Imperious

Chapter 9

And we have made some of you as a trial for others. Will you have patience? (Quran 25:20)

It was Nafeesa's second day in the court proceedings.

Confidence rooted her to the box. She had acquainted herself with the nature of the opposition's lawyer as well as leading her family to a fresh piece of evidence. Munni was to speak today too. And in the light of numerous, subtle successes, Nafeesa felt no reason to be afraid.

However, her mother was not here, and that maternal comfort, she may miss.

Zubeda could not bring herself to come to the court proceedings. She had opted to go to the hospital instead and spend increasing amounts of time with her sick child. Sadia's condition was deteriorating and Zubeda feared for the time. She was not interested in watching the story unfold either. After the first proceeding, she had retired to her bedroom without eating a morsel. Nafeesa promised to report back to her in detail. It was necessary that her mother was kept well informed.

Mrs Kulachi had insisted on accompanying Farasat today. However, Sarwat Begum denied her, suggesting that she stay along with Parissa, Mehrisa and Inaya, and soothe them in times of stress. Mrs Kulachi had sourly accepted the refusal but understood that it would be better that she kept the spirits of her granddaughters raised whilst her daughter attended to Sadia in the hospital. In such situations, it was sensible to compromise.

Nafeesa smoothed her eyebrows, maintaining her appearance. She glanced across the hall and towards Karam who smiled at her pithily. She rolled her eyes.

Yusuf, the Jatoi's lawyer, presented the medical reports so that he may begin by explaining the evidence he had found at Safur Central Hospital.

The usher handed it over to the judge who gently scanned through the contents after unsealing the envelope.

Khurram and his family remained shaky throughout the few minutes of silence that followed.

"My Lord, these reports prove that my client's allegations are true. Mrs Sadia, did indeed suffer an accident, last year on the fifteenth of February. At that time, she was pregnant. She allegedly slipped from the stairs and this resulted in a miscarriage."

Karam inconspicuously clenched his jaw and greeted Nafeesa with an icy glare that only she could interpret. He had not expected her to trap him like this.

"Expanding on Mr Karam's claims that his wife felt suicidal..." Yusuf paused and glanced at Nafeesa.

"There were no such complications with her pregnancy. Yes, she was anaemic which may explain the tiredness that my client recalled."

Farasat ran his fingers through his hair. He had unnecessarily worried about Nafeesa's participation in legal affairs.

"What do you have to say in your defence, Mr Karam?"

Karam pursed his lips, "Yes, she did fall. I never denied she didn't. But that was minor-"

"She had a miscarriage!" exclaimed Yusuf, in alarm.

"If Yusuf Saheb could allow me to finish, I would tell you that that was an accident. She slipped because of her own carelessness rather than someone's evil intentions."

It was the first time in which Karam's voice had exhibited a bitter undertone. His sordid expressions did not suit his vulnerable position and his father's physical reaction to his statement strongly condemned this. Summayah held her breath, her teeth clenched, the stress visible against her smooth jawline.