EX @ WORK ✔️✔️

Chapter 7.

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Shivaay stood in the gallery, disturbed. He took out the cigar packet from his pocket and lit up one. There was a time when he used to smoke around 1 packet everyday but she changed this habit of his, Now, he only smoked when his mind and heart failed to cooperate with him.

"At least don't. Not in front of me." She appeared from behind with two glasses in her hands. He didn't look at her but rushed the cigar under his feet.

"It's been a time since you drank this. The first time I made this for you, you said that this will be your favorite shake the rest of your life. Is that now so?" She asked handing him the glass.

"Strawberry milkshake by you. I don't change my statements Annika, I never did but you did." He looked outside to hide his numb eyes from her, despite of knowing that she already knew.

"Yeah! I am a liar, I know that. I promised that I will never leave you, I will be there with you in all the ups and downs but what I did? I left you." She said with a sad smile.

"Without giving me the reason. I deserve a reason, don't I?" He questioned sipping the shake.

"You didn't tell me how did you find it, the shake?" He let out a deep sigh. He knew her so well and he loved her so much that he just couldn't let go of her.  She would always do that. When she didn't want to answer any question, she would always change the topic and at some points, he felt like locking them both in a room and ask her s many times that she just tells.

"I am gonna give you the answer when you'll be out of this case, when all the charges against you will be cleared." He turned to her and took the glass from her hand. He placed both the glasses on the floor and took her hands in his.

"I, will be guilty all my life if I fail this case because, Annika, my love, I won't be able to see you like this. I can't let you get punishment of what you never did. So please, tell me the truth." He inched closer and grabbed her waist.

"Please." I barely came out of her mouth because of the heavy breaths.

Shivaay and Annika, half an hour later came inside. Mallika and Aditya were asleep, Mallika on the couch and Aditya on the floor sharing the same duvet.

"Stay with me tonight? For the last time." She asked pleading with her eyes. She so wanted him to stay with her because she had missed him so much.

When they were in the relationship, a happy, funny, crazy, full of madness one, they were more like best friends, so close to each other. They would share even the minor of things with each other. In the initial days, they used to be with each other all the time, her house was the second place he spent most of his time, after his office. If not together, then video call was a must. They were so good together.

"I promise, it won't be the last time Annika." He said to himself squeezing her hand. He winked at her and gave her a naughty smile.

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|The Hearing Day|

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Shivaay Singh Oberoi got down from his car confidently with a fresh face and determined smile. The media people surrounded him and asked several types of meaningless questions which he simply ignored. He helped Annika out of the car and wearing his shades, walked inside along with her. 

The two judges Rajan Bahl and Nandani Rao entered the court room and everyone stood up. They sat after the judges and the hearing started. 

"Your honors, let's start the case from the beginning. On the morning of 28th December, my client, Annika was arrested from her apartment under section 363 for kidnapping and section 307 for attempt to murder which she never did. Rishabh Sinha put false accusations on my client." Shivaay spoke getting up from his place giving Annika a satisfying smile.

"Objection Your Honors. He just can't say that against my client." Vishal Sharma stood up defending his client.

"Objection over-ruled. Do you have any evidences that your client is innocent Mr. Oberoi?" Nandini Bahl asked and Vishal sat.

"I would like to call Agastya Patra in the witness stand.

"Did you write down Rishabh Sinha's complain?"

"Yes, I wrote it myself."

"So, according to the FIR, it was written on the afternoon of 27th December. Why didn't you arrest her at the moment but the next morning on 28th of December?" Shivaay questioned after the copy of FIR was passed to the judges and tension lines appeared on the officer's forehead.

"Say something Patra." Rajan Bahl said.

"There were no officers available. As soon as we got time, we arrested her." He replied wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Fair enough. You can sit now." 

"Your honors, this is the footage of the airport and the copy of ticket before you. My client, Annika was to board the flight to Amritsar on the morning of 25th December. In the footage, she was at the airport at 6:30, half an hour before the flight but she never boarded the flight, she suddenly disappeared."

"Yes, because she was planning to kidnap my client, Mr. Oberoi." Vishal Sharma stood up and shouted.

"Let Mr. Oberoi speak Mr. Sharma." Judge Rajan Bahl ordered and Vishal said down fisting his hand.

"Your honors, I would like you to see the call records of Rishabh Sinha. He claims that he was kidnapped on 25th of December at around 9 a.m and he ran away on the morning of 27th December. When a person is normally kidnapped, he is tied up, he doesn't have any of his possessions but I guess Mr. Sinha had her cellphone with him, that's how so many calls are made from his phone."

Shivaay passed the record paper to the judges and one of the wrote something on his paper.

"We shall take a lunch break. We'll be meeting here at 3 pm sharp." Nandani Rao said and the court dismissed.

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