn mention before Court to have the case taken up, but he motioned me to sit down for a while. I wondered why.

Soon I got the answer. On seeing him sitting in the Court room, after some time it was obvious that Mr. Raina was waiting patiently for a case. Which case was anybody’s guess?

‘Mr. Raina, which case are you waiting for? Is it on the list of cases today?’ asked the Judge.

He smiled. ‘Yes Sir, absolutely, it’s on S.No. 33 on the supplementary cause list today.’

‘Oh, that might not reach, alright come at 2 pm. We’ll have it first case after lunch.’

‘Thank you Sir, deeply obliged’ Mr. Raina turned back and gestured to me that the proceedings were over for the time being, and we left the room. 

 I was smiling as we stepped out. Now I knew that patience pays. Another lesson in court craft.

........................................................................................................

End of Chapter Thirty Two - A Midsummer's Love Tale